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#71
TSBB General Talk / Re: Ice out, ice in
Last post by GlenG - Mar 24, 2025, 11:25 AMWatching the ice here in Minnesota. Lake Minnetonka (Twin cities area, but it is a big lake). Ice is about half out after a windy weekend. Probably another week or two for full ice out.
But I have to get the dock re-installed before I launch for the season.
I've sailed in freezing weather where wet lines get hard to untangle or are too stiff to run through the blocks. But I'm older (wiser ??) now and will wait maybe a month before I gear up for the summer season.
But I have to get the dock re-installed before I launch for the season.
I've sailed in freezing weather where wet lines get hard to untangle or are too stiff to run through the blocks. But I'm older (wiser ??) now and will wait maybe a month before I gear up for the summer season.
#72
Precision / Re: What do northern sailors i...
Last post by Quantico Frank - Mar 24, 2025, 09:13 AMFor whatever reason, I've found myself doing a fair amount of metal work recently, mostly trying to accommodate (or recover from) my Rudder Craft rudder/mast crutch combination (which they no longer sell) which has obviously turned out way too heavy for my stock Precision pintles and maybe transom. Fortunately, I didn't destroy my transom, but I've gone through two sets of OEM pintles. The first time I destroyed a set of pintles it was at least partially my fault because I didn't diagonally brace the rudder/mast crutch combination to the hull when trailering. So I fixed the diagonal bracing issue and increased the strength of the pintles with some 316 SS braces I made (!!!) myself. The second time, the vertical weight of the rudder/mast crutch combination literally crushed the OEM pintles. The solution I came up with with a WHOLE LOT of Tim's help and thinking was to permanently separate the Rudder Craft mast crutch from the rudder/tiller assembly so the latter would no longer bear on the pintles for trailering. That necessitated NEW 316 SS brackets and pintle braces that I had to fabricate, and apparently that has solved my problem with the pintles once and for all.
On the Trailer Sailor Happy Hour that we have every other Friday, I have sometimes brought up what I'm doing, and it's been known for some time that Terry knows A LOT OF STUFF about these things. On occasions in the past, we have reserved some of our most technical questions for Terry. So when I was thinking about this contraption that it would be great to have that's portable that I could take outside to slowly turn bowls or spindles for high-fume (VOC) finishing, I wrote to Terry to see if he had any suggestions. Terry took it on as a challenge. And he obviously had the knowledge to make it work. So we all three, Terry, Tim, and I have taken on this madcap science project, and Terry is the one who is making it all work. There is some serious horse trading going on-- my finished products-- turned bowls and other things I make, for flat-out machine parts that Terry makes! We've all had a blast in the process. I will attempt to post some pictures of what's going on, including what I did to solve my rudder/tiller/mast crutch problem in a separate post.
On the Trailer Sailor Happy Hour that we have every other Friday, I have sometimes brought up what I'm doing, and it's been known for some time that Terry knows A LOT OF STUFF about these things. On occasions in the past, we have reserved some of our most technical questions for Terry. So when I was thinking about this contraption that it would be great to have that's portable that I could take outside to slowly turn bowls or spindles for high-fume (VOC) finishing, I wrote to Terry to see if he had any suggestions. Terry took it on as a challenge. And he obviously had the knowledge to make it work. So we all three, Terry, Tim, and I have taken on this madcap science project, and Terry is the one who is making it all work. There is some serious horse trading going on-- my finished products-- turned bowls and other things I make, for flat-out machine parts that Terry makes! We've all had a blast in the process. I will attempt to post some pictures of what's going on, including what I did to solve my rudder/tiller/mast crutch problem in a separate post.
#73
TSBB General Talk / Re: Trailer Sailing Cruising A...
Last post by Grith - Mar 24, 2025, 05:47 AMAfter a gruelling 12 month renovate of hopefully our forever navigable waterfront retirement home we are back trailer sailer cruising on our semi liveaboard capable Imexus 28.
We are just coming off the water after 4 weeks cruising exploring the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria Australia.
Few still genuinely trailerable yachts are comfortable enough to act as mini cruising platforms with luxury's like stand out headroom at the galley, enclosed shower toilet, permanent dinette and two very large long double beds.
