The binding cracked me up though:
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Book Binding Fail
Got my copy of "The Complete Rigger's Apprentice" today. Full of great stuff.
The binding cracked me up though:
The binding cracked me up though:
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sail: Dude Sail (No. 2)
Wendy and I changed the oil the weekend before last. We only managed to pump out about 8 quarts rather than the 11-12 listed in the manual. Seems like a lot to leave in there. Is that normal? Jonathan (the P/O) recommended changing while its still warm, but I think next time we might do it first thing in the morning to see if we get more out. Also getting gobs of black soot blown out of the exhaust if I rake the throttle. I may replace the exhaust hose to the transom soon -- looks like this dates back to 1982 (although looks in good shape, and I don't get any fumes).
Also, hopefully will start on sprucing up the exterior varnish next weekend. Had originally planned on stripping some of it back, but I think there's not much to lose by experimenting with lightly sanding it down and and adding a couple of coats first to see how it looks.
Took a sewing class at the Tech Shop in Menlo Park yesterday morning. They've got an industrial sewing machine that I used to stitch in reinforcing webbing straps onto the boat's LifeSling bag where the Velcro was pulling away from the bag. Also planning to make some new canvas covers. The ones I have are getting pretty ratty and the canvas guy I know wanted $500 for a new sun cover for my dodger. (Its just 4 panels of canvas stitched together!) Have ordered fabric samples from Sailrite -- seems to be very difficult to find marine canvas suppliers locally. Given the cost of getting canvas made or the cost of renting time of the TechShop's machines, it might be worth investing in a sewing machine.
The Dudes turned out for a full on Dude Sail today. Also Erin, Arjun and Wendy. Its the last day of the Festival of Sail and I wanted to get out to see the cannon fight. The wind was honking pretty hard. We stopped at Paradise Cove for lunch. Even though we found a fairly sheltered spot, we slowly dragged anchor for a 100 feet or more until we left. Was warm there, but pretty cold and overcast in the central bay. I'd estimate that we were getting 25-30kts between East of Angel Island to the city. We sailed just on the main in the afternoon and had to motor sail against the current (6kts at the gate) to make it up the city front. I've been finding that my boat sails much worse without the jib and points much worse than I'd expect.
We missed the cannon fight. We heard on the VHF that that the Californian
had lost their bowsprit and so the they gave up the fight early and headed
back to port. We motored around inside a lot of the city marinas and
piers and checked out all the ships: a replica of The Nina (Christopher Columbus's favorite), The Eagle, California, Lynx and a bunch of others. Included in those was the Bounty. Wendy and I saw the Bounty at St. Petersburg Pier in Florida earlier this year. Rumor has it that The Bounty, which starred in "Mutiny on the Bounty" with Marlon Brando was also used in the high budget porno "Pirates." Also got a good look at the bowsprit of the California. Looks like the wood failed in a spectacular way, cracking down the length of it.
Throughout the day at hour intervals, the Coast Guard was reporting a 1950's 35ft Chris Craft carrying two men that went missing from Channel Marina (?) in Richmond. It disappeared between Richmond and Tiburon in the prior 24 hours. Its hard to imagine what might have happened to them. The central bay is generally so busy that disappearing without a trace seems hard to pull off -- even a boat were to get hit in the busy shipping channels between Richmond and Tiburon. Whatever happened to them, I suspect happened somewhere else.
Also, hopefully will start on sprucing up the exterior varnish next weekend. Had originally planned on stripping some of it back, but I think there's not much to lose by experimenting with lightly sanding it down and and adding a couple of coats first to see how it looks.
Took a sewing class at the Tech Shop in Menlo Park yesterday morning. They've got an industrial sewing machine that I used to stitch in reinforcing webbing straps onto the boat's LifeSling bag where the Velcro was pulling away from the bag. Also planning to make some new canvas covers. The ones I have are getting pretty ratty and the canvas guy I know wanted $500 for a new sun cover for my dodger. (Its just 4 panels of canvas stitched together!) Have ordered fabric samples from Sailrite -- seems to be very difficult to find marine canvas suppliers locally. Given the cost of getting canvas made or the cost of renting time of the TechShop's machines, it might be worth investing in a sewing machine.
