OMG, I bought a sailboat... Now what?! And hello!

[Morgali]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Congrats! Another great Gary Mull boat My Freedom has a plaque under the steps that gives the build number. Yours might be missing. I don't think this number is also reflected on the HIN, which you might not have either. The HINs are stamped on the starboard stern and required on all boats after 1972.

I also agree to not bring your wife with you until you know how to manage the boat well. A fearful first experience is hard to overcome.

Mine is a 1967. I did not see a number stamped and neither did the surveyor, but we also didnt know where to look.

[Morgali]

Originally Posted by Adelie

Welcome to CF.
Update you profile with your location and boat make & model. Then folks won’t be asking you constantly.

Herp Derp, I do most of this from a mobile, so sorry for the slow response on that bit. I was waiting to be in front of a pc.

[JPA Cate]

Welcome aboard CF, Morgali. Those are sweet boats, you and your good lady should enjoy it a lot after you've figured out what's what. It is not the best boat for a large dog.

Ann

[ontherocks83]

Whatever you do, Do NOT try to force the "fun" of sailing on the wife. It needs to be her idea at her speed, when she is ready. Anything other then that can easily blow up in your face.

For example, my wife enjoyed Lake sailing and was comfortable with it. I decided to "charter" a 2 hour tour boat with a captain to get her excited about ocean sailing. Unfortunately that day it was blowing 30+ knots with gust up to 40. We were in 5-6 foot swells and the Genoa halyard chafed through causing the genoa to come crashing to the deck. I had an absolute blast and thought it was a great day sailing, SHE apparently was terrified and it set us back many years to convince her the ocean was a good idea.

Lessons learned: Go slow even if that means being bored or frustrated at the pace. You don't teach a child to learn how to read in a day and you definitely don't convince someone opposed to sailing to enjoy it in a day......or a week...….or a month...….....or.....well you get the idea.

[Morgali]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

It is not the best boat for a large dog.

Ann

Yeah, I somehow dont think my three 80lb derpy boxers are going to be thrilled with it.

I had a helluva time getting insurance! BoatUS/Gieco wouldn't cover it because the last owner who bought it for live-aboard trashed the interior and so the surveyor put on the survey that it was in "below average" condition. Although the surveyor did say the hull was in good shape and the rigging was good.

I tried a few other local insurance companies and most of them had trouble because the boat was over 20 years old?!

Anyway, If anyone has any direct sailing experience on one of these, let me know! All my previous boat experience besides tourism stuff has been on commercial fishing vessels. Yes, I did that deadliest catch shi... stuff. What they show on the television is the VANILLA version. I must have been on the boats signed up for rocky road!

[Jim Cate]

I now have noticed that your location is in the PNW. In the summertime the winds tend to be quite light up there, I've been told, so finding some "Goldilocks" days should be pretty easy... and so many nice spots to go to as well... should be do-able!

Good luck with boat and wife, cancel taking the dogs!

Jim

[Cool Hand Luke]

Congratulations! If you're ever in the New York or New Jersey area, let me know! I'm definitely looking to meet more boat owners from CF (CruisersForum.com) around my area

[Morgali]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

I now have noticed that your location is in the PNW. In the summertime the winds tend to be quite light up there, I've been told, so finding some "Goldilocks" days should be pretty easy... and so many nice spots to go to as well... should be do-able!

Good luck with boat and wife, cancel taking the dogs!

Jim

found this pic of a santana 27 in the columbia river, near hood river…

[JPA Cate]

Nice pic.

I can't imagine how much chunder three seasick Boxer's would make. Definitely leave them home.

Ann

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

I now have noticed that your location is in the PNW. In the summertime the winds tend to be quite light up there, I've been told, so finding some "Goldilocks" days should be pretty easy... and so many nice spots to go to as well... should be do-able!

Good luck with boat and wife, cancel taking the dogs!

Jim

Let's not tell him about those currents yet.

[Morgali]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Let's not tell him about those currents yet.

I've fished these waters, I know about some of those currents.

[redhead]

Congrats - you're gonna have a ball!

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by Morgali

I've fished these waters, I know about some of those currents.

You know I was jesting with you. As a life long power boater myself, but a relatively new sailor, I've had some light wind sails and have been shocked at how a fast eddy can make the sailboat impossible to steer. Overall, I find light wind much more challenging than heavy wind days.

[Morgali]

Originally Posted by gamayun

You know I was jesting with you. As a life long power boater myself, but a relatively new sailor, I've had some light wind sails and have been shocked at how a fast eddy can make the sailboat impossible to steer. Overall, I find light wind much more challenging than heavy wind days.

That's great to know

[Morgali]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Overall, I find light wind much more challenging than heavy wind days.

I think that it's going to be learning when to motor and when to sail, but I bought a sailboat to sail, and not spend the money feeding the thing with fuel.