New Home for Frisky

[nreamer]

Hello All,  this is my first post.  I have been lurking on and off for years, but recently joined as Suncat fever had taken hold hard; so hard, I bought one!  I am now the proud new owner of Don's (Capt Nemo) Frisky!!  

When I let the word out that I was heading to Punta Gorda to buy a boat, my brother in law (who is an avid sailor), immediately offered to make the road trip with me.  We took off Thursday and Friday of last week and headed South on Thursday AM.

We met Don Friday morning after going by Punta Gorda Yacht Brokers.  (Great people to deal with, by the way!)  We did a quick inspection and sea trial.  Needless to say, the boat was immaculate!  Motor ran fine on the sea trial.  No wind, so did not get to see how she handled, which was a bit of a disappointment, never having sailed a catboat before.  The deal was done, and Don went over the boat in minute detail with my BIL and I.  I am glad the BIL came along, as he asked some questions I never thought of.  Very, very thorough, much appreciated, Don!  I took about 5 pages of notes and several photos, as I was sure I would not be able to remember it all.  I remember making a comment about buying a famous boat!  I was sure someone would recognize it and ask about the boat at some point...  

Well,  that took all of an hour to happen....  We decided to go over to Ponce de Leon Park to play around with putting up mast / sail, etc, and if weather held, to maybe go for a quick sail.  No sooner did we pull up and get out of the truck than someone (sorry, I forget your name, but he is on this forum and has an Eclipse), came over and said, "So, you bought Don's boat?"  Then, when we were out sailing, another hour or so later, a Morgan 30 came out and passed us close aboard.  As he went by, he said, "So, you bought Don's boat!  Looks great!" I told him him his looked great too!

That ended the recognition part, but on the way back yesterday and at the hotel, we got asked about Frisky no less than 5 times.  Two of the people wanted details, such as make / model of the boat.  I quickly got a story down pat, as I realized this was quickly becoming routine! These boats really catch the eye!

The trip back was uneventful.  She towed so nicely that I looked back with a start several times to make sure she was still there!  

Today, even though the winds were predicted to be 5 – 6 kts, we took her out.  Winds were more than forecast, thank goodness.  We had a nice 4 hour sail.  The Admiral likes the boat and seemed pretty confident at the helm!  She even went below a took a nap while underway!  We hauled her out and put her to bed for tonight.  We are really, really happy with our purchase!  Looking forward to many more days like today and our first over nighter!  Thanks again Don, and Jim at PBYB!  I will include a photo of Frisky at her new home port as well as sailing on Lake Murray, here in SC when I figure that process out!

Neil

[Vectordirector]

Neil,

I was wondering if you were going to post.  That was me at Ponce.  I know you had a lot on your mind and I didn't figure my name would be at the top of your list of things to remember.  My name is Bryan, Vectordirector here on the forum, and I'm glad to hear that things went well with the trip home and the first sail.  The Morgan 30 is owned by Tom Scott who is a friend of Al Santini, a friend of mine in Chicago who owns an Eclipse.  Tom is a fabulous sailor and basically rebuilt that boat from a bare hull.  It is truly beautiful to watch him sail it, solo, it some pretty heavy air.  He has some videos on Youtube, and I see him out sailing all the time.  He lives down the street.   

I don't miss the questions I used to get from other sailors when I was rigging the boat at the marina in Wisconsin.  Sailors are the nicest people you'd ever meet so it is hard not to be polite and talk about the boat when all you want to do is rig it and get in the water.  When I brought the boat down from Chicago we pulled into the hotels after dark and no one was around to see it.  Just my luck.  My boat doesn't turn heads like a green Suncat.  Most people have never seen a catboat, unless they are from New England, or down here, and you got the pick of the litter!  Frisky is one of the prettiest boats I've ever seen.  The fact that she was obsessively maintained/updated/customized is just gravy.  She is truly one of a kind.  As is Capt. Nemo, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.  I called him on Friday after you guys left the dock and told him about our chance meeting.  He got a kick out of that. 

We had a blast on my friend's Corsair 24 trimarian yesterday.  Winds were 15-18kts and we were throttled back doing about 10kts.  Frisky would have loved that wind, too bad you had to head back.  Same winds today in my boat with a reef in the main she handled it great.  Yea, we were only going half as fast but it was still fun.  It started gusting near 20kts so we came in.  I was tired, but exhilarated.  Taking a recovery day tomorrow. 

