Looking back on my second year sailing here's what I've lear

[joes new addiction]

So my boat is back in the yard, the boat I THOUHGT needed nothing is torn apart, the repair or upgrade list is long, my charge card is smoking.
I installed a new motor mount on her last night and was sitting in the cockpit (back under a tarp, seems I do my best work under a blue tarp)!
I was sitting there holding the tiller, listening to the static on the crap radio I use, reflecting on my Sophmore sailing season and here's what I've come up with.........

It was a hell of a season!
All though a Olympic class boat sure has good looking lines, lines like a E-talain woman in those 60's movies and motorcycles, (ever really LOOK at a Beta trials bike?) She sure isn't the kinda boat to learn to solo sail on!
When you look at a boat and marvel at all the ROOM she has above deck and below, somehow 1/2 of that room disappears when you get her home and 1/2 of THAT room disappears when you start loading your gear in it!
I found out what "tender" means, (you can get the tell tails on the standing rigging wet and almost sheet your pants, MAX out your heart rate at the same time)!
Your wife's first sail should not be in gust where the boat is healing 18 degrees!
At 3 A.M. a 22' boat's cockpit shrinks to a 14' er, no matter how you turn or lay your up against SOMETHING sharp.
Nothing, I mean NOTHNING beats a cup of coffee in your cockpit at sunrise anchored out in the water!
No matter how far you lean out a 3' dock line CAN NOT reach 3'-8"
As you fall over board from the above, you have jjuusstt enough time to check your pockets to see if 1) your keys, 2) your cell and 3) your wallet are in there............
The dock you THOUGHT was totally empty a few seconds ago are now FILLED with people pointing at you when you do something stupid!
Sail tuning is fun and really makes the boat move faster and once you learn to move faster through the water you ALWAYS want to!
The sailors?, guys who you hung on every word and took all their advice maybe aren't as smart as you thought they were last April, but you still listen to what they say, well til they start to slurr their words and repete their advice.
When the new owner pulls away with your boat, even though you knew she wasn't "the boat" and you have a line on the PERFECT boat in better shape than this one AND cheaper, it still hurts and is a sad day.:cry:
No matter what your age, when you buy a new boat your 8 years old at Christmas -again! and your wife will never understand why you sold the last one and got this one, no matter how many times you explain it.
The pick up truck load of "stuff" you emptied outta your boat when you sold her was 7/8 of a pickup truck load too much stuff you REALLY needed, but as you load up your new boat, you put it all back in anyway-just in case!..... (you never know when you'll need a impellar for a Yami 8 hp engine, even though you now run a Evenrude 5 hp or this cool looking "thing" you found at the parking lot last month)!
Sailing is an addiction, my head is now on a swivel..............
I can smell a old truck, cool motorcyle or sailboat 1/2 mile away! I even give power boat the once over.
One thing I do know-2013 sailing season is a LONG way away and I wish it were March!
Joe
take any advice or things I do with a can er 2 of beer!

 

[frank balcer]

Re: Looking back on my second year sailing here's what I've

Glad to hear you Joe. As a late starter to sailing (started at 35) it is a rush like no other! Bunch of us fellows here in Mississippi will be leaving this coming Friday morning for a ten day sail over to Destin FL and back with stops along the way. All this last minute prepping has got me feeling like a fifth grader on Christmas Eve! And as for stuff, i hope i can, NOT purchase any more bins to put in extra hardware because i might need it.......As for seasons, we have a sailing season down here in Mississippi. Its 364 days a year. We all spend time with the family on Christmas day! Hope your 2013 season is even better than this one!

 

[william24424]

My short list...

1) Empty the boat of ALL items at the end of the season, including cushions, charts, life jackets, cup holders, pans, blocks, lines, ect.

2) Fix or throw away broken items/unused items. Clean & stow useful stuff, read up in the off-season.

3) Wait for Spring.

 

[Bob S]

Well written words of wisdom. I laughed a few time looking back.
Thanks!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Re: Looking back on my second year sailing here's what I've

I think this is something that's hard wired into all male genes.

 

[Deadline]

from a lifetime of sailing...

ENGINE
Run diesels 85% of capacity to clear mixing elbow.
Push the kill choke back down, to restart later.
Check the oil level monthly, while cold.
Use a white stick to read transmission level.
When 40s, use hairdryer to warm up thru air horn.
Don’t put gasoline into the diesel tank. Think.
Don’t overfill fuel tank, an environmental mess.
Make sure fuel-sending unit is bolted, could leak.
Carry box of spare parts for engine and rigging.

