Hints and tips

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

Sabreman,

LarryandSusan - Gladly, how I you post a pdf? Do I need to supply a separate link (think so)?

Assuming you're working on a PC and not a MAC (I know nothing from Mac's, in spite of the fact that I am one) bring up your PDF document, hit Ctrl A (which selects All); hit Ctrl C (which copies selected); then go back to the thread, go to the 'Post Quick Reply' or 'Go Advanced' and hit Ctrl V, which inserts the thing copied into the message.

I don't know what it does with a PDF file - but with a Word document it inserts smiley faces in place of some of the format stuff. (I edit them out - annoying but I don't know a way around it.)

[Sabreman]

The pre-sail brief looks better with our Victoria graphic and another of the boat layout showing life preserver and fire extinguisher locations. Anyway, the following gets the point across:

Rev: 9/07
Welcome aboard VICTORIA! We want your stay to be fun, so we’ve
compiled a guide of important information to make your sail safe.

Safety
1. Man Overboard
• If you see anyone go over the side (unintentionally), call out loudly “Man Overboard!” and
point to the victim. DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE PERSON IN THE WATER.
• Whoever is closest to the yellow life ring should throw the ring to the person in the water. DO NOT THROW THE RING AT THE VICTIM.
• It may take a few minutes to bring the boat around, so make sure that you do not lose sight of the victim.

2. Movement Afloat
• We do not restrict movement except as weather conditions warrant. However, there may be times such as during sail changes and docking when we will call everyone aft to the cockpit.
• Children who can not swim or who are under age 10 are required to wear a life preserver when outside the cabin.

3. Alcohol
• No consumption while we’re away from the dock.

4. Fire
• We carry three fire extinguishers.
• Inside the port (left) side locker in the cockpit.
• At the foot of the companionway steps, starboard (right) side.
• In the starboard (right) hanging locker (closet) across from the head (bathroom)
• Point the extinguisher at the BASE of the fire and pull the trigger.

5. Life Preservers

• We carry 6 adult and 2 child life preservers.
• Four adult preservers are located in the Lazarette hatch behind the wheel.
• Two adult and 2 child preservers are located in the hanging locker in the Head (Bathroom).

6. Bilge Pumps
• A manual Bilge pump is located on the port (left) side to the left of the steering wheel near the
floor. The handle is located under the second step of the companionway steps. The handle
inserted in the hole on the pump.
• An automatic bilge pump is located in the bilge.
7. Distress Signals
• We carry handheld and aerial flares. NEVER POINT A FLARE AT ANYONE. They are
located in the chart table.
Rev: 9/07
8. Swimming
• If you are not comfortable swimming in deep water, Use a Life Jacket! It’s not wimpy!
• We trail a float about 30 feet behind the boat. Under no circumstances should you be farther
from the boat than the float.
• We maintain a “lifeguard” in the boat at all times while someone is in the water. Under no
circumstances, should VICTORIA be un-attended
• Weather conditions change rapidly. We may curtail swimming if the conditions change.

First Aid
1. First Aid Kit Location
• A Red Cross First-aid kit is located in the cabinet in the Head. Small first aid items are also
located in the head.

2. Jelly Fish Sting Treatment
• Vinegar is stored in the galley. Soak a paper towel & apply. It will still sting, but not as bad.

Systems
1. Radio
• Located in the sliding cabinet at the chart table on the starboard (right) side of the boat.
• To make a distress call, tune the radio to Channel 16 and call “St. Inegoes (“In-knee-goes”) Coast Guard, St. Inegoes Coast Guard, this the sailing vessel VICTORIA.” When the Coast Guard responds, state the nature of the emergency clearly and calmly. You will be directed to switch to another channel (usually 68). After switching, call the Coast Guard again.

