Re: M_Boats: Grounding durability
Having left bottom paint in virtually every state from Texas to Maine (and some more than once), I surprise even myself how every time that I drag, bump, or stick, I manage to hit something different. On the whole, however, I worry about losing the rudder more than the dinging the bottom. A ding in the bottom is no big deal in the big picture; just haul it out on the trailer (that's the beauty of this tough little rascal), clean it up, fill the spot, put on some gel, and repaint the bottom. Loss of steering capacity, however, will ruin your whole day. Darn, I just hate it when that happens. The new boat (our second M 17), incidentally, will be named GO, the tender, GONE. As in Going, Going, Gone. When Mama says to get GOing, she will mean it. We will be in Southwest Harbor, Maine this summer. If any of you are in the area, look us up in the phone book (Skip & Karol Langley). If the San Juans works this summer, think about Downeast Maine next year. The Mt. Desert area is truly as beautiful as the San Juans (but without the population). Cheers. Skip
Skip, I'm hoping to make a trip to that area of Maine next summer; perhaps we'll see each other on the water. I really enjoyed my trip there Sept, '02. I doubt I'll make the Chesapeake in '04....putting North Channel 1st priority, then Maine. ******** Busca has two rudders: a full depth one and one that I trimmed about 9" or so off the bottom so that it would be above the keel stub when raised. Works only if you KNOW you have a grounding risk and raise the rudder beforehand. Very noticeable loss of performance/control with the trimmed rudder, unfortunately. Tod Mills M17 #408 BuscaBrisas http://www.bright.net/~htmills/
Any trouble with the lobster-pots in Maine, Tod? A friend of mine sailed his MacGregor 25' in Maine and complains about the tides, the hidden rocks, and, most of all, the lobster-pots: This friend is an experienced sailor and boatbuilder . . . --Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: <htmills@bright.net> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 10:47 PM Subject: Grounding durability Skip, I'm hoping to make a trip to that area of Maine next summer; perhaps we'll see each other on the water. I really enjoyed my trip there Sept, '02. I doubt I'll make the Chesapeake in '04....putting North Channel 1st priority, then Maine. ******** Busca has two rudders: a full depth one and one that I trimmed about 9" or so off the bottom so that it would be above the keel stub when raised. Works only if you KNOW you have a grounding risk and raise the rudder beforehand. Very noticeable loss of performance/control with the trimmed rudder, unfortunately. Tod Mills M17 #408 BuscaBrisas http://www.bright.net/~htmills/
"Any trouble with the lobster-pots in Maine, Tod?" *LOL* At one point while crossing Blue Hill Bay I looked over the transom and found that I had about 4 of the suckers hooked on my rudder. Another time I was approaching Stonington with a big schooner breathing down my neck when I snagged one. Let me tell you, I got that one unhooked fast! And then one time sitting in a moment of windlessness off of Rockland I drifted out of control with the tide and managed to snag one. And that's not the half of it. A boathook comes in handy! If you don't catch any, you must not be properly relaxed for a vacation cruise but instead are at risk of wearing your eyeballs out looking for them! Did manage to steer clear of all rocks and other obstructions. Anchored in Hatch Cove on the backside of Castine Busca did have just about a foot under her keel at low tide. A fish finder comes in real handy. Without that I may well have run aground a time or two. I'll have to add an account of that trip to my web page. Definitely a good time! It will be interesting to see what Skip suggests for small anchorages! I do have Taft & Rindlaub's "Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast" but I'm sure that there must be small holes not covered in it. Tod
Sounds like an adventure . . . ----- Original Message ----- From: <htmills@bright.net> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 10:14 PM Subject: Maine "Any trouble with the lobster-pots in Maine, Tod?" *LOL* At one point while crossing Blue Hill Bay I looked over the transom and found that I had about 4 of the suckers hooked on my rudder. Another time I was approaching Stonington with a big schooner breathing down my neck when I snagged one. Let me tell you, I got that one unhooked fast! And then one time sitting in a moment of windlessness off of Rockland I drifted out of control with the tide and managed to snag one. And that's not the half of it. A boathook comes in handy! If you don't catch any, you must not be properly relaxed for a vacation cruise but instead are at risk of wearing your eyeballs out looking for them! Did manage to steer clear of all rocks and other obstructions. Anchored in Hatch Cove on the backside of Castine Busca did have just about a foot under her keel at low tide. A fish finder comes in real handy. Without that I may well have run aground a time or two. I'll have to add an account of that trip to my web page. Definitely a good time! It will be interesting to see what Skip suggests for small anchorages! I do have Taft & Rindlaub's "Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast" but I'm sure that there must be small holes not covered in it. Tod
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