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Cheap-n-easy evening project

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/02/2009 : 10:08:26

Because I am both wise and frugal, I try to not get suckered in on gimmicks that are useless. On a recent nav course though SWMBO decided that absolutely MUST get one of those little things you set by the binnacle to keep track of buoyage. I don't really know what they are called, but they have a red ball and a green ball in a stick, and you spin them whenever the buoyage reverses so you have a quick reference whether you are "returning" or not (red right returning, etc.)

She was concerned because on our planned summer escape we will have to go through about 5 buoyage reversals, and herself quite properly is concerned that running aground will lack some of the glamour that is supposed to attend a well bred yachtsman. I am too cheap to pay $20 for a couple red beads on a stick. Besides I would have to buy a boat with a binnacle to put the gimmick on, and that might get even more pricey than the doo-dad.

I am cheap enough to go to the fabric store and rummage through their scraps. For about $5 I came home with 0.3 m of "Solarium Solids" (sunbrella knock-off) in red and green and enough elastic to go around the house, twice.

Out on the boat I measured the diameter of my cabintop winches. About 4". Since the boat was a little heavy to lug in SWMBO's sewing room, I searched for other things of similar diameter. Turns out a 28 oz can of tomatoes is about the right diameter.

By now you have likely figured out the project. I call them "Winch Berets" Since we will be underway when these are on, full on winch covers would get in the way, but a winch beret that just covers the top of the winch will still allow the winch to be used, although we rarely use our cabin top winches for anything but hoisiting sail at the start of the day.

Start by cutting a strip of the fabric in a rectangle about 3" by the circumference of the winch top. You can calculate the circumference one of 2 ways. Either by doing math (I lost my slide rule) or by wrapping the fabric around the tin of tomatoes and pinning it in the right spot. Whichever way you choose, you will have to allow an extra inch or so as a "seam allowance" (I learned that phrase last night).

Take your lovely rectangle, and fold up the bottom (long side) of it by 1/4 inch or so, then fold it up again by about 1/2 inch. Sew the top edge of this flat (I used a zig-zag stitch) You have just made a "Casing" (another new word!) for the elastic to go through. Now sew the ends of the fabric together to turn your rectangle into a circle. Don't sew it completely though - you need to leave room to allow the elastic to be thread through the casing. Test it to see if it will fit on the winch by sliding it over the can of tomatoes. If all is well, it will just fit, with a little wiggle room.

Now you need to make the flat top part that will cover the top of the winch. You need to find something that will make a circle with about a 5" or 6" diameter. You could use a compass, but I found that fine china works just as well. In fact my wife has a lovely tea service with 5.5" saucers. Royal Daulton finally has a place in my life. Mark the fabric and cut out the circle.

When you try to put the top onto the cylinder you will find that the two pieces of fabric don't get along well. This is because we haven't cut "darts" (another new word!) in the fabric to make it work. Fold the "cylinder" portion of the fabric in half and at the two ends cut out a narrow vee that is about 1/2" deep (assuming a 1/2" seam allowance) into it on the opposite (unfinished) long side of where you put the casing for the elastic. Now fold it in half so the vee's line up in the centre and cut another pair of vees. Your tiny little V's are called darts.

Now Slide the cylinder over your can again, and spread the four tabs formed by the Vees out so they are pointing away from the can. Use 2 pins on each tab. Trust me. I tried with just 1 pin on each tab, and the outcome was bad. When you sew the cap together be sure that your stitches don't touch any part of the Vee's you can go inside by a little, but don't miss or it looks ugly as sin and your whole project will suffer for it.

Now feed the elastic through the casing, tie it off and voila! A Winch Beret! Put the red one on the left winch and green one on the right. Unless of course you are returning, then you can switch them quick and easy.

As a matter of personal choice, you could make a hole in the top, and use the "buttonhole" function on the sewing machine to allow you to actually use the winch with the beret on it, but as I said earlier, our cabintop winches see woefully little action, so I am happy to leave them covered.

If you wanted to make your own full-on winch covers, you would need to sew a second "skirt" onto the winch beret that is the full height of the winch.

Return next week for apron-making 101.

