tdrown Posted September 12, 2005 Posted September 12, 2005 Yesterday, after helping my folks reseal their driveway in Allentown I enticed them to go sailing with me that Afternoon at Lake Nockamixon (the closest lake of size). It didn't hurt that the boat was already hitched and off the driveway. It has been over a year since I last sailed my Weekender. I went off to college and have only been able to get back to Allentown a few times. Those few times were normally holidays or trips that consisted of working on the boat. So since a year ago I have added, fixed, or broke the following: -Tyvek Sails -Bilge Pump, drain box, and auto float switch -not-sure-if-it-really-works VHF radio and antennae -navigation lights -xenon cabin lights -retattached steering -took apart and reglued rudderbox -ladder rungs on the stays -motor mount -trolling motor -boom gallows -seat-hatch gutter-like drain -roof routed jib sheets -anchor light -compass About 3/4 of the way down there we heard a scratching sound like we were dragging something. We were. The trolling motor fell off its mount and it the motor was running. I examined the damage, the plastic propeller got roughed up a little. I put the trolling motor in the cockpit (I couldn't put it anywhere else, the wires attached it to the boat, I am going to change it so it has a plug). We get to the lake and I raise the mast. One I inspect everything I find that the forestay's eyebolt is missing its nut. I look everywhere on my boat for the sames sized nut but can't find any that weren't being used for something important. Luckily I have two forestays and the foremost one would not be flying any sails on it that day, so I used the nut from it to hold down the eyebolt. We back the boat into the water and tie her up to the dock. There's barely any wind at the lake, much less than 5 knots all afternoon. Great weather for trying out the new trolling motor. I raise the sails at dock and spinned the boat around and jump on. I fire up the trolling motor as we drift away from the dock. Full speed ahead! The trolling motor was frustratingly inadequate. We were drifting backwards. We almost hit the dock we were trying to get away from. I knew that the motor wasn't going to make us a speedboat, and I knew that 4 people on this boat wasn't going to make it any faster, but I expected to at least go forwards. Then, for some reason, I put the motor in reverse. We started moving in the right direction! Not only had I made the motor mount too thin for the motor thus allowing it to fall off in transit, I also installed the motor to have reverse polarity. Opps! I really can't comment on the Tyvek sails yet, the very slight breeze moved us very slowly and I didn't really see the sails fill with wind. These sails were made to the right dimensions (unlike my last pair), so the boom actually did not rest on the deck like it used to. I still have a leak in the forepeak. I don't know where water is coming in but I think it is from the stem or the keel. I thought I fixed the leak by putting epoxy and varnish over the 3plied stem's front, but apparently it hasn't worked or I am wrong in the source of the leak. -Tyler Drown I'll post pictures as soon as they are sent to me. Quote
JeffM Posted September 12, 2005 Posted September 12, 2005 Frustrating, I'm sure! I hope you get a good opportunity with a good breeze before you have to quit for the season. After just half-a-dozen trips on my new boat, I'm looking at the end of the season soon, myself. Jeff Michals-Brown CS20 #65 Beatrice Ann Quote
tdrown Posted September 12, 2005 Author Posted September 12, 2005 It wasn't actually that frustrating, I'm used to making stupid mistakes and having no wind at that lake. The most frustrating part were that certain passengers were inclined to nagging. I'm pretty confident that I will be able to take the boat out a few more times this season. I have a friend who lives near me down here in Philadelphia that's been itching to go sailing on my boat and he has a trailer hitch. Of course we still have to go all the way to Allentown to get the boat. Quote
umop_apisdn Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 The most frustrating part were that certain passengers were inclined to nagging. Perhaps for THIS winter, you should make the addition of a "plank" a high priority? Noel Quote
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