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Author
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Topic: Last sail for Duchess
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elmet3
Member
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posted October 11, 2005 08:48 PM
   
Last weekend I put Duchess in the water at the south end of the Detroit River for a last sail. The ramp at Elisabeth Park is about 100 yards upriver of a low bridge, and there is a current of several knots. My motor has not been running well, I must keep the rpm high to keep the motor running, and I was nervous backing away from the dock. After backing away, I went to neutral to take off speed, then put the motor into forward gear. Nothing. Sheared a shear pin (did the same thing at the rendezvoous for the same reason). I was now pushed away from the dock with no motor, and with current carrying me toward a low bridge, with no room or time to put up sails. Fortunately the anchor was ready and i dropped it off the bow, and then had time to think. I pulled on the anchor rode and dragged Duchess back to the dock, tied up, and decided that I was NOT going out without a reliable motor. I ate lunch, repaired the shear pin, and set to work on the motor, determined to fix it or leave it at the bottom of the Detroit river. I have been struggling with this motor for two years. I had it repaired, after which it ran well, but over several months it had gone bad again. Knowing it COULD run well was encouraging so I dived into repair and after about one hour was very supprised to discover it ran extremely well. Slow, fast, start, neutral, without a hickup. Back out onto the Detroit river I went, motored well upstream of that bridge, set my sails and stopped the motor.
THe south end of the Detroit river is not the best place to sail, but there are parks and other boats to look at, and the day was clear and cool and the wind was fabulous, 10 to 15 knots. I hove to about 4 o'clock and had tea and scones! About 6 o'clock I started the motor (one pull) and came back to the marina. Duchess is now in the garage for the winter. Not too many plans for winter work, but I will finish recoating the woodwork.
It still takes me a long time to put Duchess in or out of the water. At least an hour by myself. A previous thread discussed the time required to do this and nobody else says it takes that long, but I have not been able to reduce the time below one hour. That pinches my desire to trailer her anyplace and put her in for one day, but I am looking for places to keep her in the water for 2 or 3 days and that makes the trouble much more tolerable. I am especially looking forward to sailing the north end of lake Huron next summer. And as the memory of the long drive to this summer's rendezvous fades, I am starting to think about the next rendezvous. For now, it's just going to be armchair sailing with some good books.
Arthur IP: 68.73.54.119 |
whited
unregistered
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posted October 11, 2005 10:44 PM
Arthur...are you all by yourself rigging the boat for launch?IP: 142.167.230.161 |
Eric
Member
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posted October 12, 2005 07:14 AM
The more times I rig and de-rig, I seem to get more proficient at it. I usually do it myself. Even if there is help, the set up time isn't drastically reduced.I have not really timed myself, nor do I care to. I would rather take careful time to insure I've got everything right, than go out on the water half assed, and have to fix something on the water. Glad to read you had a good season Arthur! Hopefully will meet up again next year  . Eric IP: 130.63.85.93 |
Ken
Member
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posted October 12, 2005 10:32 AM
Arthur...you're not slow at rigging. It used to take me at least an hour (by myself) to rig the boat for reliable and safe sailing.
Perhaps you can find a sailing club with dry sail parking. Park your boat on the trailer with mast and boom up. I used to sail ShortWave that way in Mississauga on Lake Ontario. They had a two wheeled dolly with a trailer hitch to manoever the trailer safely out of the lot, then I would hook up the car and back the trailer down the ramp into the water. You can keep the sail on the boom and just tuck the whole thing inside the hull between sails. Check out sailing clubs and marinas in your area that will allow you to keep your boat there on a trailer with the mast up.IP: 141.117.228.250 |
whited
unregistered
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posted October 12, 2005 10:59 AM
Ken...that's exactly what i'm looking for.
Just nor sure if I want to be on salt water or a local lake.
Depending on security at the club, I'd probably remove the mainsail, boom, rudder assembly and throw into the van each time.IP: 142.167.230.161 |
elmet3
Member
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posted October 12, 2005 11:03 AM
Don, it's just me. Sometimes my daughter comes along, but usually just me.
Ken, that is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you. IP: 67.107.33.106 | |
