Just need to take the dessicant down and decide if I'm going to do something to close the stern down to keep the leaves out better.
C'mon Spring!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
All wrapped up . . .
We went down to the boat after work to put the tarp on. It actually went better than usual, maybe because I had some help (Deborah) getting everything organized. Still, it was dark by the time we were done.
Just need to take the dessicant down and decide if I'm going to do something to close the stern down to keep the leaves out better.
C'mon Spring!
Just need to take the dessicant down and decide if I'm going to do something to close the stern down to keep the leaves out better.
C'mon Spring!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Done sailing for the year . . .
September 29, 2010
Finished pulling everything out of the boat Tuesday night and pulled her down to the lockup for the winter. Still need to pull the outboard off, cover the boat with the tarp and set up the solar panel to keep the battery charged, then I'm about done until spring Well, except that the living room is full of gear which I'll have to put up by the weekend and I should probably cover the trailer tires to protect them from the weather/sun.
Project list to be completed before spring launch:
Finished pulling everything out of the boat Tuesday night and pulled her down to the lockup for the winter. Still need to pull the outboard off, cover the boat with the tarp and set up the solar panel to keep the battery charged, then I'm about done until spring Well, except that the living room is full of gear which I'll have to put up by the weekend and I should probably cover the trailer tires to protect them from the weather/sun.
Project list to be completed before spring launch:
- Critical:
- Remove, fill & redrill screw holes, and rebed the Tabernacle (leak)
- Remove, fill & redrill screw holes, and rebed the stanchions (leak, port side)
- Repair damaged gel coat on battery compartment
- Repair damaged gel coat on starboard cockpit seats
- Varnish, drill, and add hardware to new tiller
- Adjust mast gates
- Replace traveller control line
- Put cleat back on mast for forward reefing line
- New velcro for boarding ladder
- Test bilge pump
- New dolly wheel tires
- Replace upper telltale on Ullman main
- Supplies needed
- West System 602 thickened epoxy
- New caulking gun
- Cordless dremel & appropriate bits
- New tiller mounting plates(?) & screws
- Gel coat repair kit
- Optional
- Remove, fill, & redrill screw holes, and rebed winches
- Remove, fill, & redrill screw holes, and rebed deck hardware
- Replace Spinlock rope clutches with something more reliable
- Apply new anti-skid to cockpit seats
- Replace forward hatch gasket
- Trim companionway screen frame to fit under main hatch
- Remove and clean under main hatch
- Check for delamination between cockpit and stern inside hull
- Replace single gin pole with a-frame style setup.
- Relocate spare tire
- Relocate trailer jack
- Replace trailer winch
- Replace trailer tires
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sail for the Cure 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Almost exactly one year ago Deborah, and my sister, Gretchen, went through breast cancer surgeries. We decided to close out this years sailing season by participating in the 11th annual Sail for the Cure in Portland.
Saturday morning I washed down the boat, loaded things up, and just before noon we hit the road. Stopped to get gas and realized I didn't know where the straps I use as baby stays for the gin pole and mast were. Back to the house and . . . I still don't know where they are. Drove to Portland, with a detour through Salem because I-5 was closed for a wreck
We got to the ramp around 3:30 and started setting things up. Managed to raise the mast without baby stays on the gin pole but I had to cut away the ones I'd rigged for the mast. Forgot that the padeyes on the cabin needed some stand off and I couldn't get the straps to release after the mast was up. Oops!
The Gleason ramp is nice, but way longer than the one at Fern Ridge; it's also steeper. A guy on a Harley who was watching asked if we needed some help, which I accepted. He helped guide the trailer down the ramp after I got the straps set up and everything went smoothly.
Once the truck was parked we loaded up and headed down the Columbia. There were a lot of boats out enjoying the sunshine and water and the river was pretty rough. The view of Mt Hood was awesome - I should have grabbed the camera. We motored down the river to Hayden Bay and parked Verboten in a private slip in front of some condos; very nice.
