Well, what a long, slow, interesting trip 2015 has been! As some of you may know, my boat was on the hard going all the way back to 2010 due to military moves and deployments…. The place I had my boat stored from 2010-2014 was a disaster and they did nothing to keep an eye on my boat or let me know about its condition. They also “lost” three of my headsails that were marked and stored in their office! (Carr Creek Marina, Maryland). So when I got my boat to Chicago last summer, thinking that I’d just do a heavy cleaning and tune and hit the water, I had a major task in front of me.
Yesterday I finally took my wife sailing after a solid year of maintenance. Although I sailed my boat once back at the end of July from the yard to my slip (10 miles or so) I felt it was in no way “Admiral Ready” as the head was non-functional, engine exhaust gasket leaked a little smoke, etc….. I still feel that, appearance wise, the boat is not up to snuff for the Admiral but she was game enough to sail, as the weather was just perfect yesterday out on Lake Michigan. My wife even assembled the new anchor that arrived! What a trooper.
So what have I learned/relearned after this long period of maintenance?
• Boats will take either your time or your money…and usually both.
o That is not necessarily a bad thing, if boats are what you’re into.
o As a percentage of your income it’s usually not too bad, unless you need a major repair or a new engine. As a percentage of your time, every project takes twice to three times as long as planned.
• No matter how into boating you are, you never get onto the water as much as you’d want OR as much as you thought.
• Unless you pay LOTS of money to a third party to do ALL your work, the work is never done and it is very hard to reach an “ideal state” with any boat.
o Again this is not actually a negative, it is healthy to have something to strive for.
• The best solution is always the simple solution.
Although I’ve owned my boat for over 12 years now, I credit boat ownership with introducing me to all kinds of new mechanical skills just this year. This year I have learned the new skills of: welding, fiberglass work, mast and boom refinishing, sail panel replacement and sewing, head rebuilding, rope splicing, diesel engine rebuilding, diesel engine part machining, diesel fuel system orientation, winch rebuilding, fiberglass core epoxy filling, and installation of through-hulls.
I’ve also experimented with all kinds of standing and running rigging-related ropework and woodworking after reading some great books about gaff-rigged vessels. I re-rigged my jib with blocks at the clew to get a 2:1 purchase on the sheets. It may now be a bit more dangerous to go take-in a flapping jib, but what I’ve gained in low-effort sheet control is priceless. On my other boat, a Rebel 16’, I’ve contemplated switching to gaff-rig and a wooden mast just to try it out for fun! I’ve also come to the conclusion that our modern-style, high-stress Bermudian rigs are more expensive and complex than is really necessary for recreational sailing. I’m not saying that classic rigging techniques or gaff-rig is the better rig…just that all the focus on ‘performance’ that filters down to us recreational sailors is just fluff. Sailing 0.2kts faster, 5* closer to the wind is not worth all the hassle of and price of jib tracks, over tall masts with their requisite high-tension wire rigging, focus on winches for mechanical advantage as opposed to pulleys, Kevlar sails, roller reefing, high-tech line, and so on. I for one now strive for LESS lines to adjust and less complexity…even though it might take me 15 more minutes to get to my destination.
I’ve enjoyed putting new technology into an old boat. When my boat was built (1978) there was no GPS, LED lights, DIY Epoxy supplies, Starboard, dripless shaft packing, synthetic oil, USB outlets, satellite weather imaging, AIS, EPIRBS, solar panels, solar vents, or internet. Like the Bionic Man my boat is lighter, more efficient, water tight, and stronger than it was before (not faster though…let’s not kid anybody).
And finally, it’s the friends I’ve made in the boatyard and at the marina that have been the highlight of this last year’s refitting effort. Free advice, repurposed used quality gear, invitations to sail, bar-b-ques, parties, helping others fix their boats…that’s what life is all about!
Yesterday I finally took my wife sailing after a solid year of maintenance. Although I sailed my boat once back at the end of July from the yard to my slip (10 miles or so) I felt it was in no way “Admiral Ready” as the head was non-functional, engine exhaust gasket leaked a little smoke, etc….. I still feel that, appearance wise, the boat is not up to snuff for the Admiral but she was game enough to sail, as the weather was just perfect yesterday out on Lake Michigan. My wife even assembled the new anchor that arrived! What a trooper.
So what have I learned/relearned after this long period of maintenance?
• Boats will take either your time or your money…and usually both.
o That is not necessarily a bad thing, if boats are what you’re into.
o As a percentage of your income it’s usually not too bad, unless you need a major repair or a new engine. As a percentage of your time, every project takes twice to three times as long as planned.
• No matter how into boating you are, you never get onto the water as much as you’d want OR as much as you thought.
• Unless you pay LOTS of money to a third party to do ALL your work, the work is never done and it is very hard to reach an “ideal state” with any boat.
o Again this is not actually a negative, it is healthy to have something to strive for.
• The best solution is always the simple solution.
Although I’ve owned my boat for over 12 years now, I credit boat ownership with introducing me to all kinds of new mechanical skills just this year. This year I have learned the new skills of: welding, fiberglass work, mast and boom refinishing, sail panel replacement and sewing, head rebuilding, rope splicing, diesel engine rebuilding, diesel engine part machining, diesel fuel system orientation, winch rebuilding, fiberglass core epoxy filling, and installation of through-hulls.
I’ve also experimented with all kinds of standing and running rigging-related ropework and woodworking after reading some great books about gaff-rigged vessels. I re-rigged my jib with blocks at the clew to get a 2:1 purchase on the sheets. It may now be a bit more dangerous to go take-in a flapping jib, but what I’ve gained in low-effort sheet control is priceless. On my other boat, a Rebel 16’, I’ve contemplated switching to gaff-rig and a wooden mast just to try it out for fun! I’ve also come to the conclusion that our modern-style, high-stress Bermudian rigs are more expensive and complex than is really necessary for recreational sailing. I’m not saying that classic rigging techniques or gaff-rig is the better rig…just that all the focus on ‘performance’ that filters down to us recreational sailors is just fluff. Sailing 0.2kts faster, 5* closer to the wind is not worth all the hassle of and price of jib tracks, over tall masts with their requisite high-tension wire rigging, focus on winches for mechanical advantage as opposed to pulleys, Kevlar sails, roller reefing, high-tech line, and so on. I for one now strive for LESS lines to adjust and less complexity…even though it might take me 15 more minutes to get to my destination.
I’ve enjoyed putting new technology into an old boat. When my boat was built (1978) there was no GPS, LED lights, DIY Epoxy supplies, Starboard, dripless shaft packing, synthetic oil, USB outlets, satellite weather imaging, AIS, EPIRBS, solar panels, solar vents, or internet. Like the Bionic Man my boat is lighter, more efficient, water tight, and stronger than it was before (not faster though…let’s not kid anybody).
And finally, it’s the friends I’ve made in the boatyard and at the marina that have been the highlight of this last year’s refitting effort. Free advice, repurposed used quality gear, invitations to sail, bar-b-ques, parties, helping others fix their boats…that’s what life is all about!