Basic question. I hope you can help! I dock my Hunter 146 at a dock in a narrow cove. I want to avoid putting a motor on this boat, as it seems like overkill for 98% of the trip. It is small and light enough to paddle, but am wondering about how to orchestrate putting up the sails and getting underway when single-handing the boat. I paddle out to the channel, hope there are not too many jetskis and fishing boats sailing up and down, and prepare to raise sails. Do I raise the main while still at the dock? Which sail should I raise first? Can I make enough headway with just the jib (which is easier to set by myself than the main), at least until I am in a broader section of the lake, where I can point into the wind and then set the main? Or do I set the main first, paddling too, then set the jib when there is room? I suppose the question gets reversed when coming back in to dock! Thanks all for the help.
Singlehanding out of harbor with no motor
- Thread starter Tereza
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Tereza,
You're not likely to get help with a question like that. You are asking how to sail your boat. Answer; Observe (others), question (others) and practice.
You're not likely to get help with a question like that. You are asking how to sail your boat. Answer; Observe (others), question (others) and practice.
Interesting
First Fred tells you you won't get an answer to a question that he feels you should not ask and then he tells you waht to do! Tereza, I don't think you will have much luck sailing on the jib alone. However,I maybe wrong I have naver sailed the 146. I agree with you about the motor, I have a 170 and I refuse to add a motor. I would suggest that you head into the wind as much as possible, tie off the tiller and then raise the main when you are comfortable doing so.
First Fred tells you you won't get an answer to a question that he feels you should not ask and then he tells you waht to do! Tereza, I don't think you will have much luck sailing on the jib alone. However,I maybe wrong I have naver sailed the 146. I agree with you about the motor, I have a 170 and I refuse to add a motor. I would suggest that you head into the wind as much as possible, tie off the tiller and then raise the main when you are comfortable doing so.
Paddling sounds like good exercise
And is definately more effective than the sail on my 14' sailing kayak, but I digress... How you'd use sails to get in and out of your dock really depends on the type and configuration of your dock (which I don't know) but also on the wind. Generally, you should do everything with the main, I doubt the jib will be enough power, also the boat will steer much better under main, which given your narrow conditions sounds important. One exception to the main rule, is if you are entering a slip downwind, as it's almost impossible to de-power with a main. However you can dump the jib sheet. With practice, you can back out of a slip, assuming the wind is in your favour, by backwinding the main (push the boom out with your hand). The only situation I wouldn't tackle, is if you have to back out of a slip INTO the wind. This will be almost impossible with the main up, and if you push the boat out, you'll probably not have time to raise the main before the wind pins you against the pontoons. You're paddling sounds much better for that! Good luck, and let us know how you're getting on. BTW. Is Candlewood Lake in New Milford? (I only ask, because I grew up in the tiny village of "old" Milford in the UK!)
And is definately more effective than the sail on my 14' sailing kayak, but I digress... How you'd use sails to get in and out of your dock really depends on the type and configuration of your dock (which I don't know) but also on the wind. Generally, you should do everything with the main, I doubt the jib will be enough power, also the boat will steer much better under main, which given your narrow conditions sounds important. One exception to the main rule, is if you are entering a slip downwind, as it's almost impossible to de-power with a main. However you can dump the jib sheet. With practice, you can back out of a slip, assuming the wind is in your favour, by backwinding the main (push the boom out with your hand). The only situation I wouldn't tackle, is if you have to back out of a slip INTO the wind. This will be almost impossible with the main up, and if you push the boat out, you'll probably not have time to raise the main before the wind pins you against the pontoons. You're paddling sounds much better for that! Good luck, and let us know how you're getting on. BTW. Is Candlewood Lake in New Milford? (I only ask, because I grew up in the tiny village of "old" Milford in the UK!)
re-think motor?
When we started out many years ago with a 16', we couldn't afford a motor. Over the course of several years we were stranded when the wind died (with in-laws on board!), dismasted when caught in a freak storm and turned turtle by another storm. Only the dismasting presented a dangerous situation, but all of these events and many less dramatic frustrations could have been avoided with a small motor. In each case, a power boater came to our rescue, never with any snide remarks. When the children came along, we bit the bullet and bought a little Cruise-n-Carry. Despite my general dislike of 2 cycle motors, this little machine added to our boating pleasure and more than paid for itself when we moved up. I've never looked back. Just a thought....
When we started out many years ago with a 16', we couldn't afford a motor. Over the course of several years we were stranded when the wind died (with in-laws on board!), dismasted when caught in a freak storm and turned turtle by another storm. Only the dismasting presented a dangerous situation, but all of these events and many less dramatic frustrations could have been avoided with a small motor. In each case, a power boater came to our rescue, never with any snide remarks. When the children came along, we bit the bullet and bought a little Cruise-n-Carry. Despite my general dislike of 2 cycle motors, this little machine added to our boating pleasure and more than paid for itself when we moved up. I've never looked back. Just a thought....
I'm with Mike
Think of the motor as a safety factor primarily. They make 2 hp that will do it without bogging down the boat.
