Cruising the San Francisco and Monterey Bays

Letter to a person who wants to get into boating

2011-12-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

Take the Coast Guard or US Power squadron boating classes. Get out on the water and try boating. The water ways around your area can really dictate what kind of boat you need. In Calm, warm inland waterways you see open boats and houseboats. On the Pacific where I boat, we have fog, howling winds, cold, 5 + seas all the time. A deep V hull is necessary. You'll need a small cabin to stay warm.

A good place to start is to talk with experienced owner who are boating in your area. They can tell you how their boat meets their needs for your particular waterway. Do you agree with their findings?

I would recommend a multipurpose boat to start. As you use it, you will find what you truly enjoy in boating. (Skiing, cruising, fishing, etc) Plan on stepping up and specializing in the future. Generally, Sea Ray, Bayliner, SeaSwirl are good starter boats. Personally, I don't want a boat with carpet and furniture over plywood. (they rot out fast) I stick with the fishing boats that have glass inner liners.

Make your mistakes on your starter boat. You will shed less tears making the mistakes on your Bayliner. Crashing into docks (hey!, there no brake on this thing), running aground, mashing, smashing, tearing, chipping, crunching is all to be done on your cheap, 1st boat. Get this out of your system before touching a $90,000 boat.

There are nice trailerable boats which can save you slip fees. BUT, do you have a large truck to tow boats with? The savings in slip fees may make the payments on your new truck.

Used boats have good value, but you really need to study the features of the different models, the history surrounding different models and have a good surveyor inspect the engines and hull. Boats that are much over 20 yrs old are in need of serious repairs. If the prior owner has done them, fine, if not, it will cost you.

There are strong internet forums for most brands. The owners are a wealth of information

As attractive as a center console is, you need to be in warm areas to run them. If you have women aboard, they're going to want a private bathroom. Think Cuddy cabin.

I've driven boats with 2 stroke OBs for years. I don't want anything to do with them anymore. They burn too much gas , are very noisy and smell up the area. Boats with 4 stroke OBs are the ideal, but tend to be pricy. I/Os are common. They are quiet. THere is more maintenance on a I/O, but if you have good mechanical abilities, you can do quite a bit of the work yourself.

The sky is the limit on prices. Quality, specialization and fashion can multiply the prices many times over. A good mid Tier boat is the place to start. Sell it down the road an move up if you love being out on the water. As mentioned, Bayliner, Trophy, Striper, Sea Ray are mid tier boats. Sea Hunt is a very fine boat.

Generally, the trend was always to get bigger. Nowadays, there's a large group selling and stepping down to lighter, smaller, fuel efficient trailerable boats. When a big boat burns 350 gallons of fuel each day, you can understand this new trend.

After buying and selling 20 boats, I am more and more picky. This has lead to better and better boats, for 1/4 what I used to pay. I am far, far less willing to take on a boat with problems. You find that you have enough work on "perfect" boats, let alone spending 2 years doing repairs on a lost cause. (before is even hits the water)

Okay. welcome to the boating way of life.

Maui vacation notes

2011-12-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

Years ago, Vivian and I went to Kauai for the very first time. We got to our ocean side hotel late in the afternoon.. The sky was dark. It was cloudy, rainy and windy. I was so excited about being on the island; I wanted to see the beach. In the dim evening hours, we walked along the soft sand. The waves boomed nearby, a mist dampened our faces.

I spotted a coconut in the surf.. Looking like Robinson Curuso, I ran to scoop up my treasure. I pried on the coconut but couldn’t open it. Pondering this, I ran up to a jagged rock and beat the end of the coconut. The coconut exploded, covering me with foul juices. Apparently, coconuts go bad like any other fruit.

Much the same as our first trip, we were greeted with wind and rain. Or plane circled Maui; bucking and yawing. At one point, the planed dropped 10’. Raindrops streaked across the windows. We could see rain soaked sugarcane fields, roads and industrial areas below. The pilot, an older gentleman set the plane down on the rain slicked run way and put on the brakes.. I got to hand it to Alaskan airlines; we were off the plane, picked up our bags, and were whisked away to the car rental facility in record time.

Maui has its airport on the East (rainy) side of the island. As we disembarked, A local recommended a Farmer’s market for fresh Papaya. We talked about Kauai. He said Maui was more and more like Oahu. He went on to say that the people on Maui were more “Muscular”. Driving through Kahalui, we noticed large malls. The traffic was fast and furious. The pace is much faster here than in Kauai..

We received a Nissan Altima from Hertz. It has no key. You carry a device in your pocket that opens and closes the doors. Then you press on the brake and push a button to start the car. Push the button again to shut off the car. I’m just beginning to understand this system. The more I use it, the better it seems to work for us.

We started our drive from the East Shore, past the West harbor at Maalaea Bay. The road wound through cliffs and tunnels, then dropped down onto 20 miles of West coast beaches, all the way up the to Lahaina town and Kohala.
Lahaina would remind you of Kona, Monterey or Poipu. The town is classically old school and is built on the water’s edge. We noted the Bubba Gumps seafood, steak houses and a Safeway.

North of Lahaina we saw the mega resorts. Miles of golf courses with nice building set comfortably apart. Further up the road, we came to Kohala. Kohala also has high-rise resorts, but they’re packed closer together. We noted the nice view of Molokai and Lanai islands.. To the South, we could see a tiny island, Kahoolawe.

Vivian and I picked our way through the hotels. Kohana Kai hotel, Kohana Wai hotel, Royal Kohana, the Kohana outrigger and finely, the Sands of Kohana. We pulled in to our hotel,. It has three high rises, a pool, beach and restaurant. Our 2-bedroom suite was up on the 6th floor with an Ocean view. The room is huge, probably a 1/3 bigger than our house back home.
Tired, Vivian and I checked the restaurant. We just caught the last of the happy hour. $4 drinks were passable. Shortly there after, drinks jumped up in price to $11 +, which was prohibitive. I noticed the same with the restaurant. Breakfast was ½ price from 0530 to 0630, thereafter; you were looking at paying $12 for the basic fair.

Later, we walked up the street to a small, non descript Chinese restaurant. The prices were double those found in Santa Cruz. It was nearly $16 for some dishes (!)

We noticed gas is $4.50 a gal. A whole chicken in Safeway was $12. A $18 package of steaks at the Santa Cruz Costco was running $29 in the Maui Costco. Common spices are $8 for a small container. Most people were buying food and cooking at the hotel. Our room has a very competent kitchen, which we plan to use.

