Cascaded blocks on the main sheet

Cascaded mainsheet on a Catalina 270

My crew and I were having great difficulty trimming the main sheet (red line)with fresh wind.

It just took too much force. the cam lock on the fiddle block was at a bad angle to lock and unlock the sheet.  I added an extra pair of blocks to give it a 5 to 1 advantage; but, that was not enough.

View from the starboard beam

After a suggestion from a smarter-than-average sailing friend and some though, I added a cascaded pair of blocks to the sheet,  It has a four to one advantage.  So the 4 to 1 pulls on the 5 to 1. The yield is a 20 to 1 advantage. 

Purchase on the red sheet gets the main close; but the final trim is made with the cascaded block.  This is Easy to do even is strong wind conditions. 

For anybody with a Catalina 270, to make this conversion, a block needs to be added to the padeye that secures the boom vang.  I then put a mid-line loop to fasten he cascaded double block.

The micro fiddle block with a cam-lock is fastened to the traveler.

The large blocks are Garnauer blocks, The small blocks on the cascade are Harken micro blocks,

The Catalina 270 has a double ended main sheet. the odd end leads back the starboard winch. Since the winch is not available when on a starboard tack, it is not a practical arrangement.

A closer look a the cascaded Harken block with jam cleat

Tanzer 22 rudder Design Types

Rudder types.

 

Here are three rudder designs found on Tanzer 22’s in my local boat yards.

The square bottom is made by a local boatyard and is the most common design in the middle Chesapeake.

• Square bottom with 2 inch forward of the pintle for balance made by local boatyard. 30 inches below the hull. (Fin keel.)

Two inches forward of pintle for balance

12.75 inches total width

• Original swept back- unbalanced. 24 inches below the hull. Drop keel determines depth in water.

unbalanced

• Tapered bottom with 3 inch forward of the pintle for balance. source unknown. 31 inches below the hull. (Fin Keel.)

11 inches total width

Three inch froward of pintle for balance.

ESSA Sailing Race Results.2015 Season

TANGO 22 had a great season. 

Many Thanks to the crew.

• Stedman Smith Cup- 1st place 
• (May 2015, Cambridge to Oxford)
• Series 1- 2nd
• Series 2- 1st
• Series 3- 2nd
• Overall Season- 2nd place

“sometimes right, sometimes starboard”

Bimini On TANGO 22

Not many Tanzer 22's have a bimini; but, here's one way to do it.

On Tango 22, the main sheet is rigged forward of the original Tanzer 22 position.

I don’t know why a previous owner moved it. In our ESSA fleet of 15 T22’s, none are rigged this way. There is a bail installed at mid-boom to accommodate the padeye location on the cockpit deck.

The bimini was purchased from West Marine.  It is a Taylor Made model.

36” High, 74-78 wide x 48” long. Double check my dimensions. I did this in 2010.

http://www.taylormadeproducts.com/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=175

http://www.westmarine.com/boat-covers-and-bimini-top-selector

Cost: about $320.00

 

When under sail, the boom clears the top of the bimini by an inch.

The photos shows the bimini with the boom hauled high with the topping lift.

 

You may be able to install a Bimini forward of the main sheet.

I’ve never seen a T22 like that but it may be possible.

I have Catalina 22 friends that have it that way; but their booms are higher.

Boom clearance will be the main issue.

You may be able to modify the bimini hardware to make it fit.

Of course, the shade will be mainly in the forward cockpit.

 

Here are some dimension photos for reference.  

Location of the bimini hinge clevis

Measurements were referenced form the companion way.

This padeye was moved 24" forward from the original position.

The original or standard position of the main sheet padeye without a traveler.)

It does make a great difference when cruising in sun or rain.

It come with a quick zip cover. 

Here is it in tucked away.

ESSA Racing on the Choptank River, Cambridge, MD