Advice to Beginners

[Corpus]

Because I'm a beginner (1.0001) and it's fun to give advice.

-When leaving the slip just push the boat out, don't try to drive it out. (360's in your slip are not good)

-When returning to the slip, secure a line on the dock side first, then secure the rest of the lines. Don't try to them all at once. (drifted to middle of slip and couldn't reach any of my lines)

-TEAK - before you start sanding and oiling, try washing it first (with teak cleaner). Washing is as important if not more important. (Wish I had known that before I added 10 coats of oil and turned my teak into a gunky mess.)

-Reef in heavy wind even if it's not tearing your boat apart. You probably won't loose any power and your boat will be more responsive and all around better sailing. (canceled trip and seasickness to learn that)

-If you're having battery problems, check how old your batteries are. Chances are it's as simple as that. (3 weeks to figure that one out)

[sabray]

Originally Posted by Corpus

Because I'm a beginner (1.0001) and it's fun to give advice.

-When leaving the slip just push the boat out, don't try to drive it out. (360's in your slip are not good)

-When returning to the slip, secure a line on the dock side first, then secure the rest of the lines. Don't try to them all at once. (drifted to middle of slip and couldn't reach any of my lines)

-TEAK - before you start sanding and oiling, try washing it first (with teak cleaner). Washing is as important if not more important. (Wish I had known that before I added 10 coats of oil and turned my teak into a gunky mess.)

-Reef in heavy wind even if it's not tearing your boat apart. You probably won't loose any power and your boat will be more responsive and all around better sailing. (canceled trip and seasickness to learn that)

-If you're having battery problems, check how old your batteries are. Chances are it's as simple as that. (3 weeks to figure that one out)

if I may add
Leaving slip/docking maneuvers understand prop wash against the rudder and effect of prop rotation

Returning you can usually secure the boat with 1 line. This is energy management. Understand the forces at play and apply them.

Reef when you think should I reef.

Don't have battery problems. They complicate sailing.

Teak don't worry about it to much you will never keep up with it all.

[Bash]

Regarding teak, I've got an easier solution: NO EXTERIOR TEAK.

[dockbumdan]

All Sailors judge their success by how much stuff they have hanging off
the Transon of the boat.
Things like, flags, davits,antennas, life slings,
the more stuff the better.

[brutb]

Originally Posted by Bash

Regarding teak, I've got an easier solution: NO EXTERIOR TEAK.

Paint it, my last old wooden boat I had at least 10 coats(4 different colors the last color being international orange (2 layers). All this was applied over very nice 10" wide minimum teak planks some that were 14' long. Of course I had to remove it and oil the teak. Looked great as long as you were the slave to the oiling. Those darn Canadians on Vancouver Island knew how to build boats. Thank you Canadian shipwrights, did a grand job on "Gros Ventre".

[perchance]

We learn by doing......and bumping and thumping and crashing etc. etc. Did I mention foul language is often involved?

[hummingway]

I usually realize I have to pee at the same time I realize I should have done it before it was time to prepare to drop anchor or grab the mooring ring or come into dock. It's a lesson it's taking me a while to learn it seems.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Bash

Regarding teak, I've got an easier solution: NO EXTERIOR TEAK.

Or paint it, like I did. The pretty to hassle ratio is not high enough to make it worthwhile.