Maui is very pretty. Tall, sculptured mountains like those seen at Hana-Lei Kauai. Clear waters and abundant wildlife like the Big Island. It feels like a mixture of the remote Big Island, Mountainous Kauai and the busy Oahu Islands.

The wind howled through the night. Then next day we were greeted with clearing skies and 10 degree warmer temperature. We went swimming and later, drove down to pick up Vivian's mom, Julia.

Radar

2011-12-06T13:43:00.000-08:00

The older systems were specifically made for radar. The control head had a large plug and cable going to the radome.

The newer systems would connect via ethernet, which could be made proprietary. For example, the older Furuno Navnet was identical to Ethernet used in the computer industry. Some other brands were proprietary.

For additional information click on the Owners Manual tab, select Radar and download the owner and installation manuals.

NMEA 0183 does not have the data transfer rate for Radar. It can give information on heading and location. NMEA 0183 would be connected to radios or autopilots, but not radar.

Radar has changed quite a bit over the years. The new gear is using low powered broadband signals that gives good performance. The older gear used high powered X band radar that needed to be mounted up above the users. The older gear required a radar capable control head, that integrated Map and Sounder info.

I invested in radar and find that I seldom use it. That said, if you operate in foggy areas with Ship traffic, you should have radar on board. Radar takes practice. The lumpy blobs on the screen need a lot of interpretation. The best thing you could do is to run it during periods of clear visibility, so you can compare the radar's lumpy blobs with the ship you see in the distance. Sometimes channel buoys are just a single pixel on the screen.

When searching for a radar, you need to understand that the smaller models are used for collision avoidance. The higher powered units are used by fishermen to find diving birds (in the fog)

As far as cheap goes, Many are removing their older Furuno 1623 and 1723C units when they upgrade to the modern network systems. I would look for one of these on Ebay. Look for one that was inside a cabin and shows little weather damage. Then practice, practice practice.

Docking in high winds

2011-11-19T07:11:00.001-08:00

I do have one observation about piloting the Bayliner Flybridge boats. IF you have a moderate to high wind behind the boat, the flat cabin back will really catch the wind and drive the boat forward. The wind pressure is not NEARLY as bad with the bow into the wind. The bow is just that much more aerodynamic.

Once, we were pulling into Emeryville on a windy afternoon. It was howling. I knew that getting the boat tied down was going to be tricky. The guest dock was this long stretch of dock. I pulled up next to the dock, threw the engines into reverse. The boat stopped and we jumped out onto the dock with our lines. **** No Cleats ***** Sure, I expertly brought the boat to a stop, in a howling wind, but I didn't bring the boat to a stop where the cleats were!.

**** THE wind caught the back of the boat and she took off, nearly pulling me off the dock ******, I let go of the stern line. (The stern spun away from the dock) I ran forward and grabbed the bow line. The boat pivoted around the bow, and came to a stop, bow to the wind. I walked the (bow to the wind) boat backwards to the first available cleat and tied it off. So, I have first hand experience about this matter.

So, the rule of the day is to have the bow to the wind and to make sure I pull up next to the cleats. BECAUSE, I know my boat is really going to take off and be unstoppable..

With this in mind, you might be better off petitioning for a slip on the other side of the dock, bow to the wind.

Boat electrical problems.

2011-11-10T13:25:00.001-08:00

Wiring can rot out. The question is where? Do some detective work with a volt meter or test light. Check areas where the wires are exposed to the weather. Keep in mind, the electricity comes up from the battery and has to return on the ground. Both legs of the electrical pathway need to be sound. (new people might focus on the positive wires only. You need a complete loop up and back from the battery)

1) Meter the electricity in the Light's wiring where it passes inside the hull, to the power panel. If you have good power, the wires passing outside the hull may be water damaged. Replace the short run of wires from inside the hull to the Spot.

2) Find where the spot's wiring connects to. Check the connections.

On the older Bayliners, they often fed the auxiliary power panel with puny automotive wiring. They connected this wiring to an exposed, riveted together fuse panel. (which would fail over time if exposed to moisture) I've replace the main wires coming up from the engine and the fuse panels a few times. Look at the Blue Sea fuse panels.

A) Put a meter on the boat's power panel. If voltage is low, check the voltage going into the ignition switch. If you have good power going into the switch and low power coming out, your ignition switch may be bad. If the electrical feed wiring from the engine is low, check the connections/solinoid on the engine. Ignition switches are usually exposed to the weather. They're a mechanical switch in a marine environment. Over time, they will fail.

The better marine wiring is nickel plated wires covered by a better sheathing. The cheaper automotive wiring will absorbe water and rot out.

In summary, I'm suspicious of wiring that is exposed outside the hull to sun and salt. I track the electricity from the panel forward to the spot. If the panel is low, I check the ignition switch and track the electricity back to the engine. I am suspicious of cheaper wiring and fuse panels in the salt water environment.
__________________

Matching your propeller to your boat's weight and power

2011-11-06T08:25:00.001-08:00

Sufficient to say, matching the prop to the boat's weight and power can save you a bundle in fuel bills.

There are exceptions:

I deliberately run a 15 X 13 during the salmon fishing season, just to get that slow trolling speed. I max out on RPMs at half throttle with this prop. (clearly wrong) So, I'm using a low pitch prop to achieve a specific goal (low trolling speed) Normally, The correct prop should find max RPMs at full throttle.

I'm putting on a 15X16 (4blade) prop for cruising. I hope to find that WOT gives me the 4200 RPMs that is the max allowable. (and a much better fuel economy)

Roughly speaking, each 1" of increased pitch, will lower your RPM by 200. So, do the math. I buy props off Ebay if I'm not sure about the correct pitch. If I'm wrong, I resell them. Once I identify what size and pitch works well, I will buy a new prop (if needed)

So, what I'm saying is, different props for different jobs.

I wish boats had variable pitch props, because my big boat can get very heavy at the start of the trip, and much lighter at the end of the trip. The reality is that you need to get the prop that covers the range of needs for that particular trip.

In any case, you want to know what your boat is burning, either gals per hour or MPG. On one trip, I checked my FLOSCAN and noted that I had 20 or so gallons left. I was getting 1.5 MPG with the big boat. A quick check of the maps showed that I needed to go 40 miles. So, the fuel left in the tank wasn't going to do the job. We spent part of the morning finding the fuel dock, Fueling, pumping the holding tank, and draining the water. (to lighten the load). The FLOSCAN paid for itself that morning. I knew what my boat's range was before I made that 40 mile trip.

