.Log of the "Pegasus"
Forward: Following is the "log" of "Pegasus". She's a 1981 Com-Pac 16. Since I just started this log, some early dates are fudged (just a little). More details (if you're really interested!) have already been posted. See MKBLK.
7/2/2011 - Exciting day today, having closed the "deal" on a Com-Pac 16, traveled to Groton, CT to pick up "Pegasus" with my traveling buddette (and niece), Katelyn. First stopped at my Volvo mechanic (and sailing friend) Dario in Trenton, NJ to install the trailer wiring. Naturally, I had bought the wrong set and Dario "just happened" to have a proper set "lying around". That done, the trip was quite pleasant and we arrived in Groton right on time.
The previous owner, Brian, a Coast Guard instructor, met us and the transaction was completed. We hooked the CP16 to the Volvo, bid goodbye, and drove home (about 200 miles). The trip was uneventful (a good thing!) although I did schedule 3 stops to check the tires and bearings on the trailer. Was able to skip the 3rd check since traffic was moving all of 3 mph through the Bronx. No hot bearings here! Besides, Brian had recently replaced the bearings along with one of the rubber support rollers.
It was a fairly long ride home at 55 mph (except through the Bronx!) and we didn't arrive back until about 11:30 pm. Poor Katelyn! She was wiped out (she's only 14) and didn't even get to go sailing. She lives in WVA, so she won't get to experience "Pegasus" until next Spring. However, she will get a nice remembrance from her uncle comes Christmas.
7/7/2011 - Took inventory of "Pegasus'" standing rigging and decided to raise the mast while parked at home. Here is where my lack of sailing experience really showed: I kept "chickening out" while raising the mast, thinking that it would keep going and nail my Volvo wagon. Tried 3 times and finally garnered enough courage to hook the forestay. See, that wasn't so hard was it? (you had to be there). Can't wait to get her in the water!
7/10/2011 - Spent the next couple of days gathering necessary safety equipment like pfd's, flares, lines, etc. The CP16 appears to be in pretty good condition for 30 years. The only thing that needed replacement was the gooseneck casting which I ordered from Dwyer for $20.00 and arrived the very next day.
7/15/2011 - Finally got to get her wet! Took her out on the Delaware near Pennsbury Manor at the new Falls Twp. boat ramp after work with son, David. Was hardly any wind, but that was probably a good thing for the first time out. Just went out and back.
8/6/2011 - Went out for the second time with David. Headed north on the Delaware from Penn Manor Park. Nice little cruise. Wind at about 5-8 mph from the S.
8/13/2011 - Third trip on the Delaware from Penn Manor with David and his gf Rachel. Met up with his friend, Dennis on his Jet-ski along with his son Liam. Virtually no air, but the Minn Kota worked just fine.
9/3/2011 - Great day on Barnegat Bay! Pretty good wind at 15 - 18 mph out of the SW. Had experienced help on board in the person(s) of Dario and John. Really thrilling day. Can't wait to do it again! Tried out both jibs. The genoa seemed a little big for all the wind, so on the second trip out from Cedar Creek used the standard jib. Glad we did. The wind had picked up and other boats were getting beat up. The CP16 took it all in stride. It was super! After returning to "Up the CreeK" marina, we observed a boat coming in that had been dismasted.
9/10/2011 - Second time out on the bay. This time with my friend Bob. Also met Bob23 who was nice enough to come up to Bayville to introduce himself to me and Pegasus. Bob23 pretty much convinced me to stick to "Pegasus" as the boat's name (obviously). Wind was pretty good, but out of the NE. Tacked 'til I was blue in the face. Never did make it out into the bay, but had fun anyway. Next time!
9/20/2011 - Finally received the registration and title from PA. Now I have to get registration numbers/letters. Found them at Walmart for $9.00.
9/27/2011 - Bought a nice blue 2" accent strip for "Pegasus'" hull. Plan to install it immediately under the rubber rub rail. Should make the boat look a little sharper than the plain white hull.
10/3/2011 - Ordered gold "Pegasus" decals online from "Lettering on the Cheap". Plan on installing toward the stern on each side. Heard a rumor that the sun will shine tomorrow! If so, maybe I'll clean "Pegasus" and apply the accent strip.
10/23/2011 - Trailered "Pegasus" over to Mercer Lake at Mercer County Park just north of Trenton, NJ. Crew consisted of No. 1 daughter, Wendy (my first sailing buddette) and grandkids Gavin and Gianna (see "Sailing Mercer Lake in a CP16..."). Weather was very pleasant with clear skies and temps in the 60's. Lots of fun!
11/6/2011 - "Pegasus" her first trip up to Lake Nockamixon in Upper Bucks County, PA with No. 1 son, Michael (see "Sailing Nockamixon in November!?"). Although a bit chilly, the sun shone hard (until it started to set!) and we were pretty comfortable.
11/13/2011 - Did it again! The weather gods have been nice. This time I had a most enjoyable sail with jt & j who drove in 2 hours, from Wilkesbarre!
11/23/2011 - Procrastinated a little too much, so dates are somewhat irrevelant. I built a PVC crutch to support the mast and rigging, did apply the accent strip and it looks great! Also, a week or so later, applied the lettering and it also looks great. She's really starting to come together to be MY boat! Recent jobs were the replacement/repair of two of the trailer rollers (see my post "Magic-Tilt Trailer Mods"). It looks like the third one is going to be addressed this weekend. Jobs to be done by spring (I hope) are: install teak grabs on the cabin deck, paint bottom maroon, make new crutches to support the mast when parked and trailering (the ones I made from PVC work well, but I want to provide additional headroom for my 6'2" height.
Well, this has been plenty for openers - more is coming... if you can stand it!
Marty K.
Thanks, Marty:
I hoped to start a log so complete as yours but, due to my doctorate in procrastinology, I never did. Each year I start a sailing log for that year but eventually forget to make an entry and another entry and so it goes. Same for my journal.
Keep yours going! I'll read it and I'm sure I'm not alone.
Bob23
Marty -
Thanks for posting, it is enjoyable to follow along and to compare notes
Tom
Guys,
Thanks for the kind remarks... it's nice to know there's some interest. I try to read as many postings on CPYOA as I can, but it can be a challenge. Check out the ongoing saga of Bob23's Koinonia in the CP23 forum. We can learn a lot from all the other guys and gals out there, plus it can be quite enjoyable. Looking at many of the photos, my keyboard is at risk of being drooled on. I am trying to stick to the ships log format because it will give me some idea of when and where. After a while, a lot of memories get kind of mushy! Enjoy.
Marty K.
The continuing adventures of the ComPac Yacht "Pegasus"...
Being very good at procrastination, I'm once again playing catch-up with "Pegasus'" adventures:
11/2/2011 - Well, Weatherbug says it's gonna be nice Sunday. So, I'm throwing my hat in and plan
to mini-trek up to Lake Nockamixon. Hopefully, the weather does hold and the colors ought to be
a riot. I'll be looking forward to meeting jt and any other CP Yacht owners that may show up.
Should arrive about 1100 to allow Sol some time to burn off frost and fog. Since it's time to
"fall back", it will get darker an hour later. That should allow about 3 - 4 hours of sail time.
Will dress appropriately!
11/8/2011 - Dragged Pegasus up to Nockamixon on Sunday with No.1 son, Michael. Temp was in the
low 60's with no clouds and plenty of sunshine! Got to the lake around 1200 and enjoyed a
pleasant cruise for the next couple of hours. Most of the time had a SW breeze of about 5 mph.
Had lunch on board and viewed the herons enjoying the beautiful day, as well. Unfortunately, we
missed the leaves turning; that happened a week or two ago up there. As the sun started to drop
(along with the temperature!) we headed back to the ramp only to have the wind evaporate about
half a mile out. "Fired" up the trusty Minn Kota and motor-boated back to the ramp. By this
time, the sun was below the horizon. Mike got the car/trailer and we pulled Pegasus out. We were
the last sailboat out, probably for the season as none were in their slips anymore. Over 600
sailboats - vanished!
