New To A 32' Sailboat

[Sail123]

I have sailed on and off for 30 years. I have another thread here about being a freshman on the docks.

Maybe a better question is this, with only a renewed interest in sailing after sitting out many years, and only a few hours sailing time last fall in my Mac 25 (just sold it) how quick should I be to jump in the newly acquired 32 foot Clipper Marine Sloop Shoal keel sailboat and sail her with just myself and my wife?

The engine is a kicker Evinrude 15 hp two stroke mounted on the stern. It once had a single piston diesel engine, that has been removed.

How much wind is too much to safely and easily navigate the docks?

I am more concerned with docking the boat after hours out when the winds could be much different than when we went out.

The boat has a high profile above the water.

Should my first year be spent crewing on other peoples larger boats, and just drinking coffee on mine tied to the docks? lol

I had no trouble handling the Mac 25 at all. Always felt in control to some degree, and never felt flustered. Also used the same kicker engine.

The guy I purchased the 32 from, always went out by himself, spent 7 months in the gulf of mexico, but did that with the diesel engine.

Am I now under powered to safely dock in all moderate weather conditions? Should I be looking at a larger outboard engine?

 

[RECESS]

Be selective about your first handful of days. I am not sure how a kicker handles on a 32? I recently moved from a 25 Oday to a Pearson 323 (32ft) and I am getting used to the prop walk coming into a slip with a diesel and prop under the boat. I have learned it is best to give the boat short bursts in Reverse or Forward and move it to nuetral, always ready to counteract forward with reverse or reverse with forward to stop the boat right now.

You should take the 32 out and bring it in time and time again so you know how it handles. Just motor until you feel comfortable about raising the sails. I am sure that you will feel comfortable in no time at all.

Enjoy your boat, not someone elses. Just pick your spots and get a feel for the boat.

 

[Sail123]

Your advice is exactly how I felt about the 32 until I towed it home 700 miles and parked the "THING" in my yard. Noah's Ark must have been this size! lol

I am sure I will calm down when it splashes, but now I feel as if I went from sailing, to being one of the dock people.

Be selective about your first handful of days. I am not sure how a kicker handles on a 32? I recently moved from a 25 Oday to a Pearson 323 (32ft) and I am getting used to the prop walk coming into a slip with a diesel and prop under the boat. I have learned it is best to give the boat short bursts in Reverse or Forward and move it to nuetral, always ready to counteract forward with reverse or reverse with forward to stop the boat right now.

You should take the 32 out and bring it in time and time again so you know how it handles. Just motor until you feel comfortable about raising the sails. I am sure that you will feel comfortable in no time at all.

Enjoy your boat, not someone elses. Just pick your spots and get a feel for the boat.

 

[Nodak7]

I have sailed on and off for 30 years. I have another thread here about being a freshman on the docks.

Maybe a better question is this, with only a renewed interest in sailing after sitting out many years, and only a few hours sailing time last fall in my Mac 25 (just sold it) how quick should I be to jump in the newly acquired 32 foot Clipper Marine Sloop Shoal keel sailboat and sail her with just myself and my wife?

The engine is a kicker Evinrude 15 hp two stroke mounted on the stern. It once had a single piston diesel engine, that has been removed.

How much wind is too much to safely and easily navigate the docks?

I am more concerned with docking the boat after hours out when the winds could be much different than when we went out.

The boat has a high profile above the water.

Should my first year be spent crewing on other peoples larger boats, and just drinking coffee on mine tied to the docks? lol

I had no trouble handling the Mac 25 at all. Always felt in control to some degree, and never felt flustered. Also used the same kicker engine.

The guy I purchased the 32 from, always went out by himself, spent 7 months in the gulf of mexico, but did that with the diesel engine.

Am I now under powered to safely dock in all moderate weather conditions? Should I be looking at a larger outboard engine?

Gary, the advice you got in the earlier post is about right. Be VERY selective the first few times you take it out. Practice getting into the slip on nice days so you get a feel for how she handles. Since I am definitely in the "bigger motor is better" camp it seems you are definitely under powered but not out of the question when it comes to handling it. Try her a couple of times and if she gets squirelly you might want to consider a bigger motor. It will definitely move you but if there is a breeze and with the high profile you may not want to come back in.... Did the PO give you any "hints" or "tricks" regarding docking her?

