ARE WE MAD? Embarking on a sailing adventure with zero experience

[msheridan69]

Originally Posted by jipcho

At age 48, I bought an old wooden sailboat, and embarked on what became a 15 year circumnavigation. I owned almost nothing at the time, so nothing to sell off, and I had worked as a boat captain for several years, doing charters and deliveries, so I didn't consider myself a 'newbie". But of course I was. As Captain Ron (great sailing movie) said, "if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there." You will learn so much as you go along "doing repairs in exotic locations", and getting valuable aid and advice from fellow cruisers, along the way. You will have the time of your lives. The Youtube thing seems like a bit of a distraction. I hope it doesn't distract you so much that you lose sight of the day to day experience. or do anything too dangerous. I documented my travels mostly through photos, emails and short video clips that I sent to family and friends. Now 68, looking back at the photos and videos, as well as simply thinking about a particular experience, person or place is brings back emotions and usually a smile. I still dream about my boat often (now 7 years since I sold her in NZ after completing a circumnavigation). All the best!

Love Captain Ron movie - LOL

Agreed - the only way to learn is by doing. Every problem is also a fix checked off the list

The YT channel is really to document our travels and keep our family and friends in the loop and on the adventure.

Thanks for your response Trinity Crew

[msheridan69]

Thanks for the tips Renegade Sailor. Let me give you an update...

The old fisherman's anchor is a stock footage clip my daughter used for the video - we actually have a large Delta on 4 shekels of chain and a over sized rode. The shekels are marked with red and white paint. We also have a spare 25kg Danforth on 50m of rope in the sail locker.

GREAT TIP! Don't anchor next to a boat with a rope anchor line - noted

The issues we had with the windlass turned out to be twofold and electrical.
- The hand controller buttons were faulty (replaced no issue now)
- Power issue was the windlass was connected to the engine battery which wasn't really powerful enough. We rerouted to the large house bank and haven't had a problem since.

Our bow thrusters also stopped working (they have their own batteries) - swapped out the old broken control panel and it worked for about 5 minutes then stopped again. Turns out the batter isolator was damaged and the central controller was for a joystick controller only - replaced everything and we are `100% operational.

GREAT TIP! I plan to upgrade the batteries to lithium and install a large solar system when I get to Turkey at the end of this season - there I'll get a battery just for the windlass.

Thanks for taking the time to pass on your knowledge - we appreciate your support!

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by msheridan69

The old fisherman's anchor is a stock footage clip my daughter used for the video - we actually have a large Delta on 4 shekels of chain and a over sized rode. The shekels are marked with red and white paint. We also have a spare 25kg Danforth on 50m of rope in the sail locker.

The issues we had with the windlass turned out to be twofold and electrical.
- The hand controller buttons were faulty (replaced no issue now)
- Power issue was the windlass was connected to the engine battery which wasn't really powerful enough. We rerouted to the large house bank and haven't had a problem since.

It's shackle, not shekel. The Delta's not a particularly good anchor - you should consider replacing it with a newer generation of anchor.

Do you have a manual for your windlass? You can probably download one off the net, if not. You should learn how to use it manually - releasing the clutch and for weighing.

[Renegde_Sailor]

Originally Posted by msheridan69

Thanks for the tips Renegade Sailor. Let me give you an update...

The old fisherman's anchor is a stock footage clip my daughter used for the video - we actually have a large Delta on 4 shekels of chain and a over sized rode. The shekels are marked with red and white paint. We also have a spare 25kg Danforth on 50m of rope in the sail locker.

GREAT TIP! Don't anchor next to a boat with a rope anchor line - noted

The issues we had with the windlass turned out to be twofold and electrical.
- The hand controller buttons were faulty (replaced no issue now)
- Power issue was the windlass was connected to the engine battery which wasn't really powerful enough. We rerouted to the large house bank and haven't had a problem since.

Our bow thrusters also stopped working (they have their own batteries) - swapped out the old broken control panel and it worked for about 5 minutes then stopped again. Turns out the batter isolator was damaged and the central controller was for a joystick controller only - replaced everything and we are `100% operational.

GREAT TIP! I plan to upgrade the batteries to lithium and install a large solar system when I get to Turkey at the end of this season - there I'll get a battery just for the windlass.

Thanks for taking the time to pass on your knowledge - we appreciate your support!

That is funny about the stock footage!

Although that Delta Anchor is not great, I am running a Bruce claw style anchor where as I had a CQR which is very similar to the delta before, and it was a world of difference in how they perform. I sleep much better with the Bruce, I have yet to have it drag on me.

When you do replace your chain, I mark mine a different way, I have a color code system where I paint the chain every 40' in a 3 color code as follows:

1. 040:🟥🟥🟥
2. 080:🟦🟦🟦
3. 120:⬜🟥⬜
4. 160:⬜🟦⬜
5. 200:🟥⬜🟥
6. 240:🟦⬜🟦
7. 280:🟥⬜🟦

This way I know exactly how much chain is out, and 20' from the end of the chain I have it painted safety orange to let me know I am about to do a dumb if I see that go out!

As well if I am anchored in 40' of water which is about the average I see here, it makes it easy to be sure I can hit a 5:1 scope as all I have to do is run it out to 🟥⬜🟥 and I know I am good.

Anything you can do to take the guesswork out is a good thing, and as a testimate to that, I actually sleep better now at anchor than I do the dock!

I think you will be much happier once you have the lithitum battery bank in there, however before installing it, you need to ensure your wiring can handle it. Lithium will take a charge much faster than led acid or agm.

