Praise the Atomic Four!!

[romantic comedy]

So last week, we were out sailing on a 4 day weekend. It was a bit windy, and blew 35 to 40.

At a point I furled the sails and ran on the engine into the wind. At first, it seemed that we were not going to move, and I was concerned.

Then we started making headway. There we were making 2.5 knots into 35 to 40 MPH of wind. The waves were washing over the bow of my Tartan 34, but she kept going.

That was the worst I have motored in so far. I was never sure what would happen in a blow, with the atomic four and the tiny prop. Now I have more confidence.

I have an indigo prop.

[Mo]

Tartan 34 is a big heavy boat...in 30-40 kts on the nose that's not bad. Do you have a 2 or 3 blade prop?

[romantic comedy]

I have the Indigo prop.

It is a three blade. If I remember correctly, it is 10 X 7.4

Tom used his T34 to design the prop.

The T34 weighs 11.5 k. or so.

[hanleyclifford]

You are a candidate for 2:1 conversion. Then your Tartan would positively destroy a 35 knot seaway even on the nose.

[Dave Neptune]

Dun it in 40+

Tha Volador is 35' and over 13k lbs and I have done between 3.5~4.5 kts motoring into a 40kt gusting to 50 with a double reef and "flying a fisherman's" too so I was acually motorsiailing. As the prop would cavitate once in a while when falling over the top of the GREENIES of 12~15 feet so I only ran the A-4 at around 1800 with the Indigo. I was also towing a 10 rowing skiff and doing this as close to the wind as possible. The sail did not give me much drive but helped to hold her steadier. Ther was no way I could of sailed that "close" on that day. Lots of cross chop too.
The Indigo impressed me that day!!! My prop does run in the open and not in an aparature so there is no interferance from "deadwood".
Motoring into 20kts with no sail will give me 5.2 at 2200 with the dinghy!

Dave Neptune

[romantic comedy]

Hanley, I thought about it a lot. Especially when I first got the boat. I dont think it would be that hard. Then the problem of what prop to use comes up.

At this point, I am satisfied with the Atomic Four. Besides, if I was a better sailor, I should be able to sail through those seas. Now I am thinking of storm sails and other changes to handle heavy weather.

If I knew of another Tartan 34 that did the conversion successfully, I would give it serious consideration.

BTW, I run at 2000 rpm. The other problem that comes up is fouling on the prop. Until this year, I never had a diver that could clean my prop underwater. Finally I had them pull my shaft when cleaning the bottom. That way I knew it was clean. This season, a month ago, I had a diver refuse to pull the shaft. So I let him do it underwater.(divers that show up, are had to find here in SW FL). I guess he did a good job.