Newbie-

[Greg-TX]

My name is Greg, I am a pharmacist and I live in the Dallas Texas area. I have always wanted to sail. It started when I was a little kid our next door neighbor built sailboats in his garage during the winter in Kansas City and would sail them in the summer at the lake in Shawnee Mission Ks and then would sell it in the fall and start a new one again that winter. He used to take our family out on the lake sometimes. I guess thats where I got the bug. Now I am in mid-life crisis and I woke up and realized I am 45 years old, and if I am going to do this I had better get going. So my wife and I watched the papers for about 6 months till we saw a boat we could afford (We have a blended family of 6 kids and wifey is in nursing school---i.e. not working)...We bought a Macgregor 25ft year 1982 and it came with a trailer. It needed a motor, and some rigging lines and the electrical wasnt working anymore....a real fixer upper.....which I enjoy.....The older fellow we bought it from told us not to worry that I was a newbie, he would take me out and teach me how to sail in no time.....unfortunately he died of a heartattack 2 weeks after we got the boat. It has been sitting in my driveway for 2 years ever since....I go out and sit in it once in awhile and feel the dream. Mostly I am afraid of the whole thing cause I don't have a clue what I am doing and where to start, or how to hook the lines (which are mostly missing) - I have decided this is the year that it gets wet (I am hoping it floats)....I am looking for a sailing class to take some lessons from at one of the local sailing clubs here, I guess I am baring my soul here... because I see that you guys are patient with new sailors ...and I could use somebody to talk to about all this, since I don't know anybody who sails....I am basically on an adventure here and looking forward to it....but just figuring out where to start seems to have taken the most energy...I have some books ordered and have read all through "sailing for dummies" and a few other similar style books....The trailer doesnt quite fit the boat, so I am having it modified next week, that way I can get it to the lake....I don't know how to raise the sail or anything, but I am just going to get a motor, hook it up to the boat and toot around in the water with that for the time being....
I welcome any advice or friendship anyone wants to throw my way....
Greg Ellis R.Ph.

[Beam's Reach]

Hi Greg. Welcome Aboard!

Like you, I dreamed for years about sailing, read lots of books, but never really did anything else. For my 40th birthday, my wife presented me with a week long live-aboard sailing lesson (for two!) off of Vancouver Island. She didn't have much interest in sailing and came along just for the adventure, but by our third day out, she was discussing what size our new boat should be and had picked out the name.

This week long lesson gave us the confidence we needed to buy a boat and get it in the water. Of course, that doesn't mean it all went smoothly. So take some lessons if and when they're available, but remember that sailing, (like life ) is mostly learned by trial and error. A good book and a manual from over on the left side of this page will help you with the rigging. In fact, these manuals will actually teach you the basics of sailing as well.

Read through it several times while you sit in the cockpit and you'll probably figure it out yourself. If not, post some specific questions here, and I guarantee everyone here will pitch in get that boat rigged and wet!

You can practice raising the sail in the driveway on a calm day to avoid the embarassment of learning everything at the dock, but the feeling is inevitable anyway. The first time in is always nerve wracking and you'll forget something. But if it's like a lot of docks, there probably won't be many sailers there anyway, so the onlookers won't have a clue what you're doing either. Just do it with authority and they'll be impressed. And if there are sailers around, don't be surprised it they come over to give you a hand.

Good Luck!

[DLT]

Greg,

That sounds like a great plan. Yeah, just take the boat out a few times and tool around with the motor. Learn how to unload/dock/load, etc...

After all, this is probably the hardest part... Once you've mastered basic boat handling, then you can worry about the sails...

You might even start with the hull stripped - no mast, etc... I wouldn't put much work into stripping the hull, I'm just suggesting that you wouldn't necessarily have to put any work into rigging the boat...

When you do get time to sail, the manual for the M (over there on the left, under the "Manuals" button) has a pretty decent sailing tutorial. Its pretty simple, and probably a lot simpler than the other books you have. You might also get a video, as some people learn better actually seeing someone go through all those steps...

Basic sailing, getting the boat to actually move, is relatively simple. Getting it to move faster than the other guy, is where experience and skill come into play. But, as long as you don't enter a race next week, you'll be fine just out there playing around...

While your on the water motoring, if you get bored, try to figure out which way the wind is blowing, as that is probably the most important sailing skill...

[Greg-TX]

Beams reach- Thanks for the empatby....My brother in law just visited us from Seattle where he has his own boat...he is all excited about us learning how to sail and his enthusiasm has pushed me over the hump and got my nerve up to do something. I have teenage boys ages 19,17,16, 16 (remember blended family) and they are already clamouring that they want to take over the boat and have my wife and I upgrade to a newer, bigger and better boat...... I am already being pushed out of this starter boat...and I don't even know how to sail yet, or if the old one even floats....I think I am onto something here...it seems to be a hobbie thats contagious..... I am relieved to have someplace to go and ask questions....That has been the pressure cooker I think is not having a resource to use to get information...I guess thats what discussion sites are all about....boy, am I glad!
I have no cusions on my boat, is it better to buy them (where do you do that at?) or make them....and if you make them, what kind of material would you use, and do you need that closed cell foam, or is regular foam okay? (No question is to stupid to ask my grade school teacher used to say). Thanks for being there....Greg

[DLT]

I'd just buy a bunch of those throw cusions to start with...

