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Post by jy51 on Sept 15, 2022 12:01:46 GMT
Not wishing to be seen as plagiarising, but I think it would be fun to include a confessional board on this forum and it could be quite educational.
I’m sure from time to time we have all done very stupid things and as well as a warning to others it would be most entertaining. We all tend to take things for granted and can become very stuck in our ways, it’s only when someone comes alone and questions our mode of action do we realise that we have been doing something wrong.
To kick off the idea I will step up to the pushpit and submit my latest faux pas;
My boat is now in its forth season and from new I have been experiencing what I can only describe as the onset of dementia. Each time I used my bow thruster I became confused with wishing turn to port or starboard, I would press what I thought was the left side of the button and the boat would turn to starboard, this confusion resulted in many panic attempts at mooring stern too, including comments from the crew.
Recently, whilst idling my life away with a glass of wine in the cockpit I found myself reading the owners manual for the bow thruster and operating buttons, out of curiosity I started up the motor and pressed the bow thruster buttons only to arrive at that eureka moment, the thruster had been wired the wrong way around, the button on the left turned the boat to right and visa versa.
It seemed that while constructing the boat, the factory had wired the loom to the wrong terminals on the motor, a quick change over and berthing has been come less stressful, and my thoughts of dementia have been replaced by a sense of stupidity!
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Post by MickeyB on Sept 15, 2022 13:48:31 GMT
I whole heartedly agree, and as inclusion, here is my 'interesting post' which I put up to be included. Anniversary SailMike |
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Post by jy51 on Sept 16, 2022 8:00:20 GMT
I whole heartedly agree, and as inclusion, here is my 'interesting post' which I put up to be included. Anniversary SailMike Mike I have just read your blog, its 09:59 here in Spain and I think I need a drink!!!! |
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Post by zaphod on Sept 16, 2022 18:59:37 GMT
Not wishing to be seen as plagiarising, but I think it would be fun to include a confessional board on this forum and it could be quite educational. I’m sure from time to time we have all done very stupid things and as well as a warning to others it would be most entertaining. We all tend to take things for granted and can become very stuck in our ways, it’s only when someone comes alone and questions our mode of action do we realise that we have been doing something wrong. To kick off the idea I will step up to the pushpit and submit my latest faux pas; My boat is now in its forth season and from new I have been experiencing what I can only describe as the onset of dementia. Each time I used my bow thruster I became confused with wishing turn to port or starboard, I would press what I thought was the left side of the button and the boat would turn to starboard, this confusion resulted in many panic attempts at mooring stern too, including comments from the crew. Recently, whilst idling my life away with a glass of wine in the cockpit I found myself reading the owners manual for the bow thruster and operating buttons, out of curiosity I started up the motor and pressed the bow thruster buttons only to arrive at that eureka moment, the thruster had been wired the wrong way around, the button on the left turned the boat to right and visa versa. It seemed that while constructing the boat, the factory had wired the loom to the wrong terminals on the motor, a quick change over and berthing has been come less stressful, and my thoughts of dementia have been replaced by a sense of stupidity! You should start a thread on the subject in the general forum! I'm sure if I think real hard I can come with a "bone headed boater" story... |
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Post by Charlie-Bravo on Sept 17, 2022 20:17:26 GMT
So many tales to choose from, possibly too many, and some perhaps better not put in print, but sure to join in soon with a publishable confession.
We all learn very well from mistakes we knew we shouldn’t have made, it’s the best way, (assuming you survive it).
Ill be back. (Quote Arnold S.)
CB
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Post by rxc on Sept 26, 2022 21:10:01 GMT
I'll start this thread out with a confession of an event that happened just last night.
I am about to head south to my home in Florida from Baltimore, where the boat has been for the summer, all alone. I did a short sea trial yesterday and at one point i got a high temperature alarm. I throttled back, check the exhaust flow (it seemed to be good) and decided that this was an omen of impending SW impeller failure, and decided to change it.
Got back from sea trial, tied up, and started working on the impeller. First thing I did was loosen the cap on the main engine strainer to let the water level drain down thru the thru-hull. Left the cap askew and removed the impeller relatively easily because it was one of those with the threads that allow use of a removal tool, and inspected it closely. Looked fine, and I was just about to return it to service when my niece called to invite me to dinner. I just left everything as it was, except that I tightened the lid on the strainer, but did not shut the thru-hull (mistake).
Came back after dinner, no problems, and went to bed. Around 1:00 AM I was awakened by the sound of a pump running intermittently and water gurgling (!). Immediately checked all around the boat to find water coming in via the SW pump that was opened up. Immediately shut the thruhull and checked the bilge. Water in the bilge from the engine to the compartment under the mast. Luckily I had bought a small wet/dry shop vac on the way north in June, so I got it out and vacuumed the bilge dry. Took about 1.5 hrs, including sucking water out from under the fuel tank and the center water tank.