Another important reason for watching the FLOSCAN is identifying changes in your fuel burn. On one trip, the fuel burn jump dramatically. I started looking at the engine and identified that my alternator was dead, which meant that the electric choke was staying on. (costing me a fortune) The alternator directly powers the choke on my engine.

Marine starter motors and solenoids

2011-08-08T00:22:00.000-07:00

If the starter is not reliable,

First check the ignition switch. They are prone to failure.

Battery cable ring connections can go bad. If the cable feels "crunchy", then the acid has traveled up into the cable and damaged it.

On many engines, the ignition switch "start" sends electricity to a starting solenoid. The solenoid is just a giant, remote control switch, than can handle the large amounts of current that the starter needs when cranking. I would call this the starter solenoid and it's mounted on the starter.

On some boats, the starter and solenoid are mounted down the side of the motor. On my Trophy, their scientifically designed motor covers funnel all the deck water down onto the starter. So, we see a lot of starter (solenoid) and cable problems on this boat.

Slave solenoids would be similar solenoids used to switch on and off other large power using motors, such as the trim and tilt pump and or possibly a bow thruster or windlass (motors).

The nice thing about solenoids, is that you can mount them on the motor and control them with smaller switches on the helm. This saves you running the battery cables all the way to the helm and back. (an expensive proposition)

Ipods

2011-07-25T15:25:00.001-07:00

There are two types of Ipods. 1) Ones with large screens and WiFi capability. These connect to the internet and play movies. and 2) Those without. I believe the Nano is the handy, small music player. They do different things. Any Apple product uses the Itunes software on your computer to add and remove music, podcasts etc.

A few facts:

1) Sometimes the Itunes software will download automatically when you connect the Ipod to the computer. The type of Ipod you have is very unimportant. Using Itunes is the thing to focus on:

2) The Itunes software does several things:

a) you can take your favorite music CDs and add them to your Itunes library (on your main computer) This saves you a ton of money if you already own the CD.
b) you can buy music from the Itunes store front (actually pretty handy if you want that one song, not the whole cd) I can handle the .99 cents.
c) You can download "podcasts", which may be history lessons from Stanford, Chinese lessons (handy for me), comedy, hunting and fishing shows and such. These are usually FREE.
d) If your Ipod gets messed up, Itunes can restore the Ipod.

3) One of the key things to your Itunes library is to create "Play Lists". This is very important. Playlists separate the different types of music, All my Classical is in one playlist, my Western in another, Reggae, etc etc. Otherwise, It's a bit disconcerting to listen to a Western piece and have the next song to be Def Leapard's Hysteria. Play music from one playlist and it will be all similar music.

a) In Itunes, you "Create Play list" name it "Fast Western" , "Old western", "New Western" etc etc. Then drag the slow western songs from the main playlist into the new "slow western directory". You've created a slow wester playlist.

So, the key is the Itunes software on your computer. If your songs are organized in Itunes, they will "SYNC" to the IPOD and be organized there.

4) Some things that happen: I've gotten way too many songs in Itunes. Some, I just didn't really like. Right click on the offending song and "delete" it from the main library.

Other odd Ipod info:

Some car stereo's have a USB port and can control your Ipod. They make a cord that can connect your Ipod to your stereo. (Mini pin to two RCA jacks)
For the Bedroom, Yamaha has a VERY nice Ipod ready mini stereo. (the same one in control at the RT) It's a CRX-330

Alex, to tell the truth, I'm sick of listening to my old stuff. It's nice, but I've been listening to it for 30 years. The new and exciting music for me is the Jazz played on the "Swiss Groove" internet radio station. (google search it). Swiss groove and stream to your windows media player or to your internet capable Ipod. Try it, just to hear something different.

Craig

Boat BBQs

2011-07-24T12:58:00.001-07:00

A couple of points:

1) The Q should store nicely in a box. This helps contain any grease.

2) The Q should be easy to clean. Extra points if it has a grease tray on the bottom.

3) Once removed from the Q, the propane cylinders can leak. Listen to the top and you can hear hissing. You need to store these out on the swim step, not in the boat.

4) THe Q you buy needs to stay lit when the wind is up.

5) My friend was anchored next to the baseball park. He was cooking chicken. The breeze knocked the flame out. He shoved his lighter in the Q and sparked it up. The entire baseball stadium witnessed the explosion. The Chicken and Q went into orbit. My friend was blackened with grease. So, air out your gas Q if it goes out, before lighting.

6) I deeply regret scrubbing out my Q in the sink one day. The resulting oil slick filled the marina. I forgot that the gray water went overboard. I'll never do that again. See #1. Clean it when you get home.

There are a lot of Qs out there. 1 in 10 work like they should. Keep after people to find out what is 1) Safe and 2) Works right.

Maneuvering in crowded harbors

2011-07-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

Low speed maneuvering takes some finesse. Get some practice moving your boat at low speeds, outside of the harbor. Each boat is different, you need to know what your boat can do, and not do. Even the pros have to relearn the capabilities of a new boat. Discover what speed you have to go to maintain steering. Learn how fast you can get the boat to stop (when the boat throttle is put to reverse) Throttle up in reverse and see which way the stern moves. How much reverse thrust does you boat have. (more prop pitch, less stern thrust)

Going slow is okay for no wind/tide situations. But, you will often loose your steerage. The pros come in to the dock with enough speed to steer the boat. At the last minute, they will reverse the engine to bring the boat to a stop, right along side the dock. This takes years of practice. Most boats have scars along the sides of the bow, training badges from their new owners.

Too much throttle in reverse will cause the boat's stern to move sideways. So, learn which way it moves or throttle backwards slowly.

Winds can give you a hard time when coming into a dock. If your boat has a square stern, it will really catch the wind as compared to the pointy bow side. The best way to do it is to come in with the wind at your bow. Have you lines and fenders ready before making your approach. Have crew ready to jump off and throw lines around cleats. (keep their fingers out of those cleats)

If you're like me, you'll have come in perfectly, in a high wind, only to find there's no cleats on that part of the dock. We jumped back aboard as the boat took off. :drama

People will stand in line at the harbor office to get slips that are facing the prevailing wind. (afternoon winds usually) If you make your approach wrong, the wind will usually just push you back out of the slip. Then you can try again. On the other side of the dock, people will have their boats driven into the slip. Even if the boat is in reverse. This can be alarming if your bow sprit is heading for another boat.

Generally, there are slips that are impossible to get into when you consider the tides and wind. Tie off at another location until the blow/tide subsides. Better this, than smashing into another boat.