The Dudes turned out for a full on Dude Sail today. Also Erin, Arjun and Wendy. Its the last day of the Festival of Sail and I wanted to get out to see the cannon fight. The wind was honking pretty hard. We stopped at Paradise Cove for lunch. Even though we found a fairly sheltered spot, we slowly dragged anchor for a 100 feet or more until we left. Was warm there, but pretty cold and overcast in the central bay. I'd estimate that we were getting 25-30kts between East of Angel Island to the city. We sailed just on the main in the afternoon and had to motor sail against the current (6kts at the gate) to make it up the city front. I've been finding that my boat sails much worse without the jib and points much worse than I'd expect.
We missed the cannon fight. We heard on the VHF that that the Californian
had lost their bowsprit and so the they gave up the fight early and headed
back to port. We motored around inside a lot of the city marinas and
piers and checked out all the ships: a replica of The Nina (Christopher Columbus's favorite), The Eagle, California, Lynx and a bunch of others. Included in those was the Bounty. Wendy and I saw the Bounty at St. Petersburg Pier in Florida earlier this year. Rumor has it that The Bounty, which starred in "Mutiny on the Bounty" with Marlon Brando was also used in the high budget porno "Pirates." Also got a good look at the bowsprit of the California. Looks like the wood failed in a spectacular way, cracking down the length of it.
Throughout the day at hour intervals, the Coast Guard was reporting a 1950's 35ft Chris Craft carrying two men that went missing from Channel Marina (?) in Richmond. It disappeared between Richmond and Tiburon in the prior 24 hours. Its hard to imagine what might have happened to them. The central bay is generally so busy that disappearing without a trace seems hard to pull off -- even a boat were to get hit in the busy shipping channels between Richmond and Tiburon. Whatever happened to them, I suspect happened somewhere else.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Double Braid Splicing Guides
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIa8G5J8Gb8
- http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQn5ZMKgNI
- http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/eye_splice.html
- http://www.neropes.com/SPL_DoubleEyeSplice.aspx
- http://www.yalecordage.com/html/splicing_instructions.html
- http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/03/r/vintage/sbj/eye/splice.htm
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Sail: Overnight at Richardson Bay
We had plans to do an overnight at Angel Island this weekend. We got there late in the day and the mooring were had filled up. It would have been possible to fit in except that some of the boats were tied up crosswise on the mooring field leaving the only free space requiring us to tie a third line onto a mooring already having two other boats attached. We passed by and sailed up to Richardson Bay and dropped the anchor. Got out the part lights and grilled steaks.
The wind picked up during the night. I still haven't got a GPS. Between the rocking and not having an alarm for dragging anchor, neither of us got much sleep.
In the morning, we motored to Horizon's in Sausalito who have recently reopened the docks. Docking was a little interesting -- we we're still waking up when we arrived and both of us forgot to put the fenders out.
The food was pretty good. But at fifteen bucks a plate and only four options for breakfast, Sam's might have been a better choice.
Wendy got into a bit of an altercation with another boat on the way back home. On a broad reach on a starboard tack we met another boat on a port tack, making us the stand-on vessel, and the the other boat the give-way vessel. The guy at the helm clearly saw us. He closed until we were a little more than than a boat length apart.
Wendy called "Starboard." He called "by the lee." Hmmm... That's a new one. Not sure what he means, or what difference it makes. It doesn't since he'd sailed so close to us we had had to turn down and were be the lee now too.
Still closing.
I called, "you're on port tack. We're on starboard. You have to give way." He shouted back, "are you going to make me gybe?"
Not sure what to think about this. By this time, he'd so close to us that the only option was for one of us to gybe to avoid running into each other.
I shrugged at him. Clearly it was his responsibility. With a groan and rolling eyes, eventually he gybed out of our way.
While, its true Wendy could have headed up early and sailed behind him to prevent him having to gybe, the other boat had the same option and, but also the responsibility to get out of the way. If we'd both of headed up, we'd have run closer to each other faster - it the the stand-on vessel's responsibility is to avoid this situation by keeping their heading.
Douchebag.
We changed the engine oil when we got back.
The engine manual says it takes a little under three gallons of oil. Since there's no sump valve, the oil has to be pumped out. I bought a pump that attaches to an electric drill to do this. We managed to get about 2 gallons out. Not sure where the rest of the oil has gotten to. Its possible its some of it was still coated around the engine, but it seems unlikely. Its possible it was just low on oil, but this also seems unlikely and would suggest that a gallon of oil can be added between the low mark and the full mark on the dipstick.
Next time, I might try changing the oil first thing to see if I get more of it out.
