Thedreamoneday
Well-Known Member
I bought one of the existing ones, I think they come up quite regular.
Just bought my 1st sailing boat
- Thread starter Thedreamoneday
- Start date
I bought one of the existing ones, I think they come up quite regular.
chrisbitz
Well-Known Member
What a horrible start to your new boat!
I really hope the sailing more than makes up for the trauma of the delivery, and to be honest, I'm sure it will.
Stay overnight and have a great bonding session with her!
I really hope the sailing more than makes up for the trauma of the delivery, and to be honest, I'm sure it will.
Stay overnight and have a great bonding session with her!
William_H
Well-Known Member
So sorry to hear about the traumas on the trailer. You can never trust a wheel bearing on a boat trailer especially on a long drive at speed.
Anyway now the boat is where it belongs in the water all the traumas will soon be forgotten. (I hope).
Down to real sailing. Just take it easy and enjoy. Do not take any loved one out on the boat until you have some experience and then only in controlled conditions. You can risk unimportant friends. But if it is important to you that they like sailing do it very carefully. Once shy it is hard to get them to accept that it was just your inexperience that terrified them. good luck olewill
Anyway now the boat is where it belongs in the water all the traumas will soon be forgotten. (I hope).
Down to real sailing. Just take it easy and enjoy. Do not take any loved one out on the boat until you have some experience and then only in controlled conditions. You can risk unimportant friends. But if it is important to you that they like sailing do it very carefully. Once shy it is hard to get them to accept that it was just your inexperience that terrified them. good luck olewill
Seajet
...
Very good advice, as always from Olewill !
Family and crumpet one meets in the pub love the idea of ' would you like to come sailing ? ' but their eyes glaze over very quickly when one starts handing out sunblock factor 99, waterproofs, safety harnesses...
fergie_mac66
Well-Known Member
winsbury
Well-Known Member
Oooh that sounds awful. Our own boat was on a trailer when we picked her up and a planned 400 mile trip from the Lakes to the south coast to do - unbeknown to us ( or the vendor ) the brakes were seized, two tyres were so old they could have burst during the trip, rusty dry bearings and a seized jockey wheel - I got the distinct impression from the broker that was par for the course as trailers tend to sit around literally for years in between new owners so take a serious weathering even if not used for launch / recovery. Luckily I am the cautious type and had negotiated for an engineer to come down to service and certify it as part of the purchase price, it turned out considerably more expensive than the seller had realised to put it straight so we were lucky.
From my experience and yours clearly the best bit of advice for any purchaser of a boat trailer is to do the same that way if the trailer does cause a serious problem there is at least some recourse to the servicing engineer.
From my experience and yours clearly the best bit of advice for any purchaser of a boat trailer is to do the same that way if the trailer does cause a serious problem there is at least some recourse to the servicing engineer.
garvellachs
Well-Known Member
Two tips: first, tides dictate sailing in the Mersey, Dee and N Wales coast. Slack tide makes things easier generally (high and low) close to shore, like picking up moorings, leaving marinas etc. A rising tide is easier when entering an estuary new to you - if you go aground the tide will lift you off soon after. And if you go down the Mersey with the tide it'll be hard to turn round unless you have a powerful reliable engine or a good reaching breeze. Also, neap tides (like next w/e) are so much easier to cope with than springs, it makes a big difference (the range can be nearly half).
Secondly, a water-proof hand-held GPS like the Garmin 72 is so helpful in a new area. It's easy to get lost out at sea even in sight of familiar landmarks. Of course you can take and plot bearings and so on (as taught) but a small boat in a chop is a hard place to do that stuff. A gps can be programmed at leisure with your planned waypoints joined into a route. You can use it to show where the next mark is, or like a roadway. It floats, doesn't mind spray, sips power and uses re-chargables. If it packs up you can use the hand-bearing compass.
Secondly, a water-proof hand-held GPS like the Garmin 72 is so helpful in a new area. It's easy to get lost out at sea even in sight of familiar landmarks. Of course you can take and plot bearings and so on (as taught) but a small boat in a chop is a hard place to do that stuff. A gps can be programmed at leisure with your planned waypoints joined into a route. You can use it to show where the next mark is, or like a roadway. It floats, doesn't mind spray, sips power and uses re-chargables. If it packs up you can use the hand-bearing compass.
Thedreamoneday
Well-Known Member
Yeah it does look a bit ferocious when the tide is coming in and out so I know I have to take huge care around there- there seems to be some helpful hands around and along the same berths as me who I'll be tapping into.
With regards to the gps I sold a couple of bits and bobs around the garage (previous toy was a car) an bought myself a toughbook from Londonchartplotters, I've only had a little play in the house so far but it looks a great little bit of kit and literally bombproof.
Think ill pop the marina later to check the seacocks are all ok- get rid of the initial paranoia.
Thanks
onesea
Well-Known Member
I would not rush past the initial paranoia, it will turn into secondary paranoia then finally worry.
Shes safely tucked in a marina, well moored and you checked for obviously leaks when she was launched, then maybe after a day, then after heavy rain, the first gale, then snow, then frost.
The you will go through it all again once she is on the mooring. My best advice, is predict what you can make reasonable checks. Once you step off her you have to trust her to look after herself and learn to enjoy her....
Searush
Well-Known Member
Some pretty good advice so far, I'll try to add a little more.
Remember that trailer experience? Now consider what condition is the engine likely to be in?
