Association Forum - boat projects done!

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

boat projects done!

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

JimB517
Past Commodore

Member Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/18/2005 : 17:23:08

Well, with my departure for a 3-week, 600 mile solo voyage only 2 weeks away, I'm glad to say the boat projects are finally nearly done.

Indiscipline 3 had some strange after-market aluminum mast step. This shattered Saturday while lowering the mast. An unexpected disaster was mitigated due to the fact that we were also lowering the mast on Fleet 7s Mara, to replace his mast step and put on a new "dinner plate" for lines-led-aft. I was able to mount his old one. My non-standard aluminum tabernackle looked like chalk inside from decades of corrosion. I am happy to say that the deck under the mast was solid, no sign of delamination. My mast plate is held down by 10 long screws that are biting into good clean wood. My new mast step is screwed through this into the deck with 4 nice long wood screws. Everything is caulked to the nines. I also reinstalled my divider plate, checked everything at the masthead, and put on a new Windex.

Spike and dock friends/helpers were the best, and the Baumgart family bought everyone lunch plus sprang for a round of beer at the deli later in the afternoon!

So my VHF cable and mast wiring exploded when the mast base unexpectdly went for a ride on Saturday. I spent Sunday fixing these, re-tuning the rig (big-wind cruising style), moving some of my spinnaker hardware around, and (finally) went sailing for the first time in 2 weeks.

Indiscipline has been gone over with a fine-tooth comb top to bottom, bow to stern, and is nearly ready to go. Everything is stowed but fuel. I have the food and nearly all the water on board. Shes also about 1000 lbs heavier than normal. As all the weight is low, the boat is slower, but the ride is much smoother and steady. Much more comfortable.

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

Edited by - on

Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

Members Avatar

Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2005 : 17:37:12

Hi Jim

Best of luck on your voyage. Where are you going?

Cheers Jonathan

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2005 : 18:49:35

San Diego - Dana Point - Two harbors / Catalina - Santa Cruz Island (and weather permitting to Santa Rosa and San Miguel). Then back to Catalina for a few days with the kids. Then home. Expected 600 miles, 3 weeks, round trip, every mile solo.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2005 : 20:05:42

I'll be thinking of you.....

There's something about being out there by yourself that can only be understood if you've been there.....and once you have, you must go back.....

Say hi to everything out there for me, tell 'em I'll be back soon.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2005 : 21:11:02

Have a safe and pleasant trip. I look forward to reading about it when you return!

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2005 : 21:52:08

Jim, hope you have a great time, but most of all be safe. We will all be waiting to hear the details.

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2005 : 22:53:18

Have a safe journey. Undoubtedly, you are taking the dream and fantasies of many of us with you. Well, not <i><b>those</b> </i> fantasies, but, well, you know what I mean.

Steve

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2005 : 10:52:40

To paraphrase Moitessier:

I am nothing but a tame seagull. I come to work and sit at my desk all day. I care for a wife and kids on a small farm. But every once in a while I am compelled by something inside me to spread my wings and fly off - chasing the sun as it's setting over the vast Pacific Ocean.

Here is a direct Moitessier quote:

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on Earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present. In this limitless nation, this nation of wind, light, and peace, there is no other ruler besides the sea."

I have 21 days, I hope I can find it .... then "Back to the house of pain!!!!"

(my office).

Dreaming, planning, building, charting, stocking, fixing - that is nearly as much fun as the adventure. Getting this venture off the dock has kept me going for 2 months now.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2005 : 16:44:57

Jim,

Oh yeah, and be sure to let us know what worked and what didn't, what broke, what you used, and what you wished you'd brought, and what you wish you hadn't bothered to bring.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

mmac
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2005 : 16:47:15

As Jim mentioned, we had a great day "messing around in boats." You trailer sailors would have laughed to see seven people help me bring down my mast. Jim built an A-frame for his mast and things went a lot easier except for his step breaking.

One of our Fleet 7 guys is an electrician by trade. Because he has the tools and know how, he installed my new mast step and dinner plate while I was still scratching my head trying to figure out how I was going to drill through stainless steel. I did have to spend a couple of hours trying to remove the pins from my frozen sheaves. After 26 years, the sheaves were pretty much goners. Thankfully, Jim had some old ones that he let me have.

We had started these projects around 11 A.M. when we lowered Indiscipline's mast. By 2 P.M. Jim had his mast up and was retuning. My was finally ready to, go up by 5. However, Mr. Murphy had more examples of his law in store for us.

I had installed a topping lift on the aft part of my masthead crane and forward a new forestay for my new furler. We raised the mast and discovered that the new forestay was two feet too long. CD had sent me one for a tall rig. The mast has to come down again, but everything is on hold until my new stay arrives from CD.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2005 : 11:03:18

See you guys - form a fleet! Due to Fleet 7 Mike and I worked together on our boats, I had spare parts he needed, he has a spare mast step I needed, we had tons of help getting the masts up and down and lots of help getting the projects done. Although our masts were blocking the dock for hours, no one seemed to mind and just about everyone was there to lend a hand when it was time to hoist the masts back up.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.