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tying a new way
I started planning last week a 6 day trip leaving june 27 . I try to be ready a week in advance, but even after doing that it is always hectic the day before and launch day. ive decided this time to have the boat ready the day before and have the family sleep on board at the marina that night so i can get up at 4am and leave with the tide. This way if there is any problems i can fix it before launch and there is no rush to load the boat. we shall see if this makes it less stressful.
I started planning last week a 6 day trip leaving june 27 . I try to be ready a week in advance, but even after doing that it is always hectic the day before and launch day. ive decided this time to have the boat ready the day before and have the family sleep on board at the marina that night so i can get up at 4am and leave with the tide. This way if there is any problems i can fix it before launch and there is no rush to load the boat. we shall see if this makes it less stressful.
The Big Day
My launch day, with my new '88 O'Day 302 began last thursday at 4:30 pm and ended sunday morning at 1:00 am. My first time sailing the new boat began in Harbor Springs Michigan and ended in Muskegon Michigan. We logged 193 miles. I was lucky enough to have two sons with me. First time sailing a new boat, first time using GPS, first time using auto-pilot, first time sailing more than twenty miles, first time anchoring over night. A lot of planning before hand helped, but what an adventure! The boat did great and the crew, although tired out, did fine too.
My launch day, with my new '88 O'Day 302 began last thursday at 4:30 pm and ended sunday morning at 1:00 am. My first time sailing the new boat began in Harbor Springs Michigan and ended in Muskegon Michigan. We logged 193 miles. I was lucky enough to have two sons with me. First time sailing a new boat, first time using GPS, first time using auto-pilot, first time sailing more than twenty miles, first time anchoring over night. A lot of planning before hand helped, but what an adventure! The boat did great and the crew, although tired out, did fine too.
first launch of the season
It took me almost an hour to get her launched today. I had it down to about 30 minutes last year. I must be loosing my edge!
It took me almost an hour to get her launched today. I had it down to about 30 minutes last year. I must be loosing my edge!
first lauch of new boat
Here's my launch story from last year, when I bought my new boat. It's the high mark of stress points in my boating career. ***************************** Different Drummer went in the water today. She was delivered today and had to go on slings and launch cause she didn't come with a cradle or stands. So today turns out to be 25 gusting to 35 (that was the forecast, I thought it was higher), and then the lake is too low to launch in the marina, so they tell me they're taking her across the street to the public ramp, which means a 1 1/2 mile motor back up the lake and around the point to get back to the marina. Put the outboard on, got it hooked up, gave the bulb a couple squeezes, and there is gas running down the shaft. The O ring is missing from the hose connector. Drive like crazy into town, the Honda store says I need a refit kit cause the engine was the subject of a recall. $50.00. Buy the kit, drive like mad back out to the lake, install the new kit. By now, the wind and waves are really clocking, and I tell the guy I don't want to go in. He says there are two others waiting, and my options are to go in or pay $500 extra in sling fees to wait until tomorrow. Figuring I'm being very dumb and wishing I had more money, I agreed. They haul me over, put me in, engine starts and runs fine, and I'm off. Five foot waves, wind on the nose, the mast is still not up cause I have to get back around to the marina to get to the gin pole. So I'm out there, crashing through the waves in a boat I've never handled, hoping this motor I've never run doesn't give me any trouble, cause then I'm down to anchoring if not (I rigged and readied it before I left), and I look down and there is no more water coming out of the cooling hole in the outboard. Oh sh__, nothing really to do but keep going, heart in my throat, and trying to look confident for my son-in-law who is on a sailboat for the first time in his life. Make it around the point, turn for home down the channel to the marina, and discover I REALLY like this boat downwind. Boy does she fly on the waves. Can't wait to do this under sail. Port into the marina, hard starboard past the breakwater, one good burst of power, a wild guess at how she'll pivot and how much to allow for the honking wind, hard port, and she settles right up to the dock in the best (luckiest) high wind docking I've made in years. We'll, now it turns out the ginpole is broken and I have to have the outboard looked at, so sailing may be a couple weeks away. BTW, if any of you have a 2000 Honda 9.9, check out your fuel connector. Apparently the factory original is prone to just failing off or badly leaking. Any day on boats ... Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
