EVENT HORIZON Sail Countdown

Cpt. Jon · Sep 4, 2009

Haha, now they are doomed. This might be the first lesson of "don't sail to a schedule" for them...

Scott T-Bird · Sep 4, 2009

Ahoy, Mate!

If it's gonna happen, it'll happen out there!

We're all pullin' hard for ya! I always smile at the scene in Cap't Ron when they shut down the 'Fairchild 1200 ponies' and there's nothing but the wind to carry them along! Here's hoping you aren't in the clutches of 'gorillas'!

Good luck and have fun!

Benny · Sep 4, 2009

Don't leave on a Friday!

Joe · Sep 4, 2009

yeah... I do wish them good luck... Just hope they practices raising and lowering the mainsail while tied up to the dock before venturing out in open water.

My question to all you corpus christi area sailors is why you haven't offered to take them sailing or dropped by to give him some pointers on how to get his boat set up. Come on all you Texas boys... be neighborly.

Hermit Scott · Sep 5, 2009

My marina only has a few people in it. However we were sleeping in this morning, and someone pulled up to the stern and yelled at us to get up and go sailing. We hopped on with Arnold(the dog) and went out for a few hours. They were on a catalina 25. The engine doesn't run well, so they were just sailing out and back in with out it. The boat is small enough that we could man handle it away from the docks.
The wind died on the way back in. The owner said his engine wouldn't run. I pulled the cover and studied it a minute. I put the choke on and pulled it and it started on the first try. However, the battery exploded. I wish I had a camera. It literally exploded as soon as the engine started. I have heard of this, but never withnessed it before.
So we had a pretty good time sailing for the first time. Not a lot of wind but enough, and good company.

BobM · Sep 6, 2009

Hermit's next engine

Can't wait to hear about the maiden voyage under sail!

I was wondering if you were going to sail or start working on the new engine rebuild. :dance:

Hermit Scott · Sep 6, 2009

BobM said:
Can't wait to hear about the maiden voyage under sail!

I was wondering if you were going to sail or start working on the new engine rebuild. :dance:

We usually go to the boat on the weekend. I will rebuild the engine during the week.

Hermit Scott · Sep 12, 2009

I ran the new all rope halyard, threw out the wire thing. I hooked up an outhaul with a 2:1 purchase. Put cleats on for the topping lift and outhaul, and ran the new main sheet. I hoisted the main on the dock, everything looked good.
A guy that kinda works at the marina came over to see what was up and ended up going out with us. The wind was from 3 to 15 knots. with the main only we were able to squeeze out 3.3 knots at the fastest, and 1.7 when the wind was low. Sailing for the first time on my boat was a great experience. You guys were right about how smooth it is when I cut the engine and how the boat heels a little and smooths out the ride; much better than motoring.
When we came back in, I have a spring line type set up that makes docking a breeze. I made a boat hook so, leaving the dock and coming back in is very smooth now. Nothing was hectic or scary for anyone. Everything went very smooth.
It's been about a year or so of working on this boat to get to this point, to be able to sail it. The work has been enjoyable and I appriciate everyone's help, getting me this far along.

kloudie1 · Sep 13, 2009

Great news, Hermit!.. Congratulations!!
NOW.. when ya get the genoa up and she starts moving along smartly... you'll be really hooked!!! A good thing !

Cpt. Jon · Sep 13, 2009

Glad to hear it was a breeze

... and just in time for sailing season down there I imagine, heck it's the best time of year around here to, in my opinion. Any pics?

Cheers!

Bob S · Sep 13, 2009

Congrats!

I know I'm not that far ahead of you on the learning curve. We started our sailing adventures with the jib. My wife was petrified the first time the boat heeled. i found it easier to furl the jib than to drop the main which requires me on deck (haven't had the time to figure out how to set up the dutchman). I enjoyed the outhaul post and have learned from all your posts. Learning has been a slow process mostly from books and the internet. Can't tell you how many times I'm on my knees adjusting the traveler to see what happens. Now I'm topside playing with the outhaul.... thank you!

You're gonna love your first destination sail anchoring out.:dance:

BobM · Sep 13, 2009

Congratulations Hermit! Event Horizon has come a long way from when purchased her with that garden on her bottom. Turning off the engine and availing yourselves of one of the greatest supplies of free horsepower on the planet is the best. When the engine goes off I swear my blood pressure must drop ten points.

Joe · Sep 13, 2009

Yippee!.... Now, get that head sail figured out and you'll be stylin'. Turning the motor off and letting nature take over is what we live for.

Hermit Scott · Sep 13, 2009

Cpt Jon- "my" camera was reposed by my wifes little brother, who it really belongs too. No pics of my dirty mainsail flying high.
BobS-even my wife is excited about anchoring out for the first time. I have a little more work before we are going to do that though. Those dutchmans look like the best option I have seen for flaking a main. I really didn't flake my main, it was more like heaped and bunched atop the boom. I didn't figure out that I should have flaked it as my wife lowered it until I was on my way home.
BobM-it is incredibly relaxing silently cruising along.
Joe-a guy offered me a headsail that goes to a 27' boat. I told him I wasn't interested. I will take a look at it in a week or two. If it will work at all, and I can pick it up for $100 I may do it.
It started raining here for the first time in a year. My cockpit drain hoses are so disintegrated that they filled up the bilge in a very short time. I pulled the one that was leaking severly and 3 trips to lowe's couldn't solve it. Nothing wants to fit on those threaded pipes that catalina originally glassed in. And my after market pedastal quadrant was cutting into it. I was going to glass the drains in and buy a new scupper drain until I saw the prices. then I decided these drains aren't that bad.

Scott T-Bird · Sep 13, 2009

Great News!

You might be able to find a selection of hank-on head sails if you go on the Bacon website for used sails. You should know your "I" and "J" dimensions or even the length of your head stay so you can make the proper selection.

Our boat came with a 110 jib and when I bought a new head sail, I thought it would be more fun to get a nice large 150 genny with a low foot for better performance. I would re-think that now. I don't think you lose much, if any, performance on a normal day of sailing with a 135 genny. It would be more managable and I would also get a higher flying clew. It becomes a little bit of a nuisance to have to be constantly finding a way to peek around that 150 genny that sweeps the deck. It blankets virtually everything on your leeward side and I've had a few embarrassing moments for not being able to see what is in front of me.

We rarely use the old 110, but on a windy day it is plenty of sail and it would do in a pinch even in lighter winds. It is far better than no head sail at all. In the summer doldrums, you will want a larger sail, but if you are out in a good breeze most of the time, a 110 would do fine.

I always put one reef in before reducing my head sail from the 150 to 110. It has to be very windy on our lake before we need a reef and the 110.

Keep up the great work!

Hermit Scott · Sep 13, 2009

Tbirb- I am kind of concerned about the foot of any headsail I put on there especially the ones I already have. My top life lines were attached at the bottom of the bow pulpit. I moved them to the top so I could put netting all the way around so my dog won't fall off. I know they were angled down in the front to allow for the head sail to go over them when it is outside the lifelines. I don't know how what I have done will affect a head sail.

Hermit Scott · Sep 13, 2009

Stu Jackson said:
Simple, get the foot of the headsail off the deck so it's higher than the pulpit: let's you see where you're going, too.

And I do that by installing a furler higher up, or hoisting a hank on sail higher on the stay?
I don't know the dimensions of the head sails I have, I don't know how high I can get them off the deck. They are in my living room, I can measure them.

EVENT HORIZON Sail Countdown

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