Friday, January 27, 2023

OH, NO!

As I was prepping for my first launch, I decided to move the boat around and make it easier to get the CIY out. I moved Anago out to the road and moved Disciple Ship away from the side of the house so that I could get here out without moving either of the other two trailers. I want to make it as accessible, easy and quick to taker her out. The easier, the more she'll get wet.

When it was time to put the Hunter back in the yard, I re-hitched her and started backing down the drive and over toward the side of the house. Suddenly I heard/felt something (it's a bit of a blur). I looked behind me and the trailer had come off the hitch! What?!!!

I quickly got out of the SUV and went to see. The first thing I thought was that I may have forgotten to secure the latch on the hitch. No. It was down and in the locked position. Had I not gotten the hitch down onto the ball far enough? I really don't know. That's possible. It's also possible the adjustment on the hitch needs tightening. One thing is for sure - I'll have to check it all out before towing her again. 

The worst thing that happened was the outboard broke in two! Yep, looks like it's ruined.  Someone said that I might be able to get parts. We'll see. In any case, it's going to cost some money, whether in repair, replace or reduced selling price. 

What a sad sight! It turned out it was quite the chore getting the tongue back down. I attached my hitch extender to the hitch, back it under the tongue, backed my neighbors truck down to the boat, looped a heavy rope around the tongue, under the hitch and attached to the truck and then slowly pulled the truck out. The hitch came down readily. 


The motor got caught between the boat and the ground. Motor lost the battle.


Close up after reattaching trailer. Ugh?


I was not using the safety chains. Bad on me, but I thought I'm must in the yard. Also, I did not have enough weight on the trailer tongue. When I last retrieved the boat, I didn't get her far enough up on the trailer. There was just barely any weight on the tongue. I knew this but didn't have to trailer far from the ramp. I knew any bigger trip would require a better arrangement. 

I still don't know why it happened. Further investigation is a must. 



LAUNCHED!

It has been two months since I finished the boat (is it ever really finished?). Timing, holidays, sickness, cold weather, schedules, etc. derailed any attempt to launch the boat until now. 

I have been on the search for a suitable day, one that I hoped would be reasonbly warm, sunny, light wind and one in which my family could participate. My birthday loomed large. Forecast was decent: rain in the morning giving way to mostly cloudy skies with temps in the upper 60's. A Tuesday would exclude Tara and crew but that idea was sinking on my list of suitable days. Did they really care that much anyway? 

So what better day to launch? I set out to make it happen. I prepped as much in advance as I could (more on this story coming in a latter post) including new tires on the trailer and came home early from church. The sun was peeking out and it looked like it might be fairly sunny which was good. 

Here is Disciple Ship ready to go. Pretty - ain't she?


At the ramp getting ready to rig the boat. Rigging went very smoothly. I took my time. I didn't actually time it but take down took 30 minutes. That time will improve with practice. 


I tied a rope to the bow and, after putting her in the water, gave the boat a shove toward the dock. With the lake at winter pool, it was a short distance to the dock. Here I am getting things ready to shove off. That's a 5 gallon bucket I took as a bailer. It's too big! Got to come up with something else. The pitcher I used on Little Bit should do. 


I'm off. I wanted to get a little distance between me and the dock before hoisting the mainsail. What little wind there was seemed to be blowing out but I didn't want to chance winding up on the rocks my first outing. 


Raising the mainsail proved to be a little bit of a challenge. And the lazyjacks halyard got jammed. I'm wondering if the lazyjacks setup is interferring with the main halyard. I'm going to take it off before the next sail and see if it does any better. Below you can see here with full sail deployed! That's one big mainsail! She's luffing a bit here. Not much wind and I'm trying to get her on a tack. When I did get a good puff, that mainsail filled and looked absolutely beautiful. 


A little closer. Oops! Forgot to get in my fenders. Bad form, but I had a lot on my mind. 


After tacking around a bit, I doused the sail and rowed back in. Here I've turned around so I can see the ramp and make a soft landing. 


Successful first launch!


Disciple Ship at rest. Good girl! 


I believe she is going to be a fun boat. I felt very comfortable out there. I won't be quite so nervous the next time out. Can hardly wait!