You'll want something more later. But, they'll get you started until you have a better feel for your boat, how you use it, and what suits your needs...

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Hi Greg...hope you and yours have great fun fixing up this boat and eventually get many great nice memories on the water...
And, items to check out should include the trailer mechanics...check the wheel bearings, grease, and wheel lug nuts before trailering.
Happy Sailing !

[Idle Time]

As for cushions...I wouldnt spend a lot of money on the boat until you've given it a few trys and decide what you want to do. We just use the square float cushions to sit on and they also provide a dual purpose...toss them to a man overboard...

[Beam's Reach]

I really love to lay back on those cushions and have a snooze while at the marina, but underway, the cushions are a bit of a PITA. I've read others say this here in the past and now I find the same - if the admiral and family are out with me, the cushions are up. But if I'm alone, they stay below and I sit on a small cusion or a PFD.

[James V]

Greg - There is a MacGregor/Venture sail club in Dallas. Here is the link -
http://www.myplanet.net/shanes/vmyc/

Never been to them. The site appears a little dated but you should get an email address or phone number to call.

good luck

[argonaut]

You're in the right place. This group is exceptional. Folks here have done most everything, right and wrong so there's a lot of knowledge at your fingertips.

At our advanced age there's a tendency to live "in our heads". Sailing is very sensual and intuitive, far harder to explain or imagine than do. You feel everything. Explaining it makes it seem harder to do than it is.

Knowing that your going to be on a lake, not Puget Sound or SF Bay, just pick a close mate (not the whole family) who won't panic when something goes wrong and follow Beam and DLT's advice and just get out there. Go on a day with gentle wind. Worst case, motor dies and you have to get towed, so you just learned how to get towed. You have a good handling boat with simple rigging, easier than the X or M boat to manuever and no water ballast to fiddle with.
You can make sure the motor works, just hook up some hose ears first & run it at home. Get some throw cushions, they're real comfy. Take a cell phone when you go, sunscreen, have an anchor and a sandwich too. Motor out. Anchor. Eat. Repeat in reverse.

The sailing part will take a couple of hours to understand from doing it and the rest of your life to master. I'd save that for when you have confidence getting out and back.

Trailering, launching and recovering are also skills you'll need sooner than sailing. First time out plan on 1 1/2 to 2 hours to launch, same to recover. Much less if you skip mast & sails. Now I'm heading out the channel fully rigged to sail in 50 minutes. Yes it's a nuisance, but I regard it as healthy exercise and it's better than walking on a dang machine.

Launch/recovery was my biggest hurdle. My advice, find a dock, take another sandwich, and watch others do this. You won't be driving your boat off the trailer like powerboats but you'll learn other techniques along with the particulars about that ramp.

My first time out I learned (from a bass fishing buddy) that a single dock line attached front and back on both sides worked (for me) better than separate single lines to the bow and stern. It lets one person easily control the boat off and onto the trailer from the dock. You can control the bow with your left hand and stern in your right, the slack just hangs till you need some. So... a 35-40' line on each side should do the trick.
When you return drop your loop over a dock post from the aft, step off, then grab the line running to the bow, pull the bow in and take a turn. Done.

Above all, keep your cool (to keep your crew) and have fun (that's the point anyway!). Learn from others but don't be afraid to make your mistakes. We've all been there.
I bet you'll wonder why you didn't do this sooner!

[Catigale]

Welcome Greg - the coolest thing I think you will find on this board is that someone in your area will be happy to give you a half day to get over the hump of all the stuff to learn

Ill never forget the first time we launched, and coming back to the dock wondering how Im going to put this brand new boat back on that trailer without a calamity...

Bottom line is, everything is easy to fix, worst case....except...

WEAR your lifejackets, at all times....get good comfortable ones so that you get used to wearing them.

..and come sailing with us if you are ever in the

Albany Erie Ontario Toronto Oswego Cayuga Boston Woods Hole Nantucket Cuttyhunk Barnstable Champlain

area...

[Tomek]

Welcome Greg - we are all "in the same boat" - every single sailer is learning something.

Read and ask questions.

If you can - ask somebody with a bit of experience to go out with you. Just two of you.

Pick a day with not to much wind, wear your lifejacket (you will feel safer) and HAVE FUN.

You will be sailing before you know.
You will be sailning not to impress others, but to have fun!

Good luck and dont forget to send us some pictures