Getting Used to Fear

[sunchaser]

Gonzo ;* Do you have substanial cleats, on either side of the bow, and*not associated with your Sampson Post that you can tie two bridle lines to? Chain hooks from either side on 20 -25 feet of rope is very simple and keeps your center line clear and safe for other anchor raising chores. Just start anchoring and you'll figure it out. As mentioned, unless designed for the task, your windlass should*not be the*load/tie point

 

[Tom.B]

Yes we do, but you're missing the point. We already HAVE a v-snubber/bridle rig, but I don't want to use it just to set the anchor or just to anchor for short periods. We'll use THAT for overnight stays, etc.

I'm asking that since the windlass is between the sampson post and the bow rollers (see pic on page 5), what is the best way to route a SINGLE snubber line (that I still need to make) around the windlass? Or even if I should.

Well, and how can you tell what the bottom is like before you drop anchor.

 

[skipperdude]

In the old days a lead weight was used with a hole full of grease in the end. You would drop it over and sample the bottom by what stuck to the grease.

Now a days you could dive or drop a camera over to have a look see.

SD

 

[Carey]

SteveI spent a total of fifteen months in LA post Katrina, working for FEMA. I arrived in Baton Rouge two weeks after the storm. I then worked in Raceland, on Hwy 1, then Breau Bridge, and a stretch in Lake Charles. I went back Sept. '06, and worked all over the state, with about four months in New Orleans. I had Grand Isle as part of my turf for a while, which required my visiting the island once or twice a week. Pretty cool place. I sure hope the Deepwater Horizon leak doesn't destroy your coast.
Carey


Here's a few more photos from that experience.


First photo was taken in SW Mississippi. FEMA trailer and Rolls.

Second photo is a bridge over the bayou. Note the sign warning of the bridge condition.
Third photo is one of the many Mardi Gras floats on Canal St.


-- Edited by Carey on Friday 30th of April 2010 11:21:01 AM

 

[sunchaser]

Gonzo* From about the age of 13 on, I fretted I would die before I lost my virginity. Just toss the hook and get with it! It will all work out.

With the right anchor, the type of bottom doesn't matter. My V bridle is set by my wife in about 90 seconds. For God's sake Gonzo, just DO IT!!!

 

[Forkliftt]

Yes, Gonzo. Just do it!!
Carey,
Great pictures. I guess you noticed we are a very interesting bunch down here
I can't believe this oil has reached this far already. OK- back to the topic. Go for it Gonzo! Drop that anchor, go to sleep and give us an update!

 

[Tom.B]

Jeez... FINE you guys

As soon as we get back to the Neuse we'll start. Part of the issue is the dog. The Carbon Wife Unit will not let us attempt it if the dog is with us.

 

[Marin]

GonzoF1 wrote:

Part of the issue is the dog. The Carbon Wife Unit will not let us attempt it if the dog is with us.

Whenwe bought the GB we had a dog named RJ who went out on the boat every time we took it out until he passed on.* Two years before he died we got a puppy of the same breed, and since he was eight or nine weeks old, he, too,*has gone with us every time we have taken the boat out.* Underway, both dogs were mostly bored* (see first photo) *until we got to where we are going at which point they got all excited because they each knew what the dinghy is and that it means they got to go ashore to explore*and play.

RJ is gone now but Albi continues the boating tradition.* After all, it's HIS boat (see second photo of him being ferried back to his "yacht").

So I have to ask...... what is your wife's concern about anchoring out with the dog on board?


-- Edited by Marin on Friday 30th of April 2010 06:31:19 PM

 

[Tom.B]

LMOA... That second pic is the greatest boat and dog pic EVER!