Keep us updated on your catboat adventures.  It is fun learning to sail a new boat.  Never the same thing twice. 

Be Safe, Fair Winds,

Vectordirector

[HeaveToo]

Congratulations on the new boat.  I hope you get a lot of sailing and enjoyment out of her.

I second the comment about sailors being great people.  I have experienced it when I was out cruising so much.  I prefer to be in the company of sailors!

[nreamer]

Thanks to both of you!  Sorry about that Bryan, I asked my BIL about your name while we were underway, but it appears he can't remember names well either!  I noticed how well Tom handled the Morgan.  He came out of the cut there at the landing, and the sails came up quite smartly and off he went. I was surprised to see he was the only one aboard.   It was really cool having him zoom by 10 or so feet to port to congratulate me on my purchase!  He did a great job on the Morgan!!  I concur with both of you about sailors being nice people!

I was nervous as hell before launching, and the heat did not help.  I have never driven a sailboat with an outboard / tiller steering.  As a matter of fact, I have not driven an outboard with tiller steering since I was in my 20's.   I was really worried about getting underway and returning to the dock.  That four foot bowsprit makes it difficult to fend off if you come in too steep!  This is gonna take some practice!  Previously, when at the helm, it has either been on large boats with inboard / wheel for steering, or small boats (Lasers / O'day / Sunfish, etc) with no motor at all.  I have found some threads on here about this subject and have been reading them.  Hopefully that will help with putting some things to try in my head, but I just need to get out and practice.  Made my kids to that before I would let them loose on the powerboat, so it is time for me to do the same!

Love the boat!  I will stay active on here when I have something to say.  Still have not had time to figure out the pictures.  I have like 4 different photo storage sites (Google, Amazon, Dropbox, etc.).  I can get links to work, but nothing embedded in the post yet.  I am an IT guy by trade, so I will get it figured out.

Neil

[alsantini]

Neil.  Tom Scott is a good friend and probably the most competent sailor that I have ever sailed with.  When we first met both of us had a Precision 18 and he had just written a book on the boat.  "The New Trailer Sailor's guide to the Precision 18"  A good read and must read for any Precision 18, 21, or 23.  He grew up sailing a Morgan 30 with his father and when one came up he snatched it up.  boat is over 30 years old but in pristine condition.  He is an x navigator on an Air Force re-fueling airplane.  Anytime I have a question about sailing I send it off to him.  He also posts very frequently on You Tube and has over a hundred videos - all on the Morgan on Charlotte Harbor.  google Tom Scott sailing videos - they are worth the time.
I see you traveled from up North.  Where will the boat call home from now on?  I spend summers up on Pistakee Lake, (Northern Illinois) and winters in Nokomis, Florida (North of Punta Gorda)  I have an Eclipse, like Bryan.  Welcome to the ComPac family.  You will love the boat.  I have sailed on a Suncat (CatNip) on Charlotte Harbor when Butch Erny owned her.  Sailed for 2 winters.

[Vectordirector]

Neil,

I know what you mean about the tiller and outboard.  My previous boats were a Sunfish and a Hobiecat, no motor on either and inland lake sailing.  I always thought that sailing into the dock made one a better boat handler and allowed one to really learn how to sail in close quarters, have a plan, etc.  I miss that with this boat.  I love having the roller furler and the engine though, they make it so much easier when the wind doesn't cooperate.  

I have hundreds of hours driving 20' Ski Nautique/Mastercraft type ski boats and could make one dance back in the day.  I hadn't really driven a boat much in 20 years, have never handled a tiller steered outboard, and I was a bit rusty in my boat handling.  A couple of minutes with the outboard on the water and it came back pretty quickly.  Just get a feel for where the boat pivots and practice, practice, practice.  I wasn't sure how to utilize the tiller and engine either.  Do I steer with tiller only, engine only, or both at the same time?  After trying it out and playing with it, I find that I steer with the tiller most of the time and leave the engine centerlined.  I only spin the engine and the rudder together when I need to make a quick 180 degree turn to get to my dock in the canal.  At idle she'll spin around on her centerboard pretty tight.  She won't turn as tight with the board up but still pretty good if you rotate the engine and the rudder simultaneously.  Anything less than a quick 180 I just use the rudder.  Try not to back up, it doesn't work very well with sailboats.  The props are too small to get a good bite and the motor wants to kick up when reversing with more than idle power.  I have to back out of my slip but it is usually calm in the canal and if I go slow, it isn't too bad.  Just remember, when reversing, the boat pivots around the rudder and the bow swings the other way unless it is tied up.   The way that bowsprit is made, I doubt you could hurt it more than knocking some paint off of it.  You might hurt the dock though!  