The wind picked up during the night. I still haven't got a GPS. Between the rocking and not having an alarm for dragging anchor, neither of us got much sleep.
In the morning, we motored to Horizon's in Sausalito who have recently reopened the docks. Docking was a little interesting -- we we're still waking up when we arrived and both of us forgot to put the fenders out.
The food was pretty good. But at fifteen bucks a plate and only four options for breakfast, Sam's might have been a better choice.
Wendy got into a bit of an altercation with another boat on the way back home. On a broad reach on a starboard tack we met another boat on a port tack, making us the stand-on vessel, and the the other boat the give-way vessel. The guy at the helm clearly saw us. He closed until we were a little more than than a boat length apart.
Wendy called "Starboard." He called "by the lee." Hmmm... That's a new one. Not sure what he means, or what difference it makes. It doesn't since he'd sailed so close to us we had had to turn down and were be the lee now too.
Still closing.
I called, "you're on port tack. We're on starboard. You have to give way." He shouted back, "are you going to make me gybe?"
Not sure what to think about this. By this time, he'd so close to us that the only option was for one of us to gybe to avoid running into each other.
I shrugged at him. Clearly it was his responsibility. With a groan and rolling eyes, eventually he gybed out of our way.
While, its true Wendy could have headed up early and sailed behind him to prevent him having to gybe, the other boat had the same option and, but also the responsibility to get out of the way. If we'd both of headed up, we'd have run closer to each other faster - it the the stand-on vessel's responsibility is to avoid this situation by keeping their heading.
Douchebag.
We changed the engine oil when we got back.
The engine manual says it takes a little under three gallons of oil. Since there's no sump valve, the oil has to be pumped out. I bought a pump that attaches to an electric drill to do this. We managed to get about 2 gallons out. Not sure where the rest of the oil has gotten to. Its possible its some of it was still coated around the engine, but it seems unlikely. Its possible it was just low on oil, but this also seems unlikely and would suggest that a gallon of oil can be added between the low mark and the full mark on the dipstick.
Next time, I might try changing the oil first thing to see if I get more of it out.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Sail: Sam's
- Meghan, Wendy, Eric.
- Anchored for lunch at Angel Island.
- Sam's for Margaritas. Eric and Wendy: hammered.
- Honked at by a tanker on the way out of the gate.
- Hot cocoa on the way back home. Mmmmm.... cocoa.
- Conversation for the day:
Q: Is it OK to ditch you internet date by email?
A: Yes
So long Santa Cruz. Bring out bald guy.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Sail: Night sail
We had big plans to take the boat out for the fireworks on the 4th July. In the end the prospect of kicking back and taking it easy all day proved too much to overcome.
However by the evening we rustled up the energy to cycle out to Shoreline Park from home in Mountain View to see the fireworks from the bay. Like a scene from E.T.
Wendy and I took the boat out together the day after. We had plans just to do a quick evening sail and come back. However, the sailing was so good that we kept going out on of the gate and didn't get back until after dark. The Lopolight I installed worked a treat. This is the first time just the two of us have been out on the boat by ourselves. I tried out the boat's autopilot for the first time when we raised and dropped the main. Also awesome.
However by the evening we rustled up the energy to cycle out to Shoreline Park from home in Mountain View to see the fireworks from the bay. Like a scene from E.T.
Wendy and I took the boat out together the day after. We had plans just to do a quick evening sail and come back. However, the sailing was so good that we kept going out on of the gate and didn't get back until after dark. The Lopolight I installed worked a treat. This is the first time just the two of us have been out on the boat by ourselves. I tried out the boat's autopilot for the first time when we raised and dropped the main. Also awesome.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Sail: Out of the Gate
Took the boat out the gate this weekend.
Sent Wendy up the mast again to sort out the lead line that had snagged in the sheave when I tried to change out the frayed halyard.
BBQd at the dock.
Got a late start and didn't leave the dock until about 2:30. Missed slack at 3 and fought the tide all the way up Raccoon Straight to get to the gate at max flood at 6.
Wendy, Stu, Yoichiro, Jordan, Dana.
Sent Wendy up the mast again to sort out the lead line that had snagged in the sheave when I tried to change out the frayed halyard.
BBQd at the dock.
Got a late start and didn't leave the dock until about 2:30. Missed slack at 3 and fought the tide all the way up Raccoon Straight to get to the gate at max flood at 6.