We don't have a very good way to get TiVo off the boat and into the dinghy. Getting him back on would be even more of a challenge. (to her) It's a high reach while someone stands in the dink and she's just scared to try it. It's a sundeck trawler so the access to the swim platform is only by ladder. ON top of that, the dink is Weaver davited (davited? NEW WORD!) She's also worries he will need to poop in the middle of the night. There is so much to say, but you get the picture. She does not want to screw with it... So we don't. I have insisted that we try, but she'll have none of it. It's a battle I do not wish to wage... So we move on.

 

[Marin]

Well, I can understand your wife's concerns. I don't know how big TiVo is, but the breed we have (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever) typically weighs between 40 and 50 pounds. It's the smallest of the retriever breeds, about the size of a Border Collie. This plus the relatively short lift from the swimstep to the aft rail makes it easy to get Albi in and out of the lowered Livingston which is still attached to the swimstep with the Weaver davits so is very stable.

Also, while both dogs didn't like to do it, they were both willing to go on the deck if required. We never scolded them, of course. In fact we encouraged it when Albi was a puppy but he later developed an aversion to going on the deck unless he really has to.

But when we reach an anchorage and anchor or moor up to a buoy, the first thing that happens is the Livingston goes down and the dog goes ashore. He goes in and out with us during the course of the day, and at night I take him in for his last run about 2100. The next morning he either gets us up to take him in or he waits until we take him in about 0800.

 

[Tom.B]

That might be interesting to look at, but TBH, I am really not in the market for a new hook just yet. There are more pressing projects that need our wallet's attention Still, I'd like to see it.

tobeaty at gmail dot com

 

[skipperdude]

I use a little piece of artifical turf on the deck. Works great (Washdown) Outside is outside the cabin. Good Girl. Want a cookie?

SD

 

[Tom.B]

skipperdude wrote:

I use a little piece of artifical turf on the deck. Works great (Washdown) Outside is outside the cabin. Good Girl. Want a cookie?

SD

We still talking about your dog?

-- Edited by GonzoF1 on Monday 3rd of May 2010 10:19:33 AM

 

[skipperdude]

I think so.
Wait a sec. Let me check.

Yep it was the dog.

SD

 

[Tom.B]

**UPDATE**

I wanted to give you a quick update as to how things are going. We have just finished our first "cruise". We moved the boat from New Bern to Carolina Beach, NC Easter weekend. We stayed at a very nice marina there for a month (Joyner Marina) on the weekends, then we spent n eventfull last week bringing her back to her home slip. Some of the fear has been tamed, and yet, been replaced by frustration.

There is, however, more good news than bad news. Having learned what we did about planning a trip such as this, we worked a lot of buffer time into the trip. Good thing too. We woke up Monday with plans to make way only to find a terrible weather day. Or at least what was SUPPOSED to be a bad-weather day. The morning looked like crap so we decided to stay until it was predicted to clear up on Tuesday afternoon. Well, we were able to get a good suntan Monday afternoon thanks to all of that. So when we left on Tuesday afternoon when it was predicted to clear up, we were able to get more practice navigating in the driving rain. Oh well... We had a very good dinner in Surf City anyway.

The next day had us wake to patchy fog. We didn't let it delay us too much because it was still light enough for us to still navigate. Once it cleared we decided to press forward to Beaufort instead of stopping for the night in Swansboro. About mid day, we thought it still would be nice to stop and let the dog pee at Casper's in Swansboro, so we pulled up for a quick breather. Well... Skinny Dippin' refused to restart. I suppose it was lucky that it did this at a boatyard. The mechanic that was working on someone else's boat managed to help us get it restarted and we pressed on to Morehead City. We changed our final stop because we did NOT want to be stuck in the high rent district of Beaufort with a boat that may not restart. So we opted to stay at our favorite marina in Morehead.

We hoped Skinny Dippin' would give us just ONE MORE fire on Thursday to get us home, but it was not going to happen. And of course, it happened with friends and family on board. The starter had failed. We pulled it off and were able to get the starter to a rebuild place that really came through for us. Neuse Starter and Generator rebuilt our starter in one day for $117.00!! Once the new starter was in place, we quickly realized that it was one of the primary electrical problems we have had for six moinths. So part of the fear of losing starting power when we anchor out for the first time has really been put to rest.

