A few for oGaryo and Brendans

[epervier]

Who buggered off early and missed all the best weather

storm clouds building just in time to wave off the 3 ships leaving for sunnier climes.

Local BBC weather said showers could be on the "BEEFY SIDE" up 25mm of rain, they weren't kiddin' it just tipped out of the sky.

 

[BrendanS]

Yeah, I thought we timed that rather well!!! Driving back wasn't terribly nice - positively monsoon like in places!

 

[oGaryo]

sorry guys, all our fault.. got the bbq out back at the campsite and before the burgers were ready, the sky opened up... should have known better to fire up a bbq in August

good to meet you both and special thanks to Brendan for taking time out to travel down and accompany me out to Bembridge from Calshot, steering me clear of the hazards. very much appreciated and some invaluable lessons learned

sitting in front of a roasting hot bonfire at the mo, glass of wine in hand and looking forward to a repeat trip tomorrow

 

[BrendanS]

It was a pleasure, always nice to get out on the water and pass on a little of what others have taught me. We were very lucky with our timing!

Next time, we'll do it when there's a nice F8 Easterly, and I can show you what your boat can really do!

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

sorry guys, all our fault.. got the bbq out back at the campsite and before the burgers were ready, the sky opened up... should have known better to fire up a bbq in August

good to meet you both and special thanks to Brendan for taking time out to travel down and accompany me out to Bembridge from Calshot, steering me clear of the hazards. very much appreciated and some invaluable lessons learned

sitting in front of a roasting hot bonfire at the mo, glass of wine in hand and looking forward to a repeat trip tomorrow

hi G..im at home and you aint missing anything in the weather department up here..at least youve got a better view....enjoy....dont know when im down next but will try n let you know (when i know)..

 

[oGaryo]

F8 I'll look forward to that one Twas a tad fortuitous that we didn't stop long in Bembridge for a bite to eat. Quality day out and definitely one I'd be keen to repeat but maybe in a force 7.5 tops eh, will leave a full on 8 for next year

 

[oGaryo]

hi G..im at home and you aint missing anything in the weather department up here..at least youve got a better view....enjoy....dont know when im down next but will try n let you know (when i know)..

I had a sneak peek at the weather back home earlier this evening and it looked positively caribbean compared to down here mate I'm hoping this project I'm running'll turn off the pressure switch toward the end of August so will grab some serious boating time then and give you a call to see if you're able to make it out

 

[BrendanS]

You're doing fine. If you stick to the main routes for now, you can start taking the short cuts as you build experience, and going out in rougher weather you do bit by bit, until someone takes you out in rougher stuff than you are used to, and your development leaps a level or two. Your planned training will help, and you should look to do some night time trips as well, going to Cowes fireworks is great, but we can tell you about that sort of thing when you are ready for it. We all started as novices, and in many areas most of us are still learning - doing the trip without gps today helped me focus on where we were going, which was great, even though we could have put in a waypoint or two, or a route, at any time just by stopping and doing it, which you can always do from the map on the gps. Put some waypoints and routes in though, they really help take the pressure off if you need to go somewhere you hadn't planned and vis or conditions aren't good.

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

You're doing fine. If you stick to the main routes for now, you can start taking the short cuts as you build experience, and going out in rougher weather you do bit by bit, until someone takes you out in rougher stuff than you are used to, and your development leaps a level or two. Your planned training will help, and you should look to do some night time trips as well, going to Cowes fireworks is great, but we can tell you about that sort of thing when you are ready for it. We all started as novices, and in many areas most of us are still learning - doing the trip without gps today helped me focus on where we were going, which was great, even though we could have put in a waypoint or two, or a route, at any time just by stopping and doing it, which you can always do from the map on the gps. Put some waypoints and routes in though, they really help take the pressure off if you need to go somewhere you hadn't planned and vis or conditions aren't good.

....and so say all of us !!...........i love going out in the dusk n returning in the dark..its a totaly different experiance....next time i can make it, you n mrs g can come for the ride..

 

[BrendanS]

you're on. Gary is going to be a quick learner, even though he says so himself!

 

[Giblets]

It was a pleasure, always nice to get out on the water and pass on a little of what others have taught me. We were very lucky with our timing!

