New Sails Adventure

[leefrankpierce]

It’s not hot. That’s just a normal day in Texas… right?

Ya, it is normal. It is also normal for a few heat deaths each summer.

To get the work done I have been going out in the AM ensuring I do not try and do too much at one time, coming home about 10:00 am and having to recover for a few hours.

At 56 and overweight, just not as heat resistant as I once was.
Thank our Lord for air conditioning.

[OverEasy]

Hi LeeFrankPierce!

Naw, thank engineer’s and technicians for figuring out how to get A/C to work in the first place!

How’s that Texas power grid holding up?
When I lived there it was always kind of wonky when the heat waves or cold fronts hit (but that was back in the pre-solar and wind power era … I understand it’s gotten a lot better since then).

I’m no spring chicken or light weight either! I agree with your work pattern when we’re in SC. Just too hot and humid past noon to do any real work… I try to schedule the inside, driving & shopping chores for the afternoons if possible

Best Regards
Over Easy

[leefrankpierce]

I live very close to a hospital, near the Airport, so my power has been reliable.
Knock on wood.
Our winters tend to create ice with a lot of weight, so then we have issues.
Own a lot of kerosin heaters from the 30's

[OverEasy]

Hi FrankLeePierce!


See you like to hedge your bets!
Good moves!

I used to cook on an old barrel type Keri heater a long time ago. It was an “all or nothing” heater… full bore on or choke on the fumes… figured as it was scorching hot on top and sides when running I’d May as well cook and boil water on the darn thing… funny tasting steaks and chicken though and yeah so was the coffee!

Doubtless I’d have been fumigated (no CO detectors in those days) if the place wasn’t already ventilated like a steel sieve!

Serendipity is a good thing!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[leefrankpierce]

Took my boat out this morning in 15 mph winds.
My lake has lots of puffs and variations in wind direction and speed.
Recall I have moved my boom to above the sail slot resulting in a smaller mainsail.
Looking at the overall sail area, we can stand to loose some main sail area, as the mainsail is still larger than the foresail.
Under sail, full foresail still balances well with the now shorter mainsail.
She seemed much less tender a lot more in control.
With the full mainsail now being a partially reefed normal mainsail, when the wind got a little frisky, reefing the foresail still felt balanced with no mainsail reefing. Enough that even my admiral commented that we might not ever need to reef the main because any more wind and we take the sails down and go home.
We found the higher boom made life in the cockpit much more comfortable.
Going up, the tides track really allowed me to focus on getting the full battons past my lazyjacks.
Coming down, I only had to manage where the sail went, no longer going to the mast to pull the sail with slugs down.
The full battons really helped flake the mainsail to the boom.
So in conclusion, More control, More headroom, easy up and down of mainsail, clears my bimini.
I am calling the entire project a huge success.
For those who purchased the full batton main sail from BWY, but have complained about full battons making it hard to raise and lower, add the Tides track system and all will be good.

[OverEasy]

Congratulations!!!
Big job done right!!!

[leefrankpierce]

Had my second sail yesterday morning.
The boat reacts to the changes/puffs so well now that we stayed out for twice as long as normal in relatively strong and puffy winds.
In winds my Admiral used to ask to go home, she is now saying it is the perfect trip.
It is the gentleness of the changes in heel that is really a game changer, it does not feel tender any more.
Were it used to be an immediate swing alarming everyone, it is now a slow roll that gives confidence, allowing a larger total heel in complete comfort.
It also gives much more comfort to have the boom high enough that a seated person does not care what the boom is up to.
A totally new boat!

[pitchpolehobie]

Had my second sail yesterday morning.
The boat reacts to the changes/puffs so well now that we stayed out for twice as long as normal in relatively strong and puffy winds.
In winds my Admiral used to ask to go home, she is now saying it is the perfect trip.
It is the gentleness of the changes in heel that is really a game changer, it does not feel tender any more.
Were it used to be an immediate swing alarming everyone, it is now a slow roll that gives confidence, allowing a larger total heel in complete comfort.
It also gives much more comfort to have the boom high enough that a seated person does not care what the boom is up to.
A totally new boat!

I noticed a big improvement going to a brand new crisp ǰib.pointed better abd I fel tacks were nore smooth. Its a shame new sails are so expensive id be inclined to upgrade more frequently.