Don't Do as I do ...

[roger]

Don\'t Do as I do ...

Do as I say.
I've been caught again. The boat is in Sweden and inaccessible till May. I need to get a new backstay made (probably my nervous twitch but the adjuster has galled). It hought I had all the details but am I reall sure about the pin and fork dimensions, hole size etc.?
I've made reasonable guesses but I won't know if I've got it right till I get the kit to the boat - which is not ideal!
I'm amazed how often I seem to need some bit of technical data about the boat when I'm not near it and can't measure it.
I think the only thing is to note down a lot more technical stuff in the back of the log.
What do you do?

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[JamesS]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

I have the same problem, being a long way from the berth I always need to bring something down or take something home or measure something. Plenty of opportunity to forget something.

What I do is to carry around an A5 spiral spined note-book and keep in my sailing bag. If I'm on the boat write down what I need next time,if I'm making something do a drawing. If I'm at home and need to take something down or need a measurement, write it down for next time.

All very elementary - but it does work! (until I lose the book that is)

Cheers

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[TFJ]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

Roger
Where is your boat in Sweden as I am launching mine next week at Henan, if its near to you let me know and I will try and help
Terry

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[Dirk]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

I know what you mean.

Row out to boat.

Forgotten keys! Row back for keys.

Row back to boat.

Survey job to be done. Tools for the job? Row back for tools.

Row out to boat.

Start job. After 5 mins shear off important screw! Row back for cordless and bits
to drill out remainder of screw.

Row back to boat.

Curse your self for not checking cordless batteries. Row back to get spare battery.

Row back to boat.

Remove remainder of offending screw. (having snapped a couple of drill bits and enlarged screw hole enough to lose your foot in)
Affect repair with sawdust from bilges and that mangled 10 year old tube of 5min epoxy. (the tube you inherited with the boat and never got around to throwing away)

Search boat for a suitable replcement screw. What a surprise, all the screws you could wish for except for the right one for the job!

Row back ashore. Painfully remove oars from your epoxy coated hands.
Grumble loudly in swindelry while paying ridiculous price for a pack of ten screws (you only need one of the damn things!)

Oars now glued fast to the pontoon. Prise oars from pontoon leaving most of the handles still glued down.

Row back to boat.

Remove splinters from hands.

Open new packet of screws liberally showering the bilges with said screws.
Spend 20mins with splintered, bistered hands in oily bilges looking for screws.
With new screw back in place stand back and admire job. (6hours taken to f**k around and get back to square 1!)

Cuppa tea, lock up boat and row back ashore.

Driving home, about 5mins away you remember you left the seacocks open!

And so on and so forth.

The irony is, after all that practise I still can't row for sh*t!

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[LORDNELSON]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

I find taking several snaps of the project with a digital camera (or any camera, but with a digital you can check on site what you have taken and develop them as soon as you get home). Place a few objects of known size close to the project before you take the photos, then you can make a good estimate of the thing you forgot to measure.

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[roger]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

"...until I lose the book" - thats my worry hence the use of the log book - they realy are precious.
Its also a matter of age - 20 years ago I'm sure I remembered better.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[Evadne]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

Are you sure? Your memory isn't as good so you might only think you remembered things better.....

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[JamesS]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

You're right, 20 years ago I remembered better - I think.

Cheers

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[chrisc]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

If it's any where near gothenburg /west coast I can measure it for you.

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[chrisc]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

If it's any where near gothenburg /west coast I can measure it for you.

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[roger]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

Many thanks for your replies; particularly from the two gentlemen who offered practical help. It is very much appreciated.
My boat "Badger is in the east of Sweden at Nykoping - 15 mins away from what Ryanair is pleased to call Stockholm airport. Its far to far for anyone to go to especially from the West coast and I suspect it would be pretty difficult to find my mast in the rack - just hope I can do it!
Ironically we decided to travel out by car as a sort of holiday. Immediately I decided to fill the car up with lots more kit - hence the new backstay. I do have problems with this sort of long cruising. Theres a strict limit on how many books and CDs one can take so a visit by car to exchange this sort of thing is very valuable
Many thanks again for all the help offered
This part of Sweden is sperb sailing country with intricate pilotage in exceptionally beautiful country with sheltered water.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[LORDNELSON]

Re: Don\'t Do as I do ...

I was going to comment on the above but I have fotrgotten what I was going to write

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