OK - not really, but I've been frustrated trying getting the boat out. Poor timing for high tide (6am or midnight for example) too windy 20-30 knots, dangerous air quality due to wild fires (over 400 on AQI), ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) closing my usual launch area for "training", and home projects. Today, I'll finish waxing the hull, and dream about getting out next week.
BTW - anyone else having difficulty attaching pictures?
Brian,
You aren't alone.
I prepped my powerboat first so I could put on my mooring ball & pendant for the season. Then my daughter had a week long OUS destination event. Last week I had my annual fly fishing trip to Rangeley, Maine (fun!). And then my fly fishing buddy came down with covid. I've been in quarantine in the guest room of our house. I continue to test negative.
As you mentioned, weather has been bad so I've only been able to do intermittent work on the P-165. While working on the boat I found that the trailer tires I replaced two years ago have multiple cracks in the sidewalls. Probably 30 miles on those tires.
Enough whining, but I do look forward to splashing the boat.
Dan
Geez, bad luck Brian and Dave!
If it's any consolation, it's still Spring and Summer hasn't even started yet. I'm sure you'll both get out there soon.
Weather here has been nice for sailing but bone dry which doesn't bode well for lake levels down the road.
Colder than usual, small craft advisories ,canada and pine barrens on fire, covering the bay wirh a thick fog that smells bad.. i have gotten out 5 times so far this year all good sails, but fewer trips than last year
One thing after another, Brian. I was able to splash it the first time in the Potomac in early May. But in the process of of pulling it out to splash it again in Norfolk a week and a half ago I've dealt with the following:
* messed up bunks, which I thought I'd fixed based on Dan's recommendation from a year ago but apparently LEFT A BOLT OUT of in the process of "fixing"
* dead battery— AGAIN— which at this point is pretty much how I roll
* blown trailer light
* buying/selling/exchanging trailer wheel hubs until I got the right ones
* strap which holds the boat to the trailer which started out being tight coming loose at about mile 177 of the 180 mile trip to Norfolk and sparking down I-64 until a good samaritan made enough hand signals to let me know I had a problem
None of this will make you feel any better, but at least you shouldn't feel alone.
QuotePosted by Quantico Frank - Today at 07:37 AM
* dead battery— AGAIN— which at this point is pretty much how I roll
Frank,
Do you have a battery "on/off" switch on your boat?
Dan
Frank - I thought your batteries were fairly new. Perhaps they are not charging correctly???? Also, How far down are you draining the batteries? Too far down and they never really recover.
Brian,
I haven't been able to post any photos either. I believe Tim was contacting the administrator about it???
I think each user might have to contact an admin separately. Just send CapnK a PM.
I launched mid April, between the Tohatsu beast acting up a couple times and the head sail separating where the UV protection is sewn on and a few days of no wind or 20+ it has been a challenge. This being my first year back inyo sailing after a 10 yr hiatus I was expecting much better results. I am not a real patient person, I want to sail.
Quote from: DBthal on Jun 11, 2023, 08:01 AMQuotePosted by Quantico Frank - Today at 07:37 AM
* dead battery— AGAIN— which at this point is pretty much how I roll
Frank,
Do you have a battery "on/off" switch on your boat?
Dan
Dan, I do, and I normally leave things shut off after a sail, as I did the last time before I came back and found it dead. I think this battery just crapped out early for some reason.🤷
Are you on a solar charger? I killed a battery once with one of the connectors with the male/female plugs side by side. But the polarity was opposite what I thought it was. The battery was getting nada from the panel. Only when the cabin lights went dim did I put a multimeter on the circuit.
Quote from: talbot on Jun 13, 2023, 12:57 AMAre you on a solar charger? I killed a battery once with one of the connectors with the male/female plugs side by side. But the polarity was opposite what I thought it was. The battery was getting nada from the panel. Only when the cabin lights went dim did I put a multimeter on the circuit.
Interesting. I suspect that's not the case here because it was working great before the battery died, and it's been working great since I replaced that "dual purpose" lead acid battery with the Li battery that you have, Talbot. A thought did occur to me, however— the little WM store in my town sold me that DP battery, possibly because that was the only G24 battery they had in stock that day rather than a deep cycle G24 battery which was what I really needed. Is it possible that that battery died early because it wasn't deep cycle?
Howdy All,
I finally resolved my 19 month "conspiracy". Last week, with the help of one of my sons, my wife and two strong dudes from the boatyard (to raise the mast), I got my P23 (1988) in the water.
She's been on the trailer since November of 2021. Last summer I got an upgrade at work which put me in training for a month out of town. There was training prep prior to that and when I returned in July, I couldn't find anyone local to repair her bottom which had blisters and a "slightly" leaky thru hull where the knot meter spinner had been. When I did find a guy who could "get to it sometime next week", I got it to him hoping I might get in a short season of September/October. I got her back in January >:(. I should have used the folks up in Maryland that Frank from Quantico recommended, but towing over the old Harry Nice bridge (two lanes, very rickety) seemed a bit dicey.
As spring came along, I did a lot of cleaning, buffing and waxing, washed her sails and tried to find time to get her down to Colonial Beach. Lots of schedule conflicts delayed me until July 7.
She's in the water now and despite it being ridiculously hot to get her rigged and ready, my wife and I got her out for a short sail last Saturday.
