Many good questions, and good answers too on this forum. It performs a great service to neophites and old salts alike. There are some who post answers when they should not, and this is expected as where is the downside for them? Then questions on installing a valve in a head or which screw will work, or what shower curtain to pick??? You wonder how folks like these ever did anything on their own in life. I mean no one in particular here. Some questions, example: "What size windlass should I install on the bow of my 22 ft sloop?" (possible the fellow is handicapped). "Which roller furler should I replace my forestay with?" Now I know some very energetic hard-working folks who have put on furlers, so I have come to the conclusion that is is NOT lazieness, but more a kinda "see, I have a little money too" to install some of these lazy devices that have caught on, and can be dangerous; I know of at least one yacht that went up on the rocks because he could not reel in his furler, and many more that have had trouble with them. Furling in HEAVY WEATHER is NEVER an easy task, and keeping a yacht tuned with a furler doesn't seem to happen often. A strong wire forestay that one can see and eaily access the turnbuckle is worth a lot in a blow, and a 100% yankee will take a lot of punishment. With a down haul, the jib will yank right down the wire forestay without any trouble nor anyone going onto the foredeck, not so with a furler, and I would not own one for cruising. Having said that I have used them in protected waters, they work fine MOST of the time, but other than stow more effectively have few advantages over a traditional jib. For a list I cannot get my mind around a "LISt" without thinking, 1) worst case scenerio. 2) bluewater, night sailing, fog and the like. Methinks most are talking reefing in a gale of 30 knots or so, but a reef should always be put in to keep BELOW hull speed, and in FULL control of the vessel. A yacht can get away from you awfully fast. 1) Carry a liferaft, inflatable dink, cannester or anything light that will not swamp then sink. A fiberglass dink, with some exceptions and these are a bit heavy to throw over the lifelines in a washing machine at night, an inflatable can be completely swamped and will stay in trim but not sink, I've been there! 2) Carry an EPIRB, without question the best piece of gear to have for a real emergency, they really work. 3) A hand-held VHF. If you do bail out or lose the mast (with antenna) you can hail a ship or USCG repeater. 4) Thru-hull tapered plugs in the emergency bail-out bag so there is NO QUESTION where to look for them, and even in the dink if a valve fails you can plug it. FYI these Avons, Zods, and Achilles can be blown up by lung power, I have done it. 5) Mirror for signaling. This is what the USCG saw when rescuing me 1/2 way to Hawaii, they did not see the three 12 gage flares we had shot off. 6) Six separate pints of water, incase you do have to wati a few days, and a pound of trail mix. 7) In cold waters each crew should tie their wet suit or survival suit into the dink or bag. People do not drown, they die of hyperthermia, formerly known as "exposure". These are the biggies and aside from the suits should go into the bail-bag. As for the vessel 50 years of boating has taught me that special gear on board can be hanky, like an EPIRB or thru-hull plugs, but the most important is thinking ahead: 1) keep sea room. 2) stay out of separation zones, shallow water, and know where you are on the chart at all times, meaning DO NOT USE A WAYPOINT, but use a TRACKLINE, and know where you are in realtion to the environment. 3) Have tools aboard, especially for changing fuel filters and bleeding the system, and practice doing it before leaving the marina, this more than anything has caused me more trouble than all...Dirty fuel. With a diesel engine it is fuel 99% of the time. Gas has a high "flashpoint" and needs much more care, but will run with air in the lines, so no bleeding required. 4) Be aware! this means tides, fog, where you can anchor, and turn around and head back into the same port you left at the first sign of trouble. You can always leave again, no SHORTCUTS they lead to major trouble. 5) A working VHF and keep it turned on, especially when near traffic. 6) this one is misplaced as it should be first here, I always check the weather days before a delivery, and more frequently as date approaches, I have rescheduled many times because of weather. People ask about cut-off points and when to reschedule. This is a tough one to answer specifically, but here goes to share my experience only, IN winter, I don't do deliveries in winter anylonger but did, I am much more conservatve for obvious reasons. IN spring ans summer you can have gale force winds, I have seen over forty knots, off a high. The simple addage is: twenty-five knots, and ten foot seas, not for mees. If it is destined to get better or will not get worse I will leave with these conditions, and if it is a 45 ft vessel (well found) I will too, and there are other conditions, like where it is going, if heading south with a NW as usual sround this coast, I'll go with thirty knots and more at times , but beating into it things break and I get blamed, so try to pick your time, but on a Hawaii trip you got what ya got, so hove to early, and the very best now days is the "Series Drouge" a series of small parachtes connected to 3/4 or 1" line rather than the big ol parachute that used to 'spin' and unravel or knot up the line if the hardware failed. Forgive the 'pet-peeve' against furlers. I am not that old fashioned, use much of the mod equipment, but have mucho trouble with furlers and consider them a liablility in a real blow. I hope this helps someone down the line, there is a book to be written here, but do not believe all that you read, I have seen some real garbage out there. "FastNet 79" and The " Annapolis Book of Seamanship" are two fine books from a very knowledgable no-nonsense seaman. Both availble at West Marine or the libray of congress. There are likely things missed here, you need a book, but common sense, and thinking ahead will keep you out of most difficulties...;-)
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Been sailing many years
So know most of this stuff. Did not know about the serious drogue though. All in all an honest and practical post.
So know most of this stuff. Did not know about the serious drogue though. All in all an honest and practical post.
Finally
Thanks C'Don, for just putting it out there. It's about time. It's your boat, learn about it, and sail safe. Gee, how hard can that be? OK, OK, people get "caught out," so, like Din says, "Be prepared." Stu PS OK, I couldn't help it: do your research and homework.
Thanks C'Don, for just putting it out there. It's about time. It's your boat, learn about it, and sail safe. Gee, how hard can that be? OK, OK, people get "caught out," so, like Din says, "Be prepared." Stu PS OK, I couldn't help it: do your research and homework.
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