Karen (condo owner) drove us back to get the truck/trailer. Parked on the street across from her condo, unhooked the trailer, and went to dinner. After we got back I put the boom on and got everything rigged. Went to bed fairly early.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Woke early to rain; looks like there is a leak around the tabernacle as the compression post was wet. We got up around 9:00 and went for breakfast at BK. Drove back to the condo, got the trailer and dropped it off back at the ramp, then went to Portland Yacht Club to sign in and get our crew & sailing orders.
Seems like we don't have very good luck with crew - aside from Mary, who we knew couldn't make it, none of the others showed up either! Funny thing is, as we were waiting to talk to someone at the registration area about how to get our crew to the boat, I overheard Edie (the lady in charge of it all) telling someone she'd be on Verboten. "Did you say Verboten?" I asked, "I'm the skipper of Verboten . . . " Introductions were done and we picked a time to meet, then got Karen's address, I called our last prospective crew member, who said she wasn't coming, so we headed back to the boat.
After we got back I put on my foulies and tighted up the rig, then wrapped the lifelines with pink flagging. I put up the burgees (one for Mom, one for Deborah) and hung a couple of the "Make Breast Cancer Walk the Plank" banners the grandkids made off the lifelines.
Raynette (Ray) got there as I was finishing up the flagging.
We pushed off and headed up the river toward Buoy 14 . . .
We weren't alone . . .
We didn't quite make it to the buoy for the start, but that's ok, because a whole bunch of boats did and they were all headed our way, so we turned around and joined them.
It was pretty crowded with lots of close passes . . .
With boats going in all directions . . .
At 3:00 we headed back to Hayden Bay where I dropped off Deborah and Ray. Deborah drove the truck back to the Gleason ramp while I motored back up the river.
Joe Washburn, from the Trailer Sailor Forum met us there and helped get the boat out of the water. We tried a new approach with Deborah staying on the boat to hook up the winch strap. That worked out ok but things got interesting when I started pulling the trailer out of the water with her in the cockpit - the front of the trailer came right up out of the water! Once she moved to the bow things settled down and I was able to pull the trailer out of the water. *whew*
We got the boat up in the lot, winched it the rest of the way on the trailer (only 1/2 the keel was on the trailer!) and started breaking things down. Joe was really helpful and able to take care of a bunch of stuff, like loosening the stays while I got the boom ready to come off. Once the boom was put away we started on the mast. Things went really well until the mast was about a foot from the mast crutch - I forgot about the tendency of the gin pole to fall off to one side if it's not stayed . . . and it did. I swore a bit but Joe remained calm. Once he let the tension off the line I was able to remove the gin pole and we lifted the mast off the stern rail and onto the crutch roller. I still haven't found those @#$@ straps I bought specifically for raising/lowering the mast!
The rest was cake - tied off the lines and got everything ready to go. We talked to Joe a bit, thanked hiim, and then stopped by the Portland Yacht Club for a bite to eat and to see if we'd won anything on the raffle tickets I'd bought. We hadn't but Deborah got 3 bottles of wine from the Wall of Wine and bought a couple of t-shirts for the girls. We then headed for I-5 and got home around 8:30, tired, sore, but glad we went.
Would I do it all again? Probably not, but it was a special way to close out the season this first year after Deborah and Gretchen's surgeries. Next year we'll rent a boat or go as crew, or maybe we can find a marina where we can leave Verboten for a week and pull her out the weekend after Sail for the Cure.
Photo by Dena Kent
Photo by Dena Kent
Photo by Dena Kent
Almost exactly one year ago Deborah, and my sister, Gretchen, went through breast cancer surgeries. We decided to close out this years sailing season by participating in the 11th annual Sail for the Cure in Portland.
Saturday morning I washed down the boat, loaded things up, and just before noon we hit the road. Stopped to get gas and realized I didn't know where the straps I use as baby stays for the gin pole and mast were. Back to the house and . . . I still don't know where they are. Drove to Portland, with a detour through Salem because I-5 was closed for a wreck
We got to the ramp around 3:30 and started setting things up. Managed to raise the mast without baby stays on the gin pole but I had to cut away the ones I'd rigged for the mast. Forgot that the padeyes on the cabin needed some stand off and I couldn't get the straps to release after the mast was up. Oops!
