July 2003 - montgomery_boats - mailman.xmission.com

Norfolk to Bermuda on an IP 45
by Doug King 22 Jul '03

22 Jul '03

Well, I'm back and open for MSOG business. Where were you, you might ask (or not, I'm gonna tell you anyway)? The end of June marked my big 5-0 birthday. I decided I had to do something big. So I sailed on an Island Packet 45 from Norfolk to Bermuda. I didn't mention it beforehand because frankly, I wasn't sure I had enough experience to go, even up to the first day. But all went well. The Maryland School of Sailing offers the course about three trips a year (one crew one direction, another crew the other direction) in May and June. It is an 8-day offshore training program, with a captain and first mate from the school and four students/crew. Celestial navigation was to be a part of it. First two days were dockside training, drilling and provisioning and inspection, then six days at sea, about 650 miles, with two people standing two four-hour watches each day. I was paired with the captain (most experienced and the least experienced?) and the best watch: 8-12. We ended up leaving the night before to beat a low-pressure area moving in, and the weatherfax showed a jumble of lows crossing and forming on our route, including a gale about three days out, which we did and didn't want to experience. I felt sorry for the fellas taking the course to complete their celestial navigation course and one guy even bought a sextant the night before, only to discover we had two hours of sunlight the entire trip, and only one sextant shot opportunity. The cloudy weather was actually a godsend, normally this time of year there is little or no wind, lots of motorsailing, and stifling temperatures. This trip the temps were ideal and though we had rain about a fourth of the time, a good bimini and dodger helped the situation. Even so, I ended up wearing my foulies whenever I was on watch, along with sea boots and the required harness and tether with mandatory strobe light, whistle and flashlight. Man, did I feel seamanlike. Starboard tack heading southeast with southwest winds almost all the way (northeast for an afternoon or so). Though on a rhumb line course of 118 degrees, our heading was 135 to counteract the Gulf Stream. We stayed on that course for about 4 days, with 5-10 degree changes for cold currents and such. I'd estimate two-thirds of the trip was spent under double-reefed main and genny or staysail, with several hours under a partially furled staysail and still sustained eight knots. Port rail in the water, sails and rigging thrumming like a runaway freight train. 30-degree heel and rockin' and rollin' in tall water doesn't even make me blink anymore (at least in a 45-footer). We did hit the end of the gale and sailed through like there was nothing to it, watching 15-foot waves tower over, then roll under us just like everybody says they should. At night, with the cloud cover, there was no light and no horizon, just flying through the dark with no light but a compass and the sensation of constant motion. With no reference points, I felt as though I was riding on a locomotive flying at 100 mph through space. It was important to look around and focus on whatever you could to keep from getting vertigo. It was simply unbelievable. I did find the answer to the question I had set out to answer, and that was whether this kind of cruising is for me. The answer is an emphatic NO. Though the on-deck portion was terrific, belowdecks was monotonous and uncomfortable. With only four berths available, hot-bunking was in order, you lie down where the guy on the next shift just got up. Trying to sleep, make meals and clean up meals was frustrating and uncomfortable. I've heard a sailor uses 3 times the energy performing any activity on board vs. on land, I believe it now. We spent most of the time between watches trying to sleep. By the third day, the crew were counting down the number of watches left. The other realization came about midway through the second day, when I realized the perpetual movement and unceasing noise was going to continue for four more days. I would have given anything for one hour of quiet and no movement. But I didn't get sick, thanks to Bonine. The closest I came was after the trip, trying to walk around Bermuda without my landlegs back yet. Took me about two days to walk normally. Despite the belowdeck stuff, the trip was unforgettable. The only way to describe it would be sheer magnificence mixed with utter drudgery. I think three days would have been enough, which Maryland School also offers in a trip around the Delmarva peninsula, though the return trip at sea right now has a couple on it that had taken the Delmarva trip and wanted more. He was weird anyway. Thank goodness the School didn't have a slot open on the Norfolk to St. Thomas trip, 12 days at sea, but only $300 more than the Bermuda trip. Apparently there's a waiting list, poor suckers. Had three glorious days in Bermuda where I celebrated my birthday with a bunch of new and temporary friends and danced the night away. Enjoyed it so much I forgot I was supposed to leave the next day and didn't. I ended up having to re-book for the next day and had the weekend to keep the glow of the whole experience intact. I'll be going back again sometime, but by air next time. I've decided to do something similar every 50 years. You can read about some of the other trips and course offerings at http://www.mdschool.com/ . Doug ------------------------------------------ Doug King M-17 #404 "Vixen" Montgomery Sailboats Owners Group Web site: http://msog.org Email: mailto:msog@msog.org

