I know everybody has their first and we all enjoy relating to some of the experiences or even getting a laugh out of some of the mistakes we made and that others duplicate.
I will tell about my first as I feel it is a right of passage to reading this board for the last 6 months.
I have been working on "My Time" from December to current…6 weeks ago I took it from the back yard to the front driveway so I would walk past it every morning on the way to work and decide to finish the “must do” list and get it in the water.
Last weekend I launched it on Saturday night about 7PM. I wanted to get the motor broken in first and then get some confidence with the boat, the motor, and electrical system. I wanted to check that all my connections are complete and tight before making it a sailboat.
My night begins…. Lack of crew around at the last minute. I was able to get two friends with no boating experience at all to help. I rigged the boat and did not bring a ladder to attach the masthead fly. I intentionally left it off because I broke two on my other boat from stupid mistakes and did not want to take any chances. I eventually was able to put it on and then the RAIN came when I went to attach the boom. I hurried along and away we went to the ramp. There are a lot of trees on the way to the ramp and in an effort to not take out the new masthead I clipped the side marker light off the trailer! Tring to avoid trees. I backed the boat in hit the breaks and there my truck went sliding down the ramp uncontrollably for about 8 ft (felt like 100!). Stern of boat is afloat I jump in to check any thru hull fitting for leaks …. All looks good!! We go up to the bow…. The winch will not release (yes I know how to work it) …..after a few choice words we were able to release it with a screwdriver prying the lever up. OK we are in and free!! My buddy decided to tie the boat off like a good friend should do ….However this needs to be done in the future AFTER the goalpost of the trailer clear the bow. I caught this mistake before I did a Sea Tow up the ramp as I went to park my truck. OK motor starts away we go so far so good 15 minutes out we decide to head for the slip there was a storm coming up fast and we were losing our light. No sense making it more interesting then it needs to be. Finally Perfect docking believe me it was just luck …. Boat is tied and drinks for all…I checked the bilge one last time at 11PM and my hand is wet now? All looks to be well... I head over at 6AM the next day and it was bone dry. It must have been some rain water or some residual from the time on trailer.
Day 2
I intend to run the motor and break it in some more. I have an experienced crew member this time. He was bored with motoring and convinced me to put the sails up. Winds 15-20 and 25 gust. All well so far but sluggish to answer the helm.... rudders and board down motor disconnected and locked in center with BWY quick connect. We figured that was the problem the motor was acting as its own separate rudder since it was still down (I left it down to use if needed in a emergency….no can do…) Raised motor and eased sheets some ….all well now…..EXEPT …I noted earlier during my setup the previous day that it started raining and I hurried the boom install. Well ¼ turn on the threads of the gooseneck and clew of sail not attached. I headed into the wind released the main halyard a little and we were able to tighten….Now the fun started my friend loves to be hard over and we were at about 32 degrees a half a dozen times. This is when I remembered I did not close the vents on the tanks! Now we smell like fuel and at $3.10 a gallon NO FUN. The boat did well but I had enough for my second day and we went back to the slip after a few hours.
Day 3 today (The worst)
My wife was away for a week and she wanted to go out on the boat today. I was working on her earlier (the boat!) and decided to stain and varnish the 3 steps into the cabin so I took them off and stained them at home. I put ONE temporary step in the middle and made do until the others were done. I figured I would go easy and motor only and break her (wife) in slowly to the new boat. My first boat I hit her in the head with the boom ( I admitted it was my fault but she did not seem to care!) We went out about 45 minutes avg. speed 7 knots light chop on water. She was very happy with our investment and the way the boat felt. We decide to head back to slip…… I opened it up a little to stretch her legs and BANG! I look forward and I see my new furler dangling off the deck 3 feet midway to the mast! ALL STOP…. I looked up for what seemed to be 10 minutes and realized the MAST WAS FREE!! ON ITS WAY DOWN TO THE DECK!!! Or at least I thought… I instantly told my wife to get clear and go below for safety (I did not want to hear she got hit in the head again) and THEN realized there was only ONE STEP! The mast seemed to be held up by the furling line that was attached to the drum luckily it was locked down. I went to grab the jib halyard to secure the mast and it was know where to be found ….I grabbed the main halyard and secured it to the bow cleat. I tightened it and took the pressure off the furling line. I looked up and noticed the main halyard was coming under the spreaders Not good but better!
WHERE IS MY JIB HALYARD?!?! I look up and there it is holding my new jib cover in place at the top of the mast!! I quickly dropped the cover secured the jib halyard and started breathing again. The whole experience took about 3-4 minutes but felt like an eternity. I called my wife back on deck and there she sat with a 4” gash on her leg from the trip down the ladder. (My fault again I suppose).
I looked at the furler at the dock and the 2” pin that was securing it was gone. The bail was still there. I had my friend look at that set up prior as I was concerned about such a situation he assured me it was fine. I know it was in and secured with the bail, it was checked by myself and him. The pin either snapped (which I doubt) or the bail came off under the bouncing of the boat when I applied the throttle . I replaced it with a pin and ringding.
I should have replaced this setup when I second guessed it originally.
At the end of the day I felt we handled the ordeal well, my ego took a hit today and a cut leg but things could have went A LOT WORSE ..no one was seriously hurt and "My Time" was undamaged I hope some have gotten enjoyment and some have learned what not to do.