Victory!
Well, maybe just a start anyway. She's not taking on any water so it appears the bottom fix is good. Good thing since now my electrics are intermittent. I'll be chipping away at fixes throughout the summer and fall. I'll probably be asking all kinds of questions on here now as I work through my list.
It is great to have this board to lurk on and learn from.
Happy to be sailing again!
Jim
Congrats on getting her in the water Jim. Plenty of sailing season left !
Hey, Jim, great to hear! I know you're a happy man at this point! Ask all the questions you want, for sure, and also consider the trailer sailor happy hour every other Friday that Riggerdood sets up.
Frank
Yep. Happy as a clam (not sure how they can tell those guys are happy)! Want to try to get out again this afternoon. Might be hot, but no wind this morning. Supposed to pick up around four. My son might be available at that time as well.
Need to get down there anyway to make sure I have all my dock lines set up right and install my previously tangled boom vang.
Definitely want to check in with you guys some Friday for the Happy Hour.
Jim
Jim - Yeah when everything falls into place its great, but rare. Today I have the "honor" of my wife joining me. Predicted winds are light, but we'll see how that plays out.
By my Windy app, it's supposed to be good but gusty tomorrow afternoon for the first time in a couple weeks!
Quote from: Brian N. on Jul 20, 2023, 10:07 AMJim - Yeah when everything falls into place its great, but rare. Today I have the "honor" of my wife joining me. Predicted winds are light, but we'll see how that plays out.
Hope it was a good day Brian. My wife gets out with me about twice a year. She's already met her quota for this season so I'm looking forward to next year. :)
Report from Today: Great sail! The wind was in the sweet spot, 8-12 knots, mostly from the east, clocking around a little to NE. Sailed with the wind just forward of the beam for a great ride, going and returning. Wife helped set up and break down which made things go fairly fast at the ramp. Of course, one moment of panic returning to the dock when the engine sputtered out after running for 20 seconds or so. My wife quickly pointed out the gas was in the off position! So I guess for this sail everything did fall into place.
Quote from: Brian N. on Jul 20, 2023, 06:11 PMReport from Today: Great sail! The wind was in the sweet spot, 8-12 knots, mostly from the east, clocking around a little to NE. Sailed with the wind just forward of the beam for a great ride, going and returning. Wife helped set up and break down which made things go fairly fast at the ramp. Of course, one moment of panic returning to the dock when the engine sputtered out after running for 20 seconds or so. My wife quickly pointed out the gas was in the off position! So I guess for this sail everything did fall into place.
Sounds like you both enjoyed a great day together. Can't ask for much more than that. :)
Good for you two Brian! Now, who would ever make the mistake of leaving the fuel valve off?!?!
Hmmmm ... <sheepish grin> ... (I did once!)
Great to hear you're getting into full swing now, Brian! And having the First Officer join you is a huge plus! Here in our neck of the Potomac, we're in the July doldrums again with scant opportunities for sailing; however, today still looks like a rare winner, and I am going to take advantage of it!
Go for it Frank! So many days this summer of rain or no wind we need to take advantage of the good ones when they come up. I was very glad to have my wife aboard. Not only did she help set up the boat, but we had some nice quality time together just talking. It was a change from sailing alone with just music, As I mentioned in another thread, in the last couple of years I've sailed with crew, fairly often. The best is when either of my sons sail with me, they do most of the setup and work ;)
Hey Brian, Looks like you got my wind ;D . My youngest son and I got out at about 5 and it was mostly just glass. Windy said it was going to pick up soon so we hung out for an hour and a half before we decided to motor back in. Robby is completely new to sailing so he still had fun. I put him on the helm for the trip in and out of the channel while I arranged lines or uncovered and then later covered sails etc.
He now knows my docking procedures (still a work in progress with the new slip) and how to start and run the outboard. I have modified your and the Dood's fuel management procedure. My trick is to yank on the start cord a few times before realizing that I haven't pumped up the primer bulb yet. Feel free to incorporate it into your repertoire!
I also showed him the BoatUS app on my phone so he could call for a tow in case I go belly up or overboard. Many more things for him and me to learn, so it was still a useful and fun trip even without wind.
Jim
Quote from: JimInVA on Jul 21, 2023, 11:28 AMHey Brian, Looks like you got my wind ;D . My youngest son and I got out at about 5 and it was mostly just glass. Windy said it was going to pick up soon so we hung out for an hour and a half before we decided to motor back in. Robby is completely new to sailing so he still had fun. I put him on the helm for the trip in and out of the channel while I arranged lines or uncovered and then later covered sails etc.
He now knows my docking procedures (still a work in progress with the new slip) and how to start and run the outboard. I have modified your and the Dood's fuel management procedure. My trick is to yank on the start cord a few times before realizing that I haven't pumped up the primer bulb yet. Feel free to incorporate it into your repertoire!
I also showed him the BoatUS app on my phone so he could call for a tow in case I go belly up or overboard. Many more things for him and me to learn, so it was still a useful and fun trip even without wind.
Jim
Don't have a gas outboard on my boat but cursing seemed to be a regular part of my repertoire when trying to start a stubborn one. Didn't seem to get it to start any faster.
Always plenty to learn and enjoy whether the sails ever go up or not. :)