Chesapeakers

[Sea Wind]

Last Saturday I was out with my wife without the kids for the first time. We had a great sail to the mouth of the South River and then back to the Western River for a drink, when we took the sails down to start the engine; the engine had other plans for us. It simply refused to start. After safely anchoring, I sparred with it for about an hour but it simply did not budge. No panic since we still had cold beer and a couple of sandwiches, we called boatUS and after a 45 minute wait we arrived back to the marina towed by a big dinghy. By then the wind had pretty much died so I did not bother trying to sail back. The bad news is that I am still waiting to hear back from the marina’s mechanic to know what is going wrong, but it is not looking good for going out this coming weekend.

Sea Wind

[Omar]

Hey Jim,

I plan to be in the Chesapeake area for the 4th of July weekend and the week following (July 5 through 8th). Is that a good time around there or too busy/too much boating going on? Any good marinas or anchorages that you would recommend?

If it is a good time we can definitely meet.

My boat is still in the shop. I went to do the repair myself, but the mechanics had already done everything but the final modification to link the rack to the pinion by adding an extension or spacer so that all the parts fit in with the right dimensions. They seem to be going in a different way about the mod. Any idea what this may be all about?

Omar

[c130king]

Omar,

I can't provide any knowledge on how busy the Chesapeake is on the 4th of July...I have only been there since April. But I bet some of these other guys from this area will know.

I will probably be out on the water sometime around then...I will check back with you when I know my plan.

As to your steering install...not sure about that either. As I said in our previous emails my new Teleflex SS-141 R & P was pretty much a straight-forward replacement for the old Detmar R & P Steering system. Just had to make the hole for the steering wheel mechanism bigger and the rack itself was about 1" bigger so I had to adjust the position of my depth gauge...but that gauge is an add-on for me...not stock.

And it is likely my 2005 pedastal is different than yours so that may make additional adjustments necessary.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Jim

[Omar]

I guess you are right. It's likely there may be some differences between the 2003 & 2005 pedestals. There is a very thick plywood (or something like that) in the fiberglass of the 2003 right at the opening for the pinion.

Anyways, the boat was finished today
Can hardly wait!

Any advice regarding the Chesapeake in the weekend and week of July 4 th would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Omar

[Omar]

Last Saturday I was out with my wife without the kids for the first time. We had a great sail to the mouth of the South River and then back to the Western River for a drink, when we took the sails down to start the engine; the engine had other plans for us. It simply refused to start. After safely anchoring, I sparred with it for about an hour but it simply did not budge. No panic since we still had cold beer and a couple of sandwiches, we called boatUS and after a 45 minute wait we arrived back to the marina towed by a big dinghy. By then the wind had pretty much died so I did not bother trying to sail back. The bad news is that I am still waiting to hear back from the marina’s mechanic to know what is going wrong, but it is not looking good for going out this coming weekend.

Sea Wind

Sea wind,

Been there. Not fun when boat's in the shop... Hope you're back in the water soon.

Omar

[rtrinkle]

I guess you are right. It's likely there may be some differences between the 2003 & 2005 pedestals. There is a very thick plywood (or something like that) in the fiberglass of the 2003 right at the opening for the pinion.

Anyways, the boat was finished today
Can hardly wait!

Any advice regarding the Chesapeake in the weekend and week of July 4 th would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Omar

July on the Chesapeake can be hot and windless days. My advise,,, make sure you have plenty of fuel ..I'm sure the water will be full of boats.

[Omar]

July on the Chesapeake can be hot and windless days. My advise,,, make sure you have plenty of fuel ..I'm sure the water will be full of boats.

Not too enticing... But thanks. At least now I know I need plenty of fuel.

[rtrinkle]

Just make sure you are topped off before getting underway. And if your heading out in one direction, and returning to the same port without a pit stop, don't go to far away as to deplete one tank completely, you might not have enough fuel to get back. On our boat we have a 6.5 and a 7.5 tank. If just motoring for the day and returning to same port without a pit stop and heading in the same direction, I'll always start with my 6.5 gallon tank. So if I deplete it, I'll still have the larger 7.5 gallon tank to get home. And I usually don't motor over 3000 rpm when cruising. It saves on fuel, and is still fast enough to get around.

Of course if there is wind, then you are in luck. We prefer to sail rather than motor.. I'm sure we will be out around Milford Haven or Stingray Point..

[Omar]

Just make sure you are topped off before getting underway. And if your heading out in one direction, and returning to the same port without a pit stop, don't go to far away as to deplete one tank completely, you might not have enough fuel to get back. On our boat we have a 6.5 and a 7.5 tank. If just motoring for the day and returning to same port without a pit stop and heading in the same direction, I'll always start with my 6.5 gallon tank. So if I deplete it, I'll still have the larger 7.5 gallon tank to get home. And I usually don't motor over 3000 rpm when cruising. It saves on fuel, and is still fast enough to get around.

Of course if there is wind, then you are in luck. We prefer to sail rather than motor.. I'm sure we will be out around Milford Haven or Stingray Point..

Thanks rtrinkle,

I also find it reassuring to use the smaller tank first. Great tip

Do you think it'spossible to go through the Intracostal waterway from Barnegat to the Chesapeake on a Mac? Has any of you guys tried it. Any suggestions?

[rtrinkle]

I've never attempted that. Never even looked at that location on a chart. Where is Barnegat?

Robert

[kmclemore]

Robert, he's talking about Barnegat Light, NJ. It's on the coast, north of Atlantic City - indeed, about half-way up NJ's coast. And I don't think there's an easy way to get from there to the inner Chesapeake very easily on the inter-coastal.

[Omar]

Robert, he's talking about Barnegat Light, NJ. It's on the coast, north of Atlantic City - indeed, about half-way up NJ's coast. And I don't think there's an easy way to get from there to the inner Chesapeake very easily on the inter-coastal.

Yes, Robert. There is a bay there, Barnegat Bay. It is a lot of fun to go sailing there.

I was planning to go from there to the Chesapeake for a one week cruise, but after getting the Mac in the ocean n a good weather day last weekend... It's really not too comfortable of an ocean boat. It can rock quite a bit.

On the other hand, if I could get there through the ICW, that could make the one week cruise a feasible choice... Any feedback would be appreciated.

[rtrinkle]

IF there is an access through the ICW that would be a fun sail.... We keep out boat by Milford Haven on the Piankitank River (first river south of the Rapahannock River).. Anyway,, we are thinking of doing the John Smith cruise around the Chesapeake, hitting each one of his stops when he surveyed the bay...

[Catigale]

On fuel management....you range should be 1/3 of you carried fuel capacity. 1/3 out , 1/3 back and 1/3 in reserve. Rough seas can easily double your fuel use, so you need more reserve capacity than in a car. Most outboards run increasingly more efficiently at lower rpm, as much as doubling mpg, so in a crisis you can extend range by dropping the speed.

[Omar]

I'm on Kent Island. Just across the bay from Annapolis. I'm definitely up for a Chesapeake gathering as well. I have my Mainsail at Doyle Annapolis at the moment getting sliders, a reef, and a clew repair, But it should be done in a couple of weeks.

C130 King, I think we work in the same building. I'm on the JS, working in 2C947.

v/r
Dustoff

Hi Dustoff,

I am in Chestertown. I am new to the area. Any guidance on must-see points/destinations would be highly appreciated. We could even meet if that suits your schedule. I expect to be there on most weekends, including July 30th and 31st.

Omar