6 5

Re: M_Boats: M-15 For Sale
by Paul Vincent 22 Jul '03

22 Jul '03

1 0

Sequencing on launch
by Seawitch 21 Jul '03

21 Jul '03

Hi all, I know that when you do a thing for a long time some things become second nature. I'm not there yet with the business of launching the boat off the trailer. Tell me, at what point you set the rudder up. I have so far opted not to place the rudder in place until the boat is off the trailer since there is so little distance from the bottom of the rudder to the road. But once the boat is off the trailer the need to get the engine started and move the boat out of the ramp area quickly, things get sort of hairy. Is it best to get the motor started and move the boat to the dock using only the motor to steer or is it better to drop the rudder in before starting the motor. Will she steer using only the motor? Any suggestions along these lines would be appreciated. ===== Time for a cool change! Sandra __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com

10 10

Re: M_Boats: Re: A correction for the homemade storm jib
by IDCLLC＠aol.com 21 Jul '03

21 Jul '03

I already have a correction to make: Whereas I ADDED belly to the luff and foot, I SUBTRACTED belly from the leech in an effort to keep it from stretching and fluttering. Fair winds Steve Tyree

1 0

Re: M_Boats: Re: Home made storm jib info at last
by IDCLLC＠aol.com 21 Jul '03

21 Jul '03

To those interested parties, sorry about the delay. First, bear in mind that I already knew 10 sf was a recommended size for a storm jib for our P-15. Then I messed around with my architectural program to get an idea of the respective dimensions that would yield 10 sf. That done, I got enough 1/4" dacron yacht braid to go around the perimeter, plus a healthy dose of extra for the loops at the corners. You see, I had this idea of making a looped, rope perimeter, then filling in the shape with polytarp. This had pluses and minuses, as you'll soon see. I took my rope out to the boat, with the mast rigged. I tied a bowline at the tack, measured off the luff I wanted, then tied in another loop inline where I wanted the sail's top loop (durn it, can't remember what it's called). I added a healthy, 15" pendant to the tack because I wanted the sail to have at least a little effect on the airflow over the main. I fastened the the "tack" to the pendant, the "top" to the halyard, and drew the halyard tight. Next I managed to do something clever: I added the dimensions of the leech and foot together, added some for the loop at the clew, and tied the end off at the tack. By snapping my sheet to the resulting loop, then drawing it tight, I was able to simulate the forces the sail would be under and thus get the leech/foot proportions right because the triangle it formed naturally found the spot where the vectors were equal....eek, hopefully this clumsy explanation is clearer than mud! The goal was to come up with a triangular shape that set well, and it seems to have worked. Once I found out where the sheet wanted to be, I tied in another loop to act as the clew. That completed step one. I carried my carefully tied border into the house and laid in on a blue polytarp that was being sacrificed for the project. I put a tiny bit of belly into the sides to give the sail a bit of shape-I think I used 1.5" for the luff and leech, 0.75" for the foot. For a storm jib, cutting it dead flat might have worked. I'll not go into great detail here, since much better instruction can be found by searching "polytarp sails" on the net. Anyhow I got the sail together, and it looked like everyone else's poly sail except it had loops in the corners instead of grommets. I did put grommets along the luff, and used small, galvanized snap shackles from Lowe's for hanks. Test day. Instead of prudently waiting for benign sailing weather, I went out when the wind was blowing the trees about. The gusts made the rigging moan; I think this means the winds were over 20-25 mph when gusting. The sail worked beautifully, allowing Amy Ann to point better and sail livlier than with reefed main alone. I noticed, though, that gradually the pointing fell off. Closer investigation showed that the storm jib was bagging out because the tarp was sliding up the perimeter rope, giving me more belly just when I didn't want it. I've since compensated for this by putting grommets in the reinforced corners, then lashing them to the existing loops with 1/8" nylon cord. I don't know how well this will work, and probably won't find out until fall, when the local winds pick up again. Hope this helps. Cheers. Steve Tyree P-15 #2098 "Amy Ann"

1 0

RE: M_Boats: Fern Ridge get Together?
by Shawn Boles 21 Jul '03

21 Jul '03

Hi All: I only heard from 2 folks about this weekend. I will probably sail Friday 4-7. I thought that we might get together Sat am around 10 or so to tell lies and then spend a couple of hours sailing. We could come back to dock for lunch, sail some more then have a potluck picnic for whoever is interested around 5 or so. I am not sure how much time I have for sailing on Sunday. Hope this is not too casual a plan. I'll see you Saturday the 26th. cheers- Shawn Boles Grey Mist (M17 #276 1978) -----Original Message----- From: Roberta Dvorscak [mailto:edarts93@earthlink.net] Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 10:18 PM To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats' Subject: RE: M_Boats: Fern Ridge get Together? Hi Shawn, Count us in. The weekend of July 26 is good for us. We'll probably be there on all those weekends but Roberta has wedding cakes to deliver and set up on Aug 2 and 9 so we would only sail on those evenings. We've been wondering when we would see you (we've visited with Grey Mist though). I'll be on the lake this weekend (our sailing club is having a "race" Saturday afternoon). Grace won't be racing (I'm using my old dingy for that) but she will be going out for a moonlight sail. See you soon. Mark Dvorscak M17 #400 Grace -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces(a)mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Shawn Boles Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 7:03 AM To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats' Subject: M_Boats: Fern Ridge get Together? Anybody interested in a get together at Fern Ridge this summer? The lake may be drained next year for dam repairs and it seems a shame not to take advantage of it this year. I am traveling more than I had anticipated but could do something the weekends of 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/23, 8/30. I can count 3 M17s and at least 2 M15s on just the D & E docks.... cheers- Shawn Boles Grey Mist (M17 #276 1978)