Okay, I hope this helps.

The universal fishing boat

2011-06-19T08:59:00.001-07:00

Most people are fishing a 21' boat. This length is nice for two people. If you have a large family, a 23'er is a nice size. Center console boats are pure fishing boat. If you have women along, a walk around cuddy is nice. Women like having an enclosed toilet.

The problem with a 21 or 23'er is that you need a larger truck to move them. If you have a medium sized truck, then the 19'er would be the way to go.

Some fishing boats have smaller motors. If you're towing a skier around, you would need a larger engine, or, at least two props. ONe with a low pitch for skiing and one with a higher pitch for fishing.

Some manufacturers make family boats with bait wells and call them Fish and Ski boats. For the most part, they're just a ski boat. The primary difference is the insole. True fishing boats have a fiberglass insole and a better bait well. If you want carpet, you lay it down over the insole. But when it comes to fishing, pull the carpet out to make cleaning the boat easier. I wont buy a boat with carpet over plywood interior. They don't last out in the weather. So, I stick with the true fishing boats.

If you're boating in cold climates, boats with full windshield are nice. You and your passengers will be protected from the icy blast of cold air. I've had boats with walk through windshields and they were okay for fishing.

Lost Isle. A delta party spot in the 1980s

2011-06-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

Years ago, My friends and I stopped in for dinner one evening after a full day of water skiing.. A local yacht club was having a dinner party. As we pulled up to the dock, there were two boats sank, their mooring lines taught against the dock. We approached the dinner house and were greeted merrily by a group dressed like the Pirates of the Caribbean. Laughter and loud music filled the air. Most were in their 50s and appeared blind drunk. Lovers snuggled in different corners . The proprietor was passing out steak dinners and booze at a record clip. We got our meal and retreated to an elevated platform (dining area?). We settled in with our drinks, and enjoyed the warm breeze blowing across miles of waterways. The sun, an orange ball, cast a golden light turning turning us bronze. We departed later, under purple skies. Returning to our marina. In the darkness, Frogs croaked and splashed , fireflies circles above the water, two boys fished from the docks.

I'm sure the place was trouble, but it added to the adventure we had that day.

Inboards VS Outboards

2011-05-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

I/Os were popular when the only option were 2 stroke outboards. The I/Os were cheaper and much more quiet. Hence, many boats came with I/Os . I/Os are vulnerable to freeze damage if not properly winterized. I/Os are prone to electrolysis if left in a hot harbor.

I/Os have been eclipsed by modern 4 stroke outboards. Quiet, reliable and fuel efficient. The one issue with a 4 stroke O/B is that a competent shop needs to work on them. This can run some money. Some 4 stroke O/Bs were quite heavy and didn't work so good on boats that were already stern heavy.

This said, I have I/Os because I buy used boats. Most all of the older boats with 2 stroke motors need the engines replaced. Instantly, you're socked with a $12 to 16k bill. I can work on my old I/Os. Manifolds, starters, alternators, belts, water pumps are all pretty simple to replace. If I have a bad motor, I can get a crate motor pretty cheap. Replacement outdrives are pretty cheap as well.

If you choose your boat and I/O carefully, you can get fair mileage from an I/O. Not as much as a 4 stroke O/B, but pretty good.

Mercruiser and Volvo are the popular I/O packages. I prefer those that have GM motors

So, to answer your question, a boat with a modern 4 stroke OB would be anyones first choice. When sitting in the slip, you could tip this motor out of the water. If you're looking for older, cheaper boats, I/Os can be a good way to go. Some hull/motor combinations get better fuel economy. Local shops are familiar with fixing them. Lastly, would be a 2 stroke O/B boat. If you love the hull and are up for the expense of putting a new motor on it, you could have a set up that would last for years.

Any used motor should be checked closely by a respected service dept.

Outboard mounting height

2011-05-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

On an older boat with a light 70hp Johnson, I raised the motor one notch on successive trips. I picked up speed on the first notch. On the second notch, I found that the prop was catching some air on sharp turns. I put it back down to the first notch.

You pick up speed and improved economy if the engine is the right height.

Keep in mind the difference in boat height based on weight. A full fuel tank and 4 Rhino sized fishing buddies is definitely going to put your boat deeper in the water. Running empty with a single person will put you higher.

I think I might have been catching a bit of air on my first notch when running empty. I stuck with 1 notch because overall, I usually fished with friends (more weight)

Many don't mess with the OB height. I'm glad I did because I learned where the sweet spot was. I'm glad it was a light engine.

Buying a used boat

2011-05-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

You have to answer some questions about your needs before buying just any boat:

1) What are you using it for. There's a big difference between Fishing, Cruising, Water Skiiing and house boats.

2) The boats that were popular years ago (heavy, deep V, large engines) are not be as popular these days. People are trending towards lighter boats with smaller, fuel efficient out boards. These will cost more up front, but save you down the road. (If you actually use the boat)

2a) Having a boat in a slip was popular years ago. Now that local slips are $400 a month, having the boat on a trailer is essential.

3) At the price you are looking for, you will need to find the "needle in the haystack" used boat. A used boat can be a terrific value if the motor, stringers, transom and electrical check out. Even with a very clean used boat, you will need to work on it. Some people enjoy this, others pay a lot for the work. Find a book on checking out used boats. On larger purchases, surveyors are used. My best used boat find was $1500. My worst boat purchase was $7000. The difference, the care that went into the inspection of the boat.

4) To a certain degree, the type of water way you're boating on can dictate the type of boat to buy. We boat on the Pacific coast, where it's rough, foggy and can blow out of the West in the afternoon, and the East in the early evening. We tend to gravitate towards the deep V boats. 50 mile away, people boat in the Delta, hot, flat water, a place where houseboats tie up to Palm trees.

Bayliners offer value. Search for a very clean one. There are many other quality boats around though. Scout, Proline etc etc.

21' boats are very popular. Large enough for moderate seas and small enough to be towed by a 1/2 ton PU.

To a lesser extent, consider the look of the boat. To a house boater, a big square house on pontoons is beauty. For an Ocean fisherman, a sleek W/A cuddy with a Carolina flare is beauty. All I'm saying is that it helps "if you just love the way this boat looks" (and works for you)

Fixing holes in boats.

2011-04-18T00:32:00.000-07:00

Often, on older boats, you need to remove old hardware that leaves unsightly holes. Filling these holes is an art. I'm just getting started and have had some success.

