Today's Solent disasters.

my boat is 32 ft and I don't have lazy jacks and it's fine even when solo. So long as the main drops easily it falls over the boom and I do a temp sail tie up. Once in port I flake it properly.

Thanks. I have a lovely new mainsail which sets like a dream and gives me an extra knot, but is still so stiff that flaking it down is an entertaining fight. Still better than the lazyjacks, though!
 
our lazyjacks have a set of pulleys etc - i think you are supposed to lower the lazyjacks, raise the sail etc. never done it yet...
 
Leaving the vent closed when using a big outboard with external tank is a favourite one for me. You can get quite a way before the vacuum is enough to stop the engine which will then refuse to start.

I haven't learned to stop doing it, but it's happened often enough now that I usually remember to check the vent before getting to the point of dismantling something...

Hanging a fender over the heater exhaust is another good one.

Pete
 
well thank you for your wise words. We had absolutely no idea about any of that, and your post was not at all patronising. Could your next post be on the correct procedure for breathing, as I choked a while back and kind of forgot what to do next

EDIT sorry for that tone, I had a couple of real ales last night and your post just rubbed me up the wrong way.
That's ok. I can understand why sarcasm is used as a form of defence.
Just because novice crew get things right the first time after being shown doesn't mean that they can be left to get on with it the next time.
Things that we take as routine at the end of the season should be thought through at the season start, maybe even resorting to a check list :)
 
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That's ok. I can understand why sarcasm is used as a form of defence.
Just because novice crew get things right the first time after being shown doesn't mean that they can be left to get on with it the next time.
Things that we take as routine at the end of the season should be thought through at the season start, maybe even resorting to a check list :)

you are absolutely right chap.
 
I have a stick-on A4 ' blackboard ' from Amazon on the bulkhead which I can write reminders on with the white write on / wipe off pen supplied, things like ' keel up ', ' anchor drogue ( deployed ).

This works well and keeps crew aware as well as jogging my failing memory, if my boat had any seacocks I'd certainly put that on.
 
I have a stick-on A4 ' blackboard ' from Amazon on the bulkhead which I can write reminders on with the white write on / wipe off pen supplied, things like ' keel up ', ' anchor drogue ( deployed ).

This works well and keeps crew aware as well as jogging my failing memory, if my boat had any seacocks I'd certainly put that on.

yes our bulkheads are filling up too... Karen has VHF crib sheets on there too, as well as other cards, she is learning fast though - a bit worrying to realise I will be dispensable soon.
It's a big ocean out there, and an angry ickle wife...
 
That's ok. I can understand why sarcasm is used as a form of defence.
Just because novice crew get things right the first time after being shown doesn't mean that they can be left to get on with it the next time.
Things that we take as routine at the end of the season should be thought through at the season start, maybe even resorting to a check list :)

Too true. A couple of seasons ago, I brought Jissel alongside the club pontoon for the first time of the year. It was going beautifully until, 6" from the pontoon and about to step ashore with a line, I realised that I hadn't put the fenders out. Naturally, the pontoon was crowded with onlookers.
 
My old boat was a trailer sailer. Decided that I needed a shake down sail so set off with a mate to Windermere towing the boat. It was interesting:

1) Took the wrong turning to the marina down a narrow dead end road in a built up area. Toyota Landcruiser plus 35 foot of boat and trailer with cars backed up behind us. Took an hour and two near punch up’s with angry motorists to sort out the mess and get out.
2) Launched the boat at the marina slipway and outboard engine cut out despite being tested and serviced.
3) Restarted engine whilst being blown into very expensive moored boats and decided to pop out onto the lake to give us a bit of time to fix leaking fuel connector prior to driving through the marina to mooring. Immediately out of the marina entrance there were lots of boats on mooring buoys. Spotted a gap and slowly motored through between some red empty bouys. Almighty bang as the fibreglass lifting keel hit something solid. Turns out red bouys on Windermere are used to surround rocks instead of cardinal marks. I had not intended to be out until the morning and had not checked chart/local instructions.
4) Fixed fuel problem and moored up. Stepped on the rubbing strake ridge on the side of the boat to step ashore and it parted. I fell into the water up to the waist just grabbing the pontoon to prevent total immersion.

Not my finest hour.
 
yes our bulkheads are filling up too... Karen has VHF crib sheets on there too, as well as other cards, she is learning fast though - a bit worrying to realise I will be dispensable soon.
It's a big ocean out there, and an angry ickle wife...

Joint account ?

She knows your PIN number ?

Life insurance ?

Beware the Ides of March !
 
Ha, genius, makes me feel a tad better. I am really kicking myself for not turning the raw water cock on. The rest was just getting used to this boat. It has really old winches with the slot in handle, cant remember what they are called, but they will be getting replaced, too slow and unwieldy. I have a box full of winches Karen will find much easier so that is a must
After this happened to me I'm afraid I just leave the seacock open... I know it's not the 'done thing' but the seacock is workr=ed occasionally and as I fitted it with new hose and clips I'm happy with it.
 
After this happened to me I'm afraid I just leave the seacock open... I know it's not the 'done thing' but the seacock is workr=ed occasionally and as I fitted it with new hose and clips I'm happy with it.

That is solved for me since the saildrive seacock access requires a degree of athleticism that I can only muster once or twice a year. Also entertaining is leaving the mooring with the mains cable still attached. We nearly achieved this in Den Helder but were saved by the goddess Fortuna.
 
It got very interesting when my cockpit bow thruster control button stuck in the operate position motoring through a line on moored boats each side of the channel.

I could not get to the master control fast enough.
 
After this happened to me I'm afraid I just leave the seacock open... I know it's not the 'done thing' but the seacock is workr=ed occasionally and as I fitted it with new hose and clips I'm happy with it.

Seems to me the risk of running the engine with the seacock closed is vastly greater than the risk of the clamps undoing themselves and then the hose levering itself off the barbed fitting. I've often had to cut them off when removing old ones, so a hose that can jump off all on its own must be very clever indeed.

A lot of these habits were formed when plumbing was made of lead and gutta-percha, and engines in boats were suspicious newfangled contraptions that needed to be carefully limited to avoid causing mischief.

Pete
 
that was great to read all your anecdotes there. I suggest we should begin a Clown Collective :D Maybe we could have annual meets in a rented big top?
 
that was great to read all your anecdotes there. I suggest we should begin a Clown Collective :D Maybe we could have annual meets in a rented big top?

If we made it the week after Halfords AGM the tent would already be up...

One of my favourites, we were at the Folly pontoons when a small yot with a Seagull o/b on the transom approached, nervous looking woman on the bow with boathook; the equally nervous skipper, oblivious we could all hear,yelled above the roar of the engine " FOR CHRIST'S SAKE LOOK NATURAL ! "
 
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