SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!
Don't want to complain about female dogs nor argue with trolls, the ignorant or arrogant. Just want to offer deep thanks for the helpful advice and encouragement I gotten from the cadre of experienced cruisers and marine professionals who spend their time bringing newbies like me along.
I'm leaving for a hopefully long while. I be here for ~1 1/2 weeks but things are getting hectic so take the time now to offer thanks. Plans are to be back in the states the summer of 2017 and head north until a return to tropic climes. So my presence here will decrease dramatically in all too short a time.
Both in specifics like troubleshooting a system, understanding best practices in interpreting weather, dealing with the details of cruising, setting up a boat as a home and the like as well as a interesting and sometimes humorous break from boat chores this site has been a boon.
Yes "there lie monsters" as it says on the old charts. But there is a considerable group of knowledgeable cruisers and professionals here and it's to you I give thanks. You know who you are and the list is too long to post.
It has been great fun to watch you gain experience and develop as a cruiser and sailor. I wish you all the best for your cruise and hope you find the time to keep us up to date on your doings. Enjoy the SDR.
Its when you go cruising you need the forums most!
You think you have all the knowledge now? Just hit a profile search on me and click the Posts I have Started here and on CF. You will find i ask questions all the time. And that's after 8 years doing it
Further, if you think some of us have helped you then its important for you, now you are cruising, to help the new people.
That's the way it works
Mark be back every time I have wifi. Think being in the middle between coastal part time and salty blue water livaboard has allowed me help others along and agree we owe it to those coming up.
CC double A dock at Brewers Cove Haven. Partial to porters or good IPAs. But only if you stay awhile and kill them with me.
Ed you will still see me crawling around in the cold rain for awhile. Looking forward to not have Kenny K tell me- no wind gen running, go here not there, going to charge you to get rid of oil next year etc.etc. nah he's a goog guy.
Dave you've been spot on with your help. A true gentleman.
Bleemus compared to you Killarney, auspicious, Mark, Capta, Donna, Jon, Gary and so many others still think of myself as a newbie. Go to OCC orSDR get togethers feel like the least experienced person in the room. For me that's reality. But to keep you happy 'cause I like your online persona will downplay that thinking.
As my sailing mentor said to me "sailing takes a day to learn and a lifetime to master". Enjoy the voyage as each day brings a new lesson. The best school in the world!
Will miss your more frequent postings OB, but have a great time out there. Enjoy the journey ... wherever the winds blow you, and drop in as you can. Love to hear how things are going, and to continue to learn from your experiences.
outbound--you cannot go far---- you know there will be folks swallowing anchor needing to know what the best substance to use for that deed-- how to get it down.. i can just imagine the arguments...
wow now you have to plant trees an d such muddy chores. best to ye.. ye cannot go far..ha ha h ah a yer an addict. you HAVETO see what the folks are upto..h aha ha ha
Well almost a memory. Put the Hydrovane on the back. Dinghy engine in forpeak. Last minute provisioning tomorrow and pick up crew. Up stressing now about what I forgot to do and how I can avoid trips to Budget Marine. Will try to check in from Hampton and maybe earlier if we need to wait out this low.
Keep your keel wet and stick dry y'all.
Well almost a memory. Put the Hydrovane on the back. Dinghy engine in forpeak. Last minute provisioning tomorrow and pick up crew. Up stressing now about what I forgot to do and how I can avoid trips to Budget Marine. Will try to check in from Hampton and maybe earlier if we need to wait out this low.
Hmm. Things look pretty unsettled over the next four days. I think I would get going as soon as possible and run the two-bar line. Comms and bail-outs. Watch 99L.
Train for one crew is late. If I could leave right now would leave. But way things are going earliest would be 8-9p. Concerned won't make it to safe harbor before Saturday night Sunday morning when things look snotty. Therefore at present thinking of leaving tomorrow. Go inside to western L.I. Sound to lay up near Hellgate. Time it and east river for daytime and go straight to Hampton. Looks like if we clear NYC Monday the whole trip should be pleasant. Leaving tonight means we have to clear Hellgate/East River and not miss the change so we can be pass NJ no later then very early Saturday to have little risk of being caught out.
Sitting here full of water/fuel/provisions. Nothing on the rails but safety stuff waiting for crew. All alone. Phoey😣
I'd go outside but stay further West than I usually do and make decisions one bail-out at a time: Sandy Hook, Atlantic City, Cape Henlopen. Stay West of the developing gale until it moves northeast and watch the deep Low and 99L.
Pleasant sail today. Enough wind just the Solent was enough for mostly sevens and some eights. A reach out of Narragansett bay and a run to a little nook in Fisher's island out of the wind. Yucky tomorrow so will just bop down the sound and experiment some learning to use the Hydrovane. Nice sleeping at anchor and haven't felt the need for true watches. One live lumbar for crew just mouth but life is good knowing we're ended for warmer climes. Maybe he'll wake up so have hopes.
I can help you with the Hydrovane if you ever need any. It does not like helm so you really have to reef the main quite a bit to get it to balance. You use your rudder and wheel lock like a big trim tab to help balance things out. When the wind vane is correcting, you are looking for it to correct both ways close to equal, if it's always correcting one way adjust the wheel to equalize it. The vane tends to balance and steer better when it is tipped back a bit. If you've got apparent winds above 12 to 14 knots give or take your usually best to use the highest setting in the transmission. The vane is at its weakest on a gusty beam reach, sometimes you have to strike the main altogether to have it work ok. This will at times leave you slower than you would be with an autopilot but that's life. I found them best going dead downwind in the steady trades. Your course will vary quite a bit but you'll generally average out ok. Personally after owning 4 different vanes including the Hydrovane I found it quite good in the lighter stuff and not as powerful as a servo pendulum in the stronger winds. It can require more attention but it makes the best emergency rudder by a long shot. It will take you some time getting it really working ok but that's something you'll have lots of.....time.
Yes it is totally safe to use the Hydrovane in a gale or storm however I'm assuming that it was installed in a robust manner as these units put much more stress on the transom than a servo type vane. As to steering,, well each boat is different and some self steer better than others but that aside the Hydrovane requires the helm to be balanced even more so than a servo pendulum type. They do tend to steer better with the apparent wind forward only because of the wind strength and the fact that it's easier to balance the sails. Your boat doesn't need any pilot or vane as it will steer itself hard on the wind by just adjusting the helm and locking the wheel brake. I think you'll find that increasing your forward sail area and decreasing or striking the main altogether will be what the Hydrovane prefers when sailing with the wind behind the mast. I actually found it to steer quite well in the lighter stuff. Enjoy your sail, your heading the right way..south. PS I've never tried it but in really strong winds and large seas some sailors have used their autopilot and Hydrovane together, supposed to make it easier for the pilot to keep a course.
Outbound, if you don't mind posting it what is the name of your boat? I may be going to be looking at some boats in that area this weekend and wouldn't mind introducing myself!
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
SailNet Community
1.7M posts
173.8K members
Since 1990
A forum community dedicated to Sailing, boating, cruising, racing & chartering. Come join the discussion about sailing, destinations, maintenance, repairs, navigation, electronics, classifieds and more