Here's my launch story from last year, when I bought my new boat. It's the high mark of stress points in my boating career. ***************************** Different Drummer went in the water today. She was delivered today and had to go on slings and launch cause she didn't come with a cradle or stands. So today turns out to be 25 gusting to 35 (that was the forecast, I thought it was higher), and then the lake is too low to launch in the marina, so they tell me they're taking her across the street to the public ramp, which means a 1 1/2 mile motor back up the lake and around the point to get back to the marina. Put the outboard on, got it hooked up, gave the bulb a couple squeezes, and there is gas running down the shaft. The O ring is missing from the hose connector. Drive like crazy into town, the Honda store says I need a refit kit cause the engine was the subject of a recall. $50.00. Buy the kit, drive like mad back out to the lake, install the new kit. By now, the wind and waves are really clocking, and I tell the guy I don't want to go in. He says there are two others waiting, and my options are to go in or pay $500 extra in sling fees to wait until tomorrow. Figuring I'm being very dumb and wishing I had more money, I agreed. They haul me over, put me in, engine starts and runs fine, and I'm off. Five foot waves, wind on the nose, the mast is still not up cause I have to get back around to the marina to get to the gin pole. So I'm out there, crashing through the waves in a boat I've never handled, hoping this motor I've never run doesn't give me any trouble, cause then I'm down to anchoring if not (I rigged and readied it before I left), and I look down and there is no more water coming out of the cooling hole in the outboard. Oh sh__, nothing really to do but keep going, heart in my throat, and trying to look confident for my son-in-law who is on a sailboat for the first time in his life. Make it around the point, turn for home down the channel to the marina, and discover I REALLY like this boat downwind. Boy does she fly on the waves. Can't wait to do this under sail. Port into the marina, hard starboard past the breakwater, one good burst of power, a wild guess at how she'll pivot and how much to allow for the honking wind, hard port, and she settles right up to the dock in the best (luckiest) high wind docking I've made in years. We'll, now it turns out the ginpole is broken and I have to have the outboard looked at, so sailing may be a couple weeks away. BTW, if any of you have a 2000 Honda 9.9, check out your fuel connector. Apparently the factory original is prone to just failing off or badly leaking. Any day on boats ... Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
Plan, luck and a good yard crew
Plan- Have all of the equipment you need at hand and in good working order. Make a check list and have your partner, wife or knowledgable friend check it for completeness. Do as much prep work as you need to and make a list with times you expect events to take place. Luck- We all need some when "Plan" falls short. A good yard crew- will be invaluable since they launch boats all the time and know the pitfalls and what to look for. If they warn you about something they see about your boat take heed they can save time and money in the long run. lastly, have some help there to shore things up when the going gets rough, to calm you down and to bolster your courage; 'cause Mr. Murphy lives in most boat yards.
Plan- Have all of the equipment you need at hand and in good working order. Make a check list and have your partner, wife or knowledgable friend check it for completeness. Do as much prep work as you need to and make a list with times you expect events to take place. Luck- We all need some when "Plan" falls short. A good yard crew- will be invaluable since they launch boats all the time and know the pitfalls and what to look for. If they warn you about something they see about your boat take heed they can save time and money in the long run. lastly, have some help there to shore things up when the going gets rough, to calm you down and to bolster your courage; 'cause Mr. Murphy lives in most boat yards.
I'm also reminded ...
... of the day a long time ago when we were doing spring prep on the boat I raced, and the yard guy walked past, and the skipper yelled to him, "Hey, when are you going to drop my boat in?" The guy turns and says somewhat frostily and emphatically, "We don't DROP boats." Turned around and walked away. Obviously a touchy subject with the guy! Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
... of the day a long time ago when we were doing spring prep on the boat I raced, and the yard guy walked past, and the skipper yelled to him, "Hey, when are you going to drop my boat in?" The guy turns and says somewhat frostily and emphatically, "We don't DROP boats." Turned around and walked away. Obviously a touchy subject with the guy! Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
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