How could it be that another year has passed? And where did it go? Remember all those little -- and not so little -- notes you wrote on yellow Post-its, on odd scraps of paper, on your computer, and lots of other places, with reminders of boat-related chores you promised yourself last year you would get done? So, as the New Year rolls in, how did you do marking off the completed items? Do you routinely make boat related resolutions as each new year begins? If you do, how do you prioritize them? If you don't make boat related resolutions, how do you keep track of what needs to be done -- or what you have completed? Share with us what you resolve to do in regard to your boat this new year whether it be a skill you need to learn or relearn, or a project that has been nagging to get done, and then take the short quiz on the homepage. (Discussion topic and quiz by Warren Milberg)
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Resolutions
I'm addicted to writing little lists of things that need to be done on my boat. I'm convinced you just can't keep up with all the things that should be done. So...I list all the things of importance or safety first; all the other stuff gets done -- or nearly so -- whenever I get around to it. As an East Coast sailor, I actually look forward (but not too forward....)to winter with my boat up on the hard. We both take a breather and relax. And then I start the projects. Happy New Year to you all.
I'm addicted to writing little lists of things that need to be done on my boat. I'm convinced you just can't keep up with all the things that should be done. So...I list all the things of importance or safety first; all the other stuff gets done -- or nearly so -- whenever I get around to it. As an East Coast sailor, I actually look forward (but not too forward....)to winter with my boat up on the hard. We both take a breather and relax. And then I start the projects. Happy New Year to you all.
Work More Sail More
I need to work on the boat more. This last year I did some work like varnishing the woodwork but the boat needs more stuff maintained and repaired. It's just that when I get to the boat I want to sail. So I resolve to spend more time on the boat. At least as much time sailing as last year and more time doing all those little tasks that keep piling up. install the solar panel new cushion covers valves and injectors varnishing bottom paint replace mast step which is corroded spend at least 2 weekends or 4 days on board/month two week vacation on-board replace speed paddlewheel
I need to work on the boat more. This last year I did some work like varnishing the woodwork but the boat needs more stuff maintained and repaired. It's just that when I get to the boat I want to sail. So I resolve to spend more time on the boat. At least as much time sailing as last year and more time doing all those little tasks that keep piling up. install the solar panel new cushion covers valves and injectors varnishing bottom paint replace mast step which is corroded spend at least 2 weekends or 4 days on board/month two week vacation on-board replace speed paddlewheel
Go cruising
Like Pete I always have a list of little projects. My big resolution is to graduate from our lake and take our new C250 up to the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands for some cruising. We'll go with some folks who are experienced to help us learn the ropes. The Admiral is looking forward to it too. This will be a big step for us.
Like Pete I always have a list of little projects. My big resolution is to graduate from our lake and take our new C250 up to the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands for some cruising. We'll go with some folks who are experienced to help us learn the ropes. The Admiral is looking forward to it too. This will be a big step for us.
The one thing that I must do this year
is to learn to sail slowly. Almost all of the sail trim advise involves getting the best speed out of the boat but sometimes we need to approach slowly under sail and then stop the boat and drop the sails. I have watched boats with crews come into a dock, stop and tie up, all under sail but I need to learn how and then practice this manuever.
is to learn to sail slowly. Almost all of the sail trim advise involves getting the best speed out of the boat but sometimes we need to approach slowly under sail and then stop the boat and drop the sails. I have watched boats with crews come into a dock, stop and tie up, all under sail but I need to learn how and then practice this manuever.
My big mouth
I had mentioned to the better half I'd like to know how to use a sextant. Lo and behold a Christmas sextant did appear. Along with an encyclopedia on how to use it. Guess I'll be busy for a while.
I had mentioned to the better half I'd like to know how to use a sextant. Lo and behold a Christmas sextant did appear. Along with an encyclopedia on how to use it. Guess I'll be busy for a while.
Doug and others...
Learning celestial over the winter is a great way to pass the time -- and it's a skill you'll love to have in your inventory. Bill Buckley wrote a great book about how to learn celestial in a few easy steps and it really works. You can buy the book for about $10 on Amazon or the DVD or $30 on Google or eBay. Can't beat it. See link. I always like to use the winter to brush up on old skills as it's really easy to forget stuff by the time the boat goes back into the drink.
Learning celestial over the winter is a great way to pass the time -- and it's a skill you'll love to have in your inventory. Bill Buckley wrote a great book about how to learn celestial in a few easy steps and it really works. You can buy the book for about $10 on Amazon or the DVD or $30 on Google or eBay. Can't beat it. See link. I always like to use the winter to brush up on old skills as it's really easy to forget stuff by the time the boat goes back into the drink.