The Gleason ramp is nice, but way longer than the one at Fern Ridge; it's also steeper. A guy on a Harley who was watching asked if we needed some help, which I accepted. He helped guide the trailer down the ramp after I got the straps set up and everything went smoothly.
Once the truck was parked we loaded up and headed down the Columbia. There were a lot of boats out enjoying the sunshine and water and the river was pretty rough. The view of Mt Hood was awesome - I should have grabbed the camera. We motored down the river to Hayden Bay and parked Verboten in a private slip in front of some condos; very nice.
Karen (condo owner) drove us back to get the truck/trailer. Parked on the street across from her condo, unhooked the trailer, and went to dinner. After we got back I put the boom on and got everything rigged. Went to bed fairly early.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Woke early to rain; looks like there is a leak around the tabernacle as the compression post was wet. We got up around 9:00 and went for breakfast at BK. Drove back to the condo, got the trailer and dropped it off back at the ramp, then went to Portland Yacht Club to sign in and get our crew & sailing orders.
Seems like we don't have very good luck with crew - aside from Mary, who we knew couldn't make it, none of the others showed up either! Funny thing is, as we were waiting to talk to someone at the registration area about how to get our crew to the boat, I overheard Edie (the lady in charge of it all) telling someone she'd be on Verboten. "Did you say Verboten?" I asked, "I'm the skipper of Verboten . . . " Introductions were done and we picked a time to meet, then got Karen's address, I called our last prospective crew member, who said she wasn't coming, so we headed back to the boat.
After we got back I put on my foulies and tighted up the rig, then wrapped the lifelines with pink flagging. I put up the burgees (one for Mom, one for Deborah) and hung a couple of the "Make Breast Cancer Walk the Plank" banners the grandkids made off the lifelines.
Raynette (Ray) got there as I was finishing up the flagging.
 |
| Deborah and Ray |
We weren't alone . . .
We didn't quite make it to the buoy for the start, but that's ok, because a whole bunch of boats did and they were all headed our way, so we turned around and joined them.
It was pretty crowded with lots of close passes . . .
With boats going in all directions . . .
Trying to beat back up the river against the current.
At 3:00 we headed back to Hayden Bay where I dropped off Deborah and Ray. Deborah drove the truck back to the Gleason ramp while I motored back up the river.
Joe Washburn, from the Trailer Sailor Forum met us there and helped get the boat out of the water. We tried a new approach with Deborah staying on the boat to hook up the winch strap. That worked out ok but things got interesting when I started pulling the trailer out of the water with her in the cockpit - the front of the trailer came right up out of the water! Once she moved to the bow things settled down and I was able to pull the trailer out of the water. *whew*
We got the boat up in the lot, winched it the rest of the way on the trailer (only 1/2 the keel was on the trailer!) and started breaking things down. Joe was really helpful and able to take care of a bunch of stuff, like loosening the stays while I got the boom ready to come off. Once the boom was put away we started on the mast. Things went really well until the mast was about a foot from the mast crutch - I forgot about the tendency of the gin pole to fall off to one side if it's not stayed . . . and it did. I swore a bit but Joe remained calm. Once he let the tension off the line I was able to remove the gin pole and we lifted the mast off the stern rail and onto the crutch roller. I still haven't found those @#$@ straps I bought specifically for raising/lowering the mast!
The rest was cake - tied off the lines and got everything ready to go. We talked to Joe a bit, thanked hiim, and then stopped by the Portland Yacht Club for a bite to eat and to see if we'd won anything on the raffle tickets I'd bought. We hadn't but Deborah got 3 bottles of wine from the Wall of Wine and bought a couple of t-shirts for the girls. We then headed for I-5 and got home around 8:30, tired, sore, but glad we went.
Would I do it all again? Probably not, but it was a special way to close out the season this first year after Deborah and Gretchen's surgeries. Next year we'll rent a boat or go as crew, or maybe we can find a marina where we can leave Verboten for a week and pull her out the weekend after Sail for the Cure.