 

[Stu Jackson]

In responses to your earlier "New Guy on the Dock" thread, you got a lot of good advice.

Practice, practice, practice, 'cuz the ONLY way you'll know YOUR boat is being on IT! Right?

Dock, it, dock, it and dock it some more. I also recall giving you some links to singlehanded docking ideas. If you need the links again, please let us know.

We moved from a 25 footer to a 34 footer. Can't say it was painless, but nothing got hurt, including us and the boat and the dock! Just do it.

While fear can be a great motivator, confidence is a hell of a lot better.

 

[Sail123]

In the 25', standing up to see exactly how to dock was a problem. The boom is completely over the cockpit, with no headroom for standing, and the smaller size of the boat made for some rocking action as one walked around. The heavier boat (7500 pounds) will be more stable and the boom is clear of the tiller area of the cockpit. Those must surely be an advantage in docking, that I can take advantage off.

 

[justsomeguy]

"Good judgment comes from experience, but a lot of experience comes from bad judgment."

Stu is quite right. Practice, practice, practice. Boat hulls are tougher than we think they are. Do not get yourself between the hull and an impending crunch!

 

[MrBee]

I guess everyone has their opinion.....I'll just never understand some of them. You need to do what "You Are Comfortable " with. I tend to jump in with both feet. Bought our first boat in Ct. ran it down to Middleriver md with a friend 3 years ago. If I would have listened to most of the opinions on this forum I would have spent as much for a "Proper" capt. and crew as we spent on the boat. It was an adventure and will always remember the trip. We survived. We now have a 34 foot boat , just moved up in January. If you have any sailing experience then go for it. YOU CAN'T LEARN IF YOUR NOT DOING IT !! All the folks at our marina that are "Proper sailors" go out sailing about a quarter of the time we do, and spend very few nights onboard.
YOU CAN'T LEARN IF YOUR NOT DOING !!

If your the type that is not comfortable with jumping right in then go hire a Capt. to come to YOUR boat and teach you a few things. A friend of mine teaches ASA and his Docking classes are very popular. Docking is the part that scares most people.

Brian

 

[Ross]

The first thing to learn is how far the boat will carry without power. This allows you to plan your approach a little better.
My slip is on a north south orientation so that when the wind is from those quadrants docking is easy but when the wind is from the west and I must make a left turn to back into my slip It is very difficult to keep the bow up and not have it blow down.

 

[Steve L22188]

Sailing is sailing. First learned about sailing on a friend's Sunfish. Learned lots but was never really comfortable. But I got the basics in my brain.

My first boat was an O'Day 240. I thought it was huge. Made some mistakes early on but then got very comfortable in all kinds of wind.

Then we bought an O'Day 302. Scared shirtless the first time or two we left the dock and sailed -- but pretty quickly discovered that sailing is sailing.

Then we chartered a 40 footer in the BVIs. It seemed really big! On edge for about 20 minutes - till I discovered that sailing is sailing.

Your new boat is just wider, longer, deeper and more complicated (and it'll cost more to keep) than your old one. But the basics are just the same - the parts are just bigger. Sailing is sailing. I'll predict you'll feel really comfortable by the third sail on your new boat.

Best advice I was given about docking: never go any speed faster than you're willing to hit the dock with.

 

[Sail123]

First day out. Everything went well, except my kicker is too far out of the water. Prop catching air. Need to lower that about 5 inches.

Had a great time. Healed 20,25,30 degrees. My better half did not like 30 degrees.

 

[Nodak7]

First day out. Everything went well, except my kicker is too far out of the water. Prop catching air. Need to lower that about 5 inches.

Had a great time. Healed 20,25,30 degrees. My better half did not like 30 degrees.

Congratulations Gary on the maiden voyage! Glad to hear that all went well! May all your voyages have fair winds and following seas! It will only get better from here! :dance:

Had to laugh! My Admiral used to get a bit nervous at 30-35 degrees but now she just takes it in stride!