The list
A few weeks ago, in response to a similar question, I submitted my rather lengthy list of winter work. It is perhaps useful to others insofar as it was sequential from work that can be done in the slip in November, to the set-up for hauling/winterizing, to work that can be done at home, to work on the hards, etc. A critic responded that I was pretty anal, which is debatable. In any case, I think lists present objectives that can be checked off over time, giving one a sense of accomplishment.
A few weeks ago, in response to a similar question, I submitted my rather lengthy list of winter work. It is perhaps useful to others insofar as it was sequential from work that can be done in the slip in November, to the set-up for hauling/winterizing, to work that can be done at home, to work on the hards, etc. A critic responded that I was pretty anal, which is debatable. In any case, I think lists present objectives that can be checked off over time, giving one a sense of accomplishment.
I Wanna Go Coastal
I bought my boat in 2001 and have sailed the middle Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore to Deltaville. I've done both coastal and blue water sailing a half dozen times in the last four years but never as captain on my own boat. So 2007 will be the year I take my 1983 H34 out the C&D canal and either up to NY City and out to the north shore of Long Island or down to the mouth of the Chesapeake for a DELMARVA circumnavigation. I've been preparing the boat and myself for two seasons for this and I can't wait. Joe Mullee
I bought my boat in 2001 and have sailed the middle Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore to Deltaville. I've done both coastal and blue water sailing a half dozen times in the last four years but never as captain on my own boat. So 2007 will be the year I take my 1983 H34 out the C&D canal and either up to NY City and out to the north shore of Long Island or down to the mouth of the Chesapeake for a DELMARVA circumnavigation. I've been preparing the boat and myself for two seasons for this and I can't wait. Joe Mullee
Retire from retirement again
thats what were going to do next year, a friend of mine more so than me spent more time working on the boat than sailing it. I did get a new VHF and installed it, also bought a new for me 10' dingy with a motor and trailor and had a ball with it, replumbed the terlet with new hoses that should last for a 1000 years. I also took a course from North U on sail trim and racing tactics. Installed a new convection/micro wave oven in the boat, and a battery charger.All in all I got most of what I wanted to do done. In 2007 all my woodworking, and building comes to a hault. I plan on sailing either on my Newport 30 or on Daves Fuji 32 ketch about 5-6 days a week. Due to medical problems with the Admiral we can't travel this summer. But next year we are planning a 5 boat flottila trip to all the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay for about 9 weeks or until the weather chases us home.I will finish the teak this spring, and buy new sails, might consider enclosing the cockpit, I can sew. I've seen it done on another Newport 30 at the Newport site, it adds another dimension to the cockpit. Our December is the warmest in recorded history, lets hope the summer is also. HAPPY NEWYEARS TO EVERYONE
thats what were going to do next year, a friend of mine more so than me spent more time working on the boat than sailing it. I did get a new VHF and installed it, also bought a new for me 10' dingy with a motor and trailor and had a ball with it, replumbed the terlet with new hoses that should last for a 1000 years. I also took a course from North U on sail trim and racing tactics. Installed a new convection/micro wave oven in the boat, and a battery charger.All in all I got most of what I wanted to do done. In 2007 all my woodworking, and building comes to a hault. I plan on sailing either on my Newport 30 or on Daves Fuji 32 ketch about 5-6 days a week. Due to medical problems with the Admiral we can't travel this summer. But next year we are planning a 5 boat flottila trip to all the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay for about 9 weeks or until the weather chases us home.I will finish the teak this spring, and buy new sails, might consider enclosing the cockpit, I can sew. I've seen it done on another Newport 30 at the Newport site, it adds another dimension to the cockpit. Our December is the warmest in recorded history, lets hope the summer is also. HAPPY NEWYEARS TO EVERYONE
1985 ofday anniversary 26 ftr
Ross , you say learn to sail slowly I say learn to ski slowly.TRy coming up into the wind on someones mooring a few times and grab the pennant before you try the dock thing. I learned to sail on a 17 ft oday and we always had problems with the motor so we saile to the dock, it now seems second nature. The boat is larger but th satisfaction is also greater.
Ross , you say learn to sail slowly I say learn to ski slowly.TRy coming up into the wind on someones mooring a few times and grab the pennant before you try the dock thing. I learned to sail on a 17 ft oday and we always had problems with the motor so we saile to the dock, it now seems second nature. The boat is larger but th satisfaction is also greater.
get out of Cleveland
My whole life has been struggling against: Pick anything.... SO, next year, the house goes, the junk goes, what doens't fit on the boat goes, then I go...to the Caribbean and BEYOND.... Yeah Right!
