Wooo hoooo , gotta luv it

[Svsilvergirl]

This is gonna be the life me and my lovely wife are spending the night at anchor in oro bay (puget sound Washington USA) this is the first time we have spent the night on the boat , away from the dock. We managed to get in handout of the fuel dock without destroying anything or dying . Navigated up the sound , and ended up where we intended to go . Anchored with no yelling . Gotta admit we were both terrified getting in and out of the fuel dock. Depth Gage said 6feet and we draft lil over 6 feet :/ Wind w trying to keep us of the dock , and blowing towards shore. Handled like pro's and don't think anybody on the docks knew I was ready to pee. It's all good. Didn't get sails up today , think we had all the fun we needed , without sailing her for the first time by ourselves. We just started sailing last summer , and this 44 islander is our first sail boat. Prolly try getting sails up tomorrow on the way back to the marina.

Keep your fingers crossed for us

Till later , bob

[DeepFrz]

nighty night
sleep tight
and don't let the ...(oh, never mind)

Congrats...

[senormechanico]

Hope you leave by the time the tide drops late AM !!

[canucksailor]

Congratulations - and if I can offer a suggestion, take the basic cruising course, the both of you. Your pleasure in sailing will be MUCH greater if you have the confidence and skills you need. You spent mucho dinero on the boat, now spend a couple thousand more on lessons. When, not if, you end up in a difficult situation, you'll need those skills.
Believe me, you'll thank me for it. And yes, I am an instructor.

[Svsilvergirl]

Thx Canuck. We actually did take the first asa101 class , and spent slot of time out on a friends 38foot cheoy lee last summer. I have been on two different boat deliveries down the coast of Washington also. We are planning to take the asa103class in July or august.

[canucksailor]

I saw that, took the time to read the entire thread, lol. Good for you. Way too many people (although usually powerboaters) buy a big boat with the attitude 'how hard can it be'. One of those is pinned by the current sideways to the dock here in St. Augustine right now in a 45 foot trawler, blocking boats in two other slips. Fortunately, no damage. But the silly fool didn't come into the dock area compensating for current and got shoved sideways - he'll have a few hours, until the tide changes, to think about his stupidity - the dockmaster forbid him to try to move the boat until the current is in his favour.

[captain58sailin]

Congratulations on your adventure! You will have many more memorable experiences to come.

[James S]

Well done Bob!

[anjou]

Livin the dream eh?

Enjoy

[boasun]

Would like to point out one minor detail: The Fathometer (depth gauge) normally measures from the depth of the transducer to the bottom. Thus if you're reading 6 ft and the transducer is 3 ft below the waterline of your boat then you are in 9 ft of water.
Unless of course you went inside its menus and change it... (Not a good Idea) airplane pilots try to do this, thinking to apply altimeter stragety to the fathometer and that really don't work or works against them.

So what is the depth of your transducer?

[sabray]

I have done this for years. My depth is very near depth from waterline to the perceived bottom. Ive watched it in known areas and it reads near actual water depth. Maybe not right for you but I prefer to see the actual depth rather then let dyslexic brain do the math.

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by sabray

I have done this for years. My depth is very near depth from waterline to the perceived bottom. Ive watched it in known areas and it reads near actual water depth. Maybe not right for you but I prefer to see the actual depth rather then let dyslexic brain do the math.

Bill,

There is an easier method.

1/2 the height between lower spreaders and cabin top + cabin top to waterline + waterline to keel bottom - keel bottom up to transducer - depth of water from... uhhhh... now, is it w/l to transducer,-- or keel bottom to w/l--oh sh1t!! i'm aground
Joking, guys, joking.

[boasun]

Take a Lead Line, the old old method of measuring the depth. Take a sounding with it and compare with what your fathometer is reading. The difference will be the depth of your transducer...

[Svsilvergirl]

Swore I would never tell on myself . Wandered around the boat trying to find something to tye on a line , so I could take a sounding . Pretty shallow at the dock . The boat had a fathommeter already installed , and I had just hooked up the new one that came with the lowrance chart plotter hooked up . There was difference of a couple feet . After a few minutes of rejecting several ideas for things to tye on the line , my lovely wife said why don't you just use this ? And handed me my tape measure.......water was only 18 feet deep . Sheesh , just measure to . the bottom ya dork .

[zeehag]

lol
you guys will do fine..... have fun!