post launch list of stuff to do

[adla]

it has been a tiring couple of months. There was the mad rush to get the boat in shape (just enough to launch) and then my exhausting trip to hawaii:

(mostly exhausting in that i am in a fit to figure out how to MOVE there) ... and i thought my little house deep in the desert was nice - how about an island thousands of miles from any mainland - sweet.

So, back to Morgaine. I unlaced the mainsail and folded it up tonight...and have some work to do getting her ready to dunk again. The gaff jaws broke and that is an easy fix but i have some questions. Did anyone else feel the throat halyard was too short? did anyone do more than a simple lace for the mainsail - like tying it off on all four corners? What i wonder would be the benefit of double blocks on the boom? (i have not seen them in town and available...the ones i am using cost an arm and a leg) - and does anyone have advice on caring for the battery - since this will be a once a month at the most used boat?

i wish i had a closer body of water but there just isn't one...

a.

[Bud_Wilson]

Adla I know about the hustle and bussle trying to get ready to lanch it's a bitch, but the trip to the islands looks VERY VERY tiring sure glad I didn't have to do that. I have a double block on my boom but I riged a horse on my boom I forgot how yours is set up. I used Hawkins blocks on Magnolia I ordered for a place in Maryland Bacon & asso. www.baconsails.com All I know about the battery is check it occasionly and if it's low put it on the slow charge charger. Y'ALL COME Cap'N Bud

[Greg Luckett]

Yeah, it sure looks tiring. :roll:

[capt jake]

Batteies do better if they are kept somewhat warm. If yoiu have an automatic charger, throw a charge at it once every month or two. Inlike the older rubber cased batteries, the new ones can sit on concrete without harm (though they get colder, so see item one). ;)

The sail will need to be secures at each corner in some fashion. I laced the head, but the foot is loose.

I lead all of my lines to the cockpit, so they are all 'custom' length. I have a double block but I don't really see the advantage over two singles.

[adla]

Bud....the horse idea interests me. i am going to look and see if i can find pics of how other people have done this. And see if it is in the Gaff Rig Handbok.

Jake - so your main is loose except for the corners? is there a benefit to this? i am also going to look in the Gaff Rig Handbook...this book is proving to be very informative.

The sails i bought are dacron and don't have reef points...any suggestions as to sending them off for some alteration - thinking 2 reef points? One of the challenges on these desert lakes is gusts of wind. Yesterday - the weather report was something like sustained winds at about 6knots and gusts up to 30 - yuck. of course it makes for a choppy lousy day and i didn't attempt it. But i have been out fishing on the other lake i like and had the wind pick up on shore OUT OF nowhere and blow me off the beach.

i plan on leaving the battery in the forepeak - maybe i can put some insulation around it. i won't be taking it out because i can't lift it :twisted: i had to have my brother put it in the boat for me. :oops: the consensus seems to be slow charging.

thanks for the suggestions -

Bud if you had pictures of your boom and traveler...i'd share pictures of the big blue fish that had yellow lips that i snorkled with...

i actually did get som pics of some neat wooden boats while i was there and visited the Falls of Clyde - the only fully rigged 4 masted ship left (or so they say) ...

a.

[capt jake]

I leave my battery in the forepeak and charge it occasionally.

My sail is attached with hoops, laced along the gaff and seceres at the end of the gaff with an eye. As far as modifying the sail, I don't have any recommendations as to where to send it, though I have a local sail maker who I have been very impressed with. She is used to making much larger sails than for the Weekender.

l also use a horse for the boom, I may have a picture; I will have to look. This may give you an idea.

[Dave R1]

Adla,

Regarding the horse, I installed a couple of stainless U-bolts, one near each corner of the stern deck. Then I ran a length of 1/2" double braid between them. A single block for the mainsheet slides on that piece of line. I spliced an thimbled eye in one end but just tie the other end off with a bowline hitch. That gave me some ability to adjust the horse.

The other common method is to use bronze rod bent in a wide U. Thread the ends and run the ends through plates on the stern deck. I wanted to do that but with my central hatch back there, it would be difficult to get in to the lazarette.

Last spring I installed robands in the eyelets on the foot of the sail. That turned out to make it easier to set up the mainsail. I think I'll do the same for the head of the sail but I'm going to leave the luff lacing as it's been for the last three seasons. That works fine for me.

One row of reef points ought to be enough. Make sure whover does the work doubles the fabric up properly.

As to the battery, you might consider getting a solar charger. I think you have the odd day or two of sun there so it would work well. Do a search on ebay for 'VW solar panel' and snoop through the listings. there will be a bunch of these chargers on there and you should be able to get one for under $20.

These chargers are put in VWs to maintain the battery while the cars are sitting out in parking lots waiting to be sold. They plug into the cigare... oops accessory outlet and have regulating circuitry built in.

I installed an outlet for this thing up in the forepeak so I can plug the charger in when the boat is sitting or when sailing. The charger isn't waterproof so you'd want to put it in a clear container. I set my inlaws up with one of these chargers and put the panel in a transluscent Rubbermaid type container.

I hope you can get out sailing a bit more before winter sets in.