My whole life has been struggling against: Pick anything.... SO, next year, the house goes, the junk goes, what doens't fit on the boat goes, then I go...to the Caribbean and BEYOND.... Yeah Right!
the one thing
In the past 3 yeasr I've owned my O'Day 28 I have made her a faster boat (everything from new sails, vang,traveller,spectra halyards, electronics, etc.) It is now time to make her interior beautiful. I will be covering the interior hull with tongue and groove ceder planking, installing some carpeting on the floor, repairing the fresh water system, installing quality sound system,and re-covering the setee and v-berth cushions. That "should" make the S.O much happier. Mike C. O'28 "Da Capo"
In the past 3 yeasr I've owned my O'Day 28 I have made her a faster boat (everything from new sails, vang,traveller,spectra halyards, electronics, etc.) It is now time to make her interior beautiful. I will be covering the interior hull with tongue and groove ceder planking, installing some carpeting on the floor, repairing the fresh water system, installing quality sound system,and re-covering the setee and v-berth cushions. That "should" make the S.O much happier. Mike C. O'28 "Da Capo"
Bought our C25 in March
Once it was in my hands, the previous owner handed me his project list. Mine is now much the same, but here is what we did this year. Let me point out that all of this was by choice..we could have just sailed away without doing anything. Wonder how I screwed up! 1. New masthead sheaves. 2. New steaming light. 3. New anchor light. 4. Harken furler and genoa installed along with furling line to cockpit. 5. Refinish all of the teak including companionway steps. (All done except for handrails set for spring.) 6. Bought VHF radio, PFD's and PFD cushions, new porta potti, Binoculars, new tiller tamer, cabin fans, new and improved table brackets for cabin table, new windex for mast top, added curtains to cabin ports (custom made, not the pleated kind.), and last but not least, a pfd for the dog. 7. Re-ran boom topping lift and jib halyard and dousing line. 8. New sheaves for traveler car. 9. Added waterline foam insulation to swim ladder for comfort. Wow..for owning the boat for 8 months, it seems like quite a bit. Next year? Sail, sail, sail, drink some beer, sail, sail, sail. oops... I knew there was something. I am planning on a new electrical panel in the cabin. Shouldn't be too hard of a task.. the wiring is all fine and doesn't need replacing, just the panel. Then in the fall, the boat comes out for a bottom job. That I will have done rather than tackle it myself. And lastly, keep looking for a bigger boat... I am totally, totally nuts.
Once it was in my hands, the previous owner handed me his project list. Mine is now much the same, but here is what we did this year. Let me point out that all of this was by choice..we could have just sailed away without doing anything. Wonder how I screwed up! 1. New masthead sheaves. 2. New steaming light. 3. New anchor light. 4. Harken furler and genoa installed along with furling line to cockpit. 5. Refinish all of the teak including companionway steps. (All done except for handrails set for spring.) 6. Bought VHF radio, PFD's and PFD cushions, new porta potti, Binoculars, new tiller tamer, cabin fans, new and improved table brackets for cabin table, new windex for mast top, added curtains to cabin ports (custom made, not the pleated kind.), and last but not least, a pfd for the dog. 7. Re-ran boom topping lift and jib halyard and dousing line. 8. New sheaves for traveler car. 9. Added waterline foam insulation to swim ladder for comfort. Wow..for owning the boat for 8 months, it seems like quite a bit. Next year? Sail, sail, sail, drink some beer, sail, sail, sail. oops... I knew there was something. I am planning on a new electrical panel in the cabin. Shouldn't be too hard of a task.. the wiring is all fine and doesn't need replacing, just the panel. Then in the fall, the boat comes out for a bottom job. That I will have done rather than tackle it myself. And lastly, keep looking for a bigger boat... I am totally, totally nuts.