Still, the whole ordeal has its moments of anxiety and near meltdown. I got frustrated with things quickly. I think it was somewhat compounded by the fact that my family had shown up for a day of boating, only to find a broken boat and angry owner. Too, I was able to really deal more with the single-digit depths this time. I have learned to trust that seeing a 6 or 7 on the sounder still means I have enough water and not the other way around.

I feel like I have come a good ways this month, but know I still have a ways to go. We had a blast with this and we know far more now than we both did just a month ago. We met a lot of good people in that time and hope to meet more in the future. Thanks to y'all for helping and listening to these rantings.

 

[Forkliftt]

Glad to hear things worked out. Thanks for the update!

 

[Peter B]

Hi Gonzo, sounds like you inherited the same issue we did. Worn out starter motor. Early on after buying our Clipper (CHB) 34, we were out on our shakedown cruise and started having trouble getting the starter motor to kick in. I found I could usually get it to go if I got the SO to turn the key while I tapped madly at the region of the solenoid on the starter motor, which on the Lehman 120, as you would know, is on the left front of the engine, so the floor had to come up for this. Well doing it at your leisure, and when not entertaining - or encountering nasty weather, is one thing, but when it happened one night when we anchored in serene calm, only to be caught in an unforecasted Southerly buster, dragging anchor on a lee shore and down to 1 metre depth, (at 0.6m I'm touching bottom), with white water breaking round us....well that was another matter....
Imagine, dragging anchor - dark as pitch and pouring with rain with be-all visibility, also no GPS at that time, and the damned starter decided to hissy-fit again. Up with the floor - tap tap tap - finally, with great relief, it started. The rest of the ride out after upping anchor, (another time the plough was letting us down, incidentally), and then navigating to shelter just using barely visible lit beacons - well it was quite exhilirating actually, (adrenaline probably), but the starter issue I could have done without. First job after that - reconditioned starter motor. Starts first blip every time now. The anchor - that's another story - see the thread on the '4 best innovations'.

 

[Keith]

For those of you with Lehmans, American Diesel sells complete spares kits. One for coastal cruising and another for extended cruising. I accumulated the latter over time. Spare starter, RW pump, FW pump, injector pipes, starter, etc. They will send you the lists if you want, so you can inventory what you have / need. Even if you're broken down in port, you'll have the spares right at hand rather than having to wait for them.

 

[Tom.B]

I called the guy at the starter place just yesterday to see if he can get his hands on another one so I can always have a spare with me from now on.

 

[FF]

If you have the save the space its far better to purchase a removed engine , just like yours.

A couple of hundred bucks (at most) will provide a couple of thousands of bucks worth of usable parts.

IF our 6-71 dies , the replacement only needs hoisting.

 

[Peter B]

Yes, but you can hardly go cruising taking a whole spare engine, FF, and that's what Gonzo wants to do - just have a spare starter motor along. Personally, I wouldn't bother because a fully reconditioned starter motor is incredibly reliable, and almost certainly therefore it will be something else which lets go, if anything, and I doubt most cruisers without diesel mechanic experience would have on trying to change a starter motor out on the water anyway, (helluvajob), so subscribe to Sea Tow and save the money, weight and space is my advice Gonzo. It's only worth taking spares for things you are pretty sure you can change yourself, with the tools you have on board.

 

[Tom.B]

It was extremely easy to change. It took all of three tools and 10 minutes to get the old out. And took about 30 minutes to put the rebuilt one back in. Mostly because I spent 10 minutes trying to fish the bolt I dropped out of the bilge pan.

I figure it's a no-brainer to carry a spare. Even WITH TowBoat US coverage. I'd MUCH rather be under my own power after a 20-minute starter swap than wait literally hours upon hours to be "rescued".