It is specifically hard on smaller wires and alternators, and thus ensuring the cabling feeding the batteries is large enough to handle them is a must, as well a good charge controller with a temp sensor to keep your alternator from burning up is a must.

I have the Balmar MC-618 which I quite like as you can use your phone to program and monitor it, when combined with a shunt it does a mighty fine job of charging from the alternator.

[msheridan69]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

It's shackle, not shekel. The Delta's not a particularly good anchor - you should consider replacing it with a newer generation of anchor.

Do you have a manual for your windlass? You can probably download one off the net, if not. You should learn how to use it manually - releasing the clutch and for weighing.

I tried releasing the clutch but it didn't drop - its a Lewmar - I'll download a manual - thanks for the tip and the spelling correction LOL (sounds like something from a Monty Python Life of Brian sketch )

[msheridan69]

Originally Posted by Renegde_Sailor

That is funny about the stock footage!

Although that Delta Anchor is not great, I am running a Bruce claw style anchor where as I had a CQR which is very similar to the delta before, and it was a world of difference in how they perform. I sleep much better with the Bruce, I have yet to have it drag on me.

When you do replace your chain, I mark mine a different way, I have a color code system where I paint the chain every 40' in a 3 color code as follows:

1. 040:🟥🟥🟥
2. 080:🟦🟦🟦
3. 120:⬜🟥⬜
4. 160:⬜🟦⬜
5. 200:🟥⬜🟥
6. 240:🟦⬜🟦
7. 280:🟥⬜🟦

This way I know exactly how much chain is out, and 20' from the end of the chain I have it painted safety orange to let me know I am about to do a dumb if I see that go out!

As well if I am anchored in 40' of water which is about the average I see here, it makes it easy to be sure I can hit a 5:1 scope as all I have to do is run it out to 🟥⬜🟥 and I know I am good.

Anything you can do to take the guesswork out is a good thing, and as a testimate to that, I actually sleep better now at anchor than I do the dock!

I think you will be much happier once you have the lithitum battery bank in there, however before installing it, you need to ensure your wiring can handle it. Lithium will take a charge much faster than led acid or agm.

It is specifically hard on smaller wires and alternators, and thus ensuring the cabling feeding the batteries is large enough to handle them is a must, as well a good charge controller with a temp sensor to keep your alternator from burning up is a must.

I have the Balmar MC-618 which I quite like as you can use your phone to program and monitor it, when combined with a shunt it does a mighty fine job of charging from the alternator.

Thanks for the tips - especially the color coding for the anchor chain.
I'm going to upgrade the whole electric system to solar+wind+gen+(2xalt) and lithium storagy when I get to Turkey. Right now all I have is 575amph domestic bank AGM and I runs down very quickly so I have the engine one every 1-2 hours

I'll look into the charge controller too.

Cheers

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by msheridan69

I tried releasing the clutch but it didn't drop - its a Lewmar - I'll download a manual - thanks for the tip and the spelling correction LOL (sounds like something from a Monty Python Life of Brian sketch )

I'm not really familiar with the Lewmar windlasses, but can't imagine why the clutch should fail. These things do require maintenance; something that may have been overlooked by previous owner(s). Manual should cover that. As I understand it, those types of windlasses need additional (optional?) bits to weigh manually. If you don't have those bits in the boat's inventory, you should order them.

[Enfant Du Vent]

Ahoy All:
To beat to death the statement, "we actually have a large Delta on 4 shekels of chain.."
a google search brought up the Forbes Advisor says the current exchange rate says a shekel is ~ $0.27.
Hence 4 shekels would buy you probably less than 1 foot of chain so your anchor wouldn't ever reach down to the surface of the water, let alone any reasonable depth to anchor in!

[dfelsent]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

I'm not really familiar with the Lewmar windlasses, but can't imagine why the clutch should fail. These things do require maintenance; something that may have been overlooked by previous owner(s). Manual should cover that. As I understand it, those types of windlasses need additional (optional?) bits to weigh manually. If you don't have those bits in the boat's inventory, you should order them.

The cone clutch may need to be broken loose if it’s been a while. I’ve been able to do that by stepping on the chain when it is stretched taut (anchor up) between the windlass and anchor. The chain is a few inches off the deck and the added tension breaks it free.

It’s not too hard on my older Simpson Lawrence windlass to fully disassemble, clean, and lubricate.

Just make sure you put it back together the same way it was. Assuming it is assembled correctly now.

[Mare Nostrum]

Hello and Welcome to CF, s/v Trinity, Martin, Sharon & Taylor...It is always nice to meet & greet folks with the same love of the sea... perhaps we shall meet over the coming years. Neptune will protect you, as long as you placate Murphy's Law...seriously, enjoy everyday and every watch!!

[Intrusion37]

Hello there.
I too have chosen to embark on a similar adventure though I will do this solo and not with a family. With very little sailing experience I bought an 8 meter Sonata and will spend the next month preparing it so I can sail up the east coast of Australia. I look forward to sharing my ups and downs with you all and hope some of you with vast amounts of experience and know-how will share some of that knowledge.
Thanks in advance

[Nepidae]

As I have said previously and I'd like to know how many of those applauding your endeavor are 1st responders, that if it were only you and your family that are being put in danger, that would be acceptable.

Usually that isn't the case. You are putting others at risk as well and that is unfortunate.

Keep that in mind as you frivolously throw caution to the wind.

Very bad move in my opinion.

Spend time and learn before you go. It could help save the lives that are important.