Stupid Boat Tricks

[Dave U]

Motoring back in on my second time on my Mac, I managed to forget to raise the dagger board. As the speed increased and ballast was let out, the boat started yawing wildly. This went on for about 5 minutes until the idiot light went on. The bit in the owwners manual about nor motoring above 6kts with the board down are spot on.

Did I mention that it was my wife's first time on board?

Next challenge was getting the boat back on my lift without having anothe person on the bow to control it coming in. I have a pretty sweet set up at home but maneuvering the boat at low speeds and controlling the bow is not easy. Trying to compensate by going in reverse doesn't seem to work like it did on my previous boat. Any hints or directions to previous topics would be welcome.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y286/D ... at1mod.jpg

For my next trip, after setting up the boat for singlehandling (see story above), I headed out into to be met by 25 MPH wind (the forcaster had predicted 10). Should have gone back in but I'd taken the afternoon off and rain was forcast for the next few days. Not the ideal conditions to try singlehandling but it worked okay. Kept the main depowered and my hand on the mainsheet to accomidate the gusts. As the wind continued to pick up, I figured that I might be pushing my luck. Did a relatively controlled gybe to head back. The term relatively is operative as the aluminum pop rivets holding the boom to the mast sheared off. Boom and main in the water, 25 MPH winds, 4 ft chop. Not so good. Got home fine but the kind of excitement I really don't need. A good thing the wife wasn't there.

The part in the manual of no equipment failures is dead wrong. The gybe was not a terribly violent one (there was no damage to the main for example) and to have a fairly important part of the boat literally come apart does not inspire confidence. Instead of rivets, I'm looking at tapping the holes and using stailess steel screws. This should provide more strength but I am concerned about the screws damaging the mast when I get into heavy weather again. Thoughts?

It will only get better.

Thanks
Dave U [/url]

[DLT]

Controlling the boat at low speeds with the boards up, is damn near impossible.

I trailer mine every time. When I her backed into the water, the rudders go down, before I even get it off the trailer. Then, as soon as I clear the trailer, the dagger board goes down. Its smooth and easy to control then...

I have been raising the dagger board, with the rudders down, before leaving the dock to put her back on the trailer. But, then its hard to get lined up with any wind... So, I think I'm going to try raising the dagger board at the last minute, next time... The rudders don't come up until its firmly on the trailer...

With your lift, you're gonna have a similar issue - trying to avoid dinging the dagger board. But, try leaving it down as long as possible and you'll have much better control...

[mike]

Wow... I went through some pretty rough gybes the first few times out in the boat (before I learned I was supposed to pull the main in close to the centerline first), and never had anything as this happen. I have to wonder if perhaps the boom-bracket-to-mast rivetter in charge that day was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome or something, and didn't squeeze his rivet tool hard enough.

--Mike

[PeteC]

Dave,

I sent you a message. I am in the Hampton Roads area too.

PeteC

[Terry]

The thing I like most about reading other peoples misadventures is that I don't feel so bad about my own personal ineptitude. It is reassuring to know I am not alone. I have had my share including losing my mast but the circumstances were not as dangerous as the boom braking incident above. My very first time out I powered up and forgot about the daggerboard & rudders, wondered what was wrong with the stupid boat. Chalk it up to experience and hope it never happens when your wife is there.

[RandyMoon]

I feel so much better now knowing I am not the only bonehead. I am still having nightmares over trying to dock my M the first time out without the rudders and board down.... engine alone. Scary. And the wind was gusting 20+ knots.

[Rich Plumb]

Unfortunately it can't be avoided. Mac's don't come with training wheels. I used up quite a few gelcoat touch-up kits during my first three years of ownership.

Rich Plumb, "Plumb Crazy"
26X, Covington WA

[kmclemore]

The thing I like most about reading other peoples misadventures is that I don't feel so bad about my own personal ineptitude. It is reassuring to know I am not alone.

Boy, ain't that the truth. I screw up with regularity, and when I do I always remember the Charlie Brown quote:

"If it's true that you really learn from all your mistakes, that makes me the smartest person in the whole world!"

[Catigale]

Can I join club with spending 10 minutes in a shipping channel with a stalled motor due to an empty fuel tank??

[Dave U]

This all makes me feel a bit better. It's good ammo to use with my significant other (as in, "see, I'm not THAT unique"). I will obviously try next time with the rudders down. The board is probably not an option as it would need to clear the bottom support on my lift (I may be able to lower it 4" or so).

Any advice on the use of stainless steel screws?

s/f
Dave U

[kmclemore]

Can I join club with spending 10 minutes in a shipping channel with a stalled motor due to an empty fuel tank??

Your in.

[Mark Prouty]

I guess that Roger might have been exagerating with this line:

Learning to Sail

No boat is easier to sail. Take the boat to the water, launch it, fill the ballast tank and buzz around with the engine until you get the hang of it. It is no tougher than driving a car.

One time, I too forgot to raise the centerboard (and the rudders) before powering. I now go through my mental check list.

I hope Kevin lets me in the club.

[Billy]

You, too, Mark? Once when I had partially raised the center board, I had left the rudders fully down to negotiate some narrows on a local lake. As I rounded the last bend to the open lake I accelerated up to about 25 mph (yep, showing off). About a quarter of a mile out, I glanced behind at the wake and noticed the rudders weren't tied-up. Looked down and they were trailering straight behind--thank goodness for bungee cords. Didn't break anything but I still felt stupid.

[RandyMoon]

Now we ought to be comparing photos of scrapes on the sides of our boats to prove that we are in the Stupid Boat Trick Club. Oh, I forgot, not all of you have those wonderful blue hulls (much faster) that cronicle every knucklehead learning maneuver ever made by a new sailor.

This weekend I will be installing dock corner wheels (to keep from scraping the side of the boat while coming into my slip (now with rudders and board down) AND testing some of those wonderful fiberglass cleaners that hopefully remove knucklehead mistakes.

This has been a great thread. I finally convinced the Admiral that I am not alone.