Wendy, Stu, Yoichiro, Jordan, Dana.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Directions From Space
View Larger Map
Directions:
- Emeryville Marina is on Powell St., which has its own exit on 80/580. However, it is not possible to take this exit when travelling North on 880 from the East Bay or West on 580. Either take the next exit and find your way back to Powell St or (easier) take 980 and exit as it merges with 880.
- Drive as far down Powell St. as its is possible to go and park. My boat is at the very last dock.
- Someone will need to let you in at the gate. Call me when you arrive.
What to bring:
- Dress for skiing. (Layers, gloves, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, fleece, windproof/waterproof pants/jacket). You'll be too hot or too cold at some point.
- A lifejacket if you have one.
- Camera.
- Sneakers (with non-marking soles if you've got them).
- Food (we usually break out the grill for lunch) and your favorite beverage. People bringing hot drinks to share get bonus points.
- Bring a lifejacket if you have one. (The boat has two good spares and a bunch of very uncomfortable others)
Safety tips.
- Stay on the boat.
- Don't step on the lines.
- Keep fingers out of winches.
- Duck.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Chart datum, GPSs and WGS84
When we were sailing with Andreas on Saturday, he mentioned that his Garmin GPSMap constantly reported himself to be somewhere else while he was sailing in the British Virgin Islands. The error was a constant shift in position.
It must be pretty disturbing to look up your position on the chart and frequently find that you are not there.
His problem reminded me of the the RYA courses that I took in the UK before moving out West. In these, it was part of out boat's checklist to ensure that the boat's GPS (which at that time only reported longitude and latitude, and didn't come with a chart plotter), agreed with the boat's chart's datums. I've never had to do such a thing in the USA and so was prompted me into a bit of revision:
WGS84
Most charts predate GPS and no widespread accurate means of establishing a latitude and longitude that accounted for the wobbles in the shape of the Earth existed at the time they were made. With the advent of GPS, a neat grid may be laid over the surface of the Earth with great accuracy. The latest, and most widely recognized standard version of this grid is called WGS84 (World Geodetic System, 1984) is the one all modern GPSs report as their default position.
Charts predating GPS plot their positions on a variety of other grids, called the chart's position datum. Over 100 datums are in regular use in marine charts, and most GPSs can be programmed with the chart's datum to correct for the disagreement with its calculated WGS84 position.
All good marine GPSs have the ability to correct the positions they report to the chart datum. This is an essential feature for a variety of reasons. Over 100 chart position datums are in use, but the agreed new standard is WGS84. Some chart datums disagree with WGS84 by as much as 30" (or one half of one nautical mile). For locals, this is the difference between being anchored in Paradise Cove, or adrift the shipping lanes.
In most parts of the world, it is essential that you check the chart's datum when plotting a latitude and longitude obtained from a GPS (or any other source).
The USA, The Centre of the Universe and WGS84
In 1884, at the International Median Conference, Washington, DC, the Greenwich Prime Meridian in London, after several centuries of use, was formally defined to be 0 degrees Longitude by a vote of the 25 countries attending (only France abstained from voting, continued to use Paris as their Meridian for several decades before seceding to the Greenwich standard). This established the Greenwich Prime Meridian as the place where time began.
Differences from the Greenwich Prime Meridian are in part what chart datums measure.
Today, if you take a GPS receiver to the bronze markers laid in concrete at the Greenwich Observatory that define the Greenwich Prime Meridian, you'll be disappointed to find that your GPS, if it is set to the its default datum of WGS84, will report that you are 100 metres East of the Meridian. (That's 336.3 feet.)
Why? Because, WGS84 (a US Department of Defense standard) was derived from the older 1927 North American Datum which in turn agrees with the Paris Meridian. Even though this has long since been abandoned by rest of the world, including the French, and disagrees with centuries of work constructing charts with Greenwich as their datum, it did mean that the USDoD didn't need to reprint all of its own charts, rather than correct their error.
There's something a little sad about this. 25 countries met to agree upon a global standard which been a cornerstone of maritime safety for centuries, while WGS84 was reached by no such consensus. With the rise in popularity of GPS, it seems like the rest of the world will just have to suck it up.
http://www.sailtrain.co.uk/gps/positions.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGS84
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Meridian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Meridian_Conference
It must be pretty disturbing to look up your position on the chart and frequently find that you are not there.
