New Boat 4 Sled

[BobJ]

"I really can't think of anything I would change if we were starting over."

That's a great report and a testimony not only to the design, but also to the experience of the owner/builder.

Regarding white bottom paint, this is our first in-the-water season with Micron CSC in Shark White. An unscheduled mid-season haulout provided a chance to see how the paint was holding up. Answer = not that well compared with the white Trilux 33 we'd had for 5-6 seasons (re-applied about every 18 months). The entire forward section of the rudder was bare and there were thin spots elsewhere on the hull and keel. A diver has cleaned the Micron every six weeks or so, I'm told with a cloth diaper. The Trilux was perhaps a bit softer yet seemed more resistent to scrubbing and had better anti-fouling ability. Trilux isn't copper-based so the paint didn't turn green around the waterline. Lastly, you can buy it in an aerosol can so you can touch up the paint more easily when hauled out. If I had to decide today, I'd switch back to Trilux. (Vivid, Micron CSC and Trilux 33 are the only three white bottom paints I know about.)

Rags' inflatable is the smallest Achilles, and it weighs about 35 pounds. I haven't used it much - mostly for the visit to Hanalei in 2008. It is fairly compact - maybe I can remember to bring it by while you're in town so you can play with it.

Is WILDFLOWER up for a visit to Vallejo on Oct 6-7 (The SSS Vallejo 1-2)?

[AlanH]

I'm guessing we cruised about 700 miles and visited 30-35 harbors and anchorages. Likely we motorsailed 80% of the time at .3 gal/hour. The most wind we saw underway was 20-25, and we reefed twice. The most water we anchored in was 35', but usually much less, maybe 10' at low water. Mosquitos were evident in only one anchorage, Prideaux Haven.

The biggest surprise was the amount of floating eel grass and kelp. We kept the daggerboard raised 90% of the time, and often kicked up the rudder every 15 minutes or so.

The design and construction of WILDFLOWER proved excellent. Nothing came unstuck, although we did blow out a 30 year old spinny in 20 knts. TWS. Despite continual lookout, we did hit considerable flotsam and jetsam, often small pieces of wood disguised as kelp. It would go "bang," but I can't find any scratches or damage. Underway, we sighted maybe a dozen large logs that would have caused damage or worse. Most motorboats in the Pac NW carry spare props. We never sailed at night.

I really can't think of anything I would change if we were starting over. Stability was never an issue. The boat carried quite a bit of gear, provisions, fuel and water, and came down to her waterline. Loaded she was 2" deeper than unloaded, and about .5 knot slower on most points. Max loaded speed I saw was 10.8, but we may have gone faster. Average cruising speed for the duration was about 5.5. Our speed instrument was a Velocitek Speed Puck. But we didn't always leave it on because it sucked AA batteries and would go flat in less than 10 hours.

That said, I have a three page list of improvements and fine tuning. We need to fine tune the trailer for ramp launching. I need to become more familiar with rotating the mast. Or I will pin it on centerline. The mast rotation causes some difficulty raising and lowering halyards, as aft pull on the halyard to the winch causes the mast to rotate. (All halyards cleat on the mast.)

The dinghy question remains open. We carried a 9' Avon Redcrest rowing inflatable. It worked well, but did not tow well either on short or long scope. Bringing it aboard and deflating was also a pain. It weighs 50 pounds. Kayaks won't fit, nor will a SUP.

For those who don't know, RAGTIME and MOKU provided a considerable amount of deck gear, fastenings, and line. I am very grateful for this, and it all worked well. Being able to say the deck gear was "recycled" caused interest.

We were continually surprised by cool discoveries aboard WILDFLOWER and how she performed. The MVP, a big surprise, was John Foster's below deck, bridge deck, ocean hatch. We called it the "Aquarium." Another surprise was how well behaved she was towing behind the car. Despite 8'6" highway legal beam, viz down both sides of the car and boat with the standard rearview mirrors was excellent, and I was never surprised with a blind spot.

What didn't work? Well, the "quality" Stanhope propane camp stove really was a piece of Chinese crap. The stainless rusted, the igniter spring flew out, the plastic control knobs cracked off......The Petit Vivid white bottom paint was also a loser. Antifouling was poor. And any water pollution stuck to the waterline, causing an oily black ring around the bathtub.

