the forward dorade is not going back in I've never stored the anchor rode forward so it was just another hole that wasn't needed The area around the bow cleat was in good shape so it was reinstalled in the same location with extra large fender washers

As far as I know all J/30's have a deck fitting for a cowl vent at the bow. It may be that you don't use it, but a future owner might find it convenient. Also, I don't believe a previous measurer has made an exception to Class Rule 1.3 and 1.4 for this, so you would need an independent ruling to eliminate it. It would be a shame to be out of compliance over $40 cowl vent and $10 deck plate (at Defender) that could be easily reinstalled during the refit. In another thread people were discouraged from closing off the cowl vents at the transom that provides airflow to the engine. It would be a bad idea to allow those to be removed.

On our boat the forward vent is covered for sailing and fitted with a solar fan dockside. When the door in the v-berth (to the forepeak) is open, there is a considerable flow of air thru the boat. Air flow is good for the boat! Let's keep it. I honestly didnt realize that this was an amenity that was standard to all J/30s.

To me it makes sense to make such a ruling allowing for the removal of the Cowl vent. When I rehabbed my deck I elliminated the cowl/Solar vent
source of water penetration to the core,and placed a hause pipe for the anchor rode mid-bow instead. It is after all an anchor rode locker below. I must also remind that I am not in a OD region. I am the sole J30 Racing in Detroit.

THIS MEETING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED UNTIL TUESDAY 3/20/2012 @ 8:00 PM ET 7:00 PM CT

Charlie, CONGRATS the deck looks very nice. I know you are proud. Regarding the class rules, I would like to do a short conference call to talk about this issue over the phone like we used to do before posting boards and forums. Here are the details for anyone who wants to participate (Bob and Charlie are required)
1. Please join my meeting, Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 7:00 PM Central Daylight Time.

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Dial +1 (773) 897-3008
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Belle Faster #537 doesn't have a bow vent. The bow area was re-cored so it may have been removed then.
I'd hate to miss out on OD fun for that reason. My (vested interest) vote is to make it optional. I can't see that there's any speed advantage to removing it.

It's not whether this or any other modification provides a speed advantage; it's whether the Class intends to enforce Class Rule 1.5. I'd suggest Michael L and the measurer simply reinstall the $40 cowl vent (and deck plate, which by the way is no additional cost) in order to return their boats to original condition.

It should not be easier to get forgiveness than permission, but I suppose they could still request a ruling, particularly if there is evidence that a reasonable number of J/30s were delivered without the vent. Then the question would be how does the measurer obtain a ruling on a boat in which he has a vested interest given CR 4.4? And before you ask, no the measurer can't make a ruling on Michael L's boat and then turn around and apply it to his own.

Several years ago I ran into nav lights failure and it was basically from water sloshing in that "vent" and getting into a wire splice. the vee jays have the plastic cap locked in, and i am waiting for one of my heavier crews to step on it to crack it.

-- It was a failure as an air "vent" for the rope locker to help dry the rode
-- It allowed sea water to slosh into the bow compartment
-- It gets in the way of the spin pole
-- It gets in the way when you have a bowman during a start
-- When used as a hole on the foredeck to keep the anchor attached to the rode ... it adds one more rope on the deck.
-- It may be a reason that J30s sometimes get separation of the top skin on the foredeck.

It is not the question of a $40 part and say $150 labor if a yard is to install. It is a question of what value does it have at all??? and if it has no value, why continue with it???

We have OD racers that race basically with an anchor that will barely hold a dinghy, and no one says boo. I would vote that eliminating that hole in the foredeck is an improvement allowable when repairing the foredeck.

design options of no performance value from 30 years ago need not be perpetuated ad infinitum.

It is accepted practice while racing to install the included deck plate so water cannot intrude. You can also remove and store the cowl below so that it's not in the bow persons way. Like any other deck fitting if installed properly, particularly on a refit, it shouldn't leak.

It's value is that it allows the anchor rode to be stored in the bow locker instead of on deck.

This is a piece of standard equipment that is still readily available. I don't see the hardship of reinstalling it along with all the other hardware that was removed so that the deck could be refinished.

If people in the class want to eliminate it, propose a rule change to make it optional and have the BOG vote on it. You don't get to ignore a rule because you find in inconvenient, particularly if you are the measurer.

My tongue hurts from biting on it so hard...
It's a freegin hole. Some folks need to take a pill and chill out