she floats well kinda

[bkafer]

we drive around the lake to get to our house. I had the Oday in tow and after 80 miles I was glad to see the lake. Glad, that is until I see it looks like a mirror. Not one breath or wind.
We get to the house and unload the car, get everything put away and then I see it. Yes one of the hanging flags moved, not a lot but it moved.
We jumped into the car and headed to the ramp. Thats when the trouble started.
I backed down the ramp and hear a crash. Part of the support holding the mast broke. The weld just decided it was time to go. No problem we'll get that fixed during the week.
I would liked to have rigged the boat on land but some genius decided to put overhead wires across the middle of the ramp. So in she goes and while I'm parking the car Dee moves the boat around the dock and onto the sandy beach. The first thing I notice is water in the back of the boat.
The water was coming in thru the plug. Well I had an extra plug and that took care of that.
she's rigged and we push off and try to turn the boat so we can start the motor. Just then the wind decides to start blowing and is sending us towards the docks. We both paddle like mad , get the boat facing out and the motor starts on the 3rd pull ( ye ha). It runs for about 30 seconds and stops. I choke it and it starts on the second pull , runs 30 seconds and stops . Ok so choke , start , as it begins to sputter I pull out the choke and it runs normal for a bit. Took about 3 minutes and she's now running great so It may have been dirt or who knows what . ( the last time this motor was used was 2001 . ) ( i took it apart when I got it and new plugs and hoses and filters and took the carb apart and cleaned it) Now I'm happy its running good.
So I tell the mate ( she thinks she's the admiral) to raise the jib. What?
The jib, raise it. Isn't that what you steer with, the jib?
So now I'm showing her how to raise the jib.
Next the main. You have to get the slugs into the mast not too hard except I can't get the sail to go up more that about 6 feet.
The mate is sitting on part of the sail. DUH!!! ok were just a bit from shore , we catch the wind and were off.
sailed for about 3 hours BUT theres more water in the boat.
The bailer is letting water in . It seems when your moving , water comes in and when its sitting still no water.
Next I checked the inner hull. It was wet but not enough to worry about and not enough to even soak up with a sponge, it was just wet .
So I guess thats good.
Thats enough, butt hurts , tired, some sunburn lets go in for lunch.
My dock space has a tree near it, you have to go around the tree and into the slip. Suddenly she stops dead in the water and begins to turn. The board wasn't fully up. I let it go and then yanked it up till I heard the thunk knowing it was up. Now of course the wind had blown us into the tree.
I turned the motor and we seemed to come out ok. I ask the mate are we clear of that tree , and she answers yes.
I turn towards the dock and suddenly the boat leans to the side , I hear a loud snap and look up to see a spreader dangling in the breeze.
One of the lines had caught on the tree and pulled against the spreader
causing it to snap. so we left the boat in the slip, dropped the mast and took it home and took it apart and now I'm off to find some aluminum of the same size.
This morning I checked the boat, there was no more water in the boat
so thats good.

[bkafer]

So I'll make a new spreader or two , one as a spare.
If the bailer leaks on the next trip I'll pull the boat and replace it.

My question is about the water in the inner hull.

.
I open the inspection ports and the inner hull was wet. Not enough water to soak up with a sponge, just wet.
Is this normal?

In the past I've had an
aquacat, solcat, hobie cat, laser , yflyer, butterfly , moth and others I can't remember.
This day sailer feels very secure as I sail it. I put the rails in the water a few times and she still felt stable. Probably the most stable boat I have ever had
And on the bad side one of the slowest . BUT its really not rigged yet, It has a long way to go before I'll be happy.

[algonquin]

Ohhhh My !!

Sounds like a typical first outing. Better write it all down for future laughs around the camp fire.

I won’t even begin to describe my first sail as I unintentionally put a 23 footer ashore in NJ.

My first sail in my DS1 last summer went very well with only a few minor glitches. I know in time you will find it to be a decently fast design.

