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First experience with Stratos Keel

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JamesGovan

4 Posts

Posted - 01 Aug 2004 : 09:30:37

I have just come back from 2 weeks sailing my Stratos Keel 274 in Mallorca – great fun – lots of capsize practice. However I have a few queries I wonder whether someone might answer.
1 – Water pours out of the keel box slot most of the time – I guess that is normal
2 – I have already replaced the main sheet – much better. The gennaker sheets are hard work to hold on to in a blow. The one-way ratcheted blocks do not seem to help much and I wonder what thickness rope for the sheets are best. Has anyone firred clamcleats? What about the thickness of replacement jib sheets?
3 – Do the trapeze lines tie onto the shroud plate fittings?
4 – We kept our boat on a mooring off the shore – not entirely satisfactory as someone later claimed it. Next time I plan to drop an anchor & chain and buoy the line. Any advice on size of anchor?
5 – The instructions advise against leaving the jib furled but we did although we dropped the jib halyard tension. Similarly we left the gennaker in the sock. It makes for a much quicker start the next day. We did roll and bag the main. What do others do?
6 – Is it better to use the small stainless hook at the bow for mooring or should I use the more substantial black beam which houses the jib furling mechanism?
7 – Does anyone partially lift the keel in strong winds for better performance when sailing downwind?
8- I think that the keel version is probably easier to right after a 90 degree capsize – on one occasion it righted itself. Has anyone tried righting the boat by using a version of the scooping technique in which one climbs onto the hoop and leans on the upper hull or is this physically impossible or likely to lead to a 180 degree capsize?
James

JimWhite

22 Posts

Posted - 05 Aug 2004 : 10:04:33

Some responses. I sail a keel most week-ends at sea....
Water rarely comes up the slot.
I too have the same cncerns about sheets. What ropes to replace main, jin and gennaker ?
No idea about trapeeze.
2kg(ish) anchor is ok, but more important is length of chain becuase it helps the anchor bite.
Sails - I too leave jin and gennaker in place, but roll the main and elastic onto boom. I cover it with plastic sheet to protect from sun.
U bolt on bow is fine. Tie a line 1m long about 1.5m away bow n from the anchor line. Leave this onbaord and pull on it when slipping anchor to relase tension on U bolt.
Lifting the keel does work but it's margnala nd not worth the effort unless it's a long run.
Capsize - try reefing before it happens, it's much easier !

Jim

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