Messing About on Boats

[Philpott]

Recovering a topping lift halyard:
At first Bob's Climbing equipment was incomprehensible. What is this mess on Dura Mater's cabintop? Two women sailors from Cal Sailing sashayed by in their foul weather gear, on their way to sail in the windywindy outside the marina: "Hey, Hi! Do you have any idea how to use this?" I asked. We puzzled over it for about twenty minutes, perused the instruction pamphlet and then they shrugged and went sailing. Smart girls.

Gradually all became clear to me, and I ascended DM's mast 4 inches by 4 inches by 4 inches .... etc etc. It's a tall mast. The trick is to winch the halyard tight and keep one arm around the mast. It was windy in Berkeley today, so another trick was to not get freaked out about the sideways movement. I mean, all the masts on O dock were moving already because all the boats were rocking in their slips. DM's mast was moving even more because, well, I was up there. Incrementally I got up to where that halyard shackle was waiting for me. And yes, I was just barely smart enough to have first uncleated the line down below. Thank goodness. Thanks again, Bob!

What are you all doing on your boats?

 

[DaveH]

What are you all doing on your boats?

Since you asked;
1. impatiently tapping my fingers on the desk, waiting for Matson to get Dom home... or at least move the damn trailer from Kauai!
2. breathlessly awaiting the precious opportunity to open the check book once again and liberate the boat and trailer from the Port Of Oakland
3. NOT SAILING, for the reasons above.

DH

 

[Steevee]

Here's a little montage of a weekend worth of boat maintenance I did...expletives included, although if you can't hear them make up some of your own.

 

[mike cunningham]

I have one of those top climbers too. Going to get to use it in a couple of days when I replace the mast top VHF antenna whip on Jacqueline. The original blew away with the dregs of Celia. I am really looking forward to it. the boat bounces around quite a bit at Nawiliwili.

If you want to go up fast you tie the base of the static line six or seven feet away from the mast so you can lean way back and sort of swing yourself up on each ascending step. You can't realistically have a backup line doing it this way but that is how the mountain climbers do it. Let me know how it goes.

 

[Philpott]

Since you asked;
1. impatiently tapping my fingers on the desk, waiting for Matson to get Dom home... or at least move the damn trailer from Kauai!
2. breathlessly awaiting the precious opportunity to open the check book once again and liberate the boat and trailer from the Port Of Oakland
3. NOT SAILING, for the reasons above.

DH

Pobrecito!

 

[Philpott]

If you want to go up fast you tie the base of the static line six or seven feet away from the mast so you can lean way back and sort of swing yourself up on each ascending step. You can't realistically have a backup line doing it this way but that is how the mountain climbers do it.

Thanks, Mike. That sounds like way too much fun for me, but thanks for the advice. It would be wonderful for all of us marooned on the Mainland to see a go pro of YOU doing it, though! Oh please, Skipper!

 

[BobJ]

Great job, Philpott! Another notch in the singlehanded sailor's . . . well, where ever you keep your notches. You completed your first Singlehanded Farallones this year too, right?
_______________________________________

I use the TopClimber more as Mike describes. If you cling to the mast all the way up it takes forever and your arms get sore from trying to hold on. Better to tie the static line down to a point out away from the mast (on the side you'll mostly be working on) and work your way up the static line, free of the mast, spreaders, etc. You'll sway around a bit, although I tie down the static line pretty tight to minimize it.

I do rig a backup/safety line. I fasten a spare halyard to the biner above the center of the sling, take up the slack every few feet and keep tying it off. If something breaks the halyard will stop my fall, which is nice... (Edit: Reading this, I realize I should be tying the spare halyard around my torso instead - maybe that sling is what will break!)

Also, I NEVER depend on one of those snap shackles shown in Jackie's photos. I tie a proper knot, especially when tying the top end of the static line to the halyard I'm using to support myself.

One more tip: It seems I always forget something I'll need up there so I tie a long lanyard to a bucket (left on deck) and take the tail of the lanyard up with me. Then I can ask Statler or Waldorf to put the forgotten thing in the bucket so I can hoist it up.

(P.S. Were you retrieving a topping lift or a halyard?)

 

[BobJ]

I have an electrical puzzle I may try to solve this weekend. Suggestions welcome!

I have a Victron battery monitor connected to my house bank (two Group 27 AGM's). When I'm charging with the alternator it reads as expected (several amps going in depending how full the batteries are). But when I charge with the portable charger (a typical West Marine 3-stage charger plugged into shore power) the voltage showing on the monitor goes up as expected but the amperage reading on the monitor stays at zero (or a bit negative). The batteries are charging - why doesn't the monitor show the amps going in?

The batteries are joined in parallel and I clip the charger cables to the positive and negative terminals on the battery that's easiest to reach. The alternator connection, however, is to the back side of the battery switch - but should this matter for what the monitor displays?

 

[Philpott]

Were you retrieving a topping lift or a halyard?/QUOTE]
My topping lift shackle was at the block up there. It was not quite at the top of my mast.
All good now. Just in time for the sail home from Drakes Bay.

 

[pogen]

I have an electrical puzzle I may try to solve this weekend.

Trace the system and draw a schematic as you go, assuming nothing. It sounds like the Victron's shunt may not be in the right place.

 

[Dazzler]

My first thought is that the shunt is being bypassed when using the portable charger. I'm not an engineer or an electrician, so decided to wait until someone more knowledgable responded. I agree with Pogen's advice. I have done a lot of boat system wiring and it is always helpful, if not essential to draw a schematic. Then go read the Victron installation instructions.

Tom P.