Yes, the picture posting is a pain.  Seems that photobucket is the site of choice.  I can sometimes get it to work and post inside the message, sometimes not.  I'm sure I have a space or . or [ ]s in the wrong place.  I've pretty much given up on it.


Might look up some SunCat sailors in your area, there might be someone who can help you "learn the ropes", and that boat has lots of ropes.  If not, the Suncat area of the forum is the place to be if you have questions.  

Good to meet you, welcome to the Compac club.  They are great boats.  



Vectordirector

[Craig]

Neil you got a great boat! Don is an extremely creative and meticulous craftsman and a great guy to boot! On my Suncat, Cattitude, I had the PowerTiller remote shift/throttle controls which mounted on the tiller. I also had their steering system which linked the motor to the tiller. Having the motor controls at your fingertips and the motor linked to the tiller was nothing short of fantastic. As you may have discovered,backing is tricky since the rudder is hypersensitive and seems to have a mind of its own! When linked to the motor all that goes away as the motor becomes a friction damper and the rudder no longer wants to flop around. Not only that, being able to move the stern instantly in the direction you want takes the anxiety out of close quarter maneuvering. Power steering and motor control on the tiller has to be experienced to appreciate. If you watch the demo videos on their site ( powertiller.com ) I can confirm that it really is that easy! Vec, would work on on your boat equally well. Not cheap but well engineered and easy to install. The steering rig uses lines and blocks to tie the motor and tiller together. On the Suncat you don't have to drill any holes. I attached the turning blocks to the boom gallows with stainless hose clamps. Like Don, I like to be able to return to stock config. I also HATE drilling any more holes than I absolutely have to! As a plus, the steering lines can be disconnected from the tiller literally in seconds and do not interfere with raising the motor. I guess I sound like a salesman but I really loved the system(s) on my Suncat.

[nreamer]

Craig, PowerTiller sounds fantastic!  I have looked at the videos.  Website is weak, but your recommendation makes it worth a call!

Bryan,  I did not mention it in my first post, but I brought her into the dock under sail....  I live at what was once my parents lake house and have been literally doing this since I was 4 years old, only with power boats.  I would bring it in until abeam the dock at idle power then turn and coast to a perfect stop (well, that is the goal) 6 inches off the dock at a full stop. 

The wind blows from the West which is straight down my cove, so I knew I could do the same with Frisky.  I came in on a run and did the same old same old.  Sails luffed as I headed up.  I overshot by a half boat length and was a couple of feet from the dock.  I had to be conservative on the first time.....  Had the motor running in case I had to do a go around, but not necessary.  A shot of reverse brought us right to the dock. 

I think this will be SOP, I kind of liked it.  Definitely motoring outbound, though!  I like my neighbors, but chatting with them 4 or 5 times as I beat out of the cove is more than I can bear!

Thanks again to all for the kind welcome!

Neil

[capt_nemo]

I am quite pleased that  Frisky's new owner is happy with his purchase and am sure he will take very good care of her.

Although I no longer own a Com Pac, I plan to stick around on this Forum to contribute whatever personal knowledge and experience may be pertinent.

Look forward to seeing some of you on local waters.

Fair winds and following seas to all,

capt_nemo

[Tom L.]

Hey Niel. I am sure you are going to love the Sun Cat. It is a special boat. Com pac has done something really special with the hinged mast and the system that leaves the main and booms on the mast stub while lowering the mast at the hinge. We sail out of central Florida "The Villages" so we are now trailer sailors. It is super easy and fast to go from the ramp to water. We will be trailing our Sun Cat over most of Florida from the East to West Coast and all the lakes in between. We can get to many different cruising grounds in just an hour. It's a great pocket cruiser.

We have done some trailing this past winter but are temporarily suspended due to health reasons but by next winter (our sailing season) we should be back in business. Summers can be too hot, as you experienced, and minimal wind.

Enjoy the boat it is a classic/classy boat.

Tom L.  Sun Cat  "Gatito"