Recent content by HerbertFriedman

I certainly agree that a bolt sticking out in a walkway is dangerous but my diesel fill port is not in a walkway so I plan in trying it out there only. I do see a problem with the wing nut, I plan to replace that wing nut with a regular hex nut, and in stainless too. The bolt looks like chrome...

Just a comment about the observation of some water intrusion on the cabin sole at the mast. On my 87 E34, I saw the same water mark, checked the mast boot and it was fine. The leak was from the lower section of the mast below the gooseneck and above the cabin top. There is an aluminum bar stock...

I have an E34 with probably the same fitting. Do you have a reference for that part?

We usually sail double handed, and when we furl the head sail, it is the "admiral" at the helm and me pulling the furling line, no hands available to jack the furling line. And single handing in a still breeze, worse yet. But with the downwind technique and autopilot and the main sheeted...

Christian, thanks for your comments. I always worry about using a winch to furl, even just to get it started. Also, I was told that flogging is very bad and even for a short time, it shortens the lifetime of a sail. With this downwind technique there is no flogging. But I certainly agree...

Christian, we tried this technique on my E34 with a 130 genoa in SF in about 20+ kt of wind. It was too much to furl by hand, so I had to release the active sheet and use the winch since I was on a starboard tack and the furling line is on the port side. Needless to say, it was a mess and that...

I agree about heading downwind to furl the headsail. My procedure is to sheet in the main to prevent damage from an accidental jibe, then let the traveller down all the way, have the "admiral" i.e. wife, head down wind as much as possible to shadow the headsail and take the pressure off it...

no, only on fiberglass. Your point is well taken, as always in such a situation, I would try goo gone on a small area of the sail in a non critical area.

We bought our 1987 E34 ten years ago and love it. But we had a problem with water intrusion around the starboard side of the forward hatch, and the resulting soft spot. The owner was honest to point out this problem but said that the boat yard recommended to leave the problem alone since the...

I too have had great success with Goo Gone on removing adhesive left over from tape.

Several years ago, I made a similar pouch for the companionway boards for the E34 out of vinyl, works great.

My BOATUS insurance from Geico increased from about $510 to $630 or 24% with a 10% decrease in the boat's value. I went to my home/auto insurance company and they quoted me about $600 so I stayed with Geico. Geico acknowledged that I had no claims but that the increase was CA wide.

I have drilled/tapped holes in my mast and boom, use fine thread bolts, 10/32 works well, that usually gives 4 threads for the mast thickness.

I was out in SF harbor in my 87 E34 with 25+ kt and at slack tide the SOG was 7.9 kt which I believe is a bit above hull speed (LWL = 29.0 feet, so hull speed is 7.2 kt). Cleaned the bottom real well.

I have an 87 E34 with a dodger and a bimini. No problem with the boom, it clears the top of the dodger by a few inches. If you ever do get a bimini, make sure that there is a window cut in the top to allow you to view the top of the mast, usually were the wind arrow is located. The only...