[C38] Speaking of fuel explosions.

[tdtron at earthlink.net]

david at dlrfilms.com wrote:

"BTW, had a 4-hour charter with a never been on a sailboat before couple.
Within two hours the Mr was on the tiller holding a steady course."


**************************************************
I think that everyone who sails should learn on a tiller.

We still have a Catalina 27 for our lake boat and when I had it offshore,
before we got our Catalina 38,  I could steer blindfolded once I learned
the groove of the current conditions but I never got that precise feel from
the wheel on our 38 or any other wheeled boat.

When racing the 27 we could make the boat do things never possible with a
wheel.  We got (in)famous racing by charging the start line too early,
taking a quick 360 in almost our own boat length near the start,
accelerating again over the line exactly at the gun while we watched other
boats watching us either cross early from our maneuver or causing them to
run off course while we left precisely on time.

You can only get away with that trick every now and then but it sure was
"exciting."   

Nothing is as quick or as easy to precisely control a boat as a tiller.

We sold our wheeled 38 last year but we still have four tiller boats for
our kids and grand kids: a Catalina 27, Laser, 8' O'Day dink, and a Snark.

Tom Troncalli
recovering ex-racer




> [Original Message]
> From: <david at dlrfilms.com>
> To: <tdtron at earthlink.net>; Catalina 38 Listserve
<listserve at catalina38.org>
> Date: 6/10/2011 7:26:33 AM
> Subject: Speaking of fuel explosions.
>
> Looks like I've got a small fuel leak on the aft-most fuel injector. It
> seems to be coming out just underneath the fuel return.
>
> I tried putting a wrench on it. Nothing moved, nothing changed. I guess
> I'm going to soak it in PB blast and try again.
>
> My torch is a usual addition to these (mis?) adventures. Safe to do when
> the engine is cold, or is there fuel of there and boom?
>
> BTW, had a 4-hour charter with a never been on a sailboat before couple.
> Within two hours the Mr was on the tiller holding a steady course.
>
> "There it is, you've got her in the groove," I said.
>
> "Yeah, I can feel it!" said he.
>
> A sailor is born!