5/12/2012 - Pegasus is off to Bayville today for her first sail on the Bay this season. I'll be
listening on channel 9/16 if anybody else is out there. Should be really nice, 78 degrees with 5 -
10 out of the SW. I'll fit the genoa for this one. Looking to hit the ramp around 13 or 1400.
Took a shakedown cruise on the Delaware Thursday afternoon. Gusts to 25 and a strong upriver
current - fun! Didn't use the jib, didn't need to. Tried out the "new" Minn Kota 36 pounder -
worked very well. Plan on testing a friends Honda 2.2 on the Bay this afternoon.
5/13/2012 - ADAGIO, ADAGIO, ADAGIO. This is PEGASUS. Do you copy? Hey, I tried. My first
opportunity to try out the new VHF and nobody answered! Anyhoo, I didn't trade for a 122 (hmm, a
'72 1800? Nah!). But, I did meet up with friend Alex in Bayville. We ventured out into a
beautifully crafted day. Light winds were fine, made good use of the Jenny after an hour
experimenting with the Honda 2.2. Pretty sweet iron wind for sure (except it's aluminum wind -
weighs a hefty 29 pounds!).
Drive home was uneventful, until I crossed the Delaware into Morrisville, PA. Bridge Street is
somewhat of a mess and my little 8" wheels took a beating - to the extent that the axle broke!
After driving 114 miles, it quit about 1 mile from home! Nice cops from Morrisville and Falls
assisted me, but Pegasus wasn't going anywhere without wheels. Long story, short: Ordered in a
flatbed and had it dropped in front of my home. Finally got to bed about 2 am.
Checking the axle in the morning showed only a little crack - all the way through! It was
thoroughly rusted so I can't blame it all on Morrisville. Besides, I was damn lucky that it
failed when it did. I could have been on I-195 cruisin' at 60. Not pretty.
As you know, the Magic Tilt trailer is all galvanized steel, but evidently the axle isn't. I
noticed that replacement axles are galvanized - duh. I'll check with Magic Tilt tomorrow about a
replacement axle and also contact Northern Tool & Equipment about an entire suspension
replacement. They offer axle, springs and hubs for about two hundred bucks. Seems reasonable.
Just want to make sure its an exact fit.
Look forward to the Barnegat Bay Bash 2012.
6/8/2012 - Completed the electrical work for auxillary power. A group 27 deep cycle battery is
now located in a Minn Kota Power Center just forward of the compression post. Cables run astern
to a plywood mounting platform, sitting on the scupper tubes, that holds the bilge pump and a
pair of + - studs for the electric motor. Also, installed an emergency battery cut-off switch...
just in case!
6/23/2012 - Second trip to Mercer Lake in Mercer County Park, NJ. The day broke absolutely gorgeous! The sun shone brightly and the clouds were big cotton balls across the sky. The temp was in the 70 - 80's with a nice 5 - 10 mph breeze. Picked up #1 son Michael and his two kids, Madison 7 and Morgan 5 for my grandchildren's first boat ride... ever!
Madison - "OMG, the boat is rocking. We're going down!" Really!
Morgan - "This is really cool, how fast can it go?"
Obviously, Morgan is the adventurous one. We sailed out on the lake, dodging a practicing scull and enjoyed a cruise of about an hour with Morgan dropping a line and trying to catch a fish and Madison holding on for dear life! We saw fish jumping out of the water and egrets catching them!
After the thrill for Morgan and the terror? for Madison, both girls declared that they had a great time and would do it again (I think the promise of ice cream helped!).
Mercer Lake is a great place to introduce little ones to the joys of sailing. The facilities are wonderful. They have plenty of parking, an excellent ramp, food and pedal boat concessions, etc. Also, a very nice playground, hiking trails, picnic areas and on, and on. And it's free!
One caveat: Overall mast height is limited to 22' above the water line due to high tension lines crossing the lake. Lucky for me, Pegasus is a CP16 with 21' to top of mast.
The lake is home to the Princeton National Rowing Association and the site is also the training venue for the US Rowing Teams as they prepare to compete in the 2012 Olympic games.
http://www.nj.gov/counties/mercer/commissions/park/boat_marina.html
Quote from: MKBLK on June 25, 2012, 09:31:57 AM
One caveat: Overall mast height is limited to 22' above the water line due to high tension lines crossing the lake. Lucky for me, Pegasus is a CP16 with 21' to top of mast.
1 foot is pretty small safety factor. A swell or a good rain could put you even closer to the danger.
You might consider intentionally heeling over to reduce overall mast height while passing under the overhead lines.
With the rail in the water you could increase your safety factor by 2 or 3 feet.
Pacman - You're correct about a slim safety factor if the difference was only one foot, however, the Powers that Be took that into consideration, there is way more clearance. Going under the wires, I'd say there's plenty of additional space, not to worry. The lake does vary in depth (it is used for flood control) so after a very heavy rain or several days of rain, the authorities can and will close the lake to sailboats if necessary.
Of course, if I did get too close, I could charge my "Flux Capacitor"! ; )
Marty K.
Continuing...
07/09/2012 After sailing on Mercer Lake, the temperature soared in the NE. Not as bad as out West, but too hot to sail in a CP16 without a bimini. So made use of the time on the hard by working on Pegasus. Last summer I constructed a grid for the cockpit deck with the idea of being able to raise it to seat level in order to accomodate an air mattress. Finished it yesterday and it works great. If the no-seeums don't attack, you'll know where I'll be camping out!
In preparation for BBB-2012, finished an "egg-crate" storage bin forward of the compression post to hold the Minn Kota Power Center and other "stuff". The compression post itself has come in handy by providing a place to attach the fire extinguisher. Rigged up some 12vdc outlets to power a fan, my cell-phone (Pandora!) and VHF radio. Now I'm trying to eliminate un-needed junk and carry only what I consider neccessities - like the fan!
Still need to install a proper electrical system. Although my CP16 didn't come equipped from Hutchins with one, a previous owner did install a four circuit panel. When I got the boat, it was just hanging by its wires. The panel has no place (like a bulkhead) to secure it. I plan on fabricating a bulkhead so I can install it properly.
Nice update, I was off all last week and just way to hot even in Western PA to hit the lake.
I run a trolling motor and have been putting the battery in the lazerette, thinking about running wires up front with plugs though.
Would love to see some pictures of the mattress platform.
Cheers
Spartan
I have also considered installing a grid in the cockpit that can be used for an occasional air matress platform. Interested in how you support the grid to keep it at seat level. Thanks.
Patrick
OK guys, I promise to make an effort to learn how to post photos. I'm certainly not a craftsman, but I do have ideas on "adding value" and convenience to the boat and am willing to share. But, be warned, I'm an expert procrastinator!
In the meantime:
I made the deck grid with nominal 2 1/2 x 3/4 "recycled" pine (they were formerly mattress slats from IKEA!). I laid out a grid and screwed and glued it together. Then filled in the spaces with little filler pieces that I glued in place. Polyurethaned the whole thing. Took a heck of a lot of brass screws, though! It looks and works great. My wife was really impressed with my new-found talent!
Note: The "grid" is not super tight. If it were, the dang thing would weigh a ton. The top surface is laid out on 4 lateral boards thus providing plenty of drainage! Overall thickness is about 1 1/2".
I then made 3 lateral supports with 3 more pieces of slatting cut to the width of the the cockpit and attached galvanized angles (wrapped in duct tape). The angles are in the shape of a "Z". Simply drop the lateral supports onto the cockpit seat and the deck grid on top of that. Voila! The deck is now flush with the cockpit seats. I might add one more lateral support (for esthetics?)... just to be sure, but it seems to be very strong as is.
IF you need pics now, email me...
Marty K.
