I REALLY own it now!

[xort]

Took possession Monday of the new boat. We took it out for a little cruise Wednesday. Did a little manouvering in open water to get a feel and then headed back to the dock. Had a bit of crosswind at the dock. I was playing it very well. It was time to reverse. I put the boat into reverse and swung the rudder over. What I didn't account for is that the boat moves forward for what seems like an extremely long time after shifting into reverse. But, I had put the rudder hard over. So we crept forward and turned in the wrong direction...straight into a piling. Hard to see the puplit with that big stick in the middle of the boat. Well, I didn't bend it, much. I'm thinking of shortening it so the first thing that hits is the anchor!
So now it's MY boat.
Ran it up to Crackerboy in Ft Pierce and glided into the slings in a good crosswind.
Now the enormus task of derigging. Holy Sh!t this is a lot of work. Only to be repeated in reverse in a week. Who's idea was this anyway?

[craigtoo]

YEAH!

YAY ! Go XORT!

Nothing better than hitting your first piling....


Isn't it GREAT to have your own boat! Nothing like it!

[sailingdog]

Well, now that you've gotten the boat broken in... maybe, you should learn how to sail it.

[WinterRiver]

Congrats, xort!

Let the fun begin.

[Freesail99]

Best of luck with her.

[craigtoo]

Originally Posted by xort

. Did a little manouvering in open water to get a feel and then headed back to the dock.

Hey...

This is a great idea.... I'm only about 6 months into my boat ownership... although I've been sailing all my life, I still do this....! .. because now I'm in a boat 10 feet longer than I grew up in....and I have to be at the helm for a change...! (dad says "It's your boat now.. you dock zis zing")

After a day out, I'll come back near the marina and do 360's in forward and reverse. Some to port.. some to starboard...

It recalibrates my feel. Sharpens my ability to dock well...

I know I'll have my share of mess ups... it's coming...

...some of my marina buddies probably think I'm nuts.... heh..

actually... the first time I pulled into my slip.. in reverse, there was another member/slip owner watching us... she said that she thought I was a professional captain teaching another aboard (my dad) how to dock a boat.... HAHAHHA! (She saw us doing circles for 15 min before we pulled in...and the docking just happened to be perfect...the only time....)

Now I've started to call dad "Young Grasshopper" and I pretend to mentor him.. .HA...! funny...


All the very best Xort...

[Sailormann]

Congratulations on the boat. Don't feel bad about hitting the dock/piling/bystander/whatever. Everyone does it now and then. That's why God gave us insurance. Enjoy !

[eMKay]

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[jrd22]

Congrats Xort, You OWN that piling now, it won't give you any more trouble .

John

[teshannon]

Congrats Xort. What kind of toy did you buy?