25D improvements, holding tank, steering, halyards, dinghy

[Martinhilldpo]

Hi All

The list of jobs for my 25D is growing daily, could do with a little help as I am sure that someone will have already looked at these.....

1 How do you monitor the level in the holding tank? (Without opening the inspection port thank you.) Any after market or home made remedies?

2 Has anyone come up with a simple method for emergency steering?

3 Planning on fitting spare halyards for main and jib, any thoughts on the easiest way to rig them?

4 Dingy space is limited. I am considering either a nesting dinghy (not much capacity) or an inflatable (pia to pump up when needed). Any better suggestions?

Thank you all

[steveg]

Hi Martin,

Holding tank, it is not very big and you get a feel for about how much it takes to fill. My method is pump our fairly frequently and when I really need to know screw off the cap and have a look.

Emergency steering, there is a video link, I believe here somewhere, which shows steering without a rudder by using a drag and positioning the drag to steer and turn the boat. It was quite informative.

Spare halyards, I installed a spinnaker halyard and do not have a spinnaker. It is my spare to use in a pinch. This required a fitting bolted onto the mast head fitting. I took the fitting into a welding shop and they fabricated what was requested for about fifty bucks.

The dinghy is a problem. I have a hard bottom inflatable and a rigid eight foot pram. I drag them along (just one at a time). Intrigued by the nesting dingy just have not felt like going for the expense and time to construct one. If there were one close for sale at a reasonable price, one of those would be in the barn as well.

This is just one opinion and hopefully worth the price of admission.

[Martinhilldpo]

Thanks Steve

I found an answer for the holding tank (and also fw tank), its a Krueger L type mechanical gauge for about $60. Easy to fit and no more peeping in the poop. I will install it next month. Same for the fw tank. I just need to get home to measure the depth of both tanks to make sure I order the right size gauge.

I think for the spare halyards I will have to do as you did and bolt a couple of tangs or eyes to the mast head fitting or thereabouts. I want to be sure it is strong enough. For the main halyard spare I would normally consider using the topping lift in an emergency but this boat has dutchman sail flaking so that is not going to be quite so easy as the stoppers would no pass through the upper sheave.

Chesapeake Light Craft sell plans for an 8' nesting pram which looks very capable for 2 persons plus groceries, I am wondering if the small part could stow aft of the mast and the larger part forward. Or maybe just an inflatable, deflated and stowed fwd of the mast in a bag when not in use.

Thanks again.