Last weekend we headed down to Arkansas to get Blue J and bring her back to Minnesota. Beyond it being a 1000 miles each way, I was fretting because of several potential issues that would have to be sorted out in real-time, several of them that could end up being show-stoppers. To wit:
O I had to order from the UK four very special trailer tires 12 inch and rated 1900lbs EACH. Had to have them mounted
O Trailer brakes needed work
O I had to hire a diver to swap the keel lifting mechanism to get the keel up
O The pads of the trailer were in the wrong place.
O We needed to float-on load the boat onto the trailer, adjusting the pads at the same time
O We had to lower the trailer into the water via a long tow strap to get in deep enough
O We had to lower the mast without a pole.
O 1000 mile tow back, through the Ozarks.
BlueJ is a Beneteau First 260. We bought her last fall and this is the first time we will have moved her or had her out of the water. She displaces 5000lbs and really pushes the limits of what a trailer-able sailboat is. I call her 'owner movable'.
Keep in mind its just the two of us.
We left last Thursday and arrived at DeGray Lake Friday afternoon. It was raining but happily the weather was fine from that point on. And also happily things kept getting check off the list, and it seemed we would be out clean on Sunday morning. But that was not to be. The pads took HOURS to adjust, over several cold, painful sessions. And the ramp was a 7 mile drive/ half hour sail from the slip. We were ready to try again on Sunday, but small craft warning kept us waiting until Monday. Cold and clear and calm, its back into the water for me at 7AM, one last time adjusting the pads. Looking good we think. Out she comes, basically OK but shes sitting too low at the nose. Back in, float, and move the pads. Pull again. Perfect. Finally!
First time I get to the the boat out of the water. The old paint has lost ALL of its biocide; you can watch stuff grow on the bottom. I'm amazing how flat the after sections are under the cockpit. This is going to be a fun summer.
Now on to the mast. Deck stepped and hinged, but 36 feet long and 2/3s of it hang off the transom when you lower it. I made a A-frame beforehand, and lashed it to the stanchion bases with some Dyneema. This allowed me to keep leverage on the mast as I lowered it with the spin halyard. Worked like a charm. Finally can breath normally. Now to button her up and hit the road! After about 2 miles its clear we have to make a change. Not enough tongue weight, and the boat has a huge case of the speed wobbles. Everything; batteries, all liquids, provisions, end up in the vee. Now we are better. Anything over 60 is dicey, but it tracks true and the truck is just fine. Even in the Ozarks at night. We spend the night after 5 hours of driving in Joplin MO, and drive all the next day, hitting Minneapolis at 6PM. The truck pulled like a champ and still averaged 13.0 MPG for the trip home. Not bad!
Here's Blue J at her arrival at Hooper's Yacht Service, where she will pick up a new coat of Micron Extra. In blue this time.
When we pulled out of DeGray I said I'd never do this again. Now I'm thinking it was not really all THAT bad, and might bring the boat back down next fall. Crazy stuff, this sailing is.
O I had to order from the UK four very special trailer tires 12 inch and rated 1900lbs EACH. Had to have them mounted
O Trailer brakes needed work
O I had to hire a diver to swap the keel lifting mechanism to get the keel up
O The pads of the trailer were in the wrong place.
O We needed to float-on load the boat onto the trailer, adjusting the pads at the same time
O We had to lower the trailer into the water via a long tow strap to get in deep enough
O We had to lower the mast without a pole.
O 1000 mile tow back, through the Ozarks.
BlueJ is a Beneteau First 260. We bought her last fall and this is the first time we will have moved her or had her out of the water. She displaces 5000lbs and really pushes the limits of what a trailer-able sailboat is. I call her 'owner movable'.
Keep in mind its just the two of us.
We left last Thursday and arrived at DeGray Lake Friday afternoon. It was raining but happily the weather was fine from that point on. And also happily things kept getting check off the list, and it seemed we would be out clean on Sunday morning. But that was not to be. The pads took HOURS to adjust, over several cold, painful sessions. And the ramp was a 7 mile drive/ half hour sail from the slip. We were ready to try again on Sunday, but small craft warning kept us waiting until Monday. Cold and clear and calm, its back into the water for me at 7AM, one last time adjusting the pads. Looking good we think. Out she comes, basically OK but shes sitting too low at the nose. Back in, float, and move the pads. Pull again. Perfect. Finally!
First time I get to the the boat out of the water. The old paint has lost ALL of its biocide; you can watch stuff grow on the bottom. I'm amazing how flat the after sections are under the cockpit. This is going to be a fun summer.
Now on to the mast. Deck stepped and hinged, but 36 feet long and 2/3s of it hang off the transom when you lower it. I made a A-frame beforehand, and lashed it to the stanchion bases with some Dyneema. This allowed me to keep leverage on the mast as I lowered it with the spin halyard. Worked like a charm. Finally can breath normally. Now to button her up and hit the road! After about 2 miles its clear we have to make a change. Not enough tongue weight, and the boat has a huge case of the speed wobbles. Everything; batteries, all liquids, provisions, end up in the vee. Now we are better. Anything over 60 is dicey, but it tracks true and the truck is just fine. Even in the Ozarks at night. We spend the night after 5 hours of driving in Joplin MO, and drive all the next day, hitting Minneapolis at 6PM. The truck pulled like a champ and still averaged 13.0 MPG for the trip home. Not bad!
Here's Blue J at her arrival at Hooper's Yacht Service, where she will pick up a new coat of Micron Extra. In blue this time.
When we pulled out of DeGray I said I'd never do this again. Now I'm thinking it was not really all THAT bad, and might bring the boat back down next fall. Crazy stuff, this sailing is.
