Wet tail feathers

[Papax3]

Hey, and Yay!!!!

Finally....
I have gone sailing in my C-22 for the first time! We spent the 4th of July roasting on a small lake, with a bare minimum wake. Regardless, we had a very good time. It was a first for my children as well, and at one point, a thunderhead came to one side of the lake bringing wind with it. I'm not so good at telling boat speed, but we had an actual wake, and I would guess maybe 2 knots. The boat tilted ever so slightly, and was cause for chaos and disorder where my children were concerned. It was good, in the end, that their first experience was in having little or no wind.
When asked what was their favorite part.... they universally said "getting dragged behind the boat while it was moving". It honestly never moved very fast, but they thought it was neat anyhow. I will detail the new mainsail in another letter. I think my jib is 110%, but I don't think it was made for my boat. It seemed like it did more work than the mainsail, in such light wind.
How do you guys tell when to go sailing, and when to stay in???
Our first trip had me wondering how to divine between a terrible no-wind day, and a hurricane swamper. Most tell me "5-10"mph winds.... but then they say the weather service ALWAYS says "5-10" mph winds.
15mph, and they said you need to be competent.
20, they said you need to know what you're doing.
All-in-all, it was a sensational time.
Hey.... I think sailing just might be fun.
Other question(s): What guage wire do I need to use to set up a 12volt D/C system for my lights? Any place I can go to on the net that helps me know what to do? I clearly need to start from scratch on this boat, and so I will have: a weather alert radio, bow, stern, and mast lights, and a cheap electric trolling motor. battery will be resupplied by solar collector.
Thanx!
Bill Williams

[CaptainScott]

Congratulations Bill and thanks for sharing!
Sounds like you all had a great time!

As ar as the wind goes, that is a moving target! It is more about your abilities and comfort zone than how much wind. Also you must consider the crew. IF you can handle 30kts and your crew is accustom to 5 kts, you best be sailing to your crew or they'll never speak to you or ride on your baot again! LOL!

Seriosuly, maybe an inexpensive hand held mechanical anninometer ( 10-20 bucks ) would be good and a log book. Log how much wind you experience and how you enjoyed it . . . . or not . . . . . remember the wind will blow more on the water than land and watch for gusts. Stick to 5-15 kts for now.As you get more comfortable and better, ( crew also ) you will take on more wind and wave action. Some folks love to sail with the rails in the water and others like a more leisurely pace!!


Thanks for sharing your experience!

[sauerleigh]

I've been using http://www.wunderground.com/ since last season. There are more than 30 reporting station in my area and a few either on or very near the lake. Some have what they call "rapid fire" updates which can run from seconds to a minute or two. You may have reporting stations in your area, check it out. There is also NOAA.

[hp18carr]

Bill

Good for you but I'm green with envy reading this type of post... (LOL). Keep them coming it helps me focus on the ultimate purpose of my project.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

[astrorad]

Bill...14 gauge wire should be plenty big for lights, stranded...for trolling motor the bigger the better...welding cable is pliable but probably bigger than you need.

Depending on current draw and length from battery...no. 10 good for 30 amps...number 8 probably 40 amps... no.6, 50 or 60 amps. All of this from the top of my head...have to check tables in national electrical code.

Bigger is better with heavy current and distance to over come voltage drop.

[sharps4590]

astrodad is correct with his wire size/amperage. I do it every day for a living.

To calculate total loads just add up your wattage then divide by 12 and you will have the amps at 12 volts. Load your wire and fuse/breaker to no more than 80% of capacity. As an example, if you have a 20 amp. breaker, 16 amps is your total allowable load and wire size is #12.

You can probably get all 3 lights you mention on one, 20 ampere or 15 ampere, (12 amps max., #14 stranded conductor), circuit, unless you go with really high wattage lights.

For the trolling motor, it all depends on how big a motor you get. Wire size and amperage will stay the same.

Good luck and congrats on your first sail!! My first was just a little over a year ago so the thrill is still pretty new. I understand completely!

Vic

[Jmckamey]

Iv'e always heard that if you can see the back of the leaves from the wind blowing them you have a 10-15 mph wind. That's when I can't even think about anything but taking the boat out, Just ask my work buddies.

[Alanhod]

Hi Bill.

Great sailing report, I love these stories, every time.

Wire I use a 14 gauge for most things. I use a much, much smaller gauge for my gauge light, same as power feeder lines on the gauge light.

As for wind sailing speed. I like it all but my rule of thumb when I first started sailing was no sailing over 10 knots wind speed. I did this for about a year. Then 0 to 15 knots for about 6 months after that. Then about 0 to 20 knots for 6 months after that. And once I went out at 25 to 30 knots but I may not go out at that level again unless I have a more experienced sailor or two on board. I don't solo sail over about 15 to 20 knots any more.

Note I said 0 knots too. Yes, so really good sailing days have been had on 0 Knot wind days. You motor out and sit and relax as you drift gently along with your sails up just waiting for the little puff of wind to give you steerage way.

My best indicator of a good wind speed is looking at tree tops an US Flags. If the tree top is rustling in the wind and the US Flag is moving downwind. It's a minimal good wind day, Say under 5 knots, just enough to be sailing. The Tops of the trees leaning out a fare bit and the US Flag out not fully flying but about 3/4 leaning out down wind, that was the sweet spot for a new sailor like me5 to 10 knots. Now tree tops really leaning and the flag out strait fully flying, that's where you learn to go fast, maybe 10 to 15 knots. The 10 to 15 knot wind speed is my favorite when solo sailing. My C-22 may be old but is sails sweet at it's best in that range in my opinion. You get going up to about 5 or 6 knots and your keel cable starts singing in that tone we all know so well over about 2 knots of hull speed. You will start to know your hull speed by the sound of your keel cable humming like a guitar string playing a new note for every knot you add to your hull speed. Annoying at first, then it's not noticed so much any more, then you notice you you use it to gauge speed.

As for sailing in wind over 20 knots, and our little boats handle it really well. As a new and even as an experienced sailor (Which I do not yet claim to be.) Things happen really fast and those higher speeds you can indeed wash the windows when you heal over. Though anything past about 23 degree's heal on the boat, I would take a reef in the sail as your getting into an over sailed condition and I don't want to risk a knock down, even though our little boats can handle the knock down I don't wish to experience it.

Starting off, sail in light air, then ratchet it up once you've got a good feel for your boat at the lower speeds. More time sailing more skill more daring do as it were.

Thanks
Alan

[Bhacurly]

Well stated Alan!

Better to be on land wishing you were sailing... Than in over your head an wishing you were on land!