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Hello Everyone,
I recently purchased an HF radio that I am bringing along on my circumnavigation.  I'm planning on hoisting a 20 meter dipole antenna on the mast and using the radio to send radiogram messages to family and friends via the maritime mobile network and the national traffic system.  I'm interested in building an effective ground plane in the boat so that I can switch over from the dipole antenna to an insulated backstay antenna with a tuner (so that I can used other ham bands besides just 20 meters for transmitting).  I'm wondering if anyone else has built a quality and effective HF ground plane in their contessa and if so, what the details of this installation are?  Perhaps there is some sort of copper strapping that has a sticky side to it that can simply be peeled back and stuck down to the inside of the storage lockers.......and then all connected together in some relatively painless way?  Cheers,  B

Hello Everyone!  I recently purchased a OGM Tri-Color/Anchor/Strobe light for the masthead.  I also purchased the mounting bracket that is made for it.  It is not clear to me how to mount it though as the bracket is not long enough to mount it to the side of the mast below the casting that holds the pulleys for the halyards without the light fixture being to low and obscured by the mast.  And it looks like a difficult proposition to try and mount the light on the casting that contains the halyard pulleys because of the issue of the mounting fasteners interfering with the halyards, etc.  So far, my best idea is to mount a piece of aluminum flat stock about 3/16" thick to the mast and then mount the OGM bracket to that.  Does anyone have any suggestions about this light mounting?  I'm eager to hear from you veterans before I start drilling holes!  Cheers  Brian

Hello Everyone!

I am still wanting to purchase a radar detector for my boat.  I imagine that there is a small electronic device (like the one you might have on the dashboard of your car) that draws a very low amount of electrical power while it scans for any marine radar signals.  And if it picks up a radar signal, it sounds an alarm. 
I want this device so that I can use it to help make me aware of the presence of ships while I am trying to get some sleep while crossing oceans as a single-hander.  I cannot seem to find a device like this?  Does anyone know if there is such a thing for sale?  And if so, where to get it and some brand info. would be a big help.  Thanks much.  Brian

Hello Everyone!

These are the sails I got with my Contessa:  Mainsail (with 2 reefs); Storm Jib; 80% Jib, 110% Jib, 150% Jib, Spinaker.

I'm concerned about not having a Tri-Sail for distant cruising.  When I asked the previous owner about this, he suggested that I buy a heavy-duty, small, double-reef mainsail.  He said that my sailing performance would be way better than if I had a tri-sail. 

I just got done reading Larry and Lin Parday's book about their cruise from the med. back to Victoria via the Suez and Japan, etc.  Near the back of the book, Larry comments about the common practice of using a small, heavy-duty mainsail instead of a tri-sail.  He said that this is only for a CUTTER and not a SLOOP (like the contessa) and that if you tried to do this with a sloop, that the rig would get out of balance and it wouldn't work very well. 

Does anyone know what the right answer for this issue is?  What are the proper sails to have for heavy weather sailing on a contessa?  Your advise will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks much.

I just got my Rocna 10 (22#) anchor the other day.  I'm planning on going with an all-chain anchor rode that is stowed in the compartment forward of the V-berth.  I was hoping to get some recommendations on size chain you would use?  And also, I was thinking about getting 200 ft and does anyone know if there would be room in the bow compartment for that much chain?  And I'd also be interested to know how you are rigging a snubber for an all chain rode (maybe a heavy rubber shock cord would do the trick)?   Thanks,  Brian

I've been having some difficulty finding a depth sounder that has an in-hull transducer that is simply glued on the inside of the hull and does not require a through hull fitting.  I don't want to drill another hole, especially for a plastic fitting.  The Raymarine ST-40 looks good but they only seem to offer a through-hull transducer.  Garmin has a simple in-hull/puck transducer that simply glues to the inside of the hull but doesn't seem to offer a simple depth display like the ST-40. 

Does anyone know of a simple depth sounder with an in-hull transducer?

I'm wondering if there is anyone out there who as this Universal Atomic 5411 2 cylinder 11 HP diesel engine in their boat and can advise me as to what fuel economy I might expect.  I've got an 11 gallon tank and am wondering how many miles/hours I might be able to get per gallon/tank etc. 

Planning on running this boat down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and will be using the motor almost exclusively when I'm on the rivers.

Thanks,

Brian

My boat has one hull anode thats 3 3/8" long (see photo).  This boat has spent most of its life in fresh water on Lake Huron and now I'm getting it ready for salt water worldwide.  I'm not sure how many Anodes I need or how big they should be but I'm guessing that this one anode I have on here now, isn't enough protection from the ills of electrolysis.  I would greatly appreciate some guidance on this issue.  Thanks.