Things I've Learned So Far

[DsquareD]

I've only had the boat out a few times.  Here's an update.

Engine only starts in neutral. Discovered after a few moments of pondering while returning to the marina.

Low idle adjust is easy to set with a 10mm wrench.

Engine quits at worst time while docking when idle gets too low (see low idle adjust).

I'd like a wind vane, even if just for looking at. Don't think I need an electronic one yet.

Friend who thinks he knows everything about sailing and is a master at docking teaches me everything NOT to do.

Sending wife to sailing school was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

That's it for now. More to follow, I'm sure.

[Tney88]

Thanks for the chuckle.

Wind vane is a vital instrument, in my opinion.  I have both the simple masthead one and the electronic one. Give consideration to the electronic version, as it sure saves your neck from craning to look to the masthead, and you don't lose as much situational awareness or get blinded by the sun looking at the instrument at the binnacle.  Plus the electronic ones generally provide both wind speed and direction, not just direction.  That's my $.02 worth, YMMV.

Terry Ney
CP27 SV Paradiso
Veneta, OR 

[deisher6]

Hey D^2*D:
You are a good learner.  Particularly getting your wife to attend a sailing school. 

I have started Windrunner in gear several times.  If it is windy enough to windmill the prop I engage reverse, consequently I have started the engine in reverse a couple of times.  I have noticed that the boat slows down quickly when I do this. 

Keep learning and sailing.

Thanks for the post.

regards charlie

[DsquareD]

Hey D^2*D:
You are a good learner.  Particularly getting your wife to attend a sailing school. 

I have started Windrunner in gear several times.  If it is windy enough to windmill the prop I engage reverse, consequently I have started the engine in reverse a couple of times.  I have noticed that the boat slows down quickly when I do this. 

Keep learning and sailing.

Thanks for the post.

regards charlie

Interesting about the starter. Maybe it's time to change it. I have a good spare that I could install and send the old one out for a rebuild.

[relamb]

"Sending wife to sailing school was one of the best decisions I've ever made."
I second that !

I hired a professional captain for two days to teach my wife, sister, and brother in law, using my own boat and the ASA training manuals.
He had them read the manual ahead of time, then the two days were actually hands on training. Docking, maneuverng, steering, sailing. basic knots, etc.
I was NOT present, I went and fished off the pier.
It was cheaper than a sailing school for 1 person, they became familiar with handling my actual boat, and my wife is comfortable now doing things because she's been "trained" and not just doing what I tell her to do.
She can maneuver through a marina backing up under power,  and dock the boat as well as I can now.  I would not have had the patience to teach her.
That's made a huge difference in our enjoyment of the boat.  Unfortunately, she can now toss me off at sea and sail off without me if she's of the mind.
 

[Bob23]

  I'd be happy if my wife would just go out on the boat. Sailing school? Not a snowballs chance.

  I like a manual windvane but neglected to replace the broken one before the mast raising ceremony this spring. So small lengths of yarn tied as far up as I can reach on the upper shrouds also work great. And yes, red and green. My father in law, expert Lightning racer and multi decade sailor (and the most frugal man ever born) passed that idea on to me.
 
  So much more to learn.

[deisher6]

Hey D^2*D:
A windex type vane on the top of the mast is nice.  I use mine much of the time, but it seems to move around and spiders may be knitting it up in their off time.  It doesn't register the apparent wind with the same degree of accuracy on both tacks.  Like Bob, tell tales on the outer shrouds are very handy.  Used to use red & green yarn, but have switched to cassette tape.  Currently using the "Best of Joni Mitchell".  Rule of thumb is that the main should be trimmed till the luff is parallel to the windward telltale.
regards charlie

[jdklaser]

Yarn the sail with telltales off the luff and along the leech. 
You get a great picture of the flow across the sail, upwind and downwind.  Sailing/boating courses are always a plus.  Masthead wind indicators are great, especially for downwind sailing.

[DsquareD]

"Sending wife to sailing school was one of the best decisions I've ever made."
I second that !

I hired a professional captain for two days to teach my wife, sister, and brother in law, using my own boat and the ASA training manuals.
He had them read the manual ahead of time, then the two days were actually hands on training. Docking, maneuverng, steering, sailing. basic knots, etc.
I was NOT present, I went and fished off the pier.
It was cheaper than a sailing school for 1 person, they became familiar with handling my actual boat, and my wife is comfortable now doing things because she's been "trained" and not just doing what I tell her to do.
She can maneuver through a marina backing up under power,  and dock the boat as well as I can now.  I would not have had the patience to teach her.
That's made a huge difference in our enjoyment of the boat.  Unfortunately, she can now toss me off at sea and sail off without me if she's of the mind.

This sounds like a great idea. I think this will be a good follow up plan for us.

[DsquareD]

  I'd be happy if my wife would just go out on the boat. Sailing school? Not a snowballs chance.

  I like a manual windvane but neglected to replace the broken one before the mast raising ceremony this spring. So small lengths of yarn tied as far up as I can reach on the upper shrouds also work great. And yes, red and green. My father in law, expert Lightning racer and multi decade sailor (and the most frugal man ever born) passed that idea on to me.
 
  So much more to learn.

That's probably what we'll do. I used to have a Lightning many years ago... before it was replaced by wife number one.

[DsquareD]

Hey D^2*D:
A windex type vane on the top of the mast is nice.  I use mine much of the time, but it seems to move around and spiders may be knitting it up in their off time.  It doesn't register the apparent wind with the same degree of accuracy on both tacks.  Like Bob, tell tales on the outer shrouds are very handy.  Used to use red & green yarn, but have switched to cassette tape.  Currently using the "Best of Joni Mitchell".  Rule of thumb is that the main should be trimmed till the luff is parallel to the windward telltale.
regards charlie

Someone else suggested cassette tape. Since downsizing, we don't have any of that old technology lying about. Not even a C. W. McCall on eight track.

[DsquareD]

Yarn the sail with telltales off the luff and along the leech. 
You get a great picture of the flow across the sail, upwind and downwind.  Sailing/boating courses are always a plus.  Masthead wind indicators are great, especially for downwind sailing.

Our genoa has telltales. They don't always fly according to the pictures no matter what in some light breezes.

[DsquareD]

Hey D^2*D:
You are a good learner.  Particularly getting your wife to attend a sailing school. 

I have started Windrunner in gear several times.  If it is windy enough to windmill the prop I engage reverse, consequently I have started the engine in reverse a couple of times.  I have noticed that the boat slows down quickly when I do this. 

Keep learning and sailing.

Thanks for the post.

regards charlie

Update:
Starter has been replaced. Starts great every time, in gear or out.

I'm glad I had a spare starter onboard and the skills to replace it. I kind of wish I would have changed it before heading out on Saturday, but that would have just been one more delay in a long series of events that would have kept us in the marina.