 

[BobJ]

You're right - if I clamp the negative cable above the shunt all should be well. But then I have to lay down on the cabin sole and twist the top half of my body 90 degrees, stick a flashlight up in there, etc. I need a bigger boat.

Meantime is this schematic close enough? It's what I used...
View attachment 1696

 

[Wylieguy]

Bob, You'll probably find this to be typical of all GM schematics. I think they post an inspector to ensure those giant, macho, I've got bigger balls than you pickups and SUVs have one of their parking/running lights out of service before the vehicle leaves the factory. With this wiring plan you're sure to be missing a running light the day you're boarded for a "Courtesy Check" by the 50 cal. toting guardians of SF Bay. Oil lamps might be a better alternative.

But, on a non-serious note: How about attaching a pig tail to the wire above the shunt? To be fancy, you could even put the "plug in end" in a water tight fitting so it won't short out when you're rock'n and roll'n. But perhaps you won't be checking things on Saturday night in the berth?

 

[BobJ]

I think they post an inspector to ensure those giant, macho, I've got bigger balls than you pickups and SUVs have one of their parking/running lights out of service before the vehicle leaves the factory.

Not to quibble with the stereotype, but the left tail light on the Prius goes out frequently

Regarding a pigtail, I might do that. The better solution is to use the boat enough so I don't need the shore-power charger!

 

[DaveH]

have you checked for this critical but often overlooked component?

 

[BobJ]

Can you find the infamous white cup hook in the schematic?

Hey, hodgmo is in the building!

 

[Philpott]

2016 is the summer during which Singlehanded Sailing Society boasts some very impressive inventors of boatish things. Greg Nelsen's carbon fiber pedaling mechanism helped power the winning boat in the second Race to Alaska (R2AK), Brian Boschma's autopilot was de rigueur for this year's Transpac boats, and now here comes a very positive review of Henry Dokonal's (s/v Grace) Trogear bowsprit, written by a fella who used it on his Olson 34 in the Mackinac Island Race this summer. From Sailing Anarchy:

Skipper Jay Grizzell outfitted his 1989 Olson 34 “Shoe String” with a Trogear AS-40 Bowsprit
 as part of his preparations for the 108th Chicago to Mackinac (The Mac) race. Here is Jay’s story from Bowsprit discovery to the finish of the race…

“Mid-December of 2015 is when the initial discovery of Trogear Marine Products occurred. It is remembered as a ‘Eureka!’ moment, because the pivoting carbon bowsprit appeared to meet large percentages of an array of criteria that a sprit for “Shoe String” must meet: functional, affordable, aesthetically pleasing, easily installed, durable.

Eventually a new AS-40 was in hand and with the help of Trogear’s install instructions and we got the got the sprit securely in place. We took our time to design, verify and procure the components necessary for the adjustable bobstay, as each boat has different needs and bow designs. Henry from Trogear was always available to answer questions during this process and I believe the design arrived at combines simplicity, ease, function and economics.

Shoe String and seven man crew raced in the cruising division of The Mac and I estimate the sprit was used for 36+ hours of our 63+ elapsed, evenly split between the downwind kite and the Code 0.

The light air .6 oz. UK Runner asymmetric has an upper Apparent Wind Speed limit of 16 knots, which was never challenged this race. We either had almost no wind and flat water or far too much wind for that kite. The 3ft- 5ft (or greater) waves were also a challenge.

The Code 0 was flown in the latter conditions, in apparent wind speed of 16-18+ knots, driving the boat up/over/down (repeat ad nausea) the 3ft- 5ft square wave sea state, until the 1st of back-to-back broaches occurred at 2 AM. A large, errant and unseen wave shoved the stern laterally, exposed the kite to the full force of the wind and laid the boat on her side, briefly. We doused the Code 0 quickly after the 2nd broach proved the 1st wasn’t a fluke.

We crossed the finish line flying the .6 oz. light air Runner in optimal conditions, executing 4 inside gybes without incident from the Mackinaw Bridge to the Finish Line.

Overall, we had no difficulties during the 40+ inside gybes executed, a direct result of the forward projection of the sprit. An inside/out hull inspection of the Trogear Bowsprit upon arrival to the Island proved all systems remained sound and intact – significant after the shock loads the bowsprit received during the race.

 

[Philpott]

Here's a little montage of a weekend worth of boat maintenance I did...expletives included, although if you can't hear them make up some of your own.

Hey, this is a nice video! What kind of climber did you use? Where is your boat? What kind of boat is it? This kind of video is fun to watch. I learn stuff. Thanks.

 

[Steevee]

Hey, this is a nice video! What kind of climber did you use? Where is your boat? What kind of boat is it? This kind of video is fun to watch. I learn stuff. Thanks.

Philpott, I have folding aluminum mast steps on my mast. They were already installed when I bought the boat. I thought of removing them to eliminate weight aloft, but have found them valuable and the weight to be negligible on my heavy cruiser (a Tashiba 31).
I have foolishly climbed the mast many times without protection...not recommended. In the video I wore a climbing harness and had my wife cleat me off so I could use both hands.
I climb so I have gear and in the past I've just used acsenders https://www.rei.com/c/ascenders-and-descenders?r=c&ir=category%3Aascenders-and-descenders&page=1 on the halyard when climbing the mast. Just add an aid ladder and you can use your legs as well.
My boat is on Woodley Island in Humboldt Bay. We bought her about 18 mos ago and I sailed her down from Oregon.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I really didn't intend for anyone to learn anything from it except for "Don't buy a boat". I have enjoyed working on boats...though not as much as sailing.

 

[Philpott]

Philpott, I have folding aluminum mast steps on my mast.

Those are very impressive. Do they compromise the strength of a mast (hoo boy, wait'll we hear the responses on this one!)?