I hope to have WILDFLOWER in the Bay Area (Brickyard?) during October, and invite any/all SSS members for a sail.

Very interesting......and good. If the only significant issue was the propane stove and the antifouling paint, I think you did pretty darned well!

[sleddog]

RAGTIME questions: Is WILDFLOWER up for a visit to Vallejo on Oct 6-7 (The SSS Vallejo 1-2)?

Well now. It had not occurred to me until mentioned. Why not sail to Vallejo and introduce WILDFLOWER to you? I wouldn't be racing. The foiling "S" daggers are still under construction, as is the 4 element wing .... Thus we've no stinkin' rating, among other things. But I'd be glad to unofficially shadow the fleet and be your beer boat at the finish.

That is, IF Alan H agrees to bring his Skerry to Vallejo to see if she (he) meets our collective approval, and to see IF
Alan really can fit aboard with his pipes and caber. That's a big IF. But he's a big boy.

[Travieso]

That would be a treat.

[sleddog]

It is sobering to see video of large cement dock from Tsunami floating north of Molokai.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/b...170624986.html
Hitting that thing would spoil one's day. Hawaiian fishermen are concerned, but local CG are unsure what to do. It's sister washed ashore at Agate Beach in Oregon and became an instant tourist attraction.

On a lighter note, what happens to a video camera at St.FYC when a seagull flies off with it at sunset is recorded here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RArofHji8CU

[sleddog]

If one only does one race/year, Lake Tahoe's Fannette Island Race is a sure bet to provide good competition, a challenging course, and spectacular scenery. The windward mark on the 13 mile course rounds a fabled stone mini-castle on Fannette Island at the head of Emerald Bay. The challenges include random circular and nearly vertical component wind gusts descending from nearby Mt. Tallac. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Emerald_Bay.jpg

Yesterday's race with good friends Viola and Denis on their Moore 24 AIRBORNE was no exception. Denis did foredeck, I was midships, and Viola drove. Lake Wind Advisories were flying, and we had 15-18 knots from the SW at the start. Most of the 15 boats were flying #3's, and some were reefed.

First mark was a close fetch to Taylor Creek. 25 knot gusts at times knocked down competitors, and several "auto-tacked." At Taylor Creek, the two Express 27's led, we were third, and another Moore, Lynn Wright's APRES SKI and the Melges-24 ZOOM ZOOM were nipping at our heels. The smaller boats had started 5 minutes ahead, and were also nearby, including a Santana 22 with Steve Katzman, a Ranger 22, a Santana 20 and some others.

From Taylor Creek we reached two miles to the entrance of Emerald Bay. Some attempted port pole spinnakers with mixed success. The gusts were well forward and in the high 20's. I saw the bottom of at least one of the Express 27's keel. The Melges 24 briefly had their spreaders in the water.

The entrance channel into Emerald Bay is tight, five lengths wide and bounded by submerged granite boulders visible in the clear water. This is where the stern-paddle-wheeler MS TAHOE QUEEN always seems to converge to make things even more exciting. Yesterday was no exception, and I'm sure several competitors had their hearts in their throats as the TAHOE QUEEN appeared on schedule, and alternately went from full speed to dead stopped, and then back to full speed.
http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/Lak...isesPhotos.cfm

The two mile beat up to Fannette Island featured winds 10-25 knots, with 30 degree instant shifts coming down the granite cliffs. I'd rigged our #3 sheets two part, so we could tack without using a winch. We got passed by Lynn, and caught by WIND DANCE the SC-27, and a J-22. You can round Fannette Island either way, and there seemed to be no "right way." The swirling winds saw boats side by side, going the same way, on opposite tacks.

Running back out Emerald Bay, the two Express 27's, EAGLE and EXPRESSWAY and the Melges continued to lead. We jibed the spinny several times in 20 knots of wind. Several boats, including EXPRESSWAY, went belly up for extended periods in big puffs. At the Emerald Bay entrance, there again was the TAHOE QUEEN, its upper decks lined with tourists enjoying the show. Can you ask for "sea room" on a paddle-wheeler cruise ship? ;-)

The beat back to Taylor Creek favored the starboard board and there we all set spinnys for the 3 mile run to "R" mark down by S. Shore's casinos. Some big blasts came along and the Moore 24's were planing gaily along. I thought surely our well worn spinnaker would burst. One puff caught the J-80 HOT ROD and ourselves side-by-side. Before their sprit came into our cockpit, their asso wrapped, allowing us to pull ahead. Nearby boats later reported a steady 13-14 knots of boat speed.