We have sailed when winds were appropriate and used our torqeedo 1103 auxiliary for significant lake and river transits in calm or near calm conditions.
The torqeedo doubles as our dingy outboard transferring from a remote throttle on our yacht's helm to a conventional tiller throttle when used for the inflatable dingy.
Despite the fuel consumption of our monster 115hp main outboard and four weeks cruising we are returning with over half our fuel unused and about a third of our potable water.
This trip was in part testing various systems for a planned 3/4 months without ability to resupply next year in the remote and challenging Kimberley's.
Trailer Sailer Cruising Australia my Facebook page continues to draw participants and is active with posts and comments on a daily basis.
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We are just coming off the water after 4 weeks cruising exploring the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria Australia.
Few still genuinely trailerable yachts are comfortable enough to act as mini cruising platforms with luxury's like stand out headroom at the galley, enclosed shower toilet, permanent dinette and two very large long double beds.
We have sailed when winds were appropriate and used our torqeedo 1103 auxiliary for significant lake and river transits in calm or near calm conditions.
The torqeedo doubles as our dingy outboard transferring from a remote throttle on our yacht's helm to a conventional tiller throttle when used for the inflatable dingy.
Despite the fuel consumption of our monster 115hp main outboard and four weeks cruising we are returning with over half our fuel unused and about a third of our potable water.
This trip was in part testing various systems for a planned 3/4 months without ability to resupply next year in the remote and challenging Kimberley's.
Trailer Sailer Cruising Australia my Facebook page continues to draw participants and is active with posts and comments on a daily basis.
You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.
#74
TSBB General Talk / Florida Cruising.
Last post by rfrance0718 - Mar 23, 2025, 10:39 PMI'm home again. Yesterday I towed the Oday from Gainesville Fl. To Columbus. About 900 miles in 16 hours. I did all of the driving. Today I'm too goofy to write much or deal with picture posting.
We sailed from The northern end of Pine Island to Cape Sable and back. Great time, some issues. I'll report later.
We sailed from The northern end of Pine Island to Cape Sable and back. Great time, some issues. I'll report later.
#75
TSBB General Talk / Re: Portsmouth handicap number...
Last post by rfrance0718 - Mar 23, 2025, 10:28 PMAt our club, our second race on Sundays is a mass start handicap race. I've sailed in about 500 of these races over a 30 year period. Here are some observations.
With one design racing you always know exactly how you do. With handicap racing you have to interpret the outcomes. Over the years, you find boats and skippers that you are competitive against. You beat them on a good day, loose on a bad day. I race both the Thistle and the Laser. The ratings always have some valididy, but are not perfect. Lasers and Interlakes, for example, are only a couple of points apart, even though the Interlake is 6 feet longer. When I'm sailing the Laser there are some Interlakes who I usually beat scratch, some that I usually beat with my points, and some that I rarely beat, even with my points. When I'm fleet racing with other Lasers or Thistles it works kind of the same way. Some I usually beat, some are more like I win some-loose some, and some I don't beat often, but I always know exactly where you stand. The handicap results are similar when I'm sailing the Thistle, except that I win on corrected time more often in the Thistle than I do in the Laser. I'm a more experienced Thistle sailor than a Laser sailor.
Our Thistle fleet is very competitive and quite evenly matched. We all win some and we all loose some. Usually, the Thistles beat all of the other boats scratch, but usually one of the other classes win the race on corrected time. Some boats do well in one condition while others do well in some other type of wind. The Thistle is the fastest of our fleets, and also the most consistent over the range of conditions. In fact, the Thistle is the base line boat for the whole Portsmouth system, with a rating of 83 across all wind velocities. So the Thistle doesn't have a favorite condition.
We have only 7 different types of boats at our club. All are cb boats that can plane. Our numbers range from 83 to about 101.
I've been sailing these races for about 30 years. I used to win the year long series some, but now I don't come very close. I can tell you that I've slipped in both handicap competitions and in one design. The Portsmouth system is accurate enough to confirm that I'm not as good as I used to be.
Have fun and race against the boats that you are around. Don't worry about the boats way ahead or behind. If you don't beat your closest competitors you won't beat the others, scratch or with corrected time.
