gas spilling from tanks while sailing heeled

[Dan B]

I installed a clinometer (scream-o-meter.) I painted green/yellow/red ranges on it to either side of 0 degrees. Now, I can tell the kids and wife to "not worry, we are still in the green zone." Or, better yet, "don't worry that was only a yellow."

It also gives my wife a visual on when she should (and more importantly shouldn't) sheet out the genny as the winds build. Silly as it sounds, it actually works to create much more calmess on board.

Funny how things take on a different meaning by just giving them a name.

[Gemini]

Gas tanks - another one of those annoying things that you have to remember about. If you forget to open the vents, your tanks can swell up and push up the seats to a 30 degree angle, and look like they are about to explode!

And yes, if you don't open the vents enough, the running motor (especially at WOT) will collapse the tank when near empty to a degree that you can't believe that it can bounce back from (mine did). And you wouldn't even know it- all of the sudden the engine just can't suck any harder and quits.

The Mac has other annoying things to remember about too (like ballast valves, centerboards, rudder bolts, and relieving pressure on the trailer winch before launch), but we love ours and it's versatility.

Mark

Curious, what do you mean by trailer winch before launch?

I had an issue last weekend but it was my own stupidity, I was cranking the winch the wrong direction to relieve pressure off of the ratchet switch, stuck in my mind that it goes one direction and after too much time pounding on the switch, realized, I was turning the crank in the wrong direction. Looking at it I was convinced I was turning it in the right direction, forgot to take into account it is a gear, opposite direction!

Oh well, there's always something that happends at the ramp that makes you feel like a fool on display!

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Dan, what degree of heel does the yellow zone and the red zone begin at?

[James V]

I bought my tanks in 06 and the new vent caps only allow sucking in air and do not allow exaust, so I do not get any gas leakage. You might ask if new caps would prevent this problem. Or maby my caps are just bad?

[Dan B]

Green = 0-20
Yellow = 21-35
Red = 36-end

[nemo]

I also have dual 12 gallon gas tanks and had a terrible problem with gas leaks and smell until I realized that one of the gaskets on the top of the tank was torn. This was on a brand new tank. I was able to order a replacement gasket direct from Tempo.