7/14/2012 - A nice day for a cruise! Back to Mercer Lake. This time with David (son) and Ava (future grand-daughter?) who is 6. First time on a boat of any kind for Ava. She was a bit intimidated by the rocking, but warmed up to it eventually. Not much of a breeze when we launched, so didn't bother with canvas. Just used the Minn Kota at 1/2 power. Good opportunity to evaluate range on the battery. No problem, simply motored along pleasantly listening to Colbie Calait on Pandora.
Having overcome most of her fear of the boats movement decided she'd like to ride the bow like on "Titanic"! David and Ava enjoyed themselves forward while I just aimed for the far end of the lake.
I can't overstate how pleasant sailing on Mercer Lake is. The facilities are really great and the price is right - free! It is ideal for taking little ones out. If you have a CP16 or smaller, you can sail all day and have a wonderful time or the kids can play in the playground or even take them out canoeing, rowing or pedal boating (for a fee, of course).
Count down to BBB-2012 - 13 days!
Marty K.
sounds like you had a great day - nothing like sharing the boating experience with someone for the first time.. i take it that Ava got pretty comfortable if she got to the point of moving to the bow! good for her.. jt
08/26/2012 - Last Sunday, the 26th of August, was a really great day. Family and friends all
gathered together to celebrate my big "Seven Oh" at Lake Mercer in Mercer County Park. The
weather was absolutely perfect! Plenty of sunshine, temps in the 80's, 5-10 mph winds.
"Captain" Marty was worn out taking all the grandkids and everybody out for rides! Exhausting,
but loads of fun. Pegasus performed just fine, even with lots of pedal-boat, canoe and kayak
traffic. Didn't run anybody over! It was wonderful to finally get back on the water; the
previous several weeks had brought nothing but hot, hot, and more hot.
One minor problem did show up: The port scupper broke loose from the cockpit allowing water to
enter when the boat was fully loaded (4 adults). Since I wasn't immediately aware of it, I took
on about 5 gallons. Bilge pump handled the water behind the stern bulkhead. Had to bail the
cabin when I got home. Actually, I think most of the water got in on Saturday when I power-washed Pegasus!
Inserting the scupper plugs and a bit of Duck tape has temporarily solved the problem. Plenty of sunshine
last week dried her out. Must reseal the scupper pipe before BBB-2012 in 2 weeks.
All in all - a truly memorable weekend, and birthday!
Marty K.
hey marty, happy birthday! sounds like you had a great day despite the minor scupper problem. i am looking forward to seeing you and bob and a few new faces in two weeks.. it must be a month since i have been at the marina.. that is a shame, but such is life this time of year.. see you soon.. jt
Happy Birthday Marty!:
I hope when I reach 70 that I'm in as good as shape as you. Maybe it's all that Swedish Iron keeping you young! Like JT, looking forward to meeting you, he and the other Compaconauts at the BBB 2012 version 2.0. Hey... I like that- "Compaconauts". I think I'll be using it in the future.
Glad that Pegasus is treating you well.
Bob23
It s important to keep a log of your sailing adventures. I started writing stories- more than a log- about ours in 1979 to preserve our family memories. It is a treasure now. Then in 2009 I discovered utube and have been able to share our adventures with over 100 thousand folks in 170 countries - truly amazing. They come in handy now that HideAway is decommissioned for awhile. .... Do you remember when we sailed out of a South Dakota port and ended up shipwrecked on the Nebraska shore --- those were the days M
Log for 9/15-16/2012 - go to Bob23's BARNEGAT BAY BASH 2012 in the "Lounge" to bust your stiches! ;D
The continuing adventures of the ComPac Yacht "Pegasus"...
11/12/13 - Veteran's Day 2012, the day promised to be most likely the last good sailing day of the year in the NE. Sandy has left, the nor'easter is gone and the temp promises to hit 70+. Pegasus has been patiently waiting (her skipper, not so patient) for this day. Didn't see much action this past summer... too hot, too busy. Headed to the ramp with crew, Ed. Surprise! The docks were beached for the winter, but the concrete ramp was still there. So, undeterred, into the water she went. Headed up river for a bit while enjoying our lunch. Wind at about 5-10. Current was down river, so I knew I could make it back quickly if the wind died (it didn't). On the way up couldn't resist a cell phone call to Bob23, "Guess what I'm doing? Sailing up the Delaware. Eat your heart out!" Well, karma was present. Upon returning to the ramp, the *$@#% winch stripped out it's gears! Being a prudent sailor, I whipped out my trusty "come-along", which almost saved the day. "Almost" because it too, jammed! It was getting pretty dark now. The water was pretty cold, but we perservered. The recently acquired stern light was appreciated even though its never been used on the water. Made prepping the boat for the trip home less miserable. Managed to get the bow within 9" of the bow stop, strapped her down real tight along with a safety bow line and headed home (about 6 miles).
Okay, Bob, I've learned my lesson. Don't beat me up too much!
Marty K.
I can't resist this one:
There I was- in the midst of some muddy, yukky Sandy cleanup job on the bayfront of Long Beach Island, NJ. Weather was warm and we are up to our elbows in alligators when what do I see? Some heartless, cruel skipper sailing- yes SAILING whilst I work. Oh, the agony, the taunting. But, not that wasn't bad enough. An hour later-same thing. I had just recovered from the blow when my cell phone rings and I see Marty's name. And what is he doing? Just what he described above...having a wonderful sail! He really wasn't taunting me too much but I was a bit envious. But- I would never, ever wish anyone any negative karma so your winch problems were your own, my friend!!!!
Glad you had a wonderful last sail. And it was, and always is great to talk to you...I love ready the Log of Pegasus. I'm sure everyone here knows you are a capable skipper but soon, very soon- your reputation as a champion rower will be known to the entire world! Stay tuned!
bob23
hey marty,
semi - retirement must be great! you were sailing, and i was stuck in a classroom all of that beautiful afternoon answering questions from students who just figured out that they should be preparing for final exams which began today! and what was bob doing working? i thought he was house bound with that bum foot.. glad to hear that you got out on the water. I am sure that it was nice, even with the little difficulty that you ran into at the end of the day.. these are the things that make good stories a year later when we are again meeting at tice's shoals :) if our plan for next year works out and Adagio ends up in Lake Champlain, i am going to have to crew for you next year!
keep in touch.. we need to begin planning a mid-winter gathering.. jt
It's been a while since I last posted Pegasus' log (last November!). Got a lot of catching up to do, but first, the latest entry -
Adventure on the Delaware River on the last day of summer, 2013.
I went sailing Saturday with my friend, Ed, on the Delaware. What an adventure! I should have known,
when one of the trailer rollers died on launching, that it would be a memorable day! Well, we got in the water anyway.
We launched from Neshaminy State Park at low tide in what was a dead calm, for about a New York minute!
As soon as we left the sheltered marina, we got hit with 15 - 20 mph steady wind from the SSW and gusts of
about 30. One of which really shoved us over to the combing. I was expecting 10 - 15. And now I was out there
with full sail! And the big Genoa. After the adrenaline took hold, headed up into the wind to steady her, then dumped the jib.
Stuffed it into the cabin and sealed the cabin... just in case! Turned around and headed north at a pretty good clip (about 5 – 7
mph, which is hull speed) with just the main. Would've reefed the main, but was too chicken to stand on the stern to do it.
Had a pretty good wake. Flew under the Burlington-Bristol bridge and was at Bristol, PA pretty darn quick. Since we had
reached our planned destination, it was then time to turn back. Wasn't happening. Way too much wind and the current was still
flowing north. It became obvious that we weren't returning to Neshaminy, at least not in Pegasus! Aimed for the
Edgely Yacht Club and called home for help. Was able slip alongside their floating dock which made my feel pretty good 'cause
between the wind, the current, the tide and power boat wakes, it was darn rough out there. While securing Pegasus to the dock,
the NJ State Police River Patrol pulled some clown over who was responsible for some of the havoc. Meanwhile, Ed and I could
hardly stand on the dock it was bouncing like an earthquake! Ed's wife, Barb (not to be confused with my wife, Barb) arrived to
drive us back to Neshaminy to get the trailer. She had that funny look that said, "Are you kidding?" Anyway, I still had to get to
West Marine to buy a replacement roller and shaft. Stopped at my son's home in Bristol to draft him in case additional muscle
would be needed when retrieving Pegasus. He was home, so Barb was able to be relieved from rescue duty and David (my son)
took us to West Marine.
