delays are normal... right?

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EddBee

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So I had been aiming for the spring tide of next week to finally launch and make passage to a snazzy marina, where pontoons are paved with (other people's ) gold and tap water flows like... water. I've been about 60% honest with myself about being any more than 60% ready for the journey, in terms of fitness of boat, planning, my comfort level... so it looks like I'm putting it off. It's frustrating but I suppose better than the alternative! I do find that taking a hit like this forces you to be a bit more cutthroat in deciding what is and isn't essential and where to put resources.

Next month then.

Any one else running into delays to their launch plans? or maybe more accurately.... anyone not?
 
Sometimes I've said "Stuff it, that'll do!", and other times, something critical has made me delay.... applies to departing on a trip as well as launching, and lots of other things in life.

"A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow", is also something that runs through my head when deciding whether something gets the go ahead.
 
Never launch with part done jobs. Always leads to tears in the long run.
Plus, if there are lots to do I do not leave until last minute. Just cannot rest until they are done. As soon as the boat comes out I get my head down & start on them. I hate leaving jobs- in any part of my life.
 
I could really use some actual spring weather for finishing on-deck work. It's not that much fun doing it in 8°C rain and 35-40 knot gusts trying to either roll your tools over the side or blow anything too light into the water.

At least I had two calm days to climb up the mast, rivet on the remaining two folding mast steps, then put in a spinnaker halyard. Still need to go up once more to fix a contact problem with the anchor light wiring - looked at it but was about 15m above the tools I needed for the job :-P

Also minor setbacks, like opening the water tank filler cap this morning only to find the retaining chain had broken and the thing hopped into the water and discovered it's passion for apnea diving... then installing a greased wooden bung to keep the birdshit out of the water tank meanwhile. And I won't even tell you what happened when I removed my presumed empty holding tank. Ah the glorious yachting life.
 
I think first about jobs that absolutely must be done on the hard, then those which would make me worry at sea - principally the engine, and once the mast. All other jobs I prefer to do afloat or just tidy away the debris and sail anyway if the weather is nice and fit in a working day later. So many sails are done with a lot of work still outstanding, then a few hours spent doing that at some nice anchorage in between enjoying the scenery. Alas this seems to go on all season as another thing breaks or another idea for a project pops us.

So for me it's get sailing unless the boat is sinking.
 
My launch data is fixed (it's a mass club-lift in weekend) on the 1st April so it has to be done or I wait until October when the cranes will next be on site.

Fortunately it's all come together last weekend after many many days in, under and around the boat. On reflection I took on too many jobs for one winter. Only minor stuff to compete this weekend (famous last words!).

Best of luck
 
RupertW said:
I think first about jobs that absolutely must be done on the hard, then those which would make me worry at sea - principally the engine, and once the mast. All other jobs I prefer to do afloat or just tidy away the debris and sail anyway if the weather is nice and fit in a working day later. So many sails are done with a lot of work still outstanding, then a few hours spent doing that at some nice anchorage in between enjoying the scenery. Alas this seems to go on all season as another thing breaks or another idea for a project pops us.

So for me it's get sailing unless the boat is sinking.
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+1
 
Well, First Mate and I are still in Wellington NZ. We fly back 4th April.

Plan is for the yard to lift and cradle the boat and do the antifoul, and to fit an inlet seacock and an exhaust outlet for the Westerbeke genset I have renovated and then to assist in getting it into position with their lifting gear, leaving me and my mate Ivor to finish the installation.

Apart from servicing the engine and running a new furling line for the in-mast furler I am hoping she will just want recommisioning as normal-we leave her afloat most winters after draining the water tanks and treating and filling the diesel tank.

The sails went to the loft for a check and service, paid for so they just need collecting and refitting.

Our biggest problem is that May is the month where the car and boat insurance are due for renewal, MOT on the car, home insurance due plus the yard word and visits to the chandlers-its going to be expensive....................
 
alahol2 said:
I usually have a list of jobs that will be done on the water after launch. They usually form the 'wish list' on next winters list of jobs. That wish list is getting rather long.
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When I left the UK in June 2006, I had an A4 page full of jobs. When I got back in August 2010, I had 2 x A4 pages full of jobs.......
 
Tam Lin said:
Delays are normal. Targets, especially self imposed ones, are the spawn of the devil and set you up for failure, leading to mental health issues. Launch when you are ready. Relax and be happy!
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That is Ok if you do not have a yacht club that has a dead line due to crane dates or some other rule such as our club where you pay a surcharge for blocking the dinghy area after 1st May ( following a number of cruisers who did precisely that for several months & ignored requests to move).
But otherwise you are right about self imposed targets - especially when actually sailing somewhere- let alone doing jobs
 
Anything needing doing out of the water gets done. Eg antifouling and preparation, seacock maintenance, anode replacement, propellor cleaning.

The engine gets a run before launch.

Most other stuff can be done after launching if need be.
 
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