Splash...

[Kh3412]

Well in a week the boat goes in for the first time for us. Getting nervous hope I did everything right and did not forget something important. Replaced the cooling intake hoses, replaced the water pump, new belt, all filters and changed oils. Sail loft is bringing the sails down and helping to rig (I'm clueless). Bottom painted, sides of hull waxed, batteries charged. Know I'm forgetting something.
Once in we have to move it 40 some miles to our dock. Great way to learn since we have not really sailed. Thinking we will just motor sail for the first trip. Wish me luck....

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

First time in water?

Put in the hull-drain plug now.

Check that all the seacock hoses are double-clamped and adequately tight.

I will assume you have already figured out how to touch up the heretofore inaccessible spots with bottom paint!

Attend the boat as it goes into the water. While it is still in the slings, go below and switch the bilge pump to 'auto'. Open, close, and open every seacock in the boat. Pump the toilet, dump drinking water down every drain, run the shower, etc. If the pump turns on more than once, you have a leak.

Take your stuffing-box wrench with you when you go. Tie off the boat, start it and put it into gear, and go down and watch the drip. If it exceeds tolerable leakage (a drip a minute, a little more when in gear), shut it down and adjust it.

Also check throttle, shift and steering cables. I have seen these fail (or still disconnected) within mere seconds of leaving the slings, leading to near-disaster.

Your biggest concerns are leaks and control problems. Pretty much anything else can be done whilst at the dock-- including having the party.

 

[Kh3412]

Well the launch went well... No leaks, bottom paint finished, motor started, and sails installed.
Then the shake down cruise, 3 miles down the lake behind the break wall in Cleveland. Learned I can not outrun a lake freighter and they don't give way. Found an unmarked sand bar in the harbor that rearranged the galley. Thank god we worked our selfs off.
Finished it off by finding out the dock is the prefect height to adjust the bow light, I did not think it needed to be adjusted, but I'm new to this.
Rain the next day with chance for thunderstorms kept us from moving the boat to our marina but hopefully we can go on weds.

 

[Mdillender]

Thanks for sharing! Let us know more as you progress.

Best of luck

 

[cjfj]

..Finished it off by finding out the dock is the prefect height to adjust the bow light, I did not think it needed to be adjusted, but I'm new to this.

Been there done that got the tee shirt

 

[Kh3412]

There's a t-shirt for that who do I see for mine? Lol

 

[Kh3412]

Follow up.
Made the trip from downtown were we bought the boat to our marine.
Took six hours about, mostly good motoring weather,but into the wind the whole way.
Tried our hands at sailing some lot of work to do there.
Got up to five knots with just the jib out, and of course lost the winch handle overboard.
What can I screw up next?
But we made it and had a good time so all is well.