If the holes are in a swim step, which is thick, you would cut dowels to fill the holes in the swim step.. Then, you would epoxy over and under the dowels, to seal them in. If the step is thin, just tape one side and fill the hole with epoxy.

Technique goes far on this kind of project.

Layer tape so you have a large patch to cover the area to be repaired. I apply the bottom edge of the tape/patch, below the area to be repaired. After the Epoxy has filled my work area, I flip the tape (flap) up over the epoxy. What I'm saying is, the patch needs to be ready to go, right after applying you epoxy. Wait, and the epoxy will drool out onto your shoe while you're pulling tape off the roll.

Some Epoxies come with a syringe. These are handy getting the epoxy deep into the holes and back filling to the surface.

Generally, most boats have faded to white. The pre colored "white" epoxy seems to match the best. I've tried the Almond color and it's just too yellow. If you need Blue or Red, you're going to have to add a coloring agent to your epoxy. This takes some technique and a good eye for color.

The epoxy needs to flow like glue. If it's dried out and lumpy, you'll never get it to flow into the hole. Throw it out and start over. I prefer the 50 minute epoxy to the 5 minute. I just don't get the job done fast enough for the 5 minute epoxy.

Next day, plan on using coarse sand paper to level the epoxy. Then use progressively finer sand paper til it's smooth. If you have a hole, rough it up and make another batch of epoxy. They make plastic spreaders that will help you smooth the epoxy. (flat)

Cheat: If your patch is off color, you can get the color-rite touch up paint from the autoparts places. Paint the patch, hopefully to a color the you're happier with.

If you really need perfection, this is what you pay skilled shipwrights to fix. They'll color match your 15 year old boat perfectly. You'll never see where the old holes were. My boats never needed that kind of attention, so I do the work myself.

Adding a battery switch and second battery to a boat

2011-02-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

Adding a second battery is a good safety feature. Being able to shut off the batteries when the boat is on the trailer is a good situation. My newest restoration had 15 wiring connections at the battery. It was very sloppy back there. I ended up mounting 14 of these connections to a large circuit breaker and ground bar. The breaker and ground bus had a singe cable coming back to the battery. This cleaned up the battery connections and I was rewarded with higher battery voltage at the engine and helm.

A couple of points.

1) The only circuit NOT switch off by the battery switch is the bilge pump circuit. (Usually, a fuse brown wire)

2) Extra points to you if the switch is in a convenient location. You don't want to dismantle the boat to get to your switch every single time.

3) Try to find a dry spot to mount the switch and wiring. You'll find that some locations drip water down onto the switch (rain or spray)

4) People will use a Blue Sea charging relay to allow the engine to charge both batteries by the single engine. [URL="http://bluesea.com/category/2/productline/overview/387"]http://bluesea.com/category/2/productline/overview/387[/URL]

5) Here is a detailed article on batteries, which includes a circuit diagram near the bottom. [URL="http://www.sschapterpsa.com/ramblings/Batteries.htm"]http://www.sschapterpsa.com/ramblings/Batteries.htm[/URL]

Trophy boat restoration notes

2011-02-18T10:12:00.000-08:00

I'm on my 3rd Trophy. Generally, I first look at the safety issues. I've learned to be pretty cautious:

1) Inspecting/replacing sunburned, freeze cracked cheap PVC thru hulls. 3 Trophys sank in our bay over the past few years due to thru hull problems.

2) Bait wells. If you have one, the plumbing should be checked closely. The basin is glassed into the under side of the deck. It can leak and eventually fill your boat with water. People use 5200 to seal up the seams.

3) Inoperable or undersized bilge pumps. Both front and back. Check to see if the float switches are working.

4) Leaking windows or deck hatch. Water intrusion can make a mess of your cabin. I've replaced these hatches with those found on ebay. Either bomar or Jim Black.

5) Sometimes the Nav lights and windshield wipers are bad. Replace switches as necessary.

6) All the general maintenance on the engine, batteries, trim and tilt, fuel filters.

7) Trailer lights. The newer sealed units are better than the older stuff.

8) Being a cautious type, I do a test run with a trusted, season captain that I can trust to keep his wits about him. While he's running the boat, I'm crawling around inspecting the engine, bilge, and anything else, looking for (alarming problems). I do this before loading the family on board and going for any joy ride. ( I remember taking my sister and husband out on joy ride. The boat nearly sank.

I would consider the inspection of the above items the bare minimum .

Nice things to add:

I run a fair number of electronics. Running a dedicated circuit for those electronics saves you a brown out at the helm.

Scrubbing out the cabin. I use a rented carpet cleaner. (with hand attachment)

Replacing sanitation lines if you got them. Follow your nose on this problem.

Rigging and testing your fishing equipment.

General polishing and waxing. (it seems to make a difference)

I sound paranoid, but I've run older boats on treacherous waters. Nearly been killed 3 times and I just don't want to go there again.

Marine hand held radios

2011-02-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

The hand held VHFs are limited by their tiny antennas and low power. You can hear, but your transmission will be limited.

When looking for a handheld, I look to seen if it's considered water proof. Some say they are and are not. Invariably, they get wet and stop working. I look for a quality feel to the unit. Some are very toy like. The battery quality is important.

For the most part, hand helds are limited. Your cell phone will reach farther.

This time around, I chose Uniden. Submersible and it floats. Decent batteries. Prior I had Standards. Good radio. Got wet and died.

Playing both hand held and fixed radio w/an 8' antenna, the fixed mount radio will be talking all day and I won't hear a peep out of the hand held. It's all about the antenna.

I saw a guy with a CC boat. He installed a 4' digital antenna on a ratchet mount. It didn't take much space. Knowing how good the D A antennas are, I suspect he had good reception.

Another minor consideration is whether or not you're a talker. A talker will run a handheld right down. A lurker, might just have enough battery left to get out a transmission if there was an emergency.

GPS/Fishfinder considerations

2011-02-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

Here are some considerations when purchasing a GPS fishfinder.

Garmin and Lowrance offer good machines. Some people find good deals on Refurbished units. They get the same warrantee as new.

How deep of water will your sounder be used in? If you're in shallower water, the "wide" sounders are useful. For deep salt water, the 1000 KW units are necessary.

I recommend going to a shop and using the different units. The menus on some machines work better for some people. You want a unit that you control easily.

Be sure of the available space on your helm for your GPS/FF. It seems that the size of most GPS/FF grow, the closer they get to the helm. When mounting the GPS, keep it within reach of your hands, while driving the boat. Reaching up over the helm each time you change or add waypoints becomes a hassle.

