1st Season Update

[Ward H]

As I was asking some more questions here on the forums, I thought I would share a couple of photos from our first full season of sailing our O'day 25.

With the help of many on this forum I got a lot done in the spring. Complete bottom redo, re bedded hardware, new rub rail, buff and polish the topsides and new standing and running rigging. After a late start due to weather, the projects taking twice as long as estimated and motor problems, we started sailing regularly by the end of July.

We had a blast sailing and learned quite a bit. Admiral is fully hooked. We sailed up to the end of October and now we are looking forward to the spring.

Thanks All!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Good looking crew you've got there.

Remember that on boat projects .............. they normally take five time as long as what they'd take if done in a workshop.

 

[31seahorse]

Hi Ward H,

Very fine looking O'Day! In the picture of the boat in its slip......I like the idea of an extra line on the side opposite the finger pier. We will be in a similar situation next summer.

(1) Is the fender at the bow meant to be a substitute for spring lines? If it is do you have any concern about the boat rising over that fender due to tidal change?

(2) I believe I hear Ottis Redding singing in the background of the last picture. The dogs are certainly paying close attention to the words of "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay".

Best Wishes for a Happy New Year
Phil

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Nice memories of warmer weather!

We'll be back there soon. How do you like it in Barnegat? I drove thru there recently and it seems like it might be a very pleasant place to keep the boat.

Is "Moon Shadow" your name or did the boat come with the name? Nice choice, either way!

 

[Scott B]

Nice dogs

Amber's spent all 6 years on the boat with us and loves it.

 

[Ward H]

Phil,
The line and fender are part of the v-shaped bridle system common in our marina. The lines are stretchy but keep me off my neighbor boats. If needed I can grab one of the lines and pull myself in also. The fender at the point keeps me from hitting the dock. The few times I have come in too hot the bridle acts as a slingshot and shoots me back out of the slip but keeps the bow from hitting the dock. Not enough tide swing to go over the fender. I also use a spring line from the pier side aft piling to the port winch.

Scott T,
We love the Barnegat. Due to the barrier islands of Island Beach and LBI there is always a sea breeze. We got in a couple of dozen day sails. Never had to cancel a sail due to a windless day. Normal was 10 to 15 with several days pushing 22. Might have missed a day or two due to higher wind forecast.
From Forked River north the bay can get crowded but south of FR we found plenty of room and on week days we often would be by our selves. We are slipped at Mariner's Marina in Barnegat. 2 minutes from the Parkway so we beat most of the summer traffic issues.
Not many sailing destinations but several nice anchorages make it great for day sails and an occasional overnighter.
We named the boat Moon Shadow after the Cat Stevens song and because we love watching full moon, moon rises. Our goal was to watch them from the water.
In Oct we got the first chance of the season to watch the sunset, see some meteors and then watch the full moon rise over LBI with Old Barney flashing it's light, all while drifting in the middle of the bay. A shot of Grey Goose (just one) topped off the night.

Scott B
Prety girl you go there.

Ralph,
You got that right. Besides having to remember all the tools and parts everything took much longer than planned.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Ward, I had work at a condo association right down the road and noticed Mariners as I drove past, and I was thinking that Mariners looks like a good place to locate our boat. How are the neighbors?

I kind of like driving down that far, but my wife can't stand the shore traffic and she doesn't really like the shore that much either ... she prefers the "mountains" we have up here. It's a hard sell, but I thought Barnegat looks like just the sort of small town that might have some attraction for her.

 

[Pat]

I think she loves you two.

 

[seadaddler]

More

Hope you get out early spring for some great sailing next year now you know your season is shorter than ours down here Fl.
When we were up north in NY my boat was first of April in the Water so we were ready for what ever weather and got to see if every thing was working like it should.
Nick

 

[Stu Jackson]

We named the boat Moon Shadow after the Cat Stevens song and because we love watching full moon, moon rises. Our goal was to watch them from the water.

Great goal. Priceless experience.

 

[Ward H]

Scott T,
Mariner's is mostly a sailing marina. Since Sandy they have a few more power boats. they also bought a torn up power boat marina one marina down. I suspect the power boats will move there when it has been renovated.
The marina is kind of laid back. All the boat owners I have met there have been friendly and helpful. I dock single handed so if any of the dock mates are around they are quick to come over in case I need help. Facilities are nice. You can see in the second photo I am just three slips from the open water which means more exposure but much better views. There are more protected slips. Sailboats and bigger power boats follow the channel past the public docks and condos to get to deeper water, then it is sails up.

With Mariner's on the west side of the bay, you really don't get tied up in beach traffic. Rt72 going into LBI can be a nightmare but we take Rt 70 to Rt 72 to Rt 554 (or 544) which cuts off 72 before the heavy traffic. Figure an hour drive from Rt295.

PM me if you want to come down to check out the marina more or want to try a sail on the BB in the spring.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Thanks Ward, I'd like that. I'll look forward to spring!

 

[dj2210]

Ward and Scott- A nice weekend trip we use to do when we had our Morgan 34 in Tom's River was sail out of Barnegat Light and up to Manasquan inlet. Spend the night there, we use to tie up at the Shrimp Box restaurant for a small fee. Then Sunday morning motor thru the Manasquan river/Pt. Pleasant Canal and back to Tom's river.

 

[Ward H]

Doug,
Sounds like a nice trip. I just traced it out on Google Earth.

We haven't ventured outside yet, need a bit more experience and for now the Bay is plenty big enough for us. For our first season, we seemed to settle into 4 to 6 hr day sails. Hoping to try some overnighters this season.