After returning, by car, to Neshaminy State Park, the repair to the trailer took about 30 seconds. Then drove up to Edgely
(about 5 or 6 miles) to retrieve Pegasus. The folks at The Edgely Yacht Club were very friendly and enjoyed our antics, stating
that none of their members had the intestinal fortitude to be out on the river on a day like today! I still had to get to the ramp,
so, took a deep breath, fired up the MinnKota and pushing with all 36 pounds of thrust, fought the tide, the current and the wind.
As I was leaving the dock, someone yelled that if I couldn't make it, to head out into the river (so as not to smash any of their boats,
of course) and they'd send out a boat with a real motor to tow me in. Well, the MinnKota performed admirably and I made a beeline
right into the waiting trailer. It was now high tide and retrieving was a piece of cake. Phew!
1st (and only) Mate, Barb, after hearing our tale, later said, "you really need to get a gas motor". That can't be a bad thing, can it?
Hmm, a Honda 2.2 sounds real good! ;)
Marty K.
Hey Marty.. great story! sounds like you had quite an adventure. if the boat is still ready to go and the weather holds, perhaps a sail on nockamixon in late october would work. let's keep in touch. Glad that you had a positive outcome and an exciting time on the river.. a gas outboard sounds like a great plan! jt
jt,
Pegasus and I are always ready to go! Late October should be fine as long as it doesn't get too cold. I kinda draw the line at 60. If you recall, two October's ago, it snowed (and stuck) early in the month. Yet, we were able to sail twice on Nockamixon after the snowy precip. Last October, my friend Ed and I sailed on the Delaware with an air temp of 70, but I didn't factor in the water temp in the 40/50's! The cold water just sucked the warmth out of the air. A wee bit chilly as testified by my blue ankles! (I've since invested in boots!!).
Marty K.
Marty:
Seems like anytime and anywhere you sail it's an adventure! Great tale...thanks!
Bob23
Thanks for sharing that story, Marty. It seems that Pegasus took care of you again.
Bob is right about your adventures. Maybe a possibility for a title change?
"Marty's Greatest Adventures"
I'm looking forward to racing with you again.
-Allen
Log of ComPac Yacht Pegasus -
As mentioned earlier, I kinda backslided and haven't religiously posted my adventures with Pegasus. A brief look-back follows:
First trip out in 2013 was to Mercer Lake in Mercer county NJ with my niece Katelyn and nephew Greg. Some may remember that Katelyn was the brave soul who accompanied me on the 400+ mile round trip to pick up Pegasus in Groton, CT. This would be her first outing on Pegasus (or any sailboat for that matter). We had a good time with Katelyn spending all her time sunning herself on the forward deck.
This particular day was really hot! I thought I'd die after retrieving Pegasus from the lake. Had to lie down in the grass and recoup my energy to finish the chore of tidying up for the trip home.
Second trip out, also to Mercer Lake with neighbors, was a pleasant day with moderate winds which made for some enjoyable sailing. Mercer Lake isn't terribly large, so without a lot of room to minimize tacking/jibing, it wasn't easy making headway against a decent breeze. But, we certainly had fun. One downside was that while pulling the trailer to the ramp, the snap-pin on the fore-stay let loose! Not pretty. Fortunately, the only damage was to the goose-neck casting. I just ordered a replacement from Dwyer.
Third trip out was the overnighter on the Barnegat Bay Bash 2013. My thoughts on that are, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" (thank you Kelly Clarkson). Seriously, as trying as it was, it was still fun.
And, of course, my most recent adventure on the Delaware River (see my previous post). Isn't trailer sailing fun?
Marty K.
Log of ComPac Yacht Pegasus -
Well, the "sailing" was pleasant, the company cordial and the weather grand. Made it out of the marina with no hint of a problem
until I was a mile or two down the road. Then the "fun" began. After 2 or 3 aborted attempts to get to 313, I felt that discretion
is better than valor and opted not to make the left onto 313. That would have been a looong downhill (no problem, of course)
and an impossibly looooonger uphill, not happening!
Prior to getting to 313, Matt and his CP19 pulled over to see if they could lend a hand. His company was welcome, for sure.
It gets lonely out there when you don't know what the near future holds! Shortly thereafter, a nice couple stopped and asked if
they could give me a ride. They were really great and I'd almost bet they'd have taken me all the way home (50 miles!) if I
asked. Fortunately, they knew of a local 24 hour towing service (Kirk's) nearby. We pulled into their parking lot (they were
closed, of course) and called their number. Told they'd be there in 15 minutes; I figured "sure they would (Saturday afternoon).
Ten minutes later the truck arrived! I bid John (the fellow that provided the ride) farewell and went to retrieve the poor Volvo
(1990 with 295,000 miles). Don't know for sure, but suspect the fuel pump has pretty much given up the ghost. We towed
Pegasus to Kirk's lot and secured her there, then transported the Volvo to a repair shop in Perkasie. Meanwhile, I had called
my son for the rescue mission and he showed up just a minute after the tow truck driver dropped me off back with Pegasus.
It is now Sunday and David (son #2) is picking me up with the F-250 to go and bring Pegasus home. Hopefully, no more
excitement! The Volvo will have to wait until Monday to determine the damage$.
Of course, although the sailing went well (JT was certainly an asset), there was virtually no wind, so the MinnKota and big
battery got a workout. If there was even the slightest wind, I would have tested the battery to it's limit, but wanted to make
sure I had enough reserve to make the dock. Everybody else on the lake that didn't have iron wind was paddling back.
When JT and I arrived at Nockamixson, there was a "race" in progress. I sure hope they got back before dark!
Marty K.
Well, Marty:
No one can accuse you of boring sailing adventures! Maybe CrazyCarl and you are distantly related. Hope your low mileage Volvo are gonna be ok. We're waiting for the next edition of Adventures with Marty and Pegasus!
Bob23
Marty: I just retired at 70 and purchased a 1981 CP16. I haven't sailed in more than 20 years and your adventures are entertaining and most informative.
Thanks
Don't Panic
Bob: Truthfully, I could do with a little less "adventure". It seems the combination of the heat (in the '80's) a very difficult tow (some very serious ups and downs - one of which was an "up" for several miles) and a detour through some very hilly, winding country, was a bit much for the old Volvo's fuel pump. To be fair, even when all seemed lost, Victor (the Volvo was named by the previous owner) was able to summon enough "go" to get me to the ramp!
Turns out the problem is definitely the fuel pump. So, the 23 year old, 265,000+ miles Volvo station wagon is going to be sporting a new fuel pump. Yeah, it's going to be expensive, but then I'm not making car payments either! Although this "fix" is going to be plenty dear. Hopefully, State Farm will handle the $$$ tow job without too much angst.
Don't Panic: Welcome to the septuagenarian fold! I turned 71 last August and believe me, Kelly Clarkson has it right: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"! Also, I really believe in Randy Pauch's quote. Enjoy your little ComPac, I certainly enjoy mine.
Marty K.
Log of Pegasus - 10/15/13: My son (David) and I sailed Nockamixon, however, the primary purpose of the trip was to retrieve my Volvo wagon that broke down last week while towing Pegasus. We decided to go sailing first to delay the pain of paying for the repairs. Total cost for this relatively minor repair (fuel pump) has approached $1,000.00 (including an outrageous tow charge of $300.00 – for 12 miles!).