His problem reminded me of the the RYA courses that I took in the UK before moving out West. In these, it was part of out boat's checklist to ensure that the boat's GPS (which at that time only reported longitude and latitude, and didn't come with a chart plotter), agreed with the boat's chart's datums. I've never had to do such a thing in the USA and so was prompted me into a bit of revision:
WGS84
Most charts predate GPS and no widespread accurate means of establishing a latitude and longitude that accounted for the wobbles in the shape of the Earth existed at the time they were made. With the advent of GPS, a neat grid may be laid over the surface of the Earth with great accuracy. The latest, and most widely recognized standard version of this grid is called WGS84 (World Geodetic System, 1984) is the one all modern GPSs report as their default position.
Charts predating GPS plot their positions on a variety of other grids, called the chart's position datum. Over 100 datums are in regular use in marine charts, and most GPSs can be programmed with the chart's datum to correct for the disagreement with its calculated WGS84 position.
All good marine GPSs have the ability to correct the positions they report to the chart datum. This is an essential feature for a variety of reasons. Over 100 chart position datums are in use, but the agreed new standard is WGS84. Some chart datums disagree with WGS84 by as much as 30" (or one half of one nautical mile). For locals, this is the difference between being anchored in Paradise Cove, or adrift the shipping lanes.
In most parts of the world, it is essential that you check the chart's datum when plotting a latitude and longitude obtained from a GPS (or any other source).
The USA, The Centre of the Universe and WGS84
In 1884, at the International Median Conference, Washington, DC, the Greenwich Prime Meridian in London, after several centuries of use, was formally defined to be 0 degrees Longitude by a vote of the 25 countries attending (only France abstained from voting, continued to use Paris as their Meridian for several decades before seceding to the Greenwich standard). This established the Greenwich Prime Meridian as the place where time began.
Differences from the Greenwich Prime Meridian are in part what chart datums measure.
Today, if you take a GPS receiver to the bronze markers laid in concrete at the Greenwich Observatory that define the Greenwich Prime Meridian, you'll be disappointed to find that your GPS, if it is set to the its default datum of WGS84, will report that you are 100 metres East of the Meridian. (That's 336.3 feet.)
Why? Because, WGS84 (a US Department of Defense standard) was derived from the older 1927 North American Datum which in turn agrees with the Paris Meridian. Even though this has long since been abandoned by rest of the world, including the French, and disagrees with centuries of work constructing charts with Greenwich as their datum, it did mean that the USDoD didn't need to reprint all of its own charts, rather than correct their error.
There's something a little sad about this. 25 countries met to agree upon a global standard which been a cornerstone of maritime safety for centuries, while WGS84 was reached by no such consensus. With the rise in popularity of GPS, it seems like the rest of the world will just have to suck it up.
http://www.sailtrain.co.uk/gps/positions.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGS84
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Meridian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Meridian_Conference
Monday, June 16, 2008
Through-Hull Leak (Maybe)
Before I left the boat yesterday, I noticed that some water had collected in the bilge over the weekend's sailing. I checked all of the through-hulls and found that the one from holding tank is (very) slowly weeping water. Last night I taped tissue paper marked with felt-pen around the bottom of ball valve to try and see if the water is coming from the through-hull or the ball valve. The lack of ink-bleeding on the paper today indicates that valve is (probably) fine. This is a bit of a shame since the valve is brand new (was replaced at my haulout in March) and now I wish I'd also replaced the through-hull too. I suspect my yard damaged the through-hull seal when they twisted off the old ball-valve which had become pretty rusty.
Also, unlike the valve, replacing the through-hull involves cutting out a section of the hull and so requires re-hauling the boat. Bah!
There's a chance that the through-hull isn't actually leaking. At least it seems to have stopped today. Its possible that the water is from another source and had just collected around the wooden backing plate of the through-hull while we were healed over while sailing.
Either way, the backing plates look pretty damp and should probably be replaced. I'm also considering temporarily sealing up the through-hull with caulk or 5200 (which wouldn't require a haul-out). I have no immediate use for it since I don't plan on any long coastal trips where it would be legal for me to pump the sewage straight out (and would prefer not to do that in any case, not least because of the stink it makes).
Also, unlike the valve, replacing the through-hull involves cutting out a section of the hull and so requires re-hauling the boat. Bah!
There's a chance that the through-hull isn't actually leaking. At least it seems to have stopped today. Its possible that the water is from another source and had just collected around the wooden backing plate of the through-hull while we were healed over while sailing.
