posted May 01, 2003 04:42 AM               

In the fall I changed my bottom end oil and the old oil was like a milkshake! Oh well I'll deal with it in the spring.

I had changed my pump impeller 2 seasons ago when I first got the boat, but that was it. Now was time to go at the seals. I pulled the bottom end off, removed the pump and the impeller was in like new condition still(probably because it was lubricated with oil). The seal here wasn't any big deal to change, but the prop shaft seal was a different story. I made a special wrench out of pipe, with notches to fit. But the retaining ring was seized good. No penetrating oil, now amount of heat would get it off,(left hand fine thread).

Out comes the dremel, hammer, chisels, and drill. I had to break this thing up into about 6 peices to remove it. In doing so I broke a peice of the collar that retains the seal and shaft roller bearing . So now I got to back again and hopefully get this collar from the dealer. Hope it isn't to pricey. All I wanted to do was change a couple of seals, and it seems to be taking forever!! I just hope the water stays out of the oil when I'm done!!

Thanks for "listening" to my rant!

posted May 02, 2003 02:52 AM              

Actually when I was a kid my father's boat (Cape Island 32) had a nasty habit of stalling on a regular basis. It got to the point that I was actually scared of power boats. Even today I'm still a bit leary of powerboats. My experience also tells me that outboards are reliably unreliable. My "prop-jock" father and I are often at loggerheads on this issue.

On one particular occasion I was enjoying a spectacular day on the tranquil sea until it was interrupted by the noise of an obnoxious stinkpot. I scanned the horizon with my binoculars to find the source of the noise pollution but could not find the culprit. FINALLY .....after an hour, the incessant buzzing of the outboard stopped and peace settled upon the earth again. The wind was dying on me so I could hear things that were miles away from my position. After a considerable amount of time the air was once again pierced by these noisy power-boaters. Only this time there was someone calling my name. Once again I intently scanned the horizon with my binoculars all the while someone was still calling my name. "Who is that?" I muttered to myself. After a few minutes my eyes caught a flash low in the water. I focused in on the flash and slowly realized that it was my parents in the boat about three miles away from my position. The "flash" was the reflection of the sun on the wet oars. I quickly altered course to intercept the stricken vessel. When we got close enough to talk to each other (no VHF radios) I was informed that the prop had choked itself with a wayward fishing line. My father told me that he had rowed about a mile trying to get my attention. Once I saw that he was OK I decided to have some fun with him. "Dad it's seven miles back to the house, do you want to row some more or do you want me to tow you home?" I was immediately told not to be a smartass and retorted by reminding my "prop-jock" father that he's not in a position to argue with me. (All the while I was sailing in circles around him.) "Are you getting tired yet Dad?" I then spotted a larger fishing boat so I set my sails and headed for the larger (26 ft) powerboat and sheepishly asked the fishermen aboard to tow my parents in. "Excuse me sir ..... there are two senior citizens stranded in an outboard boat.....could you please get them before the old man has a heart attack?" (At the time I didn't want to admit that they're family) The kindly fisherman went out to them and within a few minutes had my parents safe at his own private wharf. Without being asked, the fisherman fixed the motor and and sent them on their way. I then listened to the droning hum of their 8hp outboard as they passed by me, leaving lung choking fumes in my nostrils, and travelled the remaining seven miles to our house. Night had fallen by this time and the air was still......except for that lousy outboard!!! When the humming finally stopped ..... I knew they had made it home.

I, in the meantime, was trying to work the zephyrs in the dark without much success. I'd continually checked the telltales on the genoa with the flashlight. Oh How I wish I had the spinnaker aboard!! Fortunately I had planned my trip so that the incoming tide would carry me to my destination. Rather then getting myself stressed out I relaxed and welcomed the warm September night. It was during this time that I had my most enjoyable sailing experience. The flat water just ahead of the bow had begun to inexplicibly bubble and churn. Then I heard something flopping around in the cockpit. I reached for the flashlight and discovered that a fish had jumped into the boat. I simply couldn't believe my eyes. I had caught a fish without even using a rod and reel. I knew I didn't have a camera on board, so I put the fish into a plastic bag as proof of my catch. ( I was also wondering if God was supplying me with supper because land was not getting very close)

After practicing more light air techniques the most beautiful warm wind carressed the sails of Celtic Kiss and we were off like a rocket. The phospherence in the water was sparking all over the boat like a well done fireworks display. Two hours later, I zipped into the dock and did some nifty close-quarter maneuvering to make an absolutely perfect docking. (As usual nobody is around to witness the good ones.) The wind stayed like that for the next three days. That was definitely the best night sail I had ever done and I would have missed it all if I had been in a powerboat.

Robert
Celtic Kiss #2120

posted May 02, 2003 03:48 AM               

As for night sailing, I had my first experience last summer on a friends boat, actually a yacht(44'er), on Lake Erie. It was beautiful. It really adds another dimension to sailing. I intend to get out on Lake Simcoe with my Sandpiper this summer.

posted May 02, 2003 12:09 PM              

For the bowlight, I bought one of those flashlight units at Canadian Tire. It's red on one side and green on the other. I have the same thing for a masthead light. Whern installed the white light shines 360 degrees. The only problem with that is I have to take the mast down every time i plan to use it.

I just received a note from the Binnacle in Halifax. I am told that some tall ships will be there this summer.

posted May 04, 2003 12:02 PM               

They're great. With a bit of fidgeting we can night sail a canoe, Laser, or small 10hp motor boat.

posted May 06, 2003 02:25 PM              

I am hoping to add a motor to my CL 16. I plan to get a motor bracket from the CL Sailboat shop.

I am wondering, in using the motor, do most people leave the rudder off and steer with the motor? Or do they leave the motor set straight, and stear with the rudder and tiller?

Also, any problems with the rudder getting chewed up by the prop? What steps, if any, do others take to prevent this?

Finally, I am wondering what experience people have with lazy jacks.

When I drop the sails I end up with a pile in the bottom of the boat, and the boom is in the way of any steering by the tiller. Even with a topping lift, which I have tried, while the boom stays up, the mainsail is still in the bottom of the boat, unless I take time to furl or pile in on the boom and tie it down.

It seems to me that lazy jacks (I think that's what they are called...ropes from the boom to the top of the mast to catch the sails as they fall) may be the answer, but I have no experience with them. I've found sometimes the more complicated the rigging gets, the more tangled up I get, and the more opportunity there is to screw up, especially as I get older and more absent minded. So maybe lazy jacks are more trouble than they're worth.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Mac