A great weekend and a gotta read . . . . . .

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:17 am

What a great weekend!

Saturday we launched Lady Jo for her very first sail since I've owned her! One of my buddies here at work wanted to go with so we launched Lady Jo. After stepping the mast and putting her in the water we opted to motor to the fuel doc and top off the gas tanks. About half way there the motor suddenly changed RPMs. Hmm . . . . ( remember this is a new motor to me which I've never had in the water ) I backed off the throttle and all was well. Cool. We got to the fuel dock, topped of and headed out of the marine into the river. As we passed through the enterance of the marina the motor died. My buddy was suddenly on the deck fending us off the piling for the docks as the river pushed us right into it. The motor fired right up and we backed away and tried again. This time very successfully. Now in the river we raised sail and headed towards Possession Sound.

We had a beautiful several hours of sailing, watching a sailboat race, and generally fooling around on this new boat of mine! All I can think is I wonder when was the last time she actually sailed! Maybe 15? Maybe 20 years ago??

Time to head back. Knowing the motor ran great but seems to struggle under load, we dropped sails but keep them rigged . . . you know . . . .just in case . . . . You see, the motor ran great! Pee'd water like a healthy teenager, it just seemed the outdrive was having issues.

As we motored up the river we were close to the guest moorage and the outdrive siezed. This time I could not get her out of gear which means I can not even re start her. So Up went the jib. We ghosted along barely staying ahead of the river current when another sailor saw us struggling and offered to tow us. We gratiously accepted since the wind tends to die in the late afternoon here. While being towed, my buddy took the tiller while I fretted over my new motor. Outdrive literally Seized. Hmm, maby I can spin the prop with an oar and get the thing out of gear. So I fiddle with no success until we almost got to the boat ramp dock.

Then I saw it. SOMETHING was wrapped around my prop! Something with a very thick wire! Even a little rope! OMG! Maybe I picked up some crap when we launched! Not uncommon here at all! How could I not notice that?
So the other boat drifted us up to the dock and tossed our line. Thanks were given, smiles shared and they all waved as they headed off. Now at the dock we positioned Lady Jo so I could see the prop. Nope, water to murky. Hey Del, go stand on the bow and it will lift the stern. He did! I still could not see but I could reach! YEAH! After some serious meddling, tugging, pulling and generally struggling I fine gave one final tug and it came loose! Of course I lost my balance and dropped the blasted thing in the water so I have no Idea what it was. A quick run proved the outboard fully functional! YES! So I took her back to guest moorage where she spent the night.

Sunday I went back to Lady Jo, met with another friend and his family and took them motoring! LOL! there was literally zero wind! We saw porpoises, a whale, lots of birds and a few harbor seals! Wonderfull day! I dropped them off at the guest moorage dock and headed back to the boat ramp where my son was to meet me, see, he borrowed my truck. 2 hours late and after waching a multitude of power boaters load onto trailers my son showed up! An hour later we were rolling home. My Corgi greated us, my wife had dinner for us, wine was poured, and life was good!

But . . . . . .
First lets flush that outboard. Now where is my clam shell thingy for the outdrive? I had it just two days ago when I test ran the motor . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DOH!!!!!!

Scott

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:32 am

Murphy's Law at its finest !

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:55 am

Nothing hurt by your pride (and the need to buy a new motor flush adapter). Well done!

cs3079 · Post by **cs3079** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:25 am

Love it! Another happy ending. Soooo many variables with these 'vintage' sailboats. Every time we get into them we're courting catastrophe. It's a sick kind of charge. An event-less sail is very nice, but a sail where there's been challenges that we've overcome and have got the darn things back to the dock or on the trailer in one piece without loss of life or limb ..... or to much $$$$$$. Those are THE GREATEST!!!! BTW: up until the end I was sure you trashed your motor!

Chrysler20%26 · Post by **Chrysler20%26** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:18 pm

Vary nice first sail story, loved the punch line at the end. Takes us fresh water sailers a while to get it. My line is any day I can go sailing an got back home means that I had a good day. Ok first sail with the C-22, does that mean the C-20 is next, can't weight to read that story.

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:25 pm

Very nice Scott and it reminds me of 2 weeks ago when my friend left with the Bristol 26 to head to Long Island sound I reminded him being new "if you are going to dock pull the dinghy in so the line doesn't get in the prop as the water is too cold to go swimming" the following Fri. he wanted me to go with him the last 60 NM and he said they got the line caught in the prop and it took an hour to get cleared and they cut the line on both sides and bounced in and out of reverse at idle finally cleared then they could dock.

John K · Post by **John K** » Tue May 01, 2012 7:07 am

What a relief to find in the end that something you thought was catastrophic was not such a big deal after all.

Capt. Bondo · Post by **Capt. Bondo** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:09 am

Nice, It almost sounds like a script for a Viagra, "this is the age of taking action" commercial

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Wed May 02, 2012 8:52 am

John K wrote:What a relief to find in the end that something you thought was catastrophic was not such a big deal after all.

You're not kidding there! I was so frustrated the motor outdrive was have issues all day that even when I got home after resolving the issue I had latent frustration for no reason! LOL!

For those who are wondering why I would intentionally leave the dock with a questionable motor.

Well, I HAD SAILS! All we put up was the jib and we could just barely beat the excessive tide and river current. We had not even put up the main which would have sent us right up the river without issue. We were offered a tow and being reasonably conservative I accepted. We also had paddles, VHF, cell phones, flares, air horn,readied anchor, and were in close proximity to MANY boats and literally a perfect beem reach up the river. This was not my first time at this type of a dance! LOL!

Scott

John K · Post by **John K** » Wed May 02, 2012 9:39 am

I struggled with my little old Honda all season last year. I've got the carb right in it now though. It was dirty and the mixture screw was too rich.

Alanhod · Post by **Alanhod** » Sat May 05, 2012 12:25 am

It was a good day, sailing was accomplished, problems were solved. A motor was vetted and found to be good... Even if a few choice nu-printable words may have been uttered under ones breath. (Just putting myself in your boat shoes. Several choice words would have occurred to me in the same spot.)

It's been a fairly short time since you and I went out just to look at this boat on Craig's List. Just looking for fun and ended up hauling it home. You saw the Diamond in the ruff and it is a real beauty for sure now. I think it's future sailing career has been secured for at least another 30 years after you fixed her up. Nicely done Sir, very nicely done indeed:!:

Thanks
Alan

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Sat May 05, 2012 4:08 pm

Just love that story, Capt S. There but for the Grace of God, go I.