Either way, the backing plates look pretty damp and should probably be replaced. I'm also considering temporarily sealing up the through-hull with caulk or 5200 (which wouldn't require a haul-out). I have no immediate use for it since I don't plan on any long coastal trips where it would be legal for me to pump the sewage straight out (and would prefer not to do that in any case, not least because of the stink it makes).
Maintenance List
Here's what's still to do...
Nice to haves....
- Replace boom sheaves and pin
- Seal/repot quadrant mount screws in cockpit sole to fix leak
- Repair/replace dodger weather cover
- Tie pegs to through hulls
- Annual service of winches
- Change oil and oil filter
- Change secondary fuel filter
- Buy size 12 hose clamps [done. 6/22/2008]
- Replace access panels in cockpit (backstay pump and emergency tiller) with plastic panels and latches
- Repair cockpit grate
- Enlarge hole in cockpit grate around manual bilge pump [done. 6/22/2008]
- Tighten lowers [done 6/29/2008]
- Move propane tank to stern locker [done. 6/16/2008]
- Varnish topside wood
- Clean bilge [done. 6/7/2008]
- Clean water tanks [done. 6/7/2008]
- Install CO and fire alarms [done. 6/22/2006]
- Install check valve for holding tank vent (how to stop water entering without blocking vent?)
- Rewire propane sniffer to main breaker
- Install sump pump for shower drain
- Seal leak at cockpit door threshold
- Seal leak(s) at fillers
- Seal leak at cockpit vent
- Sign up to bottom cleaner service [done. 6/28/2008
- Purchase bell
- Mount waste management plan [done. 6/1/2008]
- Lube rudder post
- Top up battery water [nothing to do. 6/22/2008]
- Send off spare heat exchanger for service
- Sort out a reefing system that works [done. See Wendy's method]
- Fix no AC to some outlets
- Get a good GPS solution
- Seizing for shackle pins
- Lube up furler [done. didn't help]
- Replace furler bearings
- Inspect/replace raw water impeller
- Inspect all hose clamps
- Inspect/replace engine electrical wiring
- Replace scummy fresh water hoses
- Repair/replace Lifesling bag
- Repair cockpit grate
- Through hull appears to have developed a trickle. Monitor. Replace at haulout.
- Find out what trashed the new halyard. Resplice.
- Shorten manual bilge pump hose to keep it away from float switch. [done. 6/22/2008]
- Fix wiring to compass light [done. 6/22/08]
- Add latches to cockpit lockers
- Add hook to keep refrigerator door open
- Remove disused cabling
- Add whipping to lines
- Add nylon grates to stern lockers
- Teflon lube all turnbuckles
- Install distribution panel and fuses for always-on items (bilge, fridge, propane)
- Install cable covers to DC wiring to inverter
Nice to haves....
- Check out spinnaker equipment
- Lead main halyard to cockpit
- Run traveller linesinto cockpit
- Windlass
- Wireless anemometer
- Larger propane tank
- Dry and paint bilge
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Sail: Sunday Fun
Saturday, Wendy, Scott and I went out one of the club's club Catalina 36s with Andreas who was completing his second OCSC big boat charter. The weather turned out beautiful. Sunny with gusts 15-25kts. Berkeley->Angel Island->Golden Gate->City Front->Berkeley. We also passed by the hills at Belvedere Cove. The houses there are amazing - built into the steep hills that rise out of the bay. Several of them are four stories tall has each has winding paths, ladders and tracks that lead down to private jetties where the rich and famous kept their yatchs. Reminds me of Salcombe on the South coast of Devon near where my folks live.
The kite boarders were out in force for the U.S. Kiteboarding National Championships. It looked like there were at least 30 kites buzzing around in front of Crissy Field looking like flock of party balloons.
After we got back. we checked out Trader Vic's near our marina. Its a Tiki restaurant which claims to have invented the Mai Tai. Pretty disappointed. Valet only parking (would be quicker, more convenient and pleasant to walk the 20 steps to the lot to get to your car instead of having to pay to queue), pricey and the food, drinks and service were all disappointing. Later, we went back to Berkeley. Got toasty next to the bonfire the staff had fired up after work and watched the sun go down behind the gate.