With the tides in the Mersey you NEED that engine to be reliable & capable of coping with a few hours of hard running. If it is the original Volvo MD2 or similar then it is around 50 years old & not likely to be that reliable. You need to give it a test over high water with a trip in a reasonable breeze (F3-4) and someone with you who can sail you back into the marina if it fails. Alternatively, have a decent back-up engine - a 6-10hp longshaft mounted on the stern or 5-7hp on an inflatable that can be tied alongside to get you home.
Run the engine in the marina & test it in gear while tied against the pontoon for an hour or so, check the water outflow is strong & not too hot (the old Volvos have a reputation for clogged waterways & overheating). Practice putting sails up & down in the marina too so you get used to the ropes. Practice putting in a reef too.
ALWAYS think what can go wrong & how will I deal with the problem, then you are less likely to become an RNLI statistic.
Remember that trailer experience? Now consider what condition is the engine likely to be in?
With the tides in the Mersey you NEED that engine to be reliable & capable of coping with a few hours of hard running. If it is the original Volvo MD2 or similar then it is around 50 years old & not likely to be that reliable. You need to give it a test over high water with a trip in a reasonable breeze (F3-4) and someone with you who can sail you back into the marina if it fails. Alternatively, have a decent back-up engine - a 6-10hp longshaft mounted on the stern or 5-7hp on an inflatable that can be tied alongside to get you home.
Run the engine in the marina & test it in gear while tied against the pontoon for an hour or so, check the water outflow is strong & not too hot (the old Volvos have a reputation for clogged waterways & overheating). Practice putting sails up & down in the marina too so you get used to the ropes. Practice putting in a reef too.
ALWAYS think what can go wrong & how will I deal with the problem, then you are less likely to become an RNLI statistic.
Thedreamoneday
Well-Known Member
The engine is a Ducati IS7 which is air cooled (anyone got experience in this engine?)in fairness it has started on the button each time I've tried but whilst in the comfort and safety of the marina I will definitely put it through its paces and I like the tip of practicing putting sails and down too.
I think a spare back up outboard may be in order as a 'just incase'.
Loads of great things for me to get my teeth into- please all keep them coming.
My new toy pride & joy (and current source of paranoia)
Last edited:
phanakapan
Well-Known Member
Ooh she looks lovely- a very tidy example! It was only about 10 years ago we were in your position; we did day skipper theory and practical before we bought our first boat. We are now more than half way round the world on a circumnavigation attempt- but I'm looking forward to getting back to the UK for some 'proper' sailing! I envy you!
Thedreamoneday
Well-Known Member
Thedreamoneday
Well-Known Member
Maiden Voyage.
Was today, out of the lock at the marina 2 hours before HT so it was racing quite a bit, mad to think the engine was at 'full throttle' and we were standing still!!
What a fantastic couple of hours though, she sailed perfectly especially considering she's from 1967- I have to say getting back in the marina whilst the tide is going back out made my backside wink slightly,as if we'd missed the lock I'd be not far from the I.O.M.
Brilliant though and can't wait to get out again.
Was today, out of the lock at the marina 2 hours before HT so it was racing quite a bit, mad to think the engine was at 'full throttle' and we were standing still!!
What a fantastic couple of hours though, she sailed perfectly especially considering she's from 1967- I have to say getting back in the marina whilst the tide is going back out made my backside wink slightly,as if we'd missed the lock I'd be not far from the I.O.M.
Brilliant though and can't wait to get out again.
Seajet
...
Great stuff, glad it all went well with no drama; the hallmark of a good skipper !
You can also congratulate yourself you're operational a bit earlier than a lot of us here.
Have Fun
You can also congratulate yourself you're operational a bit earlier than a lot of us here.
Have Fun
Searush
Well-Known Member
Maiden Voyage.
Was today, out of the lock at the marina 2 hours before HT so it was racing quite a bit, mad to think the engine was at 'full throttle' and we were standing still!!
What a fantastic couple of hours though, she sailed perfectly especially considering she's from 1967- I have to say getting back in the marina whilst the tide is going back out made my backside wink slightly,as if we'd missed the lock I'd be not far from the I.O.M.
Brilliant though and can't wait to get out again.
IS7 is presumably a 7hp, that is fine for normal situations, but probably only gives you a top speed of around 4kts at a guess. Mersey tides run at over 6kts in the narrow bits & strong NW'ly winds over the ebb can cause short steep seas that keep the ferries tied up. Pick your weather & tides & time the trip around HW or LW (if the lock gates open at LW) and you will not have too much trouble. It is quite common to see yachts sailing backwards when they get the tides wrong.
cliff
Well-Known Member
Choice, coming from a "new user" with only 9 posts since joining in Aug 2012 - don't see you as having given much advice, good or bad!
Thedreamoneday
Well-Known Member
Great stuff, glad it all went well with no drama; the hallmark of a good skipper !
You can also congratulate yourself you're operational a bit earlier than a lot of us here.
Have Fun
Cheers
The lock opens circa 2 hrs before and closes circa 2 hours after, today I made sure as it was a particularly high tide (over 10m) were at the lock no later than 30 mins after HT- the little IS7 could handle that, but as you say, get it wrong an I'd be shooting out the mouth of the mersey even at full throttle -which wouldn't be pleasant!!
All about taking it nice & slow, I'm in no rush to be going the I.O.M yet
Searush
Well-Known Member
No need to have a pop at someone who hasn't posted often is there? You are not really encouraging them are you? I think that what he says shows that he has been observing closely & paying attention. But perhaps your post was intended to be taken with a pinch of salt.
aquaplane
Well-Known Member
I can see how air cooling works on a motor bike, out there in the breeze, how does it work in a boat? Is there a cooling fan to induce a draft?
A grand little ship you have there, looks the biz.
A grand little ship you have there, looks the biz.