Posted: 06 Jul 2007 at 9:33pm
Hello All,
I am the proud new owner of a 1970 Dolphin. However, I have had a few unexpected "surprises" which I guess is not uncommon for new owners of old boats. Ouch

1) I have a small leak around the rudder post...of course I didn't see that during my inspection as the boat was on a trailer. I have epoxied with stuff from West Marine that supposidly works under water. It has slowed the leak but not completely. I would like to fix this annoying problem and am considering trying to tighten the post with a pipe wrench. Any thoughts or ideas would be welcomed.

2) How on earth does one feed line through the boom for an outhaul and jiffy reef?

3) Any ideas for a simple design for a downhaul for the jib? I don't want to invest in a furler yet.

Thanks to all, I love this sight!
Jack VanZandt
Olympia, WA


Posted: 07 Jul 2007 at 4:01am
Hi Jack
Welcome to the site. Can you tell us your boat name and hull # if you have it? And send us a picture for the coming soon "Roster" section.

Re jiffy reefing and outhaul systems - start with Harken's Online Rigging tips http://www.harken.com/rigtips/rigtips.php. They wrote the book!
Ron


Posted: 08 Jul 2007 at 12:35am
Hi,
Thanks for the info. My hull # is 150 called the Wonderlust. Will send picture after I have done the needed rehab . Look forward to sharing more information and stories as I become more familiar with the boat.
Jack VanZandt
Olympia, WA


Posted: 12 Jul 2007 at 1:32am
Hi Jack, an electricians fish tape is handy for getting a line through the boom. I ran my jiffy reef outside the boom though. As Ron said, check out Harken. Also, it seems to me there should be a fitting on the rudder post that could be tightened up. I am not sure though, I have not looked at mine that closely. I am not much help on a downhaul for the jib, I think I would ride it out until the "roller furler money fairy" shows up. seems to me tacking with all that sail bunched up on the deck could be a problem. Hope this helps, -M.
Yankee Dolphin Hull # 203


Posted: 12 Jul 2007 at 12:21pm
Thanks for the response, I've checked out the Harkin site, good stuff! I'll try tightening the rudder post, I globbed a bunch of epoxy around it with fair success but didn't use simple logic of trying to tighten it first...live and learn! Thanks again.
Jack VanZandt
Olympia, WA


Posted: 16 Jul 2007 at 2:46pm
Hi Jack -
I also have a leaky rudder stuffing box. When you epoxied it, etc., was your boat in the water? I want to fix my rudder stuffing box while my boat is in the water, but am terrified at the prospect of a bunch of water coming in. Any advice?

Thanks -
Phoebe,Hull 78 - Spectra
Phoebemcki


Posted: 16 Jul 2007 at 11:17pm
I just globbed a bunch of epoxy you can use in watery conditions. I didn't remove anything. I also clamped some old bicycle tube around the post...these things while the boat was in the water. It's holding pretty well, I get a little water but not much. I plan to explore fixing it more elegantly when I pull her out of the water early Oct. Good luck and let me know how, if you fixed yours.
Jack VanZandt
Olympia, WA


Posted: 17 Jul 2007 at 9:15pm
Hi Jack -
Thanks for telling me what you did. This gives me confidence to fix the stuffing box for now, and then fix it in a more permanent way when I can afford to haul her out.

At the moment, I have injured my shoulder and also seem to have a bad case of "tennis elbow" (boat elbow?), which has brought all boat-related activity to a screeching hault. Very frustrating!

Phoebe
Alameda, CA
Phoebemcki


Posted: 17 Jul 2007 at 9:28pm
Jack,
Re: The jiffy reef and outhaul.
I am running mine through pad eyes and cheek blocks to cleats on the mast end of the boom. They work fine this way -- I reefed to cross from Kingston to Edmonds this Sunday -- and I don't have to reach into the boom for repairs.
Let me know if you sail past Edmonds sometime. There is a second Yankee in the marina and we can piece together a regatta. Perhaps we might meet in Port Townsend for the Wooden Boat Festival.
Anker
ericsorensen