2. Engine
• VICTORIA has a diesel engine. To start,
• Push the handle on the right side of the wheel all the way forward.
• Push in the red SHUTOFF handle beneath the key switch in the starboard (right) side Lazarette hatch.
• Turn the key located inside the starboard (right) hatch behind the wheel, to the right.
• Push the START button.
• If the engine does not start, turn the key to the right, push the pre-heat button for 30 seconds (to
pre-heat the injectors), and push the start button at the same time.
• Adjust the engine to about 1000 RPM and shift the transmission into forward by pushing
DOWN on the handle on the left side of the wheel. Pull the handle UP for reverse. Remember “BACK – UP”

3. Sails
• Tremendous tension is placed on all lines. NEVER rest your hand on a line that is under tension. Ask Vicky what can happen.
• NEVER wrap a line around your hand when pulling on it.
• Except for rare occasions, jib sheets (the ones that lead to the front sail) should always be wrapped around a winch (looks like a silver can located on each side of the cockpit).

4. Head (Toilet)
• Do not be uncomfortable. Use the head.
• To flush, pull the lever near the handle to the “Flush” position and pump the handle 10-20
times. Dry the bowl by pushing the lever to the “Dry” position and pumping until dry. If it is
difficult to pump, hold the lever down while pumping dry.
• Please do not put anything into the head other than toilet tissue.
• Fresh water faucets are in the head and galley. A foot pump is located on the floor near each faucet.

[Sabreman]

Docking:

Simple procedure that many ignore. The following is a far less dramatic and boring way to dock. When approaching a dock for the first (e.g., a transient situation), tie each dockline, bow and stern, to their respective cleats, run then through their chocks and back over the top of the lifelines. Coil the ends on the deck, ready to be passed over a piling or to a dockmaster.

Discuss the plan to dock with the crew, have them at their positions, and STICK TO THE PLAN. I've skipped various parts of this plan at times and provided afternoon entertainment to lots of spectators.

[Quickstep192]

I have to admit, this one was thrust upon me. I recently got hauled at a yard that required the use of dustless sanders. I got an orbital sander that uses the sandpaper disks with the holes in them and connected the sander to my shop vac using a length of cheap corrugated sump pump hose. What a difference! Not only did I come out from under the boat without being covered in paint dust, the sander worked more effectively since it wasn't re-grinding the same dust over and over.

[tweitz]

A hard learned hint for when you run aground (I did say "when," not "if"). While you never throw an anchor, you can often get enough depth to allow kedging off by simply running the rode through the bow roller, then walking the anchor to the stern of the boat and dropping is aft of the boat. If you have a 30 foot boat and the water is 6 feet deep (and it won't be much deeper if you are aground), you will now have a 4:1 scope or so, and that will often give you enough holding power to spin the boat and get off the bar. Be sure to lead the rode outboard of your lifelines, sheets and other obstructions.

[eryka]

Post a schematic showing the locations of all seacocks and fire extinguishers in your head. Everyone's always looking for reading material there anyway - although you hope they'll never need to know it, your guests will have it memorized in just a couple of days.

[chucklesR]

Like eryka said, having diagrams of where stuff is helps; not just with guests, but also with faulty memory. I made these in Visio2000, so that when viewed in that application it has page links and such to lists of things actually in the locker (good for serious inventory control) but just about anything will do:
GemStorage.jpg

GemThru.jpg

gemAccom.jpg

[eryka]

Jeez, Chuckles, and I thought having Excel spreadsheets for locker inventory (which I do) was bad!!

[eryka]

Tie waste cd's, or even strips of mylar cut from a potato chip bag, to the rigging. As they flash and flutter in the breeze, they deter at least some birds from making a "landing" on your boat.

[chucklesR]

Originally Posted by eryka

Jeez, Chuckles, and I thought having Excel spreadsheets for locker inventory (which I do) was bad!!

I've found from experience it's easier to say 'light grren locker' than locker number 10-3-4 when you need a guest to get a part/piece or even his own fork.
It's a guy thing, we're all visually oriented.