Photo by Dena Kent
Photo by Dena Kent
Photo by Dena Kent
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The end is near!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
The end of the sailing season is near, that is! Zach and I drove down to pull the boat on Saturday. As usual, it took several hours. The part that really sucked was the constant rain. By the time we were done the boat and I were both pretty much soaked through.
Pulling the boat out went pretty well, got it on the trailer on the first try. I did have to leave Zach and the boat at the transient dock while I ran to Jerry's to buy a new come-a-long. Forgot to grab the one in the shed and there's no way to pull the boat all the way forward on the trailer without it.
Dropping the mast went really well, for a change. Nothing hung up and nothing broke. I did almost slip and fall twice though; the deck was really wet!
Got the boat home in the afternoon and left it parked overnight. Did some clean up on Sunday. Next up is Sail for the Cure in Portland next weekend, then the season really is over.
The end of the sailing season is near, that is! Zach and I drove down to pull the boat on Saturday. As usual, it took several hours. The part that really sucked was the constant rain. By the time we were done the boat and I were both pretty much soaked through.
Pulling the boat out went pretty well, got it on the trailer on the first try. I did have to leave Zach and the boat at the transient dock while I ran to Jerry's to buy a new come-a-long. Forgot to grab the one in the shed and there's no way to pull the boat all the way forward on the trailer without it.
Dropping the mast went really well, for a change. Nothing hung up and nothing broke. I did almost slip and fall twice though; the deck was really wet!
Got the boat home in the afternoon and left it parked overnight. Did some clean up on Sunday. Next up is Sail for the Cure in Portland next weekend, then the season really is over.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Last Tuesday night sail of 2010
Well, the season is definitely winding down. Zach, Gabe from work, and I drove down after work with the idea that we'd try out the gennaker again. ha!
Got to the lake and there was barely any wind. We decided to go out anyway and I'm glad we did. We ever so slowly oozed out of the harbor and paralleled the dam. Gabe's an experienced sailor and managed the genoa & leads with no direction from me. He and Zach have had classes together and seem to share interests so there was conversation about a lot of different things while we waited for a breeze.
Eventually, around 7 or so, the wind finally started to come up. By then we were on the other side of the lake. The Beer Can crew apparently decided to start racing late as we crossed their bows just after they started.
Put back in to the slip around 8:00 and packed things up. Zach and I will go down on Saturday to pull the boat for the season. Bummer.
Got to the lake and there was barely any wind. We decided to go out anyway and I'm glad we did. We ever so slowly oozed out of the harbor and paralleled the dam. Gabe's an experienced sailor and managed the genoa & leads with no direction from me. He and Zach have had classes together and seem to share interests so there was conversation about a lot of different things while we waited for a breeze.
Eventually, around 7 or so, the wind finally started to come up. By then we were on the other side of the lake. The Beer Can crew apparently decided to start racing late as we crossed their bows just after they started.
Put back in to the slip around 8:00 and packed things up. Zach and I will go down on Saturday to pull the boat for the season. Bummer.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Last Saturday on Fern Ridge for this year
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Deborah and I drove down to the lake for what's probably our last sail on the lake this year. The forecast called for wind building from 6 to 9 kts throughout the afternoon so just about perfect for a leisurely cruise.
We got there around 1:00 to some pretty gusty winds at the dock so we went with the trusty blade instead of the 140 genoa. I did take the reef out of the main that had been in for the last couple of weeks. Dean got there to take Stairway out as we were getting ready to leave.
I backed us out of the slip and got us headed out into the harbor. Deborah took the tiller, I raised the sails, and she skippered for about the first hour. Called Zach in Florida to see if he needed us to pick them up at the airport tomorrow; nope, Krista's Dad will get them.
The wind went light for a while then picked up after Deborah turned the helm over to me. Great sailing and an opportunity to get more practice using the traveller to deal with gusts instead of dumping the main sheet.
We stayed out until about 6:30, and returned to the dock. Had a bit of an issue with the vang block on the boom and the boomkicker. Ended up pulling the ends of the boomkicker out of the lower mount, so i got to fix that before we left. Closed the boat up and we headed home around 7:00.