We had a lazy day on Sunday. Slept in on the boat. Breakfast. Pump out and fuel up. Debbie and her friend Marianne came by after noon bringing supplies for the grill (and some badly needed toothbrushes). After lunch, we tried servicing the furler, unfurling the sail, dropping the jibs, spraying in a ton of McLube into the bearings and rewinding the furler. Nothing seemed to help much. Still pretty squeaky. Will have to look into replacing the bearings.
We had an awesome sail in the afternoon. Wind felt to be in the mid 20s. We left Emeryville and went clockwise around Treasure Island. Wendy seems to have nailed reefing our main -- hoisting up the boom high on the #2 reef line before tensioning #1 and then snugging the vang seems to be the way to get the foot nice and tight. We sailed up to the ball park in San Francisco and terrorized the ferry boats taking the Oakland A fans back to where they came from. I'm making it my mission to get North Star on TV at the ball game -- they frequently feature the boats that hang out outside the ballpark and listen to the game. Need to set TiVo. Had to put in quick gybe to steer out of the path of one of the ferries. Somehow if left Wendy and Debbie collapsed on the cockpit floor as they sheeted in the main.
Very nice having an all women crew. Great crew, and better to look at than the Dudes.
Life is good...
When we got back, we found that the top of the jib halyard had been somehow shredded. Possibly it jumped the sheaves at the top. It could also be that the halyard wraps around the forestay when we furl the jib. Could also be that it might not be led correctly down the mast and chafes on the through-bolts that secure the standing rigging. We rigged the spare halyard that Russ had spliced. Need to cut the end off the one we took off and re-splice an eye.
The kite boarders were out in force for the U.S. Kiteboarding National Championships. It looked like there were at least 30 kites buzzing around in front of Crissy Field looking like flock of party balloons.
After we got back. we checked out Trader Vic's near our marina. Its a Tiki restaurant which claims to have invented the Mai Tai. Pretty disappointed. Valet only parking (would be quicker, more convenient and pleasant to walk the 20 steps to the lot to get to your car instead of having to pay to queue), pricey and the food, drinks and service were all disappointing. Later, we went back to Berkeley. Got toasty next to the bonfire the staff had fired up after work and watched the sun go down behind the gate.
We had a lazy day on Sunday. Slept in on the boat. Breakfast. Pump out and fuel up. Debbie and her friend Marianne came by after noon bringing supplies for the grill (and some badly needed toothbrushes). After lunch, we tried servicing the furler, unfurling the sail, dropping the jibs, spraying in a ton of McLube into the bearings and rewinding the furler. Nothing seemed to help much. Still pretty squeaky. Will have to look into replacing the bearings.
We had an awesome sail in the afternoon. Wind felt to be in the mid 20s. We left Emeryville and went clockwise around Treasure Island. Wendy seems to have nailed reefing our main -- hoisting up the boom high on the #2 reef line before tensioning #1 and then snugging the vang seems to be the way to get the foot nice and tight. We sailed up to the ball park in San Francisco and terrorized the ferry boats taking the Oakland A fans back to where they came from. I'm making it my mission to get North Star on TV at the ball game -- they frequently feature the boats that hang out outside the ballpark and listen to the game. Need to set TiVo. Had to put in quick gybe to steer out of the path of one of the ferries. Somehow if left Wendy and Debbie collapsed on the cockpit floor as they sheeted in the main.
Very nice having an all women crew. Great crew, and better to look at than the Dudes.
Life is good...
When we got back, we found that the top of the jib halyard had been somehow shredded. Possibly it jumped the sheaves at the top. It could also be that the halyard wraps around the forestay when we furl the jib. Could also be that it might not be led correctly down the mast and chafes on the through-bolts that secure the standing rigging. We rigged the spare halyard that Russ had spliced. Need to cut the end off the one we took off and re-splice an eye.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Newport 41 Raft Up
We took the boat out again. Very low tide today. The bar alongside the Emeryville channel looked like you could walk across it. We sailed from Emeryville out to Angel Island where we picked up a mooring and met Good Grief for lunch.
The mooring field at Angel Island here is set up for bow and stern mooring. Eric rigged the Happy Hooker to a stern cleat and picked up the stern mooring at the bow. With that attached, it was easy to motor forward to the stern mooring, stopping ourselves from running over it by adjusting the stern line.
Russ and Maureen arrived a little while later and we rafted up.
This was our first raft up and I think that our technique worked pretty well:
I'm not sure this is exactly what happened, but its what I imagined, and it all turned out very well.