Although the winds were light, we had an enjoyable sail. The weather was close to perfect. Plenty of sun and a little wind. My son (no. 2) had never been to Nockamixon before, I think he was impressed. Over 600 sailboats reside there, in season. Lots of masts! There were several sailboats out there, including another 1981 CP16 owned by another Marty. He keeps the boat in the water in a slip for the season and had just completed his last sail of the season and was preparing to bring her home. There was enough wind to ignore the MinnKota and sail the way God meant us to (although my son does like iron wind!). Unfortunately, the weird weather has kept the leaves from bursting out in glorious color. I'm afraid that they'll all drop before they get a chance to do their thing. Next year!
This trip to Nockamixon was expedited by towing with the F-250. Big advantage when launching and retrieving. The trailer went in so deep that Pegasus simply floated up onto her bunks! It was a dry launch and almost dry retrieval. Almost dry because I couldn't reach the bow eye from the bow. Pegasus' bow floated right up to the bow stop!
I'm not yet ready to put Pegasus to bed for the (too) long winter sleep. So, I'd like to try another outing at Mercer Lake. I'll be keeping a close watch on the weather.
Marty K.
Hi Marty,
I have been wondering when we would get a report on the mechanical issues.. sorry to hear that it was so steep to get things fixed. we did have a nice day on the water, and I appreciated the opportunity to get out one more time.. as always, the company was especially enjoyable!
It is very nice that you got a chance to get your son out on the lake.. it is a nice destination, and certainly a good meeting spot for us.. i hope that you get another nice day before winter closes in.. take care, jt
HOLY CANNOLI!!!!!
1000 clams for a fuel pump? That's the price you pay for driving a Volvo. Be thankful you don't own a Saab! But remember, you do have 265,000 miles on that baby, right? Sounds like it doesn't owe you a dime. Still, sorry to hear you had to spend that kind of $. I better shut up now...don't want to bring a mechanicl curse on my Tundra.
I really enjoy reading about your adventures, Marty. It was great to meet up with you and the rest of the clan at the BBB 2013! Keep sailing, brother, and keep writing! Looking forward to the 2nd Annual Mid Winter Gathering of the East Coast Compac-o-nauts!
Bob23
To all Compaconauts - A very merry Christmas and may the New Year bring good health and happiness to all. ;D
Marty K. and Pegasus (CP16)
Thank you, Marty and the same to you and your family. May you have fair winds and calm seas in all of life.
The quote at the bottom of your page by Randy Pausch is a major motivation for my planning this Chesapeake trip...thank you for the reminder. Regret has got to be one of the worse experiences.
Bob23
Finally, Pegasus has just gotten her gasoline "iron wind". Although I'm not giving up on the MinnKota (can't have gas on lakes
around here), I am hopeful that the (new for me) 1977 Johnson Seahorse 2hp will be just the ticket for less stress on the
Delaware River and Barnegat Bay. To date I've not been able to sail to certain destinations on the river because of time
restraints and concerns of current and tide. Having a gas engine will provide a bit more confidence and less dependence on
adhering to the tide charts and observation of the current.
The Johnson arrived in good shape in a box that appeared to be more duck tape than cardboard! It was well wrapped in bubble-
wrap and a baby's quilt! Purchased with some degree of confidence on Ebay from a seller with many transactions and 100%
positive feedback. Shipped up from Port Orange, FL. Also ordered a service manual and am awaiting for an owner's manual to
arrive prior to attempting start-up. Hung it from the outboard mount thingee to see how it fits... Perfect! Just the right
length to avoid cavatation. It's two-stroke, water cooled and exhausts under water. Uses 50-1 gas/oil ratio which I understand
is much better for the motor (not for the environment) than later motors that use 100-1.
I realize that with only 2hp, I still have to take tide and current into consideration, but I'll be less anxious. My last sail
last year was truly an adventure combating a very strong wind, tide and current in a narrow channel!
Holy cow! That reminds me... apparently I hadn't entered that little adventure into the Log of Pegasus! If you're still with
me, here goes:
Twas a beautiful early November day. Plenty of sun, nice puffy clouds in the blue sky and 12-15 knot winds predicted. Got down
to the Neshaminy Ramp on the Delaware River with my friend, Ed. Virtually no wind at about 11 am, so hoisted all sail and
gunned the MinnKota to exit the marina. No sooner than Pegasus hit the river than a gust of maybe 25 knots or better caught us
broad-side! Wow! Was that an attention getter. Apparently a front had just passed through the area. (Later, Admiral Barb, told
me she noticed the house shake when the alleged front came through and she wondered how that would affect Pegasus, Ed and me!)
I hollered to Ed to just hold on and stay low while I doused the main. I had just removed the jib down-haul because I didn't
like the cheap line I had purchased and hadn't replaced it yet. So, with just the heads'l, we flew up the Delaware at what
must have been close to 10 knots! Bear in mind, we were going with a heavy wind behind and with the tide (which is quite quick
on the Delaware - especially where it's narrow. As we zoomed under the Burlington-Bristol Bridge, I got a real good feel as to
just how fast we were moving. I started to wonder just how we would get back to Neshaminy! At the place where we planned to
turn back, I noticed that even though we were pointed down-river, we were going backwards! Because the river is quite narrow
at this point, my tacking/jibing was in vain.
It was time for Plan B. "Ed, call your wife and ask her to meet us at the Edgely Boat Club where they have a floating dock and
a ramp." Ed's wife, Barb, wasn't too happy about being dragged from her tea party (which she later admitted she was grateful
for). The wind was still blowing hard as I put Pegasus in between two motor-boats that were tied to the dock. Phew! Those years of
practice on my little styro-foam Sunflower sailboat (now a herb garden) paid off! The guys at the boat club watched in horror
thinking I would smack one of their boats with Pegasus. Got the lines out and secured her to the dock. Upon disembarking,
found that the dock was bouncing like a bronco. Almost had to walk on all fours to maintain our balance! At that point
a large motor boat got "pulled over" by the NJ State Police River Patrol for making a large wake which hadn't been helping
things.
Got a ride back to Neshaminy to pick up the Volvo and trailer and returned to Edgely. It was still windy but the tide was now
in our favor. And it was high tide... great for retrieving. I got back into Pegasus, cast off her lines, "fired up" the
MinnKota and headed for the ramp. One of the guys from the boat club called out to me, "If you can't make it to the ramp, head
out into the river and we'll come and get you." But, the MinnKota did its job and I was able to drive Pegasus right up onto
the trailer. Phew! What an adventure.
Marty K.
CP-16 Pegasus
1943 hrs. 4-4-14 The weatherman promises a nice sunny and mild Sunday, but I'm afraid that Pegasus will not be ready for its initial 2014 Spring wetting. Lot's of stuff to do at home (including prepping Pegasus) now that the weather looks better (although still somewhat damp!).
Did get a chance to fire up the '77 Johnson Seahorse 2 yesterday. Rigged up a water tank with a nice sturdy Rubbermaid trash can. Mixed up a pint of gas and a dash of oil and pulled the cord... twice. And she caught and ran quite nicely. I'm told that the old 2 strokes were very well made and with proper care should last... forever?
Can't wait to try it out on the river. Of course, I'm all about wind power, but... it is a new toy for me.
The tarp comes off Pegasus Sunday... can't wait!
Marty K.
81 CP16 Pegasus
BTW - I'm still hoping to hear from someone that has a owner's manual for a late '70's Johnson Seahorse 2hp. Pleeeze!
Wow! We should throw a cover removing party! It really is a ceremonial event, isn't it? It's a declaration to the world that winter is finally gone, spring is here and the first sail is right around the corner.
And congrats on your new outboard. Another ceremonial event is when the motor emerges from winter hibernation and comes to life after a long winters nap. Miss Nissan is patiently waiting and recently I've heard stirrings from the shed...she wants to run!