PROP
Don’t go in reverse while dragging the dinghy.
Don’t go forward of the mooring line until clear.
Secure lines so they don’t go in water and foul prop.
Apply barnacle barrier paint exclusively for props.
Hire a diver to clean the prop monthly or quarterly.

CLEANING
Amonia in Windex crazes smoked plastic windows.
Discourage guests w/ black soles moving around.

HEAD
Re-pipe to a gallon jug to flush with fresh water.
(Seawater cooks in the lines during the week.)

ELECTRICAL
Running water heater & A/C can fry the 110 line.
Open the panel to see corrosion that fries wires.
Check both ends of shore cord as tight, no corrosion.
Shut down DC & AC before leaving.
Unplug shore power cord before leaving the dock.
Recharge overnight only, in case of lightning.

DOCKING
Deploy big guests to gunwales to fend off piers.
Learn to back into a slip, in case of an emergency.
Learn to attach the springline first.
Never let anyone jump off while boat is still moving.
Never drape the dock lines over the life lines.
Never walk backward on dock holding the hose.

SAFETY
Remove car keys, cell phone, jewelry to cabin.
Don’t let the crew lean against the lifelines.
Teach Collision Course to avoid slipping to buoys.
Never grab a mooring ball by hand, use boathook.
Practice MOB drill by tossing a can and heaving to.
Cut excess lines to reduce the danger of tripping.
When practical, pass port-to-port & hold your course.
Raise tugboats on Channel 13 to give your heading.
Always wear a PFD, and harness/tether if solo.
Test the batteries on hand-held gear.
Beware POOF when lighting propane stove or grill.
Do not drive a boat drunk, or let anyone else.
Don’t fall asleep while on autopilot.
Don’t tweak thru-hull fittings, unless on dry land.
Don’t go out in the fog, it’s for professionals only.
Don’t pee over the side, but leeward if you must.

SAIL PLAN
Reef early. If it’s already windy, reef at the dock.
Use spinnaker sheets as a poor man’s whisker pole.
Hank the jib by tying clew to lifeline, to ease raising.
Scrub slime on bottom monthly to restore hull speed.

PROTOCOL
Record name of boat & owners of folks you meet.
Wave politely to all neighbors and passing boats.
Don’t give air horn to drunk-wanna-be-funny guy.
Don’t give wheel to drunk-wanna-be-funny guy.
Don’t stare at bikini girls who are in front of wife.
Always thank the crew for a job well done.

COMFORT
Ask guests if they want ginger or wrist bands.
Use camping mattresses, better on your back.
Have plenty of water on board, keep crew hydrated.
When in doubt, buy bigger and newer sailboat.

SEASICK
Avoid greasy foods, sweet drinks before and after.
Ginger snap cookies & real ginger ale, not soda pop.
Keep your eye on the horizon, which remains steady.
Guide the victim to leeward side, just in case...

 

[njsail]

welcome to the club Joe. Glad to hear you're enjoying sailing. The most important skill to learn when sailing is learning to just relax and enjoy whatever your doing wherever you are doing it. Hopefully that's on the water on a beautiful day. With my first boat I was constantly working on projects and trying to get more stuff done than I really needed to. I learned to just relax and enjoy and sailing took on a whole new feel. Even my family enjoyed it more when my backside wasn't always sticking out of cabinet or engine compartment all the time.

now enjoy the winter planning for spring launch. Don't forget to spend time wandering around the boat over the winter. Do a few projects here and there. It helps clear the cobwebs from the mind and makes the soul feel good too.

 

[31seahorse]

Re: Looking back on my second year sailing here's what I've

Hi Joe,

I hope you were appropriately dressed (lifejacket) for that unexpected dock experience. Remember the name on your boat's transom.......Harmony. You need to become one with the boat not one with the lake!

Phil

 

[rgranger]

As you fall over board from the above, you have jjuusstt enough time to check your pockets to see if 1) your keys, 2) your cell and 3) your wallet are in there............

The dock you THOUGHT was totally empty a few seconds ago are now FILLED with people pointing at you when you do something stupid!

Been there....

Docking is a spectator sport.

The FIRST thing I do (after learning the hard way) is to put my wallet, keys and cell phone in a special place on the boat.

Which has helped me to hang onto them longer... but now what happens is that I return home late and tired, put the boat up, tarp and all and the next morning I can't find my wallet and phone. Yep! still on the boat. So at 6:00AM I'm out in the yard crawling up under the tarp looking for my wallet.

You can't win but you can keep playing.