The darling GPS these days is the Garmin 740s, but it cost more than $800. It uses a touch screen that would remind you of your Iphone/Ipod touch. Panning the maps is very nice on these machines. Otherwise, the smaller Garmin 545s is nice.

Some people have said that the maps are better on some brands. You should review the maps offered on the machines that interest you. I saw a Lowrance that had better maps inland on the rivers. The Garmin G2 charts are nice.

Upon finding the machine that suits your needs, start checking around for refurbs. In the spring, some companies offer rebates.

Regarding transducers. The better machines offer different transducers for different jobs. As mentioned, Wide is popular in shallow waters. Wide is popular for finding spread out bait.

Dual frequency with a wide and narrow beam offer two perspectives of the waters below. Wide for searching, narrow for finding what is directly below the boat.

Transom mount transducers are less money and most owners don't have a problem installing them.

If you need to see 800 to 2000' of water, the powerful 1000 to 3000 water transducers are needed. The FF needs to be rated for this kind of power. Some of the finest high powered FF are made by Furuno.

Thru-hulls offer better pictures at higher speeds. The cost of this transducer and the installation can run some money. In hull transducers are not as efficient, but save the owner having holes drilled into the hull.

In any case, the transducer need to run over smooth water coming out the bottom of the boat. I've had to make microscopic adjustments on my installations to 1) get a clean picture and 2) get the transducer pointing straight down. The goal is to have the transducer "water skiing" behind the boat. If the forward edge of the transducer is down, tearing at the water, the FF picture will foam up as soon as the boat starts moving.

Victory motorcycle test ride

2010-09-23T21:58:00.000-07:00

Vivi and I rode up to Dublin to the Arlen Ness Victory dealer.

Along the way, we stopped at Maruichi in Milpitas, a traditional Japanese soup house. Chirpy Japanese pop filled out ears, the waitress brought large bowls of soup. mmm kelp, shrimp, udon, pork, fish. A flavourful soup. Nearby, Meticulously groomed, Gucci clad Japanese youth sat shoulder to shoulder eating. http://www.yelp.com/biz/maru-ichi-milpitas

We continued up the highway to Dublin and parked in front of a large Gray building holding the Arlen Ness dealership. Out front a Victory Vision and the new Cross Roads were parked. We entered the storefront and saw no one around. Harleys and Victorys lined the walls. Within a few moments, family members came out and welcomed us, explaining that "Dad" and the guys decided to go for a ride and they were a bit under staffed. Family brought us out and showed us the Victory Vision and new Cross roads. They were disarmingly friendly, which is a world better than getting mauled straight away by sales sharks. I mentioned that we emailed asking for a test ride. They mentioned that every day was a good for test ride.

The Vision looks big and very swoopy modern looking. You wouldn't confuse it with any other bike. Throwing a leg over the bike I noticed that I didn't scuff the seat. The bike seems lower and longer than many, making it easier to get on an off.

The controls are straight forward simple (even familiar if you've ridden Gold Wings) They are intuitive and well integrated into the bike. This was nice to see after riding the Harley. Some of the Harley's controls were not that intuitive. The Vision came stock with heated seat and grips, electric windshield and radio.

Vivian mentioned that there was a lot more room behind the rider on the Vision. She thought the electric heated seat was a bit hard. The Harley's seat was a bit softer.

We cranked up the big engine and were welcomed with a very refined rumble. The bike was quite smooth at idle, and when pulling away from stop signs. On a safe straight away, I opened up the throttle and the engine snarled to life. We hurled down the road, needles on the speedo swinging across the dial. There's plenty of power, in a refined, rumbly way. The throttle/FI managed the engine well. I didn't feel any surges, lean pops or flat spots. We enjoyed turning on the radio and being able to hear it. Vivi leaned over my shoulder and asked a few questions. I was able to hear her and reply. The bike is more quiet.

The first thing I noted was that the weight was quite low in the bike. Victory uses an aluminum frame, which means less weight up high. The frame felt tight and the suspension was doing its job. I notice the floor boards were quite long, which allowed me to move my feet forward and back. The shift and brake levers were easy to find and worked well. As we rumbled along, I noticed that we could hear some gear whine. Shifting up and down the gears resulted in a clunk. Shifting was positive, just a bit noisy. Later, I learned that the 2011 models have a newly designed transmition.

Within 4 miles or so, the thought of "it's really big" had vanished and we were feeling quite comfortable. The bike feels quite planted and handles quite steady. The bike responds nicely to the riders input, which builds your confidence quickly.

We rode up Tassajara Road through mild twistys. I found that the Victory feels well planted in the turns. I think the reduced weight and properly stiff frame makes this happen. Some of the big old touring bikes I've ridden didn't turn at all. Or, if they did, you could feel quite a bit of flex.(Say ur prayers) Not so with the Victory.

We parked the bike and Family quickly offered to let us ride the Cross Roads model. We agreed. I noticed the cross roads is quite a bit smaller and lighter.(and cheaper) The suspension was more firm, which should make it more sporty. The minimal fairing allowed quite a bit of air over the top. Underneath, the Heart of the bike, the engine, was quite the same as mentioned above. We returned the cross roads. It would make a nice commuter. We are looking for a comfortable bike for travelling. We were quite pleased with Vision.

I noted on the Victory web site that they have a large number of accessories for this bike, all of which command premium prices. So, examine the Victory web site for CB radios, GPS, Ipod and cell phone connections and intercoms when you think of buying one of these bikes.

If I had to sum up the experience, I would say that this is a well engineered touring bike that inspires rider confidence. Styling, you'll either like it or not. I did notice that a large number of people were gawking when we rode past.

Back at the shop, family said that the Vision was there number one selling bike. I can see why. We were invited to the "Victory days" party at the end of October. I gather there was going to be live music, food and the "Victory Semi" full of 2011 bikes for test rides. Sounds like fun.

Harley Road test

2010-09-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

Vivian and I went to Salinas to a very good Chinese Buffet. http://www.yelp.com/biz/sakura-buffet-salinas

Next door was the Harley Shop. We went in and I noticed they had quite a few bikes on hand. The staff was very friendly as compared to the local shop, that has since gone out of business. I checked out their touring bikes.

Now, I never considered a Harley because they always carried a $30k price tag in the mags. Well, apparently those tested models were customs. The standard issue touring models were right about $20k. The dealer encouraged us to ride one. We agreed.

We rode the model with the top box and bat wing fairing. This model had all the electronics, less a GPS. This model had the speakers.