Routine Work will set you Free
No New Year Resolutions for me. Resolutions just add guilt to the existing problem. Sailing for me is already its own paradox. I sail to relax and to get away from Life's endless schedules and routines. However, in order to Sail more, I have to create more of them. Fortunately for me, after spending 20 years in the US Army I've been conditioned for life on how to approach, track and perform preventive maintenance checks and services on a host of vehicles and equipment. So, in true military fashion I go through each system (i.e. automotive, navigation, sails, rigging, electronics, plumbing,..etc.) and repair any minor things I can at that time or determine and note the cause and remedy of those things I can't fix right now. These latter items make up my 'defered' project list and have to compete for my limited Money $$ and Time. I keep this list with my Log Book. Priorization is easy. Safety related items are automatically at the top of the list, followed by any items that will prevent me from sailing period. The rest of the list is made up of those things that need attention or repair, but will NOT prevent me from sailing safely. After safety, remember Sailing is always #1! Much of the routine maintenance (oil changes, cleaning, varnishing, painting, polishing and etc.) that nags the sun belt sailors, gets done here in Michigan just because you have to do these things in order to 'de-commission' the boat in October or 're-commission' it in April. As it turns out, this really a blessing in disguise. So, what's left on my List? Here's the top 10: 1. Get Sail Cover repaired. 2. Replace House Batteries (going on 4 years/hold 90% charge) 3. Fix mast 'deck light'. 4. Buy new 'rocks' and clean cockpit BBQ. 5. Replace line clutches. 6. Re-bed deck handholds. 7. Replace Jib halyard. 8. Build a larger battery box. 9. Buy safety line cushions (tubes). 10. Buy a 2000W battery inverter. Regards, James
No New Year Resolutions for me. Resolutions just add guilt to the existing problem. Sailing for me is already its own paradox. I sail to relax and to get away from Life's endless schedules and routines. However, in order to Sail more, I have to create more of them. Fortunately for me, after spending 20 years in the US Army I've been conditioned for life on how to approach, track and perform preventive maintenance checks and services on a host of vehicles and equipment. So, in true military fashion I go through each system (i.e. automotive, navigation, sails, rigging, electronics, plumbing,..etc.) and repair any minor things I can at that time or determine and note the cause and remedy of those things I can't fix right now. These latter items make up my 'defered' project list and have to compete for my limited Money $$ and Time. I keep this list with my Log Book. Priorization is easy. Safety related items are automatically at the top of the list, followed by any items that will prevent me from sailing period. The rest of the list is made up of those things that need attention or repair, but will NOT prevent me from sailing safely. After safety, remember Sailing is always #1! Much of the routine maintenance (oil changes, cleaning, varnishing, painting, polishing and etc.) that nags the sun belt sailors, gets done here in Michigan just because you have to do these things in order to 'de-commission' the boat in October or 're-commission' it in April. As it turns out, this really a blessing in disguise. So, what's left on my List? Here's the top 10: 1. Get Sail Cover repaired. 2. Replace House Batteries (going on 4 years/hold 90% charge) 3. Fix mast 'deck light'. 4. Buy new 'rocks' and clean cockpit BBQ. 5. Replace line clutches. 6. Re-bed deck handholds. 7. Replace Jib halyard. 8. Build a larger battery box. 9. Buy safety line cushions (tubes). 10. Buy a 2000W battery inverter. Regards, James
No list
No list for me. Since every project takes about three times longer than I think it will, I just concentrate on what I feel is the most important repair/upgrade needed for safety and security that can be accomplished while it's in the water or out. If I can get any comfort or cosmetic work done I consider that to be a bonus.
No list for me. Since every project takes about three times longer than I think it will, I just concentrate on what I feel is the most important repair/upgrade needed for safety and security that can be accomplished while it's in the water or out. If I can get any comfort or cosmetic work done I consider that to be a bonus.
It's the journey
not the destination. That is, just making a list forces me to think about what needs to get done on the boat. That process is the important thing. Everything else is merely a function of time, money, skill, and commitment...;D
not the destination. That is, just making a list forces me to think about what needs to get done on the boat. That process is the important thing. Everything else is merely a function of time, money, skill, and commitment...;D
No list !
No list for me, I know what has to be done, the problem is, when am I going to take the time to do what needs to be done ! As for a New Years Resolution, I have no problem making or keeping my New Years Resolution, its the same one every year and that is..... Don't make any New Year Resolutions ! Happy New Year .....
No list for me, I know what has to be done, the problem is, when am I going to take the time to do what needs to be done ! As for a New Years Resolution, I have no problem making or keeping my New Years Resolution, its the same one every year and that is..... Don't make any New Year Resolutions ! Happy New Year .....
To take this Old Boat...
Be it resolved that I will take this Old US made boat and rework it into a world capable cruiser. That I will then, by the grace of the Gods, cruise the Milk Run into paradise. Disappear into the world never to return to the Race of the Rats. Ahh, back to reality.. Be it resolved that I will go to work every day, Slave away and pinch my pennies for the day when I can sail away to some place warm, cool and peaceful. Where I can live out my days in harmony with mother ocean and the clear blue seas. Ahh, back to fantasy… That’s better, it’s easy.
Be it resolved that I will take this Old US made boat and rework it into a world capable cruiser. That I will then, by the grace of the Gods, cruise the Milk Run into paradise. Disappear into the world never to return to the Race of the Rats. Ahh, back to reality.. Be it resolved that I will go to work every day, Slave away and pinch my pennies for the day when I can sail away to some place warm, cool and peaceful. Where I can live out my days in harmony with mother ocean and the clear blue seas. Ahh, back to fantasy… That’s better, it’s easy.
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