I think that a high pressure front came thru after I capped the trainer and the higher atmospheric pressure pushed the water up into the strainer far enough to generate a siphon. Evidently the discharge hose from the strainer was not completely empty. Lesson learned - make sure the thru hull is shut when working on the SW pump.
Back in bed by about 3 AM . Further examination of the impeller today revealed that one of the vanes was a bit bent the wrong way, so I replaced it, after a 2 hr struggle (the 4JH3TE has its water pump facing AFT, so there is a tangle of hoses and wires to the alternator and the starter right where you need access). Finally figured that the easiest way to insert the new impeller was to use a nylon tie wrap to compress the vanes in the right direction, and apply lots of glycerin, A long extension for a 3/8 inch socket wrench helped, too, because it is possible to use it to bear on the impeller and the alternator to wiggle the impeller and give it a tap to seat it.
My confession for today.
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Post by Charlie-Bravo on Sept 27, 2022 19:46:56 GMT
We were on a flotilla holiday in the south Peloponnese to gain extra experience of sailing a boat before buying our own boat and also to get some badly needed sun.
We set off from harbour in clear blue sky, it was going to be a scorcher.
Not much wind going on, but we had sails up, and were enjoying trying to maintain 2 knots in the light breeze.
As we sunbathed on deck, we noticed a cloud forming on a distant hill, thought it might spoil the sun tan efforts later on, but no hurry, we were on holiday.
Over the next hour or so the cloud started to grow, more in length …… a bit sausage shaped, and was looking quite dark, I pointed it out to Mrs CB, “we’ll keep an eye on that “ I said, thinking it might even bring a bit more breeze.
An hour later, and the tan developing quite quickly, albeit a slightly redder shade than the desired mediterranean golden brown, the cloud had accelerated, and was looking really quite big.
We decided to start the engine and motor sail a bit, as we had a 20 mile leg to the next destination.
The wind came, quicker and also stronger than anticipated , as seems the way of wind in Greece, and we were soon wizzing along, then soon becoming a bit over powered, so we put the main away and carried on with a part furled jib, ……. then furled that away completely.
As this was summer, and Greece, and with limited baggage space, I had decided against packing the Musto BR2 jacket and opted for an increased supply of T shirts in the suitcase, Mrs CB had wisely packed her sailing gear, and as large globs of water were now hitting the deck and us, she popped below for a quick wardrobe change to more appropriate attire. Now equipped with full North Wales style waterproofs , in the sort of rain that North Wales is famous for, Mrs CB took the helm, and glued eyes to the compass as there was nothing else to look at with the visibility closing in.
The cloud , an Arcus type, became of biblical proportions, a huge rolling angry sausage stretching forever across the sky. Ahead of the cloud was a clear blue sky with sun, behind it looked like night, with monstrous fork lightning shooting down to the sea, I started to wonder quite seriously on the physics of what actually happens to a GRP boat if it gets hit by lightning, and was there something we were supposed to do …. wrap anchor chain around the mast and dangle some in the sea perhaps, although deck work at the time was not appealing, ….. keep away from metal seemed wise, but with no auto helm the metal wheel needed hanging onto , perhaps we should lash it, ….. put the ipad in the oven ….. no , we needed it to see where we were going.
Shortly afterward in a brief respite from the rain, a bolt of lightning hit the sea a worryingly close distance away, quite how close was difficult to judge but I can report that the rather bright white line turns yellow and then bright orange as it hits the sea, quite a spectacular thing ….best not seen ! and the crashing thunder was felt as much as heard.
The rain came in thick and fast, I retired rather soggy, to a companionway with no spray hood , in an effort to keep the ipad and myself dry and keep an eye on our heading, this becoming rather important as visibility was now about 1 boat length, sea was more than choppy, and we were exceeding hull speed at about 8 knots
We heard a call on the radio from some others on the same flotilla fleet, it was their first time on a yacht after a brief week of training, their call said “it’s getting very windy ! where do we go ? “ …….. no reply from the flotilla company boat, which had gone ahead to a pre arranged appointment at a bar at the destination, others said “hang on”.
It then really blew F8-9 , ipad revealed an island ahead, so Mrs CB steered clear, and we missed it , and after quite a windswept ride arrived at the destined harbour entrance, the wind thankfully died down, and we berthed without drama in the rain.
The next day I fashioned a waterproof poncho from an industrial bin bag, and finished it with a well known HH trademark with marker pen, it functioned but made a lot of noise flapping in the wind, we also made a makeshift spray hood from shower curtains, not pretty but could keep some water out of the boat.
The lesson learnt : Never go to sea without your coat! …. and I haven’t ever since.
CB
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