1 0

Okay, Now I'm Really, REALLY Confused . . .
by Honshells 20 Jul '03

20 Jul '03

On page 91 of the July/August 2003 issue of "Good Old Boat": Jerry Montgomery writes Your May 2003 issue stated that Lyle Hess designed the Montgomery 15 as well as the 17 and 23. In a way he did, because I learned most of what I know about design from Lyle, but I designed the 17 myself. The fact that I did was not a reflection on Lyle; it was simply a matter of wanting to try my wings. Lyle was happy with the 15, as was I, and he told me that the 15 was "the best looking boat I made." I remember disagreeing with him because I believed (and still do) that the Hess-designed Montgomery 12 was the best-looking of the bunch. Okay . . . Sentence two HAS to be yet ANOTHER "Good Old Boat" typo. They can't seem to get the details right on things Montgomery: Almost every one of Ted Brewer's M17 comparison specs on page 49 are wrong. Ted, or "G.O.B.", uses a drawing of the M23 to illustrate the M17. Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggghhhhh . . . Bob, Are you familiar with NS27, "Evergreen"? She sails out of Lake Macatawa, Holland, Michigan, where I sail my M17. I took several photos of her on Lake Michigan a couple weeks ago. She a "forward cabin" (or whatever you call the version with no aft cabin) model: Do you still make "forward cabin" NS27's? This one looked new-ish, but may just be kept in Bristol condition. She was single-handed by a mature gentleman, but we never sailed close enough to talk and I didn't have my radio installed. I don't think he recognized, or cared about, the make of my boat.

2 2

After All . . .
by Honshells 20 Jul '03

20 Jul '03

"I don't think he recognized, or cared about, the make of my boat." When you're an NS27 owner, you have no desire to look at other boats at all, right? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Honshells" <chonshell(a)ia4u.net> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats(a)mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:07 PM Subject: Okay, Now I'm Really, REALLY Confused . . . On page 91 of the July/August 2003 issue of "Good Old Boat": Jerry Montgomery writes Your May 2003 issue stated that Lyle Hess designed the Montgomery 15 as well as the 17 and 23. In a way he did, because I learned most of what I know about design from Lyle, but I designed the 17 myself. The fact that I did was not a reflection on Lyle; it was simply a matter of wanting to try my wings. Lyle was happy with the 15, as was I, and he told me that the 15 was "the best looking boat I made." I remember disagreeing with him because I believed (and still do) that the Hess-designed Montgomery 12 was the best-looking of the bunch. Okay . . . Sentence two HAS to be yet ANOTHER "Good Old Boat" typo. They can't seem to get the details right on things Montgomery: Almost every one of Ted Brewer's M17 comparison specs on page 49 are wrong. Ted, or "G.O.B.", uses a drawing of the M23 to illustrate the M17. Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggghhhhh . . . Bob, Are you familiar with NS27, "Evergreen"? She sails out of Lake Macatawa, Holland, Michigan, where I sail my M17. I took several photos of her on Lake Michigan a couple weeks ago. She a "forward cabin" (or whatever you call the version with no aft cabin) model: Do you still make "forward cabin" NS27's? This one looked new-ish, but may just be kept in Bristol condition. She was single-handed by a mature gentleman, but we never sailed close enough to talk and I didn't have my radio installed. I don't think he recognized, or cared about, the make of my boat.

1 0

San Francisco Bay Sailing
by Saltm17＠aol.com 19 Jul '03

19 Jul '03

Just got back from a week of sailing along Catalina Island. Great sailing at tims but a lot of motoring in very light winds. Did see some tall ships, a lot of porposes and met some good people from the Lake Pleasant Sailing Club. The next stop is the small craft Cruiser Challange next weekend at Monterey. After that I hope to sail on San Francisco Bay for a few days. Anybody free to buddy sail next week on the bay or know some good sailing spots? John Edwards Miss T M17 # 372

3 2

Re: M_Boats: Re: Home made storm jib
by IDCLLC＠aol.com 19 Jul '03

19 Jul '03

In a message dated 7/14/2003 7:49:02 AM Central Daylight Time, s.mcclellan(a)comcast.net writes: > To Steve Tyree ("Amy Ann"): > > I appreciated hearing about your home-made storm jib. I have considered > making > one myself. If you can spare a few minutes, could you discuss in a bit more > depth the process you went through in building it? (dimensions, materials, > techniques, pattern used if any, problems encountered and overcome?) > > I expect there may be others on this list who would be interested. > I'd be glad to. It's late tonight, so I'll try to get the post off in the morning. Steve Tyree, P-15 #2098 "Amy Ann"

2 1