Dave

[adla]

Dave -

The solar charger is a good idea...we have something like 360 days of sunshine here

i am going to search and see if i can find pics of different traveler/horse set ups....i felt like the entire rig was out of control on the first sail (mainly the jib because it wasn't held in a block up front)

i don't think i have to worry too much about the end of the sailing season here...the winter at lake mead is probably warmer than some northern lakes in the summer...it is just a matter of making time and dialing in the rig so it is fun.

thanks for the good ideas everyone...i will keep ya'll posted.

a.

[Dave R1]

Here's what I could find for pictures. Hope they help.

This next one is kind of messy but you can see the U bolts just under the taffrail.

And here's a shot of a little fairlead thing I made. It fits midway between mainsheet blocks and keeps the sheet from hanging down in light air and hooking under my chin.

[adla]

Thanks Dave,

the third photo makes it very clear...so, i can loose the block behind the wheel and take it off the spring or whatever...and do a set up with rope. i was looking through the forum at other posts and saw a mention of a ratchet block in the cockpit...is that something you find indispensible? or just an added feature?

Jake,

I found a photo of your traveler set up too and meant to ask about your set up. Is there a reason you might need the rope to be adjustable - i see a tied off end, a pully and a cam cleat?

a.

[Dave R1]

Glad that helps. I like the ratchet block. I expect you'd like it, too, because it lowers the force you have to use holding the sheet when sailing in windy conditions.

I had it mounted down in the cockpit near the cabin bulkhead but I got tired of tripping over that block everytime I stepped into the cabin. I moved the ratchet block to the forward block location on the boom this past summer and it works fine for me. You might appreciate having the block on the cockpit floor because it would allow you to use your stronger biceps instead of your triceps.

BTW, there's a little bungee cord in that third picture. That's used during travel to keep the lower block from banging around on deck and scuffing up the paint.

[capt jake]

Yes, it is run through a cam cleat. More adjustable to changing conditions, when on a reach I can let it out a bit , keeping the cockpit more clear. I tighten it in a bit otherwise. It is also nice to be able to tighten it up for the trailer ride home.

[adla]

Dave -

i did see the bunjee - do you have one double block on the boom? or two - sometimes i have a hard time conceptualizing the rigging.

thanks Jake - the pic i found was pretty clear of your set up. Looks like you run the traveler with a pulley and Dave is just using the back of the pulley on 3/8 line....

either way i have no double big blocks (my stuff is all harken)...just singles and i am trying to figure out how many double blocks i will need or want to use to ease working with the main.

a.

[Dave R1]

Adla, the horse on my boat is actually 1/2" line. The mainsheet is, too. Kind of big for the boat but I like the 1/2" because it is easier to hold. 3/8" would work fine for both, too.

I should have the mainsheet block sliding on the horse with another block. When I set it up, I didn't have another block to fit 1/2"' line. As it turns out, this works fine.

There is no double block on my set up. I have a becket block on the boom. The mainsheet has an eye in the end which goes over the becket. From there it goes to the block on the horse, up through the becket block, forward through the fairlead and through the forward block on the boom. Again, that one is a ratchet block.

Hope that makes sense.

[Kudzu]

Years ago I read a trick on battery charging that I thought was slick. Man was tired of coming to ski lodge every winter and finding the battery on his jeep had to be replaced after sitting dead all summer. His solution was so simple. When they closed up for the summer he put a 2 amp charger on the battery. Connected it to a cheap light timer and set it to come on the minimum time each day. Probably 10-15 minutes. When he returned the batter was fully charged and not damaged by overcharging.

[adla]

Dave -

it does make sense...i have it set up with single pulleys now. The only change would be the horse. (and i use 3/8 line ) - funny how i couldn't imagine even thinking about the peak set up or what a topping lift might do until i had the boat out and on the water. i am ok with the current mast - but plan on making a hollow one (that i can lift) and making it taller just for room - spreading stuff out.

Kudzu -

that is smart....very smart. i think i could swing such an arrangement. My charger is a multi-amp charger and that just might be a good idea.

thanks for the help!

Adla

[adla]

Geez and i didn't mean to confuse you about the mainsheet set up - i do get it and started talking about the peak because that is next after i fix the boom. Such a girl...

a.

[Dave R1]

So were you talking about a double block for the peak halyard? Yes, I have a double block on the mast for the peak. The halyard is belayed to the peak of the gaff, leads to the double block, dow to the gaff at the midpoint (span) back to the double block and then down on deck (cabin roof) where it is lead aft to a cam cleat at the after edge of the cabin roof.

You'll get it eventually.

[capt jake]

Speaking of winter improvements, I am considering adding a gaff bridle for the peak halyard as it has been twisting on the last several outings. Double braid and when it gets a twist, it's all over.

I am thinking that the gaff bridle (Bristol Bronze shows one) would limit the number of blocks the line goes through, thus limiting the twist.

Know of any other gaff bridles out there??

[umop_apisdn]

Jake, Dave,

It seems to me this "horse" setup (where did that term come from?) would make it difficult to sheet the main it really tight. I would think the block running on the horse would slide all the way to the leeward side, limiting how far you can pull the main in. How do you get around that?

And also, a general question to everyone: Would there be any benefit to converting this horse into a full blown traveller by devising a way to lock the lower block in place on the horse?

Noel.