[C320-list] A little help

[Dan Petticord via C320-list]

Hello everyone. My wife and I recently purchased hull #494 (Pearl). We
will be sailing her back to home waters on Lake Erie from Racine, Wisconsin
in a few weeks. We are going up for the sea trial next weekend, and have
been slowly getting her ready. We are somewhat experienced sailors, but by
no means expert. Neither of us has ever done a passage of this length in
the past.

I would really appreciate any "quirks" or specific things to check over/be
aware of in how our boat sails before we leave, as I probably will have
no more than a few hours on the helm before we shove off.

Thanks.

--
Dan Petticord

[Charles Mueller via C320-list]

Welcome to the C320 family. I would check all the instruments to be sure that you have the right data for the chartplotter for the entirety of your trip. Older chartplotters have relatively small areas of data. Make sure that the autopilot is working.

You'll be motoring a lot so it would be good to check the impeller and have spare fuel filters, oil filter, belts and oil on board. Unless recently done, an oil change would probably be appropriate before you leave. The packing gland will probably allow some water in, but you should have the tools to tighten it as you go.

Chuck Mueller
Northwind #676
Holland, MI
________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Dan Petticord via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2025 11:25 AM
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Cc: Dan Petticord <petti...@gmail.com>
Subject: [C320-list] A little help

[John Beck via C320-list]

Jb

[Dan Petticord via C320-list]

Thanks Charles. We are having a new axiom+ and raymarine i70 installed
right now, but the auto pilot is an older model and that is always a
concern. That is a good point to give it a good looking over. Collecting
filters, a belt, etc right now, and will do an oil change right after the
sea trial. The previous owner installed a dripless stuffing box a few
years ago which is new to me but hopefully it will be problem free on the
trip at least.

--
Dan Petticord

[Greg Flanagan via C320-list]

Dan, welcome to The 320 Club. Chuck’s (676) advise is good.
I have owned Hoop Dancer for 19 years and crossed Georgia Straight (BC) many times under all conditions. The engine is critical. I suggest you replace all engine fluids and filters if you don’t know when they were last done. Engine oil, coolant, transmission oil, oil filters—2, also the sea water impeller. Pull and clean the seawater filter after shutting the sea cock (make sure this works). Look carefully at the seawater pump. If it is leaking slightly or just dripping it suggests imminent failure. Also check the exhaust box for leakage. Then make sure the engine control linkages are working fine and you know where they are, and how to adjust them. Obviously, know where the manual bilge pump is, its handle near by, and the manual tiller.
For sailing, make sure the sails work smoothly. All winches work smoothly. The jib (Genoa) furls and unfurls fully and easily, and that the main can be raised and lowered smoothly.
I would also check the rudder and gear and make sure all is well. With propulsion working well you can then consider your personal comfort.

Have fun,

Greg
Hoop Dancer #1076
Sidney, BC

> On May 23, 2025, at 8:28 AM, Dan Petticord via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Hello everyone. My wife and I recently purchased hull #494 (Pearl). We

[ART HARDEN via C320-list]

All of the suggestions are very good including keep an extra impeller on the boat. I did a 700 mile trip on a Catalina 28 from Lake Champlain to Sandusky. All their comments are good solid recommendations.

I have one other suggestion for you. It hasn’t been mentioned, but build yourself a float plan and share it with family, friends, or fellow sailors. Determine how far you want to travel in a single day. You will probably find that a 30-40 mile trip is about all you want to handle for one day, depending on how aggressive you wanna be, you could extend that a lot more. You may find that just stopping and relaxing, and enjoying your trip to be a lot more fun.

Another key point on your float plan is finding where you can get diesel fuel. Not all marinas have diesel fuel.

My trip is on FB under SeaQuence Catalina 28.5. Best vacation I have had. Enjoy your trip.


Sent from my iPhone

Art Harden
Catalina 320 "Tortuga" 243
E-42
937.885.9380 (o)
937.477.5544 (m)

> On May 23, 2025, at 11:56 AM, Dan Petticord via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks Charles. We are having a new axiom+ and raymarine i70 installed

[--Bill via C320-list]

Regarding dripless packing… on mine there are two threaded holes with set screws that hold the collar in place on the shaft. These need to be tightened to hold the collar in position axially to give enough spring force against the seal. The trick is that each of the holes has two set screws (so a total of FOUR set screws). If you just try to tighten the outer set screws it won’t tighten on the shaft properly. So, make sure you have the correct size Allen wrench on board and if you do need to adjust, then make sure you’re tightening the inner set screws, not just the outer ones.

—Bill Ackerman
#240 Tortuga

> On May 23, 2025, at 2:48 PM, ART HARDEN via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> All of the suggestions are very good including keep an extra impeller on the boat. I did a 700 mile trip on a Catalina 28 from Lake Champlain to Sandusky. All their comments are good solid recommendations.

[Chris via C320-list]

That is great advice - you need to take the first pair out to tighten
the inner pair first.
Also - for backup put a hose clam round the shaft just forward of the
collar so that if the Allen screws come adrift the collar still cannot
move!

On 23 May 2025 20:10, --Bill via C320-list

[Richard Walker via C320-list]

IO really like my dry bildge. The seals worked well 25 years. Replaced them at 10 years. The double screw set up is very important.

Happy Sailing

Dick Walker
Ex Windwalker !!
C-320 687

[Dan Petticord via C320-list]

Thanks everyone. Particularly the info on the dripless stuffing box as our
last boat had annnokd school stuffing box.

