Thankyou for a remarkably reasoned reply. I'm embarrassed to admit that, while I've looked at a number of photos of both, I wasn't clear on the relative sizes of the sails. You're absolutely right though, on my FB the forestay hit the deck a couple of feet short of the stem. Which says a lot about the size of the headsail on a 25' boat.
Jeff
1 2007-03-03 12:34:58
Re: Weather Helm? (29 replies, posted in Boat handling / Performance)
2 2007-03-01 15:32:09
Re: Weather Helm? (29 replies, posted in Boat handling / Performance)
I reef whenever my toe rail hits the water. Sometimes sooner if I desire less excitement. You're right - no need to stress the boat and crew unnecessarily. Up to a point, however, sailing a keelboat on her ear can be faster as a result of effectively lengthening the waterline. For some reason, that the old timers were unable to divine, putting the toe rail under always seemed to slow 'em down. They experimented with rounded, smooth toe rails and other nifty designs, but could not overcome the problem. Also, as you heel over you show less sail area to the wind.
3 2007-02-28 14:09:21
Re: Cockpit drains and transome thru-hulls (12 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
I don't own a Contessa, so I don't know what others do about this problem, but I do know that I will never put up with a hole in my hull w/out some way to close it. I'm not sure I'm fully getting what you're describing, but I would put my drains at the front of the cockpit, cross the hoses, and place thru-hulls where I could easily reach them. There is nothing wrong with taking them out below the waterline.
4 2007-02-28 13:19:39
Re: Cockpit drains and transome thru-hulls (12 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
Remember, the reason the cockpit drain hoses cross is so that you can close the thru-hull for the lower drain, assuming you're heeled over, to prevent water from coming up into the cockpit. The Co26 is near the top of my shortlist for next boat. I'm suprised that a boat as well build as a Contessa would have a hull penetration without a thru-hull. This seems to be more prevalent in plastic boats. I couldn't sleep nights knowing that the only thing between my having a boat and not having a boat is a $3.95 hose clamp...
5 2007-02-27 19:54:25
Re: A Contessa? (5 replies, posted in General Questions/Comments)
Thanks for the replies. I'm on the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay. I hope to find someone near to look at & sail on their boat. I know where there's one on the hard, but I've been unable to contact the owner. I'll keep looking. Again, thanks.
Jeff
6 2007-02-26 14:27:13
Topic: Weather Helm? (29 replies, posted in Boat handling / Performance)
I'm considering a Contessa 26 as a replacement for my wooden boat. I was expecting a C26 to sail like a Folkboat, but I was reading another strand that worried me a bit. It is a point of pride among some Folkboat sailors that they never reef. The fellow I bought mine from said that they simply dump the wind off the top of the sail at greater angles of heel. In reading the other strand, I found a breif discussion of a C26 heeling to where water was pouring over the cockpit coaming. There was also a mention of weather helm. I know weather helm is a matter of physics and can't be avoided completely. Is weather helm a problem with these boats?
7 2007-02-26 14:01:50
Topic: A Contessa? (5 replies, posted in General Questions/Comments)
Hi,
I, currently, own & sail Robert Clark's Favona. She is - hands down - the best sailing boat I have ever been on. However, she is wood & I'm starting to feel it's time to pass her on to someone younger or, at least, more prosperous. So I've been looking at plastic boats for a year now and the Contessa is on my shortlist. I want to be able to go to windward and not have to fight her helm. I'm concerned about headroom. I was reading 5'-8", but that's only under the hump. What's her headroom when you're not under the hump?
Tell me about your Contessas. Sell me.
Thanks,
Jeff