First Sail - FINALLY!

[NavySailor]

So - after 2 months of re-working my M25 we finally took her out. Drove the short 9 miles to Leesylvania State Park on the Potomac and launched the boat with no problems. Well except that the stupid 5hp motor wouldn't start. But nevermind that we were determined to sail! It was about 4:30 when we shoved off. Sailed past the breakwater, looking great and then the wind died. I mean gone, zero, nada. For the next hour we just waited for the wind to pick back up. While waiting we had some snacks that we had packed and the 3 kids (17,16,14) talked about how much sail boats suck when there's no wind.

Meanwhile the river current was pushing us towards the park beach. I began worrying that the wind would never come back. The boys (determined) finally got the motor to start. There must be something wrong with it because it didn't push the boat at all and it shakes worse than an out of tune Harley D. At this point I decided to raise the keel, jump in the water and attempt to pull the boat back in!

While raising the keel I discovered that if you turn the winch too quickly that the rubber tube which the wire runs thru will sepereate from the bottom of the boat thus letting in water!!! OMG - we are going to sink! I quickly found something to help me reseat the tube, but I'm sure we probably took on several gallons of water. At this point, still no wind and the sun is going down. I hop into the river and pull the boat (with family) back out away from shore. I probably pulled her about 1/4 mile before some nice jet-skier asked if I needed a hand and he pulled us the rest of the short distance back to the ramp. (Meanwhile the Admiral is surfing on her phone looking for a nice electric start (new) 9hp motor).

Got the boat back on the trailer and made it home before dark. What a first trip! LOL

I imagine it looked something like this:

[Russ]

Hey you floated her. That's gotta be good.

[dlandersson]

Loved your post - yes it's not fun when the wind dies down.

As for an electric motor, I suggest a Mini_Kote.

[Whipsyjac]

The admiral and I bought a Dory hull day sailer with jib and main the first year we were married. We packed her up and sailed away, we beach camped and set off again in the fresh morning breeze, which died as soon as we were a mile out.... 6 hours drifting with the tide were almost the last 6 hours of our marriage! Just as we meandered back to the spit and my father in law showed up to tow the boat home a strong breeze kicked up and we were heeled over about 30° and we kept him waiting half an hour while we got our kicks

She came from a long line of power boaters, and my love of sailing has seen some desperate inventions like a square rigger made of plastic lashed to paddles... There's only one boat for us and it's the which will probably be wearing a larger outboard in a year.!

We all have stories of "hardship" we like to tell and now those boys have one... When they finally get some hours in heeled over making 5kts they'll really appreciate them

Willy

[Russ]

While raising the keel I discovered that if you turn the winch too quickly that the rubber tube which the wire runs thru will sepereate from the bottom of the boat thus letting in water!!!

I'm not familiar with that, but it would seem that some kind of hose clamp should keep it attached.

I'd be looking for a new motor as well. Gotta be lots of them on Craigs list or something.

[Catigale]

Our first sail, years ago, we

Soft grounded

Came within 10 feet of a rock cliff face

Wrapped genoa sheet around prop

Planed the hull under main and 150 genny full out with me stuck in the bow hanging on for dear life in 25 kts wind.

,,,,and that concluded the first day....

[paul I]

Shucks, you guys have all the fun,

[Catigale]

So - after 2 months of re-working my M25 we finally took her out. Drove the short 9 miles to Leesylvania State Park on the Potomac and launched the boat with no problems. Well except that the stupid 5hp motor wouldn't start. But nevermind that we were determined to sail! It was about 4:30 when we shoved off. Sailed past the breakwater, looking great and then the wind died. I mean gone, zero, nada. For the next hour we just waited for the wind to pick back up. While waiting we had some snacks that we had packed and the 3 kids (17,16,14) talked about how much sail boats suck when there's no wind.

Meanwhile the river current was pushing us towards the park beach. I began worrying that the wind would never come back. The boys (determined) finally got the motor to start. There must be something wrong with it because it didn't push the boat at all and it shakes worse than an out of tune Harley D. At this point I decided to raise the keel, jump in the water and attempt to pull the boat back in!