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 10:25:18

These sound cute, and useful. Did you take any photos of the process?

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 13:26:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Because I am both wise and frugal, I try to not get suckered in on gimmicks that are useless. On a recent nav course though SWMBO decided that absolutely MUST get one of those little things you set by the binnacle to keep track of buoyage. I don't really know what they are called, but they have a red ball and a green ball in a stick, and you spin them whenever the buoyage reverses so you have a quick reference whether you are "returning" or not (red right returning, etc.)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

To keep track of bouys, the helmsman could simply wear a red bracelet/hair tie/rubberband on the hand corresponding to the current red bouy side. When it changes, move it to the other wrist. When changing helmsman, hand it to the relief.

This sort of reminds me of the devices used at my daughter's basketball games to keep track of who has the next jump ball. Usually, its some sort of manually operated arrow on the scorer's table that is pointed/flipped to the team who has the next jump ball. Only problem is, sometimes they forget to change the arrow which often results in on-court confusion and a rather boisterous response from the 100 ref's in the stands. The same might happen if you were distracted and forgot to change winch hats.

Edited by - dlucier on 03/02/2009 13:27:39

Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 13:37:38

What sewing maching do you have?
I would like to do some canvas work and am looking for a good used machine.
TIA

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 14:11:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 [quote]
To keep track of bouys, the helmsman could simply wear a red bracelet/hair tie/rubberband on the hand corresponding to the current red bouy side. When it changes, move it to the other wrist. When changing helmsman, hand it to the relief.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

On another forum it was suggested to dip clothespins in paint and clip them on anything. I thought that was also a good idea.

I hear you on the forgetting to switch the berets. This would apply to any system though. And likely I will be the culprit.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 14:12:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Peregrine
 What sewing maching do you have?
I would like to do some canvas work and am looking for a good used machine.
TIA
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ours isn't for sale!! ;)

I'm not sure what it is. I know she picked it up at Sears about 2 years ago for something like $800. It does everything but make coffee. Loads of baby items have been sewn on it.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 14:17:30

I bought a cheap one at Walmart for less than $100. I think it was on sale for $69. It sews Sunbrella pretty well. It was recommended to me to use a "Denim" needle. I guess it's strong enough to go through a few layers of denim, it should handle Sunbrella. I only sew straight lines.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 14:52:53

I think mine is a Sears Kenmore? My mom bought it for me when I told her I needed to repair the sails on my old catamaran. It's a heavy duty one, and I was able to make the repairs I needed. Rita uses it now for the occasional project. I'm pretty sure my mom picked it up in the thrift store she volunteered at, and it was way less than $100 if I remember correctly.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2009 : 07:39:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Because I am both wise and frugal <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Don't forget humble!!

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2009 : 11:10:08

Sounds like a nice project to keep you busy a while.

But could you explain how it is more useful than glancing at your paper chart or your GPS chart, or both, of the new area you're sailing in?

Are you sailing through a long channel with nav markers one way, then through another long channel with the opposite nav markers? In that case, don't you still need your chart?

Where I go sailing, nothing but the main channel of the Bay is long and straight and makes sense. There are rivers, coves, creeks, shoals, bars, and lighthouses that each have certain nav aids that are quite useless the first time without a chart. YMMV

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2009 : 12:40:25

Yuppers John, You definately still need a chart or a good chartplotter with updated "notmar" data (Canadaian Reference to notices to mariners), however; having a good quick reference is handy.

Our plan is to motor through the Trent Canal to Georgian Bay, and head north on the open water. We will come inside at night for moorage. At Port Severn there is a Bouy reversal, and again when you move from the inside to outside channels there are more reversals. I tend to agree with you that th echannel markers in this area are well defined, and that in general if you just passed between 2 of them, you should have figured out which one is on which side. Besides, the solid line goes through them on th echart. Not hard to figure out.

When its time to dipsy-doodle around the islands (we are sailing in the 30,000 islands...) it cna become more confusing, but I still don't really think this is a critical piece of equipment. I wish I had thought of the clothespin dipped in paint before I went and made these. At least I now have a couple of cute berets to keep my winches warm at night.

I would show you the sailing area, but the chart is a pretty huge file.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2009 : 12:49:26

The winches are going to have a french flair to them.