Next time, we'll do it when there's a nice F8 Easterly, and I can show you what your boat can really do!

oGaryo, if he starts to talk about astroturf instead of carpet get 'im off the boat ASAP!

 

[BrendanS]

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten all about the astroturf idea!

 

[Giblets]

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten all about the astroturf idea!

For those of you who may be wondering, Brendan used to have a penchant for getting more water inside his boat than outside and came up with the brilliant idea that astroturf would dry out quicker than carpet. Somewhere I have some video footage to bear this out and, one day .........................

 

[BrendanS]

oh dear!

 

[oGaryo]

A little 'bouncy' out there this afternoon so decidied to nip in to Cowes for a river BBQ instead of battling against the lumpy stuff to find a beach.. she struggled to get on the plane for more than a hundred yards as we were pretty well loaded to the hilt passenger and kit wise (4 adults and 2 nippers, dingy, food and a mountain of other essential 'lady' stuff).. thought it best to sit it out by the Folly until it had calmed but that never happened so hacked it back to Calshot to be met by David who gave Debs a help in hand to back the trailer in to the water.. thanks another one of those b**dy roller pairs went verticle making recovery a pig.. must devise a way to stop that happening

 

[AndieMac]

one of those b**dy roller pairs went verticle making recovery a pig.. must devise a way to stop that happening

They may need 'balancing' so the top part is heavier and falls back in place, by unbolting the centre bracket (may be corroded) and sliding up.

Short term fix is to connect the lower part of the offending roller bracket to a octopus or stretchy strap to one on the opposite side of the trailer. Take it off once the boat is loaded as it will lose its stretchiness over time.

 

[oGaryo]

They may need 'balancing' so the top part is heavier and falls back in place, by unbolting the centre bracket (may be corroded) and sliding up.

Short term fix is to connect the lower part of the offending roller bracket to a octopus or stretchy strap to one on the opposite side of the trailer. Take it off once the boat is loaded as it will lose its stretchiness over time.

Thanks Andie, same advice given by Epervier (David).... will get the bungies sorted this coming weekend. balancing the rollers wont be enough on this particular slipway

 

[AndieMac]

Have you heard how David is going with the launch/retrieve process on his big trailer this season?

 

[epervier]

Have you heard how David is going with the launch/retrieve process on his big trailer this season?

It's been fun, launching is far more stressful than recovery, I ease the trailer over the edge of the the slip way ramp with both feet firmly pushing on the brake pedal, so when the full weight of the rig, (5.5 tonne of boat and full tanks + .5 tonne of trailer) take hold, I don't look like a lifeboat launch, which is what would happen if I let off the brakes for a nano second

recovery is a breeze by comparison, bury the trailer in the water, float the boat over the top, clip on to the winch post, skip stands on the pontoon with the stern line, when its in line she gives me the nod, I drive out in low box 4x4 diffs locked it's really very easy, she took the photos, BTW there are three ramps, this one in the pics, Tidal, Gary's prefered 24mtr wide built for Sunderland flying boats before WWII. (All tide states, last pic) a third that the calshot cats club mainly use.

Gary, by contrast, prefers the challenge of wind blowing him sideways, with plenty of cruise ship wash, container ship wash, ferry wash, jetski wash, no pontoon to walk along side, no shelter at all really, I am a tad concerned that he seems to like the difficulty factor to be closer to ten than zero but I feel sure he'll soon get pissed off with the hard way eventually

 

[oGaryo]

Gary, by contrast, prefers the challenge of wind blowing him sideways, with plenty of cruise ship wash, container ship wash, ferry wash, jetski wash, no pontoon to walk along side, no shelter at all really, I am a tad concerned that he seems to like the difficulty factor to be closer to ten than zero but I feel sure he'll soon get pissed off with the hard way eventually

it's getting easier with each attempt mate.

attempt 1: complete falure - bow and stern lines needed to help guide the boat.
attempt 2: on the trailer without lines on the 4th attempt
attempt 3: on the railer 1st time but vertical roller a bitch.
attempt 4: we'll see what happens

once mastered, it'll go in the back pocket for low tide recovery and I'll use the same slip as you most of the time wtaer depth permitting.. I can then say I'm not constrained by tide in terms of the timing of coming home as I know I'll be able to recover the boat competently in most conditions and those that I can't, I probably not be out in my boat anyway.

method in the madness or just plain ol' madness?