Bob23
1903 hrs. 4-15-14 Well, it has been over a week and Pegasus is still in her winter blanket! Yeah, I know, it hit 80 twice over the weekend, but I was busy building a fence and a deck in the backyard. Priorities, blah, blah.
And look at the weather report, S**W! and temps in the 20's in the forecast. Come on! It's the middle of April and I guess there must be something to "climate change".
Seriously, it's no big deal. Pegasus needs much TLC before she hits the water and I've the time.
Maybe this coming weekend!? Oh, I forgot... the deck!
Marty K.
81 CP16 Pegasus
Well, Marty at least your thinking about removing your cover! I probably won't have my boat home until the end of the month and then I'll have to hear about it from the Admiral because it interferes with her spring gardening!
Pegasus will be a great incentive to get that deck done!
Bob23
So, Bob, I see you woke up to a blanket (albeit thin) of snow this morning! Who'd a thunk! Fired up the pellet stove early this a.m. I'm still recovering from drilling the holes for the deck and fence. OMG that was brutal. Drilled 18 holes (not leetle ones for golf) about 4' deep. Actually, my son's fiance' helped drill the smaller fence holes. But, those 9 holes for the deck foundation were a killer. We were going to do 12, but figured that would be overkill (in more ways than one).
Pegasus says that she's glad that I didn't remove her cover, brrr!
Marty K.
Yeah, what's with the snow this morning? Monday I was working in shorts. Today I've got my Carharts on...that's what I call climate change!
Bob23
1624 hrs. 4-30-14 It's been almost 2 weeks since my last log entry and the cover is still on Pegasus! First of all, didn't get to install the deck. Actually had to return the lumber to Home Depot. Why? Sewer finally gave up the ghost! Had to run about 50' of new PVC piping down to the main. What a hole!! The removed dirt covered more than 1/2 the back yard (which meant killing 2 of my 3 sheds). Deck is on temporary hold (and I need a shed!). Secondly, the heavens have opened up big time and my back yard has gone from Sahara desert to a giant mud wrestling pit. I could almost float Pegasus down my street! Ugh! Pegasus says "thank you for not removing my cover!" It'll all be history soon enough, I hope. Then back to prepping Pegasus for the sailing season. Although my preference is to "sail" her, I'm looking forward to trying out the Johnson Seahorse 2hp.
Marty K.
Wow! The weather doesn't seem to like you, Marty. I can't imagine why. I hope things dry up (including your sewer line) and that the spring prep for Pegasus goes quickly and uneventfully.
It'll be nice for you having a motor that can cover distances. BBB 2014 is looming on the horizon...somewhere!
Stay well Marty...hope to see you soon.
Bob23
wow, Marty.. a bit of a setback, but nothing that your wonderfully positive outlook on life can't overcome! and just think, you will get a new shed out of this as well! I wish that i had the time to come down and lend a hand and a hammer.. but I am tied up with trying to finish out the last month of school while building my tiny house.. it is a bit of a balancing act, and leaves no room for even a thought about Adagio for the time being.. but all in due time! take care, and good luck with the project (s) jt
2000 hours, 09/29/2014 - The Sargasso Sea. Not a place that brings happy thoughts to sailors in the Bermuda Triangle. The sun beating relentlessly, the glare off the still water burning the eyes. How the heck do you get out of here? And what appears to be an island over there, could it be Gaia? Thoughts of a floating ship graveyard in which vessels get caught in the seaweeds and never get free again, turning the vessels into ghost ships. Is this my fate? Wait, I can feel the bottom with my paddle. Seems to be about half a fathom. Put on my water shoes and slipped into the still water. Bottom is soft, but with Pegasus relieved of her skipper's weight, she became nudgeable. Beneath the still water I could discern what appeared to be a small sand bank where I could hopefully gain purchase and get Pegasus on the move again. Whoa, Pegasus! Free at last, she caught what little air there was. I heaved my bulk over the gunnel and we were finally on the move. I carefully tried to retrace my original course to avoid repeating the adventure again. I guess I'll have to read Victor Appleton's Adrift in the Sargasso Sea to learn just how lucky I was... but wait, I digress.
The tale starts the previous evening in Forked River, NJ where I met up with friends, new and old. It was the start of BBB-2014 (Barnegat Bay Bash). Our small party met up at The Captain's Inn where we drank and dined in a fine atmosphere. Present were Bob23 of course, our illustrious leader who had invited new friends Sean Patrick and his lovely daughter, Emily. Sean and Emily had traveled seven hours from Vermont to learn about the virtues of ComPac 23's. Also, from Maryland, were Brad and Lilly who trailered in with their CP19. So now we had full representation of vintage ComPacs. We enjoyed our meal and company and then retired to our respective berths.
I spent the night, which was quite cool and very damp, on the hard in Pegasus' cabin. This was the first time I have slept in the cabin. As advertised it quite cramped but I did manage to get some shut-eye. Then, about 2 am, I heard some folks walking by Pegasus remarking, "How do you get in?" "I suppose you climb in through the hatch". I guess they noticed the step stool I use to gain access when on the hard. Well, the passed on and I took some safety precaution by reversing the hatch board so that the hardware was now inside and the hatch acted as a lock providing some security. Of course the inevitable finally occurred with Nature calling. This was about 3 am and as I returned from sojourn into the nearby woods, I passed another couple walking past Pegasus... at 3 am!? Oh well, back into my not so comfy quarters.
Come the morning, we gathered again and motored (with Pegasus in tow) over to the recommended Colonial Diner via my VTV (Volvo Tow Vehicle – my 250,000 mile plus 1990 wagon) where we all enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Bob and Brad were already in the water and I soon had Pegasus off the trailer into the drink. Shortly I met up with the happy band and we were off to Tice's on Island Beach State Park, just north of Barnegat Light. Long Beach Island is a barrier island along the Atlantic coast in New Jersey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_Beach_State_Park).
The trip to the bay went smoothly utilizing auxiliary iron wind. The Johnson 2hp pushed Pegasus along quite well, until the opening into the bay where it simply said, "I think I've had enough..." and quit. Oh well, I hoisted the main and caught the breeze and we were off. After a bit, it became apparent the CP16 was not able to keep pace with the larger CP19 and 23. Also, I hadn't been able to set the jib because of choppy water (and maybe a little bit of chickeness). Soon, I lost sight of their sails. Then I made a mistake... I tacked south, mistakenly thinking I had departed from Cedar Creek, not Forked River! Of course it wasn't too long before I discovered just how costly that tack would be. Which brings me back to the "Sargasso Sea".
After finally breaking free of the clutching grass, I beat northward to try to rejoin the others. Things were going well and then, again, on a tack to the east, the wind dropped off, eventually dying completely! Now what to do? No air, no motor. I went into survival mode. I did have my portable VHF and was in contact with Bob (For sure he'll report), but the sea is so large and my boat so small! I dug out my paddle and tried paddling a bit. Well, paddling 10 feet to reach a dock isn't quite the same as paddling a half ton boat a mile or so. It wasn't getting any cooler and I had to do something. I had brought along my trusty MinnKota trolling motor and its battery. But, I had been working on the electrical system and there were no wires between the battery (forward of the compression post) and the motor (mounted on Pegasus' ladder). After pondering a bit, I decided that I had to somehow drag that really heavy battery out of the cabin and into the cockpit.
And that I did with much effort. Of course I couldn't just plug the motor in, it didn't have compatible leads any more. So I bared the leads with my trusty knife (always have a very sharp trusty knife) and wrapped them around the battery terminals. Voila! We had power! At the same time, we were hailed by Dario and Bill (sailor friends) who had been monitoring the VHF and knew of my predicament, "Don't worry, Marty. We're coming to get you."
Shortly Pegasus was in tow heading for Tice's. What a relief! More to follow – things do get better, much better!!!
Marty K.