Only a few sails left until the boat goes to the RV storage for the winter; Tuesday night is the beer can, pull the boat on the 18th or 19th, then Sail for the Cure in Portland on the 25th/26th.
Deborah and I drove down to the lake for what's probably our last sail on the lake this year. The forecast called for wind building from 6 to 9 kts throughout the afternoon so just about perfect for a leisurely cruise.
We got there around 1:00 to some pretty gusty winds at the dock so we went with the trusty blade instead of the 140 genoa. I did take the reef out of the main that had been in for the last couple of weeks. Dean got there to take Stairway out as we were getting ready to leave.
I backed us out of the slip and got us headed out into the harbor. Deborah took the tiller, I raised the sails, and she skippered for about the first hour. Called Zach in Florida to see if he needed us to pick them up at the airport tomorrow; nope, Krista's Dad will get them.
The wind went light for a while then picked up after Deborah turned the helm over to me. Great sailing and an opportunity to get more practice using the traveller to deal with gusts instead of dumping the main sheet.
We stayed out until about 6:30, and returned to the dock. Had a bit of an issue with the vang block on the boom and the boomkicker. Ended up pulling the ends of the boomkicker out of the lower mount, so i got to fix that before we left. Closed the boat up and we headed home around 7:00.
Only a few sails left until the boat goes to the RV storage for the winter; Tuesday night is the beer can, pull the boat on the 18th or 19th, then Sail for the Cure in Portland on the 25th/26th.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
A great Sunday sail
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
This afternoon Deborah and I drove down to the lake for an afternoon sail. Things turned interesting right from the start, as the wind, which was from the east when we got there, came around to the northeast as I was backing out of the slip. We got forced in close to the other boats and ended up scraping the bbq on Stairway's solar panel. Luckily no damage to either.
The wind was blowing pretty hard and forecast to be up around 14 by 5:00 PM, so I left the reef in. The initial run out of the bay was the usual shifty pain but we eventually found clear air and had a great sail. Even with the reef in we were maintaining high 5's and sometimes mid-6's on the GPS. The wind was strong and gusty but with the reef in the boat handles it well. Deborah said afterwards that she had fun too, unusual given the wind strength.
I tried taking a page from Don Guillette's sail trim lessons and used the traveller to bring the main as close to mid-line as possible. I also played the traveller more instead of the main sheet with the gusts. Seemed to work pretty well but I think I'll have to replace the traveller line in the spring as it's showing its age.
Saw Dean when we were almost ready to head in so we chased him down and told him about the solar panel. He took some pictures of us before we got close enough to holler, then followed us across the lake. I threw in an extra tack so he caught up and beat us in to the slip.
We chatted with Dean for a while, then closed up the boat after he went back out. The folks on the other side of Stairway came in as I was finishing up the boom tent so I ran over to lend a hand. Good thing as the wind caught them and they mostly missed their slip. I ended up on the 4th boat down trying to fend them off. Not sure, but I think maybe the woman was Darcy from the ASBC at work.
This afternoon Deborah and I drove down to the lake for an afternoon sail. Things turned interesting right from the start, as the wind, which was from the east when we got there, came around to the northeast as I was backing out of the slip. We got forced in close to the other boats and ended up scraping the bbq on Stairway's solar panel. Luckily no damage to either.
The wind was blowing pretty hard and forecast to be up around 14 by 5:00 PM, so I left the reef in. The initial run out of the bay was the usual shifty pain but we eventually found clear air and had a great sail. Even with the reef in we were maintaining high 5's and sometimes mid-6's on the GPS. The wind was strong and gusty but with the reef in the boat handles it well. Deborah said afterwards that she had fun too, unusual given the wind strength.
I tried taking a page from Don Guillette's sail trim lessons and used the traveller to bring the main as close to mid-line as possible. I also played the traveller more instead of the main sheet with the gusts. Seemed to work pretty well but I think I'll have to replace the traveller line in the spring as it's showing its age.
Saw Dean when we were almost ready to head in so we chased him down and told him about the solar panel. He took some pictures of us before we got close enough to holler, then followed us across the lake. I threw in an extra tack so he caught up and beat us in to the slip.
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| Photo by Dean Grabski |
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