J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Starting Spring prelaunch chores

While getting ready to fit a new hose on the packing fitting we noticed that a standard heavy wall hose will not fit. The space between the hull and the fiberglass tube that is glassed to the hull is very tight allowing only a hose similar to a car radiator to fit. Any comments? We also noticed that the engine muffler was mounted on the port side of the engine space screwed directly to the hull with 1" screws. I can see that there is a square mounting area on the starboard side which is the size of the muffler base. If mounted there we will have to add an elbow because the exhaust hose will not bend to fit. Where is your muffler? Does anyone us camcleats to hold the sheets off the Primaries and where do you place them? Lastly is anyone going to attend the J Boat open house on 9 March? Hope to see some J30'ers

I have camcleats for my primaries. They are on the couple inches of angled coaming inboard of the winches. (This is on an original style J-30 that doesn't have real coamings).

I cant comment on the stern tube hose problem as I have not had a need to change it yet.

The muffler on #359 is mounted on that pad your describe on the starboard side of the compartment.

I changed to cam cleats and placed them on the sloping portion of the cockpit inboard of each winch where the original cleats were. I was able to place the cam cleats in a position that provided a good lead to the winch and covered the original holes.

I like the cam cleats alot better but they do take some getting used to. My crew has had to learn to be more careful climbing up to the high side after a tack in order to avoid kicking the sheet out of the cleat.

Replaced the hose last spring. I used a piece of "Marine Water/Exhaust Hose (with Wire)" from West marine. It was either 1 7/8 (part # 227140) or 2" (part #227157). The original hose had wire and my boatyard wanted to sell me stuff without wire. I have no idea if the wire will ever matter.

It was a very tight fit as the original hose was actually glassed in somewhat with some of the tabbing that holds the engine pan in. Had to chip the origninal hose out a bit.

I used that drippless packing in the stuffing box. That is very nice!