RIGGING SURVEY September 30, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
The other major things turned out to be a crack in the fitting on a mizzen spreader end. The second one was a crack on one side of a U-swedge fitting that is on the wire running through my main roller furling. That’s not good. Having the main and roller furling break loose at the top and come flying at you while sailing could make for a real bad day.
The rigger told me to remove the Main and do not use the Genny. I had not even got the Genny back up. He said I can use the staysail and mizzen. Moving 57,000 lbs. with about 400 sq. ft. of sail gives new meaning to going slow. The sails are far enough apart that it is like racing in a lee bow situation, but I can not tack the mizzen away.
I have sailed with this type configuration when coming home and starting to take off the sails and have rolled up the Genny and main. I know the boat slows down to about a crawl, but have not been in this configuration long enough to worry about. We are about to find out. I do not go into the yard for another 3 weeks, and I will go sailing before then.
September 25, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
September 25, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
FORCED DECISIONS September 25, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Repairs, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
Back when I ran across another Durbeck who was a cruiser, he asked about my chain plates. I keep then clean and polished, but have one that the bottom bolt seeps rust that I clean off every 6 months. He had a chain plate break. That is never a good thing. Time for a rigging survey.
I have know our local rigger for several years and have respect for his knowledge. I asked him to go over the rig from top to bottom and that was the easy part. I knew I had a crack in a Stayloc nut on one of my whisker stays. This was not a big deal, just strange. I do not understand how a nut that actually screws into another part and is held in place can crack.
September 23, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
September 23, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
September 23, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
ROPE ANTENNA September 23, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
Running up the antenna. This was easy. As mentioned before, I had added a block and line to the aft end of the mast top plate. The antenna comes with attachment points and shackles for each end. Attach shackles and pull line tight. I can do this. You also have a connection for the antenna that attached to the wire that leads from the tuner. During electrical storms I can just lower the antenna and coil it up. I do not know weather that would help in a strike. I figure with my luck, all this equipment will end up as a big ozone cloud. If there is a hurricane, I will cut the wire and install a coupler. I only need 4 ½ more years without a hurricane, then it will have to chase me.
It is there and it works. The first major buy for going cruising. What next. Need to make a decision soon and have no real idea. Am thinking about an autopilot, but am concerned about how it will run with my chart plotter, radar upgrade. Decisions, decisions.
September 18, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
INSTILLATION OF RADIO CONTROLER AND SPEEKER September 18, 2008
Posted by sailingnightwatch in Durbeck, FL, Florida, ICW, Pensacola, Restoration, Sailing, Sailing the ICW.add a comment
Finely something easy. All I had to do is cut a square and rectangular hole in a 1” bulkhead. This meant figuring where I wanted to put the holes, get the wife/interior consultant ok and start cutting. First, drill a couple holes to accommodate the jigsaw blade and cut away. Even with a new blade, cutting through 1 inch is a challenge, but beats pulling wirers. I did not even have to drill holes for the control wire and speaker wire. Through the years the bulkhead to the back of the chart table area have had many wires pulled through, so there is always a hole that will take one more wire.