CP16 Pegasus
2100 hours, 09/29/2014 - Sunday morning dawned bright and beautiful. After the previous days misadventure, I slept like a rock, first for 6 hours, then for another 3 ½! In between, we were woken by the arrival of a very large helicopter which hovered over Tice's for several minutes. This also created an opportunity to gaze at the most beautiful sky chock full of stars, especially Orion where we may all originate from!
The happy band enjoyed breakfast together and then settled in to enjoy the day:
The first event was the rowing race which Bob won. Brad took second and I a very close third (5 seconds). Not too bad for a septuagenarian (can anyone pronounce that?). Then it was off to the beach to enjoy the sun, sand and waves. The weather was perfect, the waves were 4 to six feet and we all turned into 17 year olds and body-surfed as long as we dared. Emily really had a great time getting beat up by the Atlantic. I believe that she had never actually been in the ocean before.
By now it was getting time to leave Tice's and head for home ports. The sail back to the mainland was everything a sailor could hope for. A steady wind of 10 to 15 knots off the port bow allowing Pegasus and Koinona to fly. We too, didn't have to tack to make it back. Too soon! Pegasus sailed into Forked River under sail power except for the last 1000 yards. Then the MinnKota did what it was designed to do and the sailing weekend was over... bitter/sweet indeed.
Marty K.
CP16 Pegasus
1545 hours, 11/29/2014 - Well, Pegasus has been bedded down for the long winter's night (and that was only the 1st week of November!). We, Pegasus and I, were hoping for at least one more sail this season; but it wasn't to be. I hear that Bob23 is planning a Black Friday sail! Brrr! Just this past Wednesday (day before Thanksgiving) winter made an unwelcome intrusion with a brutal Nor'Easter. At least South Jersey and Southeastern PA were spared the almost 8' feet of snow the Buffalo, NY area unhappily received! I sure hope Bob was able to enjoy a final sail. As of this posting, he hasn't posted the latest "The continuing adventures of Koinoina". We wait with bated breath!
Hopefully, the winter will provide much needed time for repairs and upgrades for Pegasus. Looking forward to the MWG sometime in the next few months.
Marty K.
1981 CP16 Pegasus
Thanks for the update and sleep tight, Pegasus!
Tis true I was gonna sail on Black Friday but the Admiral came down with a serious stomach virus so I stuck around the house. The last sail of the season will be tomorrow about 1200 hrs. Temps are forecast to be mild (relatively) with 12-15 knts SSW. Can't wait to sail although Thanksgiving morning found me out on the guideboat Poco Loco for a nice pre-turkey row. Sort of a pre calorie burn!
We did indeed have that nor'easter on Wednesday and lost a day of work because of it.
It's always a sad time when the season comes to an end but, as it is said: With the closing of one door, another opens. Personally, I hope we get lots of snow- cross county ski season!
Bob23
Well, I finally got to go sailing (again) yesterday with my grand-daughter. The weather was great with a nice 5 to 10 mph blow. Only problem was it wasn't on Pegasus! I saw a Sunflower SuperSnark on Craig's List and the admiral said that would be great to take the grandkids on the township's lake (which is perfect for that little 50 pound sailboat). So, I bought the boat on Sunday and after replacing all the badly rusted nuts and bolts with stainless, tossed it on top of the Volvo wagon and went sailing Tuesday. Fun, fun, fun! One thing that I hadn't considered was how painful it would be due to my, ahem, advanced age. So, the trip wasn't unduly long.
My first sailboat was a Sunflower Snark which was a foot shorter and about 6" wider. It had an aluminum tiller/kick-up rudder. The rudder was fairly large. I was dubious about the SuperSnarks little wooden tiller/rudder because the rudder didn't even extend below the hull! But, my doubts soon faded since the moment you sit in this craft, the rudder settles well into the water. No steerage problems at all. Probably designed this way to facilitate dragging across the ground/beach.
I had many fun adventures with the 1st Sunflower and my four kids, hopefully, many more with this one and my nine grandkids! Of course Pegasus is still my love and I can't wait for BBB-2015!
Marty K.
CP16 "Pegasus"
09/15/2015 - Installed new Impeller and Water Pump Housing. The kit had a few more parts than the original Johnson did! But, all were necessary for the installation. Seems the kit manufacturer took into consideration the ancient history (1977) of this motor. Ran the motor for 20+ minutes - no overheating. Water is squirting out the weep holes - this is good. Hopefully, Pegasus will have a reliable Iron Wind should the need arise. Oh yeah, still bringing the electric trolling motor to BBB-2015!
Marty K.
81 CP16 "Pegasus"
09/25/2015 - BBB-2015 has arrived! The forecast was for a bit of a breeze and Pegasus is ready for the bay. Arriving Friday afternoon, met up with Bob23 at Townsend's Marino where he helped me launch Pegasus. He then drove out to the Latitude slips and awaited my arrival via MinnKota power. The wind was pretty strong coming almost directly down the inlet. I like to run the MinnKota at "3", but was forced to go to "4" by the wind. Hit "5" a time or two to maintain steering. But, slid comfortably into the slip with Bob ready to grab the docking line.
Bob and I had a nice dinner (super burgers!) and chatted for quite a bit at Latitudes. Then he head off to Koinonia and to meet up with Kevin for their voyage to Forked River in the morning. I turned in for the night in Pegasus' cabin (which I sometimes refer to as, "my Gemini capsule").
09/26/2015 - Saturday dawned with a pretty stiff breeze blowing. Bob and Kevin arrived at about 10am after a tough uphill battle with the NNE winds on the bay. They were somewhat damp from the effort (I'm not talking sweat here)! Soon after their arrival, Larry called to let us know he and his family and his Eclipse were here. We then all went to a very pleasant breakfast at the Forked River Diner, after which we all met up again at Latitudes on our way to
the bay.
It was blowing pretty good at this time, so discretion called for leaving Pegasus snuggled in her slip. Good thing - it was pretty rough out on the bay with 3-4 waves, occasionally a 5 footer - but was a lot of fun. Would have liked to have stayed out longer than we did, but ran out of "valor". Some pics and videos here:
http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/mrtnkern/slideshow/BBB-2015
http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/mrtnkern/library/BBB-2015%20Videos
Larry had to leave, so Bob, Kevin and I adjourned for a tasty lunch at The Captain's Inn.
Marty K.
81 CP16 Pegasus
9/30/2015 - BBB-2015 is now history. Had an enjoyable time. Slept in Pegasus' cabin on Friday night. Too windy for the boom tent. Was a bit concerned about water entering via the scuppers (which have a bit of a leak!), but with the scupper plugs in, Pegasus stayed dry as a bone. Even under way with a lot of weight in the stern, she stayed dry. Fast forward home... while parked in front of my home a drenching rain passed through on Tuesday. Lo and behold, the scupper plugs keep water IN as well as out! Had about 9" of water in the cockpit and because of the aforementioned leaky scuppers a bit of water in the cabin. Only enough to dampen the carpet (fortunately, I had jacked the trailer tongue up enough to avoid major flooding). So, as I write, an electric heater is drying her out. Lesson learned: better get those leaky scuppers repaired!
Marty K.
81 CP16 Pegasus
6/6/16 - It's been a while since the last entry, however, before I begin, please take a moment and reflect on the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women this day, not so long ago. I understand that almost 900,000 are still with us but won't be for very long. They made America what it is today. Thank you!
Still haven't fixed the scuppers - but I will! In the meantime, I did a task I've put off for years... and actually enjoyed it. Couldn't stop 'till it was all done. You may have guessed: sanded and polyurethaned all the teak! It helped that for Christmas my kids gave me a complete Ryobi cordless set that included a cool multi-tool. The vibrating tool did a fine job of turning that coarse teak into a nice smooth surface. Three coats later, and it looks great (to me, anyway).
Next project: yep, those leaky scuppers.
Marty K.