Think of the motor as a safety factor primarily. They make 2 hp that will do it without bogging down the boat.
motors or not
WE had a 16 ft day sailor that I put a trolling motor on , it came from sears and had 5 speeds, to us it was worth its weight in gold . no noise no fumes and just an occasional recharge when needed, good luck , Mike
WE had a 16 ft day sailor that I put a trolling motor on , it came from sears and had 5 speeds, to us it was worth its weight in gold . no noise no fumes and just an occasional recharge when needed, good luck , Mike
The Main, and a good paddle
You can almost always maneuver the boat on the dock to a point where you can sit on the dock, and raise the main. If it doesn't work when you are in the slip, push the boat out and across the end of the slip. With the mainsheet slack, and the main not drawing, push the boat forward as you get in with the mainsheet and tiller in hand. Trim the mainsheet and you are off. The most important reason I would start with the main is that it is easy to tack quickly on the main without even shifting the sheet. So you get out of the channel into the wind that way. Coming back, I would usually "shoot" the boat into the wind off a slack reach at the end of the slip. Once you have a hand on the end of the slip, you let go of the mainsheet, and work the boat in by hand. Or tie up on the end of the slip, and drop the main. There are lots of combinations of maneuvers that work - think of it as a puzzle, and you will find the solution for each condition. Your great advantages are the ability to turn on a dime, and lose momentum rapidly (backwinding the main if necessary). I sail a Sunfish out of tight quarters in the Thousand Islands, and look forward to the best solution every time I leave and return. David Lady Lillie
You can almost always maneuver the boat on the dock to a point where you can sit on the dock, and raise the main. If it doesn't work when you are in the slip, push the boat out and across the end of the slip. With the mainsheet slack, and the main not drawing, push the boat forward as you get in with the mainsheet and tiller in hand. Trim the mainsheet and you are off. The most important reason I would start with the main is that it is easy to tack quickly on the main without even shifting the sheet. So you get out of the channel into the wind that way. Coming back, I would usually "shoot" the boat into the wind off a slack reach at the end of the slip. Once you have a hand on the end of the slip, you let go of the mainsheet, and work the boat in by hand. Or tie up on the end of the slip, and drop the main. There are lots of combinations of maneuvers that work - think of it as a puzzle, and you will find the solution for each condition. Your great advantages are the ability to turn on a dime, and lose momentum rapidly (backwinding the main if necessary). I sail a Sunfish out of tight quarters in the Thousand Islands, and look forward to the best solution every time I leave and return. David Lady Lillie
I like David's response...
Before purchasing my Hunter 25.5 I sailed a sloop rigged precision 14 racing dingy without a motor for years. Practice makes perfect, you'll do fine. Ps. Years ago I sailed on Candlewood lake with my Dad.
Before purchasing my Hunter 25.5 I sailed a sloop rigged precision 14 racing dingy without a motor for years. Practice makes perfect, you'll do fine. Ps. Years ago I sailed on Candlewood lake with my Dad.
A few "basics" to learn
Whether or not you add an engine is more of a convenience thing than a necessity. Even engines run out of fuel or simply decide to quit at the most inopportune moment (Murphy's Law). I think it;s more important to know how your boat responds in defferent wind/current conditions. How far will the momentum carry it when you DO slacken the sails? What effect will wind and/or current have on that momentum? We learned this the first time we came into our slip under power. We dock in a river but get some fluky winds depending upon where the wind is coming from. In a combination of high winds and fast current, we hug the "Dock-side" of the river to eliminate the downstream push effect on our keel, etc. Bottom line: practice, even out on the lake, slowing her down and then letting the sails fly, to see how far she caries under different conditions. Then you'll feel confident whether you have an engine or not that you can bring her back in safely with a minimum of interaction with the dock, the seawall or the pilings. Good Luck!
Whether or not you add an engine is more of a convenience thing than a necessity. Even engines run out of fuel or simply decide to quit at the most inopportune moment (Murphy's Law). I think it;s more important to know how your boat responds in defferent wind/current conditions. How far will the momentum carry it when you DO slacken the sails? What effect will wind and/or current have on that momentum? We learned this the first time we came into our slip under power. We dock in a river but get some fluky winds depending upon where the wind is coming from. In a combination of high winds and fast current, we hug the "Dock-side" of the river to eliminate the downstream push effect on our keel, etc. Bottom line: practice, even out on the lake, slowing her down and then letting the sails fly, to see how far she caries under different conditions. Then you'll feel confident whether you have an engine or not that you can bring her back in safely with a minimum of interaction with the dock, the seawall or the pilings. Good Luck!
Thanks to all. These are interesting perspectives, and I do hope to have the opportunity to experiment lots this year (though I hope to avoid practicing the demasting - once with a Sunfish was enough for me!). Nothing beats experience, of course, but having these ideas cached give a welcome boost. Soupy - Yes - NEW Milford, as well as a few other towns, is on Candlewood Lake. There is a sizable sailing community on the lake,, though most likely much smaller than Will remembers. Fortunately, I can pop onto the Lake during the week, thus avoiding the hoards of PWCs and skiers. And thanks all to showing Fred that this forum works quite well! Cheers
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