We rounded "R" mark two lengths behind Lynn and knew we were in the hunt. Halfway up the final beat we caught Lynn, forcing her about. But then she made two nice tacks into favorable shifts, and beat our wet butts to the finish by three lengths. Well done Lynn!

It was an exhilarating day to be sailing. For anyone desiring a fresh water, mountain sailing experience, I recommend Windjammers Yacht Club's Fannette Island Race, the third Sunday in September. There are always crew positions open in the fleet as most, like ourselves, were racing short handed. And the post-race party is a hoot. Sea stories at 6,000 feet.

[AlanH]

Tempting. I really have been missing my SSS sailing. Every time I drive over the Bay Bridge, I look down and remember. Ah, well. Someday, again.

Unfortunately on October 6th I have commitments. My band has a gig from 12:00 - 3:00 and we're going to see Don Byron at SF Jazz that night.

[sleddog]

In the "All Things Lost and Found" story department, we admired Ruben and Ronnie's ocean retrieval of BELA BARTOK.

Then on 9/21 we saw a seagull fly off with some lady's video cam, only to land with its booty at the St.Francis Yacht Club.

Continuing in this vein, there is currently a real "Aw Shucks" story of launching a 4 year old kid's model train engine into Space. Stanley went up 18 miles over Tracy before he parachuted back to a corn field. Like BELA BARTOK, Stanley's recovery was aided by a GPS transponder. A train in space is not the Blue Angels over the City Front. But the story is just as good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoMN-zg7r3M

[Libations Too]

Many thanks Skip for the very engaging account of your adventures with your new Wildflower. I've been following your reports all summer and it is some of the best armchair sailing I have done in a long time. Thanks again!

A technical question: can you give a review of your solar panel mount design, hardware selection, and performance? I have been thinking of adding a small panel to Libations and want to find a mount that is secure and yet allows repositioning to suit conditions. It looks as though yours allows panel stowage in a vertical position and can be adjusted to accommodate various sun angles when needed. Your review and thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[sleddog]

Richard,
Thankyou for your kind comment and question regarding WILDFLOWER's solar panel.

My panel was the first solar panel made for yachts, back in 1976. It was the sole source of charging aboard WILDFLOWER for the first SHTP in 1978. That it still works is a source of amusement in this day and age.

The panel is quite heavy, and with its frame and mounts, even heavier. But the price was right. A problem with this panel is that any shade renders it inoperative. It must be in clear sun. Even the shade of the thin line of the backstay puts it offline. Again, I don't care. But that would be the first question I would ask: “does the solar panel still put out if partially shaded?” If the answer is “no,” suggest looking elsewhere.

My panel is adjustable side to side. When aimed directly at the sun in a clear sky, it puts out 1 amp. Less than half that when tilted 45 degrees away from direct.

The panel is wired directly to the group 27 battery. No regulator or reverse diode. I don't believe with this size panel you can overcharge. To test the panel charging, I touch the alligator clips of the two wires to my tongue. It is also a good way to wake yourself up when groggy.

The panel is gimballed off the starboard stern pulpit, and can go from horizontal to vertical. I put the longer side inboards, so zealous neighbors don't rip it off when blowing their docking manuver. (see photos.)

The panel is secured to an aluminum frame I built from scraps. To the bottom of this frame two white thumbscrew friction clamps are attached. These clamps may or may not still be available commercially. I see them occasionally at swap meets. But they are not listed in the West Catalogue. I have the thumbscrews cinched tight, and the panel swivels side to side only when I push down firmly on one edge.

If you are going offshore, I recommend the panel also be secured with a safety leash. A pooping wave will often dislodged a panel, especially the bigger ones. I had one waterski astern for 10 minutes, and when retrieved, it continued to function.

Hope this helps.