Finally, the day had arrived. The day to put the boat in the water and make sail. After co-opting my eldest daughter and her husband as the unwitting crew, we set out to rig and launch the beast, a case of the blind leading the blind. After getting her in the water and managing not to hit that big rock by the boat ramp, we motor out about 100 yards and make sail. First the Jib, then the main as we catch wind and begin to move. We start off downwind running wing and wing SAILING! Hmm, there's an inch or so of water there in the cabin sole, ok, no worries. We run down the lake a bit feeling splendid when we notice that one of the cabin footwells is now full. Ok, now to beat back to windward. We come about on a starboard tack and find that every time we try to run close hauled she falls off the wind, not much help from the tiller. Ok, the motor being down must be canceling the rudder so we lift it. Bang! The motor drops back in and refuses to stay up so we're now steering with both the motor and the rudder. Back and forth we go trying to work our way to windward but everytime we get headway and attempt to close haul, the wind drops and she falls off. We're heeling somewhat and remember the keel, only to find it's rusted in place. After tacking back and forth and going in circles for an hour or so, I'm noticing that water is bubbling up through the keel cable hole and both footwells are now full. Ok, time to motor back but the motor isn't cooperating now. Three minutes of furious cranking later, I decide to prime it. Vroom! We're off and running. A fast skiboat goes tearing by and I crack the throttle open only to have the water in the boat rush back and bury the motor. Hmm, a couple of yanks and we're off once more with a bit less throttle and the crew perch on the forepeak for balance. We get back to the ramp and the Son in law, missjudging the depth, hops off with a bowline and disappears. He pops up momentarily and we enjoy a laugh at his expense. When we get the bowline hooked and winch her onto the trailer I notice the bowhook comes in under the winch, how strange. In a hurry to get the boat out, I pull forward. The wildly waving arms of my daughter stop me. I get out only to find that the tires are almost flat from the weight and that the tiller, which I forgot to pull in the rush, has dragged and twisted forward into the transom. Matter of fact, the back trailer frame is dragging, Good Lord! So we pull the newly discovered drain plug and notice another stream of water UNDER the boat. Upon checking this out we find a nice 2" hole in the hull that had been hiding behind the rub rails of the trailer. Eventually, enough water drained out that we could refloat her and get her all the way on the trailer aws well as pull off the now shattered tiller/rudder. Lessons learned? Use a check list. Take rain gear and warm clothes, we were all in tees and shorts when that cold rain just popped up. Sailing's a BLAST, even when it's not. So now we work on the boat so we can get back out there as soon as possible.
FIRST SAIL!
- Thread starter CharlieCobra
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1976 V-21
Venture 21. Even with the issues we had it was a BLAST! Heckuva way to start out sailing though. I figure that if I still wanna go back after my very first sailing experience turned out that way, I must really enjoy it.
Venture 21. Even with the issues we had it was a BLAST! Heckuva way to start out sailing though. I figure that if I still wanna go back after my very first sailing experience turned out that way, I must really enjoy it.
Great Story
I enjoyed hearing about your virgin cruise, reminds me of the many mis-adventures I have had, like forgetting to lower the rudder, or keel, until the sails have been raised. It pays to take a little extra time and not rush to get under sail. Good Luck
I enjoyed hearing about your virgin cruise, reminds me of the many mis-adventures I have had, like forgetting to lower the rudder, or keel, until the sails have been raised. It pays to take a little extra time and not rush to get under sail. Good Luck
It's deja-vu!
Sounds a little like our "maiden voyage" in our 1973 Clipper Marine 21 last year. Within half an hour of leaving the the mooring at Dolphin Marine,we lost the wind behind an island. Upon trying to fire up the island sail,the pull rope promptly snapped. Now the current is pushing us towards the rocks. Pushing the boom side to side,we manage to move forward enough to miss the rocks. As the wind starts to pick up ,we sail directly into the side of a red nun.As we walk the nun down the side of the boat,and set off again under sail,proud of our accompishment,the boat suddenly lurches to a stop and heels over. There we are firmly wrapped up with a lobster pot. Praying,and cranking the swing keel,a miracle happens,and we're on our way. Now,of course,I have to sail upwind into the tight mooring field. Best I could manage was about 50 ft from the mooring-drop the hook and wait for the launch to tow us. What a great first day! This past weekend we launched our new 26M-worst catastrophe was a lost batten. We're getting better!
Sounds a little like our "maiden voyage" in our 1973 Clipper Marine 21 last year. Within half an hour of leaving the the mooring at Dolphin Marine,we lost the wind behind an island. Upon trying to fire up the island sail,the pull rope promptly snapped. Now the current is pushing us towards the rocks. Pushing the boom side to side,we manage to move forward enough to miss the rocks. As the wind starts to pick up ,we sail directly into the side of a red nun.As we walk the nun down the side of the boat,and set off again under sail,proud of our accompishment,the boat suddenly lurches to a stop and heels over. There we are firmly wrapped up with a lobster pot. Praying,and cranking the swing keel,a miracle happens,and we're on our way. Now,of course,I have to sail upwind into the tight mooring field. Best I could manage was about 50 ft from the mooring-drop the hook and wait for the launch to tow us. What a great first day! This past weekend we launched our new 26M-worst catastrophe was a lost batten. We're getting better!
Willing crew
What's cool is that the newbie crew is as stoked about getting back on the water as I am. I'm thinking about replacing the rudder with one of the new IDASAILOR units since the tiller is still good.
What's cool is that the newbie crew is as stoked about getting back on the water as I am. I'm thinking about replacing the rudder with one of the new IDASAILOR units since the tiller is still good.
Another maiden voyage
I have had my boat for a few years, and love sailing, in fact I have been sailing for 38 years of my 37 years alive. A freind of mine purchased a Mac 25 and did many repairs and added some extras. Last weekend we took his out for the first time, and the fiascoes started just like yours. At first we couldn't get the boat off the trailer, then the wind was an issue gusty at best and right into our faces, Narrow river, so tacking was not really an option. We too discovered the hose missing on the hole for the cable. I had a brain fart and stuffed a rag in it and that slowed the leak. We pumped out nearly thirty gallons of water, and had handling issues due to the wirght. We got back to the ramp and raised the keel to prepare it for the trailer, when we pulled the keel up, we forgot the rag that I stuufed in earlier. Now it is up in the winch, and we are pulling it out tonight and adding the pipe that needs to be thre. It was a weekend of near sinking, We should all change the names of our boats to Titanic.
I have had my boat for a few years, and love sailing, in fact I have been sailing for 38 years of my 37 years alive. A freind of mine purchased a Mac 25 and did many repairs and added some extras. Last weekend we took his out for the first time, and the fiascoes started just like yours. At first we couldn't get the boat off the trailer, then the wind was an issue gusty at best and right into our faces, Narrow river, so tacking was not really an option. We too discovered the hose missing on the hole for the cable. I had a brain fart and stuffed a rag in it and that slowed the leak. We pumped out nearly thirty gallons of water, and had handling issues due to the wirght. We got back to the ramp and raised the keel to prepare it for the trailer, when we pulled the keel up, we forgot the rag that I stuufed in earlier. Now it is up in the winch, and we are pulling it out tonight and adding the pipe that needs to be thre. It was a weekend of near sinking, We should all change the names of our boats to Titanic.
At least your keel worked!
Mine didn't so here I was sailing a hard chined boat to windward with 1500 Lbs. of water in it. Makes ya appreciate a good Evinrude.
Mine didn't so here I was sailing a hard chined boat to windward with 1500 Lbs. of water in it. Makes ya appreciate a good Evinrude.
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