My Boat Scares Me

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Mimsy

2 years into a big for me boat, I am no longer scared of sailing it.


DOcking it is another issue entirely!

We picked up a Camper 58 Ketch 55,000 disp. I'd never sailed anything over 44 and nothing for years but my 20 tornado cat (240#). Raced for 18 years on a 37 Heritage One Ton. Totally with you on that docking thingy. The Camper has a 120 ft turn radius so docking is a special challange. (full keel and skeg rudder) We have well less that that available space to make a 180 into our slip. My first three outings were pure hell on return but I have learned to plan my approach so conditions help. Sailing is cake and we take tonnage rights in the channel. Your only issues are docking and maneuvering in close quarters. The best advice I can offer is be patient; don't rush the big boat; plan ahead where the wind may help you; learn your boat's prop-walk; learn how to drive backwards; figure out how mother nature can help you do what you need to do. We frequently take over three minutes to let the breezes push our bow gently around while I mind the stern. We do this in front of hundreds at a restaurant with valet yacht parking. I made a terrible mess of it the first three times but patience is the teacher.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by IdoraKeeper

I knew it, first it was Racnas, now it's all Bentlys and small holes. What's next? Russian surplus megayachts? 007?

Todd

Its a Puzzlement.... whats a RACNA.....
YouTube - Yul Brynner sings the full version of A Puzzlement (1951)

[IdoraKeeper]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Its a Puzzlement.... whats a RACNA.....
YouTube - Yul Brynner sings the full version of A Puzzlement (1951)

Well (I'am crouching to deflect brickbats) it's a deliberate misspelling of Rocna...okay now I said it... Bently, Rocna, megayachts, Casino Royale...and so it goes.

Todd

Yule is great

[capnorv]

I don't have one, so I'll never know how they work, but those Rocna's sure are pretty on other peoples boats. Come to think of it, Bentley's are pretty too, but I only have room for the Jensen-Healey, the poor mans Vette.

[sailorboy1]

Well we moved the boat and sailed it the first time yesterday. Once underway it didn't seem so big and scarely. In fact it felt nice to not be hitting my head as much because the bimini and dodger were higher. May take a while to get used to not have things along the side decks to kick and break my toe on!

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Well we moved the boat and sailed it the first time yesterday. Once underway it didn't seem so big and scarely. In fact it felt nice to not be hitting my head as much because the bimini and dodger were higher. May take a while to get used to not have things along the side decks to kick and break my toe on!

Congratulations! We had our first sail on Saturday. It was great to be underway. Unfortunately, we had only been out an hour in Salem Channel when a front rolled across eastern New England. We learned that the sail doesn't fall neatly and quickly into the StakPak when you're in a hurry. With a little elbow grease, the main was stowed before the squalls hit and we got to test the water tightness of the cabin. Very good.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by tartansail

Congratulations! We had our first sail on Saturday. It was great to be underway. Unfortunately, we had only been out an hour in Salem Channel when a front rolled across eastern New England. We learned that the sail doesn't fall neatly and quickly into the StakPak when you're in a hurry. With a little elbow grease, the main was stowed before the squalls hit and we got to test the water tightness of the cabin. Very good.

Yeah my "yesterday" was that same Saturday. Was nice all day in Newburyport till I cast off. Then the clouds rolled in and I went though numerous storms on the way to Salem. And after 1 sail I don't think I'm going to like my Dutchman as much as my old Stackpak (you have to get the line to the right tightness).

Luckly it all calmed down by 8pm when we moored and took the dinghy in for a trip to Beerworks!

[IdoraKeeper]

Well, I just got a new slip and I thought I would revive Don's thread. The new slip will offer much better protection for the boat when not in use but will be difficult to get Idora in and out of. So, fear is a factor. Me thinks my neighbors will agree when they see a barely controlled 23,000 lb dreadnaught with a battering ram out the front careening towards the dock. I will make a plan but it will be alot more work and delay getting in and out. If only I could always keep the drift going in a direction that aids the propwalk....alas, mother nature often has other plans.

Todd

[sailorboy1]

I took my big scary boat to the fuel dock the other day (wanted to flush the water tanks really) and even for a cold wet day got a good crowd to watch the big boat with new driver crash into the dock.

But they were all disappointed afterwards! I do find already that my Hunter 410 handles better motoring than my old Cal-39 (bet this is an easy opening for someone).

[simonmd]

Glad to hear you're already getting comfortable with her Don, sounds like you have her mastered.

[tartansail]

I was finding it difficult to hoist the main manually on the new boat. Weight, length of hoist, stackpack lines and aging shoulders conspired. Based on a thread here, I got a Milwaukee 28.8 right angle drill and Ultimate Cranker. Viola! Sail flies up the mast and we're ready to roll. Interesting process of adjusting to those things which got harder as well as those that got MUCH easier (like reverse with the MaxProp). Meanwhile, the boat sails like a dream and the admiral is a very happy camper.

[ddsailor25]

We are going from a 29' to a heavy displacement 37'. We hope the transition is quick, but docking that boat is going to be interesting. My rule is don't go any faster then you're willing to hit the dock.

[paulj]

OK I went from a 33 morgan out islander to a 62 nautical engineered with a space of 25 years between the two. first time out my kids kept singing the theme to Gilligan's island no bow thruster. docking was an adventure I'm still getting gilligan's song 3.5 years into this adventure well worth it!

[hoppy]

I'm trying to go from zero to hero a the moment. Having never owned anything with sails larger than a mirror dinghy and pretty much been away from sailing for 25 years.

I have very quickly realised that I have probably forgotten less about sailing in the past 25 years than expected, so out on the water is fine. When it comes to med style parking, dropping the anchor and backing into a tight spot, no problem (so far, touch wood).

But.... getting a clean mooring in my marina is really becoming my hoodoo. Always something goes wrong and the marina staff have their work cut out for them helping. I'd like to blame my crew and their handling of the lazy line, but that is only part of the problem.

The marina issues have made me decide that when I return in September, I will only reenter the marina once, at the end of my 4/6 week sail.

[CFR]

Hi all i can fully understand the first day feeling I stepped from a nordic folkboat ( 24 feet an 2 ton) to 44 feet and 14 ton without every sailed something in between. For me everything it took only some days because i watch the current and wind as if would berth with sails as on my folkboat, never fight with the wind. If it is too tight i do everything slow and maybe 2 times instead of using full throttle ahead and back.... My best recipe is using a spring when going alongside and steam into the spring until all docklines are fastened, easy...

The only thing which is funny is my centercockpit, if i look to the bow nothing worries me, maybe 7 meter distance but when turning in the harbour and looking back i allways got a shock because of the 6 m behind me which are so easily to forget in tight corners.....