In our case, we were moored bow and stern. If we were anchored or moored at the bow only, the last steps would need to run in reverse: set the bowline to allow the boats to sit offset by 1/3 and run the engine in reverse. This would prevent the engine from pushing the boats over the anchor or the mooring.
Fired up the BBQ for lunch. We drank beer and eat steaks and talked about Newports until Russ and I bored everyone with our boat talk. We headed out towards the gate after lunch. Wendy tipped 9kts reaching across the slot.
The boat felt quite a lot overpowered today. We reefed the jib. It would be nice to find a way of doing this more tidily while headed upwind so that creases don't get wrapped in the furler. Downwind's much easier and tidier, but is not always where you want to be going.
Here's the track Eric made. 26nm.
Wendy also got some great shots of Good Grief:
North Star
We flushed and refilled the tanks water when we got back. When the tanks were filling, there were a couple of pops, that I assumed was just the tanks flexing. I have two deck water fillers and two tanks that are connected by a valve. Adding water in one side fills one tank. Filling in the other side fills both tanks. When I was filling, the deck filler overflowed, and then the level dropped. I topped off and again and the level dropped again. I figured that this was just water moving from one tank to another. It wasn't until Wendy found a small river running into the bilge that we discovered that one of the water hoses in the shower had popped out of one of the foot pumps. My yard had taken apart the cabinet that this was attached to in order to fit new ball valves. I figure that, along with poorly tightening the clamps for the pressure water system, they also didn't tighten the hose clamps for the shower footpump. I should really had checked over all of the hose clamps. It would be a good idea to make it part of regular maintenance checklist.
Also, some of the hoses looks pretty rank. Will make a point to replace them.
The mooring field at Angel Island here is set up for bow and stern mooring. Eric rigged the Happy Hooker to a stern cleat and picked up the stern mooring at the bow. With that attached, it was easy to motor forward to the stern mooring, stopping ourselves from running over it by adjusting the stern line.
Russ and Maureen arrived a little while later and we rafted up.
This was our first raft up and I think that our technique worked pretty well:
- Set fenders and prepare a long stern line on the downwind side.
- Have the arriving boat prepare a long bow line on the opposite side on their boat.
- Have the arriving boat pull up from downwind, bring their bow to your fenders, and exchange lines from their bow.
- Pay out and let the wind blow you apart until you are parallel.
- Set the length of the stern line to allow the boats to come parallel alongside each other but offset by a 1/3 boat length (i.e. allow sufficient slack to ensure that the rigs don't collide).
- The arriving boat motors forward and slack is taken up on the bow.
- Keep in engine in gear until a spring line is secured that prevents parallel motion and the rigs from crashing.
I'm not sure this is exactly what happened, but its what I imagined, and it all turned out very well.
In our case, we were moored bow and stern. If we were anchored or moored at the bow only, the last steps would need to run in reverse: set the bowline to allow the boats to sit offset by 1/3 and run the engine in reverse. This would prevent the engine from pushing the boats over the anchor or the mooring.
Fired up the BBQ for lunch. We drank beer and eat steaks and talked about Newports until Russ and I bored everyone with our boat talk. We headed out towards the gate after lunch. Wendy tipped 9kts reaching across the slot.
The boat felt quite a lot overpowered today. We reefed the jib. It would be nice to find a way of doing this more tidily while headed upwind so that creases don't get wrapped in the furler. Downwind's much easier and tidier, but is not always where you want to be going.
Here's the track Eric made. 26nm.
Wendy also got some great shots of Good Grief:
North Star
We flushed and refilled the tanks water when we got back. When the tanks were filling, there were a couple of pops, that I assumed was just the tanks flexing. I have two deck water fillers and two tanks that are connected by a valve. Adding water in one side fills one tank. Filling in the other side fills both tanks. When I was filling, the deck filler overflowed, and then the level dropped. I topped off and again and the level dropped again. I figured that this was just water moving from one tank to another. It wasn't until Wendy found a small river running into the bilge that we discovered that one of the water hoses in the shower had popped out of one of the foot pumps. My yard had taken apart the cabinet that this was attached to in order to fit new ball valves. I figure that, along with poorly tightening the clamps for the pressure water system, they also didn't tighten the hose clamps for the shower footpump. I should really had checked over all of the hose clamps. It would be a good idea to make it part of regular maintenance checklist.
Also, some of the hoses looks pretty rank. Will make a point to replace them.
Friday, June 06, 2008
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