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#11
TSBB General Talk / VHF Channel 16
Last post by noelH - Aug 23, 2026, 11:29 AMNormally have the handheld (my only radio) on channel 16. But yesterday I guess the volume was a bit too low for the conditions. Another more or less typical August day when the wind shows up. That is gusty if from W to NW. F2-F4, W in the Bay veering to NNW out of the Bay. Bit heavier seas and solid F3-4 by the time I cleared the Bay. Gust were upper F4 to F5. After bouncing Vela upwind I decided if I wanted to reach the W Channel which lies between Basswood and Madeline Is a reef is probably needed. Got lazy. Decided to come about and just run downwind back into the Bay. All was fine. Cruising at hull speed (+5kts) and hitting 7kts when catching a proper wave.
Some announcement came across ch 16 from the USCG. Volume was too low to hear over the sound of seas and wind. Usually it's some message regarding a distressed boater. Mistake #1.
Sky looked fine. The puffy clouds clouds over the land were having a hard time staying developed over the Lake. Plus it was clearing to the W. Should have checked the barometric chart on the hand held GPS. My only other electronic gadget on Vela unless you consider a flashlight an electronic gadget. Mistake #2.
Notice a couple boats reefing and couple dropping sail and pulling what I thought was into the Washburn Marina. Vela was fine under full sail. Maybe a hint that I should be concerned. Mistake #3
Wind was dropping. Time to head home. ~4nm across the Bay from the marina. Cruising now at ~4.5kts on a slight upwind last leg home. ~Mile out I see a heavy wind line developing. Pushed through the leading edge before realizing I should have set a reef or two. Mistake #4.
Ended up having to heave to and set the main to the 2nd reef. Considered dropping the jib. Vela sail very nice with just the main set at reef #2. No point in trying to get into the marina. Either just sail around or pull in to the shelter of the land and anchor. Like the more intelligent sailboat had done. ~1nm of just running and tacking back and forth before the wind dropped to a reasonable velocity allowing approaching the marina entrance. Of course the wind totally died. Until I had Vela sitting on the trailer at the storage spot furling the main around the boom. One last gust to make things inconvenient.
Another good and interesting time on L. Superior. At least the hard wind line wasn't a Derecho. One knock down experience on L. Superior was enough for a life time. So far, we have had couple come through this year. One down more or less outside of Washburn that knocked down more trees than you can count. Maybe one through the town across the Bay that did some serious damage to structures.
Some announcement came across ch 16 from the USCG. Volume was too low to hear over the sound of seas and wind. Usually it's some message regarding a distressed boater. Mistake #1.
Sky looked fine. The puffy clouds clouds over the land were having a hard time staying developed over the Lake. Plus it was clearing to the W. Should have checked the barometric chart on the hand held GPS. My only other electronic gadget on Vela unless you consider a flashlight an electronic gadget. Mistake #2.
Notice a couple boats reefing and couple dropping sail and pulling what I thought was into the Washburn Marina. Vela was fine under full sail. Maybe a hint that I should be concerned. Mistake #3
Wind was dropping. Time to head home. ~4nm across the Bay from the marina. Cruising now at ~4.5kts on a slight upwind last leg home. ~Mile out I see a heavy wind line developing. Pushed through the leading edge before realizing I should have set a reef or two. Mistake #4.
Ended up having to heave to and set the main to the 2nd reef. Considered dropping the jib. Vela sail very nice with just the main set at reef #2. No point in trying to get into the marina. Either just sail around or pull in to the shelter of the land and anchor. Like the more intelligent sailboat had done. ~1nm of just running and tacking back and forth before the wind dropped to a reasonable velocity allowing approaching the marina entrance. Of course the wind totally died. Until I had Vela sitting on the trailer at the storage spot furling the main around the boom. One last gust to make things inconvenient.
Another good and interesting time on L. Superior. At least the hard wind line wasn't a Derecho. One knock down experience on L. Superior was enough for a life time. So far, we have had couple come through this year. One down more or less outside of Washburn that knocked down more trees than you can count. Maybe one through the town across the Bay that did some serious damage to structures.
#12
Precision / Re: Self-steering fix
Last post by Riggerdood - Aug 22, 2026, 04:35 PMAgreed, there's definitely something to be said for simplicity. I do like the auto tiller, but I still have the tiller clutch for backup. And there are some situations where I'll just pop the clutch on quick if I need two hands free for a few seconds. Also, I use the clutch for going hove to.
#13
Precision / Re: Self-steering fix
Last post by Brian N. - Aug 22, 2026, 11:02 AMWhen going out solo, some type of self steering is necessary, even if it is not perfect. With the bungee set up, I have enough time to cut the engine and raise the sails. I try to head for dead upwind, but even if I am close hauled the bungee setup gives me time to leave the tiller. It gives me a break for a two handed lunch, or a minute to relieve the bladder after two cups of coffee. On some days which are "drifters" I can set the tiller and sit on the bow relaxing or hang my legs over the side, or fiddle with the sail trim. Best of all, no battery, cheap, replacement parts always handy.
#14
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: NAB: (Not About Boating) H...
Last post by Riley Smith - Aug 22, 2026, 09:15 AMCharles, that picture was taken the moment of unboxing and is proof that I speak truly when I say I'm a novice 
The squeaks and squawks are STILL awful and Sonya commented, "OH CRAP! I've been through a couple of trumpets, a piano student, and now THIS?