81 CP16 Pegasus
P.S. I'm hoping to have "Goldie" our Yellow Lab be my sailing buddy. I've put her in the cockpit while on the hard in the driveway and she seemed to be okay with it. The other day I built a long ramp and tried to teach her to go up it and jump into the boat. I laid out a number of treats for her to gobble up as she ascended the ramp. Being a lab, she naturally cheated and ate all she could reach from the side without going up the ramp. But, she couldn't get the one at the top. She "thought" about it for a while, and then zoomed up the ramp, ate the treat and jumped into Pegasus! Ah, what a lab won't do for food.
so, in addition to sailor extraordinaire, you also train dogs! sounds like a great plan - wish i could see the dog ramp in action.. i am sure that you will enjoy having the her along... i was surprised to find that the schooner captain allows dogs on board... we have seen a few nice ones so far, including a miniature austrailan shepherd.. i hope that you get the projects done quickly so that you can introduce Goldie to her new job as crew on the good ship Pegasus... jt
JT - Goldie is a wonderful lab! She's extremely smart and stubborn as well. She is almost 2 1/2 years old and seems to live to please me. We spoil her rotten and I often refer to her as the SRD... spoiled rotten dog! I haven't really taught her a lot of tricks, but some important ones like she knows to stop on corners and wait for the okay to cross (off-leash!). She recently learned to retrieve the morning paper. First thing every morning, she darts out to the curb and brings the paper into the house (without shredding it!). Even the Sunday edition! One caveat: If it's raining all bets are off.
We trained our yellow lab to retrieve our newspaper and it was great for about 2 weeks. Then he started to bring two papers, then thee, and four. I admired his initiative, but we had to stop him before the neighbors figured out where their papers were ending up.
NCboater - Can't stop laughing! :)
Pegasus Log 08/19/2016 - Pegasus has been cleaned and washed, gear checked out and stowed. Readied for the 50 mile tow to Forked River, NJ on the Barnegat Bay. The day dawned clear and comfortable with favorable weather predicted for the weekend. Towing Pegasus behind the 1990 Volvo wagon with barely 275,000 miles on the odometer was uneventful (as one would hope). Arrived at Southwinds Marina shortly after 1300. Allen had already been there the day before and was out on the bay exhausting himself. Soon I spotted him and "Madame Z" (or was it the glare from the anchor) coming around the gas dock and helped him tie up. First order of business was a nice cold Heineken that needed to be drained before the ice melted! We then saunted over to "Latitudes" for a light lunch.
Bob arrived sometime later and we rigged Pegasus and slipped her down Southwinds' nicely maintained ramp. Having raised the mast (not that hard on a CP16) Bob noticed the little snap securing the forestay (More on that later). A little turn around the gas dock under MinnKota power and into her berth for the night. Soon, Mike K. arrived with his 92 year old ex Navy (WW II) dad.
We then headed for Latitudes for dinner. Boy, that place was packed! We were looking at 90 minutes minimum to be seated. By some stroke of good luck, we had been standing at just the right place and a very nice hostess took pity on us and sat us almost immediately. The food was delicious. I like to eat light when sailing and ordered a burger that was more than filling. Everyone enjoyed their meal, especially Allen who consumed a luscious steak (evidently Allen is on a steak diet... really!). Kevin arrived and we enjoyed our meals.
I had planned to spend the night sleeping under a boom tent in the cockpit (CP16's cabins are a bit tight) but NJ humidity hit like a monsoon and made the cockpit uninhabitable. So, it was a somewhat less than comfortable "sleep" in the cramped cabin. But, dawn came soon enough and I had managed to grab a few hours of appreciated rest... no complaint.
Pegasus Log 08/20/2016
The facilities at Southwinds Marina are excellent. After a nice shower and shave I was ready for a hearty breakfast. Bob and I hopped into Allen's Toyota with Kevin following. On our way to the Colonial Diner, Allen spotted a sailboat in tow going in the opposite direction. Turned out to be Larry with his family and Eclipse. We were able to contact him and he dropped the boat off at Southwinds and they joined us for an enjoyable breakfast.
While getting ready to leave for Tice's Shoals, Brian arrived to say 'hello' and introduce himself. He couldn't sail with us today, but was nice enough to take the time to come down and see us off. We all then cast off for our destination - Tice's. And the 500 stink-pots and boom-boxes awaiting our arrival.
The Johnson 2hp fired up (it had failed on BBB-2014 after about 10 minutes due to overheating) and smartly moved Pegasus toward the bay. But, once again after about 10 minutes it quit. This after having received a new water pump kit and impeller. But, I did have the MinnKota "back-up" which valiantly bucked the NE wind and in-coming tide. Finally, we got into the bay, hoisted the sails and headed for Tice's. Took a N course to maximize the NE wind and was cruising pretty well... and then it happened. Remember Bob's observation regarding the "little snap" securing the forestay? Well, the "snap" snapped! There was a "crack" and I noticed the port shroud go limp... uh, oh. I looked up and if I were a lumberjack would have called out "timber"! And down she came, in slow motion. Kevin later asked if it really was in slo-mo or was it my life flashing before my eyes? Nah, just slo-mo with the starboard rigging, the jib and pulpit offering resistance.
On the VHF I hailed Koinoia: "Emergency, emergency. Lost my mast. This is Pegasus. Koinonia do you copy (or something to that effect... more like HELP!)? Well, the response was electric! Tow Boat US was on the scene quicker than flies on you know what. The "rescuer" was very helpful and moved Pegasus a bit out into the bay so I wouldn't get caught up in the marsh. In the meantime, Kevin was on his way in Tetra but couldn't see me in the chop. I said that I could fire off a flare, and even quicker than the flies, the US Coast Guard (GBT) radioed a "Sir, please don't fire your flare unless you are in danger of sinking!" Since I didn't think I'd be sinking any time soon (and could probably walk away anyway) I held my fire... literally. Then the NJSP Patrol happened on the scene and kindly turned on his strobe to aid Kevin. By that time, Kevin was on a heading dead at me, circled around and threw me a tow line (several times, but we did connect). Kev towed me back to Southwinds Marina to the delight of many, many spectators. Tetra (and Kevin) did a fine job of getting Pegasus (an me) to safety. As it turns out, the damage wasn't too terrible and as Kevin stated, "she'll sail again!"
Pegasus Log 08/31/2017 - Finally... Pegasus has gotten her bottom wet. No. 2 son, David and his two kids, Ava and Maddy, spent the day with me on Lake Nockamixon in upper Bucks County, PA. Although not very far from home (about 30 miles) it is a brutal tow. Up and down hills (too many to count!) in 90 degree + heat that 2 years ago cost me a pair of fuel pumps along with a tow $$$. Those hills had been the final straw for the Volvo's 29 year old fuel pump. I've decided to retire the old 1990 Volvo 760T towcar with over 280,000 miles on it and have replaced it with a (new for me) 2001 Volvo V70 T5 wagon. This one ought to handle the hills with ease (197hp). On this trip, we used David's 2013 F150 EcoBoost so hardly knew that Pegasus was back there.
Back to the sailing - We had a beautiful sail on a beautiful day on the lake with just the right amount of breeze. Ava 11 and Maddy 8 handled the jib sheets pretty well considering their age and the fact they've only been on a sailboat once before. Only got blown into the weeds once! David opted to ride before the mast on the foredeck to avoid "boom bang". There were better than a 1/2 dozen other sailboats out (no ComPacs - although we did come across a previous ComPac owner who gave us a "thumbs up") all of which were having a good time. As usual, lessons were learned regarding the CP's resistance to sailing close to the wind. I believe the "newer" CP16's were available with a swing keel which I would think would make a noticeable difference. Anyway, I paid a lot of attention to the wind vane. The day ended well and the girls would like to go again, well, at least Maddy would.
Marty K.
81 CP16 Pegasus
P.S. Forgot to mention - Son David, very handy with tools, had repaired the leaking scupper tubes. Total cost: $1.50!! He had to re-glass the underside of the cockpit and insert two couplings. A project that intimidated me for years!