New C-15 Man O War owner questions re: flotation, etc.
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:16 am
I got bitten by the sailing bug in July 2011. Yesterday (08/25/2011) I picked up a (?1972?) Chrysler C-15 Man O War and trailer for $500 off of Craigslist. The seller said it had been passed around in his extended family since it was new.
It is sailable, but is clearly neither original nor in excellent condition. I already read the manual, and have scanned these boards for answers to my questions, but questions still linger.
1) Flotation:
I took the boat out to a shallow lake yesterday. Contrary to the manual, my boat is NOT unsinkable, nor does it "come up with virtually no water onboard." I am guessing that the original closed cell flotation was either removed or decayed. Since I don't drink soda, water noodles seem to be a good idea.
a) Where was the original flotation placed? In the bow? In the stern? In the sides?
b) If the bow is supposed to have flotation, does anyone have any suggestions for how to keep it from interfering with stowing the mast and boom?
c) Should I try to remove any old flotation before putting in water noodles?
d) How do you get the water noodles into the sides? I was thinking of inserting them through the boom stowing ports (also referred to as "inspection ports" on the technical diagrams), and then working them backwards under the sides.
e) Any idea how many water noodles to buy? You can get a box of 18 3.5" by 60" noodles for $50. Each side looks like it could take about 1 box, another box in the stern, and another in the bow.
f) Those boom stowing ports seemed to contribute to sinking my boat as they allowed water to flow into the bow. I have read that some people have modified these with screw on caps. Seems like a good idea to me. What exactly is the nautical name for a part that is "a hole with a screw-on cap"?
2) Sail and Rigging
a) My boat didn't come with battens. There are at least 3 major boating suppliers nearby. Is that something they would routinely stock, or should I just get them from the online sources mentioned here?
b) Can anyone provide a more detailed description or photo of the original fittings related to the mast? The manual mentions "two jam cleats just aft of the mast." The line drawing doesn't provide enough detail. My boat has only one.
c) Can anyone provide a photo of the original (or properly working modification) of the pulleys and jam cleat related to rigging the sheet and boom. The setup on my boat doesn't match the pictures, and frankly doesn't work well.
d) What is the ideal size rope to use for the sheet (length and diameter). The only sizes specified in the manual are:
48-inch piece of 3/16-inch reefing line
24-inch piece of 3/16-inch downhaul
It is sailable, but is clearly neither original nor in excellent condition. I already read the manual, and have scanned these boards for answers to my questions, but questions still linger.
1) Flotation:
I took the boat out to a shallow lake yesterday. Contrary to the manual, my boat is NOT unsinkable, nor does it "come up with virtually no water onboard." I am guessing that the original closed cell flotation was either removed or decayed. Since I don't drink soda, water noodles seem to be a good idea.
a) Where was the original flotation placed? In the bow? In the stern? In the sides?
b) If the bow is supposed to have flotation, does anyone have any suggestions for how to keep it from interfering with stowing the mast and boom?
c) Should I try to remove any old flotation before putting in water noodles?
d) How do you get the water noodles into the sides? I was thinking of inserting them through the boom stowing ports (also referred to as "inspection ports" on the technical diagrams), and then working them backwards under the sides.
e) Any idea how many water noodles to buy? You can get a box of 18 3.5" by 60" noodles for $50. Each side looks like it could take about 1 box, another box in the stern, and another in the bow.
f) Those boom stowing ports seemed to contribute to sinking my boat as they allowed water to flow into the bow. I have read that some people have modified these with screw on caps. Seems like a good idea to me. What exactly is the nautical name for a part that is "a hole with a screw-on cap"?
2) Sail and Rigging
a) My boat didn't come with battens. There are at least 3 major boating suppliers nearby. Is that something they would routinely stock, or should I just get them from the online sources mentioned here?
b) Can anyone provide a more detailed description or photo of the original fittings related to the mast? The manual mentions "two jam cleats just aft of the mast." The line drawing doesn't provide enough detail. My boat has only one.
c) Can anyone provide a photo of the original (or properly working modification) of the pulleys and jam cleat related to rigging the sheet and boom. The setup on my boat doesn't match the pictures, and frankly doesn't work well.
d) What is the ideal size rope to use for the sheet (length and diameter). The only sizes specified in the manual are:
48-inch piece of 3/16-inch reefing line
24-inch piece of 3/16-inch downhaul