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 03/03/2009 12:49:54

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2009 : 14:04:39

Especially the port one... "it wears a Strawberry Beret, the kind that you find in a second hand store..."

Figured I'd throw out the "Artist Formerly known as Prince" reference before someone else does.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2009 : 16:00:13

Chris,
I was just looking on Google Earth at the Trent canal from Lake Simcoe to the Georgian Bay. It looks like more than 50 miles of twisting, turning lock filled travel. Is that somewhat correct and how long will it take to get to the Bay? Looks very picturesque and interesting. Good fishing? I'm envious!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2009 : 16:53:51

Well, it is an interesting little trip. I haven't actually done it before though.

The Canal was not built for sailboats, and development hasn't been kind to us, so we have to drop our mast before entering th eCanal, and motor its entire length.

Some of the locks are more exciting than others. We are really looking forward to this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeAmril0mpI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LWTIINbGXc

How often do you get to load your boat onto what is essentially a rail car, cross a road and have an elevation change of 50 feet and a ride 700 feet long??

Anyway, the canal is full of little back bays and small towns here and there, but for us, the adventure is going to be Georgian Bay. I actually haven't even figured out how I will get the boat through th ecanal yet since "Herself" will be working on th edays I have slated to make the transit.

The folks from our club who have transited the Canal sail to one of th eMarinas in the North End of L. Simcoe, drop their mast and spend the night. On Day 2, they arrive at Lock 42 as early as possible with the goal of being the first boat through. If you hit this lock early enough and there is enough current in the canal, you can get through (barely) in a day. To be safe though everyone allows 2 days in the canal. Powerboats in the canal can make it "hell on wheels" with their wake since you don't have the mast up to counterbalance the roll of the boat.

At the Georgian Bay end of the canal, most of the big boats have to head into Penetanguishene or Midland to raise their masts. We are hoping that size will matter, and that by being able to raise and lower the mast without a crane, we can shave at least a day from our itinerary.

Our plan is to raise our mast in the bay at the foot of Gloucester Pool ( 44°47'56.81"N 79°43'31.49"W on Google maps) And be under sail earlier than it would take on a boat with a Keel stepped mast. From there I will sail to Pointe au Baril Station ( 45°35'46.41"N 80°22'25.27"W on google maps) and meet SWMBO and trade my crew for SWMBO and the kids. Estimated sailing time from Gloucester Pool to Pointe au Baril (PaB) is 4 days (including layovers).

Sailing home from PaB is scheduled to take 2 weeks or more.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2009 : 08:13:11

OK, I looked at the Trent-Severn Waterway, and it's 386km long!
Amazing!

In technical terms, this is quite a shlep.

You say "sailing home". Are you planning to sail down Georgian Bay to Lake Huron past Detroit/Windsor to Lake Erie and through the Welland Canal to Lake Ontario? That would be lots of big water sailing.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2009 : 08:50:59

Sorry John, maybe my words didn't match my mind...

Our marina is located south of the bigger island on Lake Simcoe. Lake Simcoe is about 18 miles across (north-south, not including the big bay pointing south). We can Sail as far as Orillia. In the bay east of Orillia we can drop our mast and spend the night. We will have to motor the length of chart 2029 both ways.

The plan is that I will go fast to get to PaB, and then take it easy coming back. This is a vacation, and I am trying to do as little as possible on it. I have a bad habit of coming home more tired from a vacation than I would be had I just stayed at work. The hope is that taking so long to travel so little will force me to relax a little more.

Edit to add: BTW 386 km is about 240 miles. The canal is part of the "Great Circle Loop" so there are a lot of serious cruising boats that go through it. Our marina is far enough off the path that most of them take that we never see them down in our end of the lake.

Edited by - Prospector on 03/04/2009 08:54:12

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2009 : 13:03:33

I just found this on youtube.

This guy's channel has a bunch of footage in the Trent system. Of course he's a powerboater, so we will be bouncing around on his wake out there, but it gives a feel for the country.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=WaterwayCa&view=videos

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2009 : 13:31:46

The ride on the "Big Chute" must be a combo of terrifying & exhilarating.

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