I cranked up the engine. At idle, the engine shook the entire bike so much that Vivian was a bit startled. As soon as we were under-way, the engine smoothed out considerably.

The shop manager said that this model was one of the quiet models. Vivi and I were amazed at the amount of rumble coming out of the exhaust. We could use earplugs I suppose, but would probably elect to use the helmets made of cement (to get some quiet). It was a nice sounding rumble, but your head would certainly explode after a few hours.

I tried the radio. When switched on, it automatically found the 8 strongest stations. I turned it up, but the speakers couldn't overcome the engine noise. So, realistically, the speakers on this upgraded model are a complete waste of resources. Get the model with out speakers, and rely on the cement helmet with headphones.

Lucky for me, I am used to cruisers. I adapted well to the big ole' foot brake, taken from a Desoto station wagon.

Good stuff: We got on the free way and settled down to a steady thump. The engine was very smooth. The bike has an improved frame which felt well planted on the freeway. The bike turned nicely. The fairing did a good job cutting the wind.
We didn't feel any buffeting at all. I got the impression that this would be a steady bike, good for a rider interested in steady highway riding.

We hit every bump on the freeway. When I returned to the shop, we found that
the rear air suspension was empty. We pumped it up to 24 lbs and took off again. The ride was much improved. Vivi liked the seat. It appears to be leather over very good foam.

The bike lists as 900 lbs. It didn't feel like a 900 lbs bike. The weight was low. I've always had shoulder pain riding heavy bikes. I don't think this would be an issue on the Harley. The bike felt small after riding different large bikes. It wasn't bad, just smaller.

Odd stuff: I had to put on my reading glasses to see the neutral, turn signal light display. Fortunately, the turn signals were self cancelling, a feature I wish all bikes had. The saddlebags and top box seem small as compared to some offered. I know Vivi and I rely on our 52 liter top box. Riding two up, a bike lives or dies depending on it's capacity. I would
rate the Harley's boxes as minimal. Vivi's leg hit the chrome tubes running along the outside of the saddlebags. The dealer said the answer was to put blocks on the floor boards, to raise her feet up.

I liked the fit and finish of the Harley. Areas along the saddlebags and top box were flat plastic, begging for chrome add ons. The components were good. They appear to be individual components added to the bike. This is different than what you see on some bikes (and cars), where all components are integrated into the body work

I think we should have tried riding the Harley with the fixed fairing with dual head lights. This is their larger touring bike. We probably need the room for two up. The model we were on was the classic model.

When we were back at the shop, I noticed that they had 4 used Harley touring bikes on the floor. These all carried price tags that were within a $1000 of the new bikes. The dealer scoffed, saying that the older models used the old frame, which didn't handle so well. I noticed heavy rust stains at the ends of the exhaust pipes. Perhaps Harley
used a steel exhaust system behind their Catalytic converter. Most exhaust systems are Stainless steel these days. I would imagine that most riders were trying to unload the older bikes to pick up a 2010 with the newer frame.

I understand that Harley will be doing a large make over of their touring line. It would be interesting to see if they use the V-Rod engine in their new bike.

We'll have to take a look at the Victory bikes next.

Fishing boats.. The changes in opionions

2010-09-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

Most high end boats are made by hand by small companies owned by an experienced boat builder. The builders experience shows in his boats. Attention to detail is excellent. Prices are high. Think Boston Whaler, Grady White, etc. These boats are fished very well and equally badly all over. On the same waters, Trophy boats are fished famously and badly.

Be aware of what was considered "desirable" In the old days, a heavy, deep V hull with huge engines was IT. When fuel went up, people abandoned these boats. More recently, light weight, modified V hulls are popular. Even more recently, lighter boats designed to carry heavy 4 stroke OBs are popular. Everyone wanted a boat in the harbor. With slip fees up around $450, people want trailers. Looking back. My friends knocked Trophy boats for being too light and under powered. Now, these qualities are IN.

Bayliner made decent boats for the price. They offered boats to different markets. It was easy to knock their low price leader. But, who could argue with the ultra low price. The motor yachts and Trophy boats were pretty good.

Trophy made fair boats through the 80s and 90s. In 2000, they really buckled down and made very good boats for the price. Around this time period, the general boating public would not stand for wood stringers and transoms in their boats. Most of the better MFGs upgraded. Some didn't. I am sweet on the 2003 Trophy models. Prices have jumped on these boats as of recent.

Stepping back and looking at the big picture, my friends who laid out $ 150k for top shelf boats are pretty screwed right now. The values of their boats have dropped to the $50k range. And they couldn't even sell them for $50. Fishing isn't as great as it used to be either. At the same time, reasonably priced Trophy boats have held their value. This is because it's all people can afford these days and the quality is there on the 2000 vintage boats.

Generally speaking, when looking for a boat, look at the layout, the quality of fasteners, how the topsides were attached to the hull (bolted or riveted). Look at the quality of gel coat. The hull should have good flotation. Fittings below deck should be of high quality. The wiring should be neat and orderly. The motor should be of high quality.

Things to look at on Trophy boats. We've had several sink in the bay over the past few years. This hasn't help their reputation. Without fail, the problem lay with the cheap PVC Thru-hull drains. They are prone to cracking. When there's wave action, they allow water below decks. Inadequate pumps will not keep up. So, inspect and or replace your PVC thru-hulls.

Another big concern is the rapid change in marine powerplants. 4 Stroke and DFI outboards have brought clean efficient power to boating. You don't find these engines on older boats too often. You can go with an I/O, but your fuel mileage will be a 1/3 of the DFI/4Stroke engines. Also, if you leave the I/O in the saltwater, it will suffer.

In the absence of Trophy, several manufacturers have stepped to the plate. SeaHunt, Campion and some others are winning allocates. Arima makes very nice boats.

Checking on older Outboard engines

2010-09-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

I ask several dealers about the different outboard motors I'm interested in. They will usually give you some pointers. (at least the honest ones will) Sometimes they will give clear preferences of different years and engine sizes. Certain older motors may have been fine, but were very heavy, which made them unsuitable for many boats.

I check the compression. If the water pump was out, it would have over heated. Rule out new looking motor that is blown up. One of the local crooks put oil in the cylinders of the engine he was selling to raise the compression on a used motor I was interested in.

Look at the color of the plugs. Tan used to be the favourite color, but the new engines run so lean, the plugs should look white to clean. Look up reading plugs on the net to identify odd colored plugs. A common one on smaller OBs is deposits from old gas.