Seems you are well underway to controlling the water on board issues. That dampness you describe may very well be just that. A little condensation. Thanks for sharing your perils with us. Brad

[calden]

Great story. Here's what happened to me the first time out in my DS three years ago:

http://forum.daysailer.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1403

I think we've all been baptized in one way or another.

Carlos

[bkafer]

I stopped at a little old hardware store during lunch today , pulled out the broken spreader.
Joe the owner looked at it and says, ok how long?
what you have it?
Yup the exact same except its not anodized, So he cuts off 2 feet and my project tonight is to cut it and drill it and my new spreader will be ready. I may even paint it black to make it look like the other side.
The mate is going away on business this weekend so I think I'll go up to the boat and maybe do some more sailing.

There are a few items that need to be corrected. The outhaul isn't set up correctly. I'll make some changes to that.

The connection for the topping lift isn't quite right and I'll change that.

Last I want to dye the ends of the ropes so I can tell the mate which line ito pull etc.

I'm also thinking of a saw to cut some of the limbs off of the offending tree. Early in the morning while everyone is sleeping. Then haul it into the woods. Yup thats what I'm thinking.

Oh I'm also thinking about putting a 1/8 inch hole in the center of the spreader, running a wire thru it and attaching a block.
Then I can hoist some flags.

[algonquin]

Last I want to dye the ends of the ropes so I can tell the mate which line ito pull etc.

I'm also thinking of a saw to cut some of the limbs off of the offending tree. Early in the morning while everyone is sleeping. Then haul it into the woods. Yup thats what I'm thinking.

Oh I'm also thinking about putting a 1/8 inch hole in the center of the spreader, running a wire thru it and attaching a block.
Then I can hoist some flags.

Good idea on the ropes. You never know how experienced you crew may be.

Tree idea Do it !!

I use a very small block to raise my flags but I don't recommend drilling a hole in the spreader. Lash the block to the spreader with a sturdy wire tie. It will be plenty strong for flag raising. Brad

[bkafer]

My new spreader is done and looks almost like new.
If anyone breaks one and can't find one, I'll be happy to make one for them.
Between the alum, and postage probably about $10.00 Maybe less.

I think your right! I'll wrap some aluminum wire around the stay attach a block and put some tape on it to hold it in place.
No need putting extra strain on an already too thin piece.

[calden]

You can just use a zip tie to hold a small block, too.

Carlos

[algonquin]

You can just use a zip tie to hold a small block, too.

Carlos

Thanks Carlos, That's what I really meant to say. Brad

[Roger]

I want to dye the ends of the ropes so I can tell the mate which line ito pull

Why not dye the whole line. Dyes are about a $1 a piece, water is cheap and a pot on your campstove is all you need.

Traditionally white was for the main sail (sheet and halyard) where as blue was for the jib (sheets and halyard), red was for control lines line cunningham, outhaul, downhaul etc, and green was for lifts (topping lift, rudder blade lift, centerboard lift. It makes sailing with novices a breeze when giving them instruction and provides for color coded learning if you use the instructions in an instructional manner. ie "haul in the blue jib sheet," or more simply... "let that green line out a bit. That's the topping lift."

[bkafer]

Heres why I don't dye the whole line
Back in the 80's I had a 18 ft yflyer class boat.

I had all kinds of lines on it , to the point that sometimes I was hunting for a line. I had out hauls down hauls and maybe even a uhaul it looked like a real sailer owned the boat.

I dyed a few of the lines so that I could grab them quickly as needed
. see I usually sailed by myself hanging out on a wire. when you come in, its grab as fast as you can then get out on the other side,
( most people didn't want to sail with me cause you were going to get wet, very wet)

well the red rit dye came off on your hands and where it came into contact with the sail it sometimes left red marks on the sail.

I followed the directions and soaked the lines in salt water as directed to "set " the color. just didn't work as good as I would have hoped.

and thats why I'll just dye the last few feet. unless someone has a type of dye thats better than the old rit dye, and i'll try that.

and speaking of a wire.
The mast isn't heavy enough to fly from a wire. I've been thinking about putting an extra set of stays and attaching the wire where the new stays attach so the strain is on the stays and less on the mast. any ideas?