While raising the keel I discovered that if you turn the winch too quickly that the rubber tube which the wire runs thru will sepereate from the bottom of the boat thus letting in water!!! OMG - we are going to sink! I quickly found something to help me reseat the tube, but I'm sure we probably took on several gallons of water. At this point, still no wind and the sun is going down. I hop into the river and pull the boat (with family) back out away from shore. I probably pulled her about 1/4 mile before some nice jet-skier asked if I needed a hand and he pulled us the rest of the short distance back to the ramp. (Meanwhile the Admiral is surfing on her phone looking for a nice electric start (new) 9hp motor).

Got the boat back on the trailer and made it home before dark. What a first trip! LOL

I imagine it looked something like this:

You drew a giant foot in the water.....

[RobertB]

At least you have your health

My first trip, I had spent two weeks inside a very hot boat wiring up all the cr_p I had bought while waiting for my boat to be delivered. Withing 20 minutes of being on the water (after a whole HOT day inside the boat again), I was green and chumming over the side. Went to the Doctor the next day, turns out I had both heat exhaustion and mono.

Worst part, I had started turning back to the boat ramp when I got sick but my wife just drove in circles until I felt better to drive back to the dock

[Johnacuda]

So - after 2 months of re-working my M25 we finally took her out. Drove the short 9 miles to Leesylvania State Park on the Potomac and launched the boat with no problems. Well except that the stupid 5hp motor wouldn't start. But nevermind that we were determined to sail! It was about 4:30 when we shoved off. Sailed past the breakwater, looking great and then the wind died. I mean gone, zero, nada. For the next hour we just waited for the wind to pick back up. While waiting we had some snacks that we had packed and the 3 kids (17,16,14) talked about how much sail boats suck when there's no wind.

Meanwhile the river current was pushing us towards the park beach. I began worrying that the wind would never come back. The boys (determined) finally got the motor to start. There must be something wrong with it because it didn't push the boat at all and it shakes worse than an out of tune Harley D. At this point I decided to raise the keel, jump in the water and attempt to pull the boat back in!

While raising the keel I discovered that if you turn the winch too quickly that the rubber tube which the wire runs thru will sepereate from the bottom of the boat thus letting in water!!! OMG - we are going to sink! I quickly found something to help me reseat the tube, but I'm sure we probably took on several gallons of water. At this point, still no wind and the sun is going down. I hop into the river and pull the boat (with family) back out away from shore. I probably pulled her about 1/4 mile before some nice jet-skier asked if I needed a hand and he pulled us the rest of the short distance back to the ramp. (Meanwhile the Admiral is surfing on her phone looking for a nice electric start (new) 9hp motor).

Got the boat back on the trailer and made it home before dark. What a first trip! LOL

I imagine it looked something like this:

You drew a giant foot in the water.....

The giant victorious foot of a Sailor!

[topcat0399]

So - after 2 months of re-working my M25 we finally took her out. Drove the short 9 miles to Leesylvania State Park on the Potomac and launched the boat with no problems. Well except that the stupid 5hp motor wouldn't start. But nevermind that we were determined to sail! It was about 4:30 when we shoved off. Sailed past the breakwater, looking great and then the wind died. I mean gone, zero, nada. For the next hour we just waited for the wind to pick back up. While waiting we had some snacks that we had packed and the 3 kids (17,16,14) talked about how much sail boats suck when there's no wind.

Meanwhile the river current was pushing us towards the park beach. I began worrying that the wind would never come back. The boys (determined) finally got the motor to start. There must be something wrong with it because it didn't push the boat at all and it shakes worse than an out of tune Harley D. At this point I decided to raise the keel, jump in the water and attempt to pull the boat back in!

While raising the keel I discovered that if you turn the winch too quickly that the rubber tube which the wire runs thru will sepereate from the bottom of the boat thus letting in water!!! OMG - we are going to sink! I quickly found something to help me reseat the tube, but I'm sure we probably took on several gallons of water. At this point, still no wind and the sun is going down. I hop into the river and pull the boat (with family) back out away from shore. I probably pulled her about 1/4 mile before some nice jet-skier asked if I needed a hand and he pulled us the rest of the short distance back to the ramp. (Meanwhile the Admiral is surfing on her phone looking for a nice electric start (new) 9hp motor).

Got the boat back on the trailer and made it home before dark. What a first trip! LOL

I imagine it looked something like this:

You drew a giant foot in the water.....

The giant victorious foot of a Sailor!

Indeed. Its fun watching the youngins' takin' their first steps - instills a small sense of pride somehow.....for some reason