With one design racing you always know exactly how you do. With handicap racing you have to interpret the outcomes. Over the years, you find boats and skippers that you are competitive against. You beat them on a good day, loose on a bad day. I race both the Thistle and the Laser. The ratings always have some valididy, but are not perfect. Lasers and Interlakes, for example, are only a couple of points apart, even though the Interlake is 6 feet longer. When I'm sailing the Laser there are some Interlakes who I usually beat scratch, some that I usually beat with my points, and some that I rarely beat, even with my points. When I'm fleet racing with other Lasers or Thistles it works kind of the same way. Some I usually beat, some are more like I win some-loose some, and some I don't beat often, but I always know exactly where you stand. The handicap results are similar when I'm sailing the Thistle, except that I win on corrected time more often in the Thistle than I do in the Laser. I'm a more experienced Thistle sailor than a Laser sailor.
Our Thistle fleet is very competitive and quite evenly matched. We all win some and we all loose some. Usually, the Thistles beat all of the other boats scratch, but usually one of the other classes win the race on corrected time. Some boats do well in one condition while others do well in some other type of wind. The Thistle is the fastest of our fleets, and also the most consistent over the range of conditions. In fact, the Thistle is the base line boat for the whole Portsmouth system, with a rating of 83 across all wind velocities. So the Thistle doesn't have a favorite condition.
We have only 7 different types of boats at our club. All are cb boats that can plane. Our numbers range from 83 to about 101.
I've been sailing these races for about 30 years. I used to win the year long series some, but now I don't come very close. I can tell you that I've slipped in both handicap competitions and in one design. The Portsmouth system is accurate enough to confirm that I'm not as good as I used to be.
Have fun and race against the boats that you are around. Don't worry about the boats way ahead or behind. If you don't beat your closest competitors you won't beat the others, scratch or with corrected time.
#76
Precision / Precision Sailors' Happy Hour,...
Last post by Riggerdood - Mar 23, 2025, 08:33 PMHi All,
Back by popular demand, I'm setting up another Zoom meeting for this coming Friday, March 28th, at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST.
Any and all who wish to join in, simply reply here to that effect, and I will PM you the Zoom info. Note: I use the PM function of this forum to send the Zoom info - no need to post your email address in a reply here, just keep an eye on your PMs.
Those who have participated in previous happy hours will automatically get the invite, so no need to reply here.
Thanks, and hope to see a few new faces this Friday, as well as "the regulars" in this joint!
- Tim
Back by popular demand, I'm setting up another Zoom meeting for this coming Friday, March 28th, at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST.
Any and all who wish to join in, simply reply here to that effect, and I will PM you the Zoom info. Note: I use the PM function of this forum to send the Zoom info - no need to post your email address in a reply here, just keep an eye on your PMs.
Those who have participated in previous happy hours will automatically get the invite, so no need to reply here.
Thanks, and hope to see a few new faces this Friday, as well as "the regulars" in this joint!
- Tim
#77
Precision / Re: Ice is out and boat comes ...
Last post by tjspiel - Mar 23, 2025, 06:58 PMQuote from: Brian N. on Mar 23, 2025, 12:23 PMIt has been fairly mild here also on Long Island. The garden and yard are screaming for attention. Unfortunately we had a months long drought that took out some of our newer fall plantings. As far as the boat, well I'll have my son dump some water that has accumulated on the cover, but I doubt I'll get out before late August, as my leg heals and Physical therapy progresses. Tom, as I recall, you were very pleased with your spot last year.
How's the recovery coming Brian?
Yeah, I was pretty happy with what I got last year. My name was drawn 2nd but the first person wasn't present so I got my pick of buoys.
Will probably not get that lucky this year but I'm sure whatever I get will be just fine.
#78
TSBB General Talk / Portsmouth handicap number for...
Last post by StephenC - Mar 23, 2025, 06:51 PMI have a 2014 Sage 17, hull number 21. This will be my second full season of racing her in the handicap fleet of my sailing club. My previous boat was a Montgomery 15, which has a Portsmouth number of 108, which made me the slowest boat in the fleet, so the race committee would have to wait for me to finish, before starting the next race. That's one reason I moved up to a Sage 17 & I am finishing much closer to the rest of the fleet than I was in the Montgomery 15.
