took it out for the first time. have some questions

[newsailor72]

I finally got the boat ready and hit the water this past Sunday. A more experienced sailor I met recently came to help out. We had some last minute learning curve but nothing major. The funny moment must have been when we circled back several times before going under the 2nd street bridge in Alamitos Bay in Long Beach. The clearance mark read 32 ft, I know my mast is 24 ft plus maybe another 4 ft above waterline, so mathematically, we should be good (yeah, I know Tim, u told me it could clear). but we when looked up from the cockpit as we get close, the mast looked so much taller than bridge and I panicked and yelled "turned around". We must have looked like 2 idiots to the people at the launch ramp. It was a battle between the marking in front of our eyes and our perception of the mast. We got close again and turned around, did that maybe 3, 4 times. Our rational and desire to go out finally overcame our fear and went through it the last time.

We didn't actually sail it though. It was blowing like 20+ knots and very choppy when we got out of the channel and I had a hard time keep her in a luff (the outboard had to be repositioned in the well, its handle was being restricted by the well wall) so my new friend had a hard time raising the sail. we finally gave up the sailing part after about 20 minutes and motored back. Note to self: don't go out in 20+ wind, at least not until I'm more seasoned.

Have some questions.

1. I didn't pin the keel pivot bolt through the keel. I simply lowered the keel. is this okay. that bolt is set really tight at the moment, need to find a way to loosen it.

2. for the next 2 weeks, the boat will be in a slip. how do I flush the outboard after each outing since the water intake is below water.

thx

 

[Piotr]

I can reply to #1. It's OK unless:
a) The waves are so big, the keel starts swinging and banging around, and
b) you don't get knocked down.
In the event of a knockdown the keel may swing right back into the hull and knock a big hole in it. I did not lock my keel (Mac 25) the first couple of times I went sailing and thought I would loose it, it was banging so hard. On top of that, the locking pin has rubber gaskets that prevent water from sloshing into the boat. Previously, I had to bail 5 gallons from the bilge after each day of sailing. Now, the boat stays dry. Finally, if your keel bolt let's go, the locking bolt will bethe only thing keeping the keel withy the boat. And you CANNOT buy a new keel for these boats.

 

[Bob McL]

Many people seem not to lock the keel with the bolt especially lake sailing where there are many submerged obstacles. But where you are currently sailing, it should be locked with the bolt in place all the time IMHO. Without the locking bolt in place you lose the positive righting ability of the boat in a knockdown if the keel swings back into the trunk.

 

[Timo42]

Lock it, it gets choppy right at the end of the channel and the keel will really bang around.
Looks like I am going to be able to get mine in the water Sunday, let me know if you want to go out.

 

[njwtech]

Lock it down and you will rest easier. The book says you should only sail without the lock bolt in very light conditions where it is unlikely to lay over. Once the boat heels past a certain point the keel may slam into the trunk, after which you probably have a lot of damage, but for sure you have a boat upside down that won't right itself.

I asked the previous owner of my Mac if he locked the keel down. He said "You can lock the keel down?". I pointed out where the lock down bolt was, and he said "Huh. Imagine that. I was wondering what that banging was." When I got the boat home and got the lock down bolt out this is what it looked like after letting the keel bang against it for 10 years...

 

[Bob McL]

As far as washing out your motor, I would take it with me and do it at home, especially if there is no security at the dock. On the water, it is usually not done which is why a motor used saltwater can be bought cheaper than a similar fresh water lake motor.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I have seen people drop a long trash can under the engine, the fill it with a hose, (2 ropes for each side of the can) until it overflows. (displacing the salt with the hose... sort of...)

newer large ob's have a hose bib below the engine cowl... to flush the water jacket...

but nobody I know that keeps the boat slipped flushes it.

They just change the impeller more often and use a salt away type product a few time a year.

 

[SchwarckT]

We didn't actually sail it though. It was blowing like 20+ knots and very choppy when we got out of the channel and I had a hard time keep her in a luff (the outboard had to be repositioned in the well, its handle was being restricted by the well wall) so my new friend had a hard time raising the sail. we finally gave up the sailing part after about 20 minutes and motored back. Note to self: don't go out in 20+ wind, at least not until I'm

Here's a suggestion: raise the jib first and come up on a close reach. You will then be able to raise the main as it luffs. I do this routinely on my boats when raising/lowering/reefing the main.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

You didn't ask but I'll mention it anyway - make sure you ease all trim lines (sheet, vang, cunningham) and the pigtail if you have one before you try to raise the main, and then hoist smartly.

You'll find you can fall off the wind a little more before the slugs start to bind, as the main won't fill.

 

[Freedom77]

I finally got the boat ready and hit the water this past Sunday. A more experienced sailor I met recently came to help out. We had some last minute learning curve but nothing major. The funny moment must have been when we circled back several times before going under the 2nd street bridge in Alamitos Bay in Long Beach. The clearance mark read 32 ft, I know my mast is 24 ft plus maybe another 4 ft above waterline, so mathematically, we should be good (yeah, I know Tim, u told me it could clear). but we when looked up from the cockpit as we get close, the mast looked so much taller than bridge and I panicked and yelled "turned around". We must have looked like 2 idiots to the people at the launch ramp. It was a battle between the marking in front of our eyes and our perception of the mast. We got close again and turned around, did that maybe 3, 4 times. Our rational and desire to go out finally overcame our fear and went through it the last time.

We didn't actually sail it though. It was blowing like 20+ knots and very choppy when we got out of the channel and I had a hard time keep her in a luff (the outboard had to be repositioned in the well, its handle was being restricted by the well wall) so my new friend had a hard time raising the sail. we finally gave up the sailing part after about 20 minutes and motored back. Note to self: don't go out in 20+ wind, at least not until I'm more seasoned.

Have some questions.

1. I didn't pin the keel pivot bolt through the keel. I simply lowered the keel. is this okay. that bolt is set really tight at the moment, need to find a way to loosen it.

2. for the next 2 weeks, the boat will be in a slip. how do I flush the outboard after each outing since the water intake is below water.

thx

I remember one time when a boat was going under that same bridge. Skipper knew mast would clear from prior experience. Wouldn't ya know some A..hole came by too fast in a stinkpotter and made a wake and the top of the mast bumped it's way under the bridge.

 

[Brad1968]

The PO of my boat told me he got stuck under that bridge when he tried to get out during an ebb tide.

 

[timebandit]

It is my understanding that engines that are designed to run in salt water run at a cooler temprature (lower temp thermostat)so that the salt does not build up.

I change out the impeller every year and see no signs of a salt build up.

I do rinse the outside along with the boat and trailer when hauling out.