All the fluids were changed last spring, and I will change the oil &
filter after the sea trial. Will check the tranny fluid and coolant as
well. I have two extra impellers, an extra belt, spin on fuel filter and
oil filter.

I’d be grateful for some insight in sailing characteristics. Pearl has a
brand new 135 Genoa and a decent main. The wife and I are a little
concerned that the main only has one reef point, particularly since the
main is much larger than our previous boat (an O’Day 28). We frequently
sailed the O’Day with two reefs. Does the main get overpowered quickly?
Do you find the one reef sufficient? How is the boat in light air? Really
any insight into points of sail and sailing characteristics would be much
appreciated.

And btw, we are hull #132, not 494. Sorry for the brain fart earlier.

Dan Petticord

[Jack Brennan via C320-list]

In many conditions, the 320 is a stiff boat.

I ran from Key West to Boca Grande, 140 miles, averaging 7 knots in 25-knot beam winds with 6- to 8-foot seas. I had a full main with just a bit of jib, which I found stabilized the boat and gave us a good ride.

Another alternative is just to run under jib only. You get more motion, but the boat is still mannerly. Jib only will get you 5 knots in 15 knots of wind.

The most difficult angle is when you have to motor into a short, steep chop. I have seen 2 knots when confronting a 25- to 30-knot winds on the nose. The 320's bottom is relatively flat, and that leads to pounding.

I'm assuming you'll watch the weather and not leave under trying conditions. In that case, you have nothing to worry about.

With sails set properly, the 320 sails with only a slight bit of weather helm. If you start getting more, just move the traveler to leeward until the king spoke on the wheel is only slightly off center.

The big issue may be the amount of comfort you want. The 320 loves to run — I've seen 7 knots many times — but my wife is much more comfortable with 5 knots.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.

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Sent: Friday, May 23, 2025 7:24 PM
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Cc: Dan Petticord <petti...@gmail.com>

[Ferris Wills via C320-list]

I’ve found Argo(505) to be an absolute joy to sail on the SF bay - handles our stiff summer winds well and is fairly easy to keep in sail balance, but I did spend a lot of time on the reefing set up. A second reef is an absolute necessity here as we often see 30 knots in spring and summer.

Also added a block with cam cleat and becket (mounted on the port pulpit close to the cleat that used to hold the jib furling line). This makes jib reefing in heavy wind much easier/safer. One of the best upgrades I’ve done 😂

Search the group archives for details on reefing options.

You will love your 320, it’s a great boat!

Ferris
Typos by iPhone

> On May 23, 2025, at 5:15 PM, Dan Petticord via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks everyone. Particularly the info on the dripless stuffing box as our

[Joel Krauska via C320-list]

Has anyone here added a back stay tensioner for heavy winds? I’ve seen a
write up on it, but I’m not sure how well they work.

[Stephen Cox via C320-list]

> I’d be grateful for some insight in sailing characteristics. Pearl has a brand new 135 Genoa and a decent main.
> The wife and I are a little concerned that the main only has one reef point, particularly since the main is much
> larger than our previous boat (an O’Day 28). We frequently sailed the O’Day with two reefs. Does the main get
> overpowered quickly?

I go to the first reef when the wind is going over 16 knots. The C320 just slows down if you let it lean too far. Whether you need more reefs depends on what sort of sailing you intend to do / are likely to get caught out in.

I sail off the southern coast of NSW Australia, known for strong southerlies coming through at times. Not long after getting my C320 I experienced such an event and kicked myself for not having additional reefs available. Ended up dropping the main, furling the genoa and using the engine. The wind was still adding speed to the boat as it was downwind to the harbour we were aiming for. Not long after that I had two further reefs added, the third being significantly deeper, and I have not regretted doing so. The extra reefs certainly came into play when cruising across the Bass Straight and around Tasmania.

Cheers,

Stephen Cox
Tegwen 1141

[Stephen Cox via C320-list]

> Also added a block with cam cleat and becket (mounted on the port pulpit close to the cleat that used to hold the
> jib furling line). This makes jib reefing in heavy wind much easier/safer. One of the best upgrades I’ve done 😂

I did the same and would heartily recommend it if expecting decent winds.

[Dan Winsor via C320-list]

Greetings Dan,
We sail Lucky Devil #109 on Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts. We have a loose
footed main with single reef and a 135 furling foresail and the shoal draft
wing keel. We have added a toggle to the forestay and a tensioner to the
backstay as outlined in the 320 association technical documents.
We dont reef until the breeze gets well above 15. The tensioner allows for
flattening and effectively depowering the main while reaching. The
increased rake created by the toggle was supposed to allow higher pointing
and it does appear that way on the compass but the gps track still shows a
solid 45 off the wind at best. We have never really missed a second reef
point and the boat balances well on a reefed main and partially furled
fore. If it gets nasty, just douse the main and run on as much jib as feels
good.
Have a nice run, you're gonna love the 320. We've had ours 20 years and
average 600 mps (miles per summer) from northeast harbor, maine to NYC. We
live aboard about 45 days each season.
Fair winds,
Dan & Lisa
Lucky Devil #109

On Fri, May 23, 2025, 20:16 Dan Petticord via C320-list <

[Tim Van de Water via C320-list]

with the big main, the traveler is a key component and really works well to deal with heavy puffs. We have no major issues with a single reef up to 20 knots. After that, the traveler is your best friend.

I recently added the adjustable back stay per the association description. My one piece of feedback is only set it up as adjustable off the triple block (described as the fine adjustment in the technical write up.) I don’t use the coarse adjustment and am considering removing it.

Tim Van de Water
SV Coda #573
Lake Lanier, GA

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