I look at the condition of the lower gear housing. If the paint is fresh, like new, I know it didn't have many hours in the water. A sample of the lower end oil will show whether the drive is full of salt water. Look to see if the PO backed the outboard into a curb. The lower fin would be broken off or bent. You might see cracks around the transom. The engine should steer from lock to lock w/o binding. Spin the prop and see if the shaft is bent. (Expensive to fix)

I take the cover off and look at the condition of the internal 1) wires 2) cables 3) fuel lines etc etc. Look for signs of salt water intrusion, leading to corrosion. Start asking questions.

I'll run the engine on the muffs. I check to see if the engine is warm prior to starting. It should start crisply. Any delay and the FI or filters may have problems. The engine should idle smoothly. Listen for deep knocks, which would be bearing problems.

I smell the engine oil. If it's clear, but has an acidic smell, it would suggest condensation in the motor. Look at the underside of the oil cap. If it has black deposits, the engine oil got hot at one point or wasn't changed in the past.

While running on the muffs, I will shift the engine in and out of forward and reverse. It should go in and out of gear crisply.

Some engines will run well, then blow fuses or show other odd symptoms. The PO clearly hasn't taken the engine in to get professional help. Hopefully, you can find this problem prior to buying the engine. The net may provide info that certain years of motors developed FI or coil problems.

In some cases, the boat may reveal a problem with the engine. I looked at a super clean Merc 115 4 stroke last week. 45 hours on the clock. I started climbing around the boat and found a high water mark, up around the steering gear. Clearly, the motor had been submerged and then cleaned up (to sell)

Hope this helps.

Boating trends.

2010-06-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

I fished a lot during the 80s. In 2000, we used our big boat to spend weeks at a time RVing around the SF Bay. I've learned some things about boating that I would like to share. Boating has changed radically in the past few years.

1) The fishing collapsed around here in 2000. It's coming back but slowly. I feel sorry for my friends that paid $150k for hard core fishing boats that are worthless now. I would not invest a lot in a fishing boat with such slim fishing. (despite the appeal)

2) Compounding the collapse is the cost of fuel. Most heavy ocean and cruising boats were built when fuel was .40 cents a gallon. I have a friend who can burn 400 gallons taking a leisurely ride around the SF bay. Add to this the fact that Slip fees have quadrupled in recent years. Yikes.

3) The active fishermen out there are using high quality aluminium boats. Real fishermen realise that the the bite may be here today, the Sacramento river tomorrow, a mountain lake the next, the SF bay next month. This involves driving. Aluminum saves gas both on the boat and tow vehicle. Look at the Alumaweld, Fish-Rite, Duckworth and North River boats.

4) Women. I'm blessed to have a wife that actually will go fishing with me. Women really dislike hanging it over the side to take a Pee. The reality is that a cuddy with a porta potti is necessary to make the "admiral" happy. I like having her along, so, I'll make this adjustment. Think Arima...

5) The cuddy can really add some magic to the boat. We've had great days fishing on the SF Bay and realised that we didn't feel like hauling out and driving home. Tying up at SF South Beach Marina and spending the night can be done on a cuddy. A trip to the South Beach showers the next morning and a meal at the South Bay Cafe', your ready to go another day. Sometimes, anchoring out at Treasure Island or Angel Island is magical. You'll wish you had a 21'er.

6) The engines in boats have changed dramatically in the past few years. We used to use inefficient, smoky 2 stroke outboards or heavy inefficient I/Os. None of these work well in the modern era. Compounding the problem is that the new fuels with "nitrogen" or "Techlorine" and worse, alcohol, destroy the older 2 stroke engines. The oil in the gas just cannot lubricate with those additives. I've had Johnson outboards fuel lines/pumps melt in my hands, because they were not made of alcohol resistant rubber and plastic. Mercury oil seals dissolve, salt water gets into your gear box and you've lost your shifting. **** The only suitable engine for a boat these days is the Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha 4 stroke outboards. Some use the DFI evinrudes. *****

7) Knowing that all I/Os are out and 2 stroke OBs are out, leaves you with few options. Most boats with a 4 stroke OB are expensive. You can buy an older boat with a two stroke and repower. The 50 hp outboards are about $5000. The 150 and up are more like $15,000. Quite a bit of money to repower and older boat. Half of the older OB boats can't take the added weight of a 4 stroke OB.

8) Regarding launching off the pier, yes, your limited to a small boat, but that small boat will be cheap to repower, get good mileage and can be towed with a 4 cylinder vehicle. Surprisingly, larger 21 to 25'ers are less money to buy than a quality Arima 16. The fishing seems to be largely inshore around Capitola, so you really don't need much.

9) Speaking of 21'ers, I bought 2 different Trophy 21'ers for as little as $1500. Sold them later for 4Xs that. Nice boats on the water. The 4 cylinder I/Os were heavy, but got 3 mpg. Not the 6 mpg that a Honda would get, but tolerable. The I/Os need a lot of attention. The rubber bellows, Ujoints, hoses, manifolds etc etc need a lot of attention. This can run some money unless you do your own work. I found the maintenance to be fairly low tech, so I did my own work. The I/Os were tolerant of the new fuel blends.

Despite having two different 21'ers these past years, I found that I just didn't use them because I hated driving to the harbor. It added an hour to my day that I didn't need to spend. Dipping the trailer really tore it up. Replacing wheel bearings and wiring all the time was a pain. The 21'er got larger the closer it got to my driveway.

Bayliner and 90% of the boat manufacturers have gone out of business. So, to a certain degree, boats may become more expensive over the next few years. I've noticed that the Demand for Trophy and the Arimas has improved. Adds for "looking for a clean Arima" are becoming more common. My 28'er cost my $15k. They haven't been built in years. One company makes a copy these days and they want $150k for it. !

So, I've concluded that the Arima 16 is probably the boat for me. Large enough for the Ocean, but will travel and launch well. I don't like the prices of them. Not when I see 23' Trophy fishing boats for less.

With tough finances, you may see me out there with an old Starcraft some day.

Surf Perch fishing

2010-05-15T07:53:00.000-07:00

I went down yesterday and gave it another try. This time, I parked by seascape resort and walked straight down to my spot.

Reading the ocean is the trick. Yesterday, the sand made points that had breaking waves. Between the points were little bays with green water. The bays had short waves pounding on a steep beaches. The tide was 1/2 way out and just starting to come in.

I fished either side of the point for nothing. The current seemed strong in this area. I moved down and fished the green bay between the points. A couple of large waves pounded the short beach. For 5 minutes, I caught perch, just off the