Although, FF has a good point. A spare engine would be a great idea, but I would only keep it on an engine stand in the garage to either sift parts off of, or to have rebuilt it myself for a future engine swap should something horrible befall my current power plant.

The question is: Where do you find a nearly whole 6.354M for a couple-hundred bucks? I am skeptical.

 

[Tidahapah]

You can't carry all the spares, but I carry spare starter, generator, injectors (2 off Main Eng and 1 for Gen Eng) a few adjustable injector fuel lines, plus all the spare pump impellers, hoses, jointing material I may need to carry out repairs.
Down our way and out where I cruise there is no Sea Tow so if you can't repair it it is on the HF to see if you can be salvaged.
Unless you are cruising the crowded waterways where help is usually at hand you should have a basic understanding of your systems and a basic knowledge of how to do some repairs or change components.

Benn

 

[FF]

Where do you find a nearly whole 6.354M for a couple-hundred bucks? I am skeptical.

Craigs list would be the place to post a FREE wanted add.

Spare injectors and esp the pipes to them , the fuel lift pump and even the injectot pump , IF you have Da Book , so it could be installed.

The starter and rebuilt cylinder head takes little room and could save a couple of grand (new gaskets required) .

A torque wrench is about $20 at Sears.

Exhaust risers and even the manifolds might not take much space and could save major bucks , but then there is always JB Weld .

FF

 

[Marin]

Peter B wrote:

Yes, but you can hardly go cruising taking a whole spare engine.....

We do, every time we go out.*

 

[skipperdude]

Spare engine?

Sure it's called twins.

Best and only reason for 2 on a boat. IMHO

SD

 

[Marin]

skipperdude wrote:Best and only reason for 2 on a boat. IMHO

Or.... if you just like operating engines, as I do.* As I've said before, I'd have three of them on our boat if we could.* I like running multiple engines--- adds another element to operating a boat (or plane).* The economy of a single engine, plus the reduced maintenance and service time and expense, is certainly appealing.* But we chartered a single-engine GB before we bought the boat we have, and while we did not go into our GB purchase caring if we got a single or a twin, I'm glad we ended up with a twin as it makes running the boat a lot more fun (for me).* By comparison (for me) running a single engine boat is just a tad boring.

Don't misinterpret me--- there are single engine boats I prefer to the GB--- at least in terms of their designs; their build quality is an unknown to me.* The top two are the Victory Tug and the Krogen.* But strictly talking running engines, I much prefer running two (or more) than just one.

Years ago I had the opportunity to do some filming from an oil rig service boat off Southern California.* The boat I was on had three engines, as did most of the rig boats at that time.* Three engines and no bow thruster.* To watch the skipper of that boat manipulate those three engines to hold the boat in an exact position and alignment in rather lumpy water while the rig's crane operator picked stuff off the deck impressed the hell out of me.* This was long before I got into operating a boat myself, so today, I have even more appreciation for that fellow's abilities.

There are two rules I believe in when it comes to power.* In cars, planes, boats, and lawnmowers, there's no such thing as too much power.* And in boats there's no such thing as too many engines.

*


-- Edited by Marin on Monday 17th of May 2010 10:36:25 AM

 

[RT Firefly]

Hiya,
** Gotta love the clickety/clackity of those diesels.* When they're "working" nothing beats the sound.

 

[sunchaser]

Right on Marin. The best place for spare parts is indeed that already perfectly running spare engine, and drive train!!

Be ready, somebody is about to chime in with "yeah how about bad fuel though - doesn't help twins?" And more Blah blah blither blather--------------.

 

[Tom.B]

I must chime in only to say that as this was our FIRST big boat purchase, that I have had no experience with working on diesels, AND that we didn't want to make the mistake of buying too much boat for our first while trying to keep costs down... I am very happy with my single-screw... for now. I'm fairly sure we'll get a dually when next time rolls around, but for now, a single is right for us.