Most of the other boats in my handicap fleet are Sunfish & Capri 14s, which have handicap numbers of 99.6 & 99.4 respectively. Our club's scorekeeper was using 100 for my boat, which lines up with the information I got from a person who had worked with Sage Marine, who was very helpful when I was buying the boat.
I have asked Google what the Portsmouth Handicap number for a Sage 17 is, several times & I get a different number each time, between 105 & 106 which I think would be too generous to me.
My sense is that 100 is a bit low. On a windy day, how can I hope to keep up with my fleet mates who can plane? On a really windy day, my ability to reef is a real bonus against my fleet mates who are dangerously overpowered.
Does anybody else race a Sage 17? What handicap number do you use? What has been your experience?
Thank you, Stephen.
Most of the other boats in my handicap fleet are Sunfish & Capri 14s, which have handicap numbers of 99.6 & 99.4 respectively. Our club's scorekeeper was using 100 for my boat, which lines up with the information I got from a person who had worked with Sage Marine, who was very helpful when I was buying the boat.
I have asked Google what the Portsmouth Handicap number for a Sage 17 is, several times & I get a different number each time, between 105 & 106 which I think would be too generous to me.
My sense is that 100 is a bit low. On a windy day, how can I hope to keep up with my fleet mates who can plane? On a really windy day, my ability to reef is a real bonus against my fleet mates who are dangerously overpowered.
Does anybody else race a Sage 17? What handicap number do you use? What has been your experience?
Thank you, Stephen.
#79
TSBB General Talk / first race of the year
Last post by Doug SC - Mar 23, 2025, 05:24 PMWow, I am out of shape! 
Yesterday's nautical gymnastics have my upper thighs complaining. I wore gloves but my hands are sore anyway. I did a bit of sailing with the Scamp at the end of February. The winds were light, and I instructed my friend in the art of rowing when it dropped for a while. Yesterday the winds were 12-14 with gust of 24mph. Water temp was 56 F. I'm proud to say we came in second in both races. 
I just won't mention there ended up only two boats racing. 
We were up against one of our best in the fleet. Yes, several that would have been there backed out for various reasons. It was wet going up wind and the gusts would often come at us from off of the prevailing wind direction. Lots of hiking to keep the boat at prime degree of heel. Lake Murray was rough and being a lake the winds are predictably shifty. What a way to start the sailing season, but I am happy to say this is the first time we have had the honor of being in overall second place. 
I am also slowly recovering. 
Yesterday's nautical gymnastics have my upper thighs complaining. I wore gloves but my hands are sore anyway. I did a bit of sailing with the Scamp at the end of February. The winds were light, and I instructed my friend in the art of rowing when it dropped for a while. Yesterday the winds were 12-14 with gust of 24mph. Water temp was 56 F. I'm proud to say we came in second in both races. I just won't mention there ended up only two boats racing. We were up against one of our best in the fleet. Yes, several that would have been there backed out for various reasons. It was wet going up wind and the gusts would often come at us from off of the prevailing wind direction. Lots of hiking to keep the boat at prime degree of heel. Lake Murray was rough and being a lake the winds are predictably shifty. What a way to start the sailing season, but I am happy to say this is the first time we have had the honor of being in overall second place. I am also slowly recovering. #80
TSBB General Talk / Re: Replacing fire extinguishe...
Last post by Brian N. - Mar 23, 2025, 05:20 PMWhen I purchased the boat I stopped by a local retailer which specializes in fire safety equipment, representing several different manufactures. They put a tag on the extinguisher as to when it was due for service and recharge. I believe it was 12 years. Also, as Noel mentioned, invert the extinguisher and give it a couple of taps to loosen any compacted dry chemical
P.S.
Just checked the extinguisher, as I keep it inside during the winter. The tag is the date of most recent service. Of course it is over 12 years since the last service.
P.S.
Just checked the extinguisher, as I keep it inside during the winter. The tag is the date of most recent service. Of course it is over 12 years since the last service.