"
I did shut her up though when she was ranting about me not doing the same old same old routine the book laid out. (Typical woman rant). I think it was frustration from listening to failures. And I was trying to explain that I was still trying to play the SCALES. So I played SOMETHING, spur of the moment; dead simple, and she sez, "Well....I see. Congratulations"
And I just thought those low notes required technical skill!!! Yes, a long way to go. I'm still learning mechanics and notes. But Oh buddy! When Louise was speaking it was awesome!! Could I repeat it?
Not reliably...
The squeaks and squawks are STILL awful and Sonya commented, "OH CRAP! I've been through a couple of trumpets, a piano student, and now THIS?" I did shut her up though when she was ranting about me not doing the same old same old routine the book laid out. (Typical woman rant). I think it was frustration from listening to failures. And I was trying to explain that I was still trying to play the SCALES. So I played SOMETHING, spur of the moment; dead simple, and she sez, "Well....I see. Congratulations"
And I just thought those low notes required technical skill!!! Yes, a long way to go. I'm still learning mechanics and notes. But Oh buddy! When Louise was speaking it was awesome!! Could I repeat it?
Not reliably...
#15
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: NAB: (Not About Boating) H...
Last post by Doug SC - Aug 22, 2026, 06:51 AMPlaying how you feel...The Native American Flute lends itself to that and it gave me a path to making music. I also enjoy making them. I picked up a plastic soprano ukulele for something new to do in 2020. They have a history of being a shipboard instrument and can also be stowed in my sea kayak. Being blessed with big hands and fat fingers it proved difficult to play some cords, so I bought a nice tenor ukulele. I learned a few songs but mostly enjoy making my own compositions just like I do with the NAF. A sax seems out of my league.
#16
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: NAB: (Not About Boating) H...
Last post by Frank B. - Aug 22, 2026, 06:35 AMYep that might help. 
I missed this first time around and would have been good to see on Fathers day, bringing back memories of my Dad. He played the alto sax and clarinet as a part time job for sixty years, literally in bands anywhere we lived. When he retired from the Navy and moved to Biloxi he was in a number of bands all genres, rock, country, dixieland jazz, and his favorite, although not often needed, forties big band. Riley you may be familiar with Marion Carpenter, AKA "Prof" Carpenter, long time coast musician, band director at Biloxi high and music store owner. My dad played in several of his bands including a dixieland band that played the coast hotels on weekend brunches.
My Dad "Huck" Boettcher was inducted into the Mississippi Gulf Coast Jazz hall of fame. Ironically he couldn't read music, played all those years by memory and ear.
Me? I didn't get the talent pass through, although my sons did. Struggled to maintain a third chair status at Notre Dame HS band.
I missed this first time around and would have been good to see on Fathers day, bringing back memories of my Dad. He played the alto sax and clarinet as a part time job for sixty years, literally in bands anywhere we lived. When he retired from the Navy and moved to Biloxi he was in a number of bands all genres, rock, country, dixieland jazz, and his favorite, although not often needed, forties big band. Riley you may be familiar with Marion Carpenter, AKA "Prof" Carpenter, long time coast musician, band director at Biloxi high and music store owner. My dad played in several of his bands including a dixieland band that played the coast hotels on weekend brunches.
My Dad "Huck" Boettcher was inducted into the Mississippi Gulf Coast Jazz hall of fame. Ironically he couldn't read music, played all those years by memory and ear.
Me? I didn't get the talent pass through, although my sons did. Struggled to maintain a third chair status at Notre Dame HS band.
#17
Precision / Re: Self-steering fix
Last post by Riggerdood - Aug 21, 2026, 08:41 PMI've seen a number of self-steering arrangement diagrams like that Brian, that use some form of interaction between sheets and tiller/wheel, but I've never tried it. Another thing I'm curious about are windvane systems, which I've also not seen in person. I've been meaning to do some studying up on how they work.
#18
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: NAB: (Not About Boating) H...
Last post by Charles Brennan - Aug 21, 2026, 06:02 PMRiley, Ummmm . . . . . Have you tried rotating the mouthpiece 180ยบ, so that the reed is against your lower lip?
Ya know . . . . like all the other saxophone players do?
Just wondering . . . . .
Charles Brennan
Ya know . . . . like all the other saxophone players do?
Just wondering . . . . .
Charles Brennan
#19
Precision / Self-steering fix
Last post by Brian N. - Aug 21, 2026, 05:21 PMI recently read about a sailing catamaran crossing from Ecuador to Easter Island. Not too far into the passage their autopilot failed beyond repair and they had no backup. The sailors then rigged what I call the "Chepo- Bungee2000 auto pilot". Basically a pair of Bungees rigged to the sheets and wheel. They sailed roughly 1800 miles on this system. On my little Precision 165 I use the single bungee system (Chepo-Bungee1000) tied to the tiller. It works well enough to leave the tiller for several minutes . Sometimes simple is best.
. Sometimes simple is best. #20
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: NAB: (Not About Boating) H...
Last post by Riley Smith - Aug 21, 2026, 01:40 PMAnd so, Louise can be....ah, difficult. Maybe that's the expression. There are lots of notes and keys and I'm a novice. Almost immediately I could make some sound but that ain't nothing. I couldn't yet make the sound I WANTED to make. Not yet. But she has let me in on a few sounds already. And once, early one morning, without a soul around, I played how I felt. For several notes, high and low and in-between. With TREMELO to boot! Yes, a novice music student. Learning and experimenting and learning some more. One day, if I live long enough, I'll be able to play what I feel at the drop of a hat.
And that feeling is a very grand thing. Here's to music and imagination and sound that will wrap your soul up in a nice bundle!
And that feeling is a very grand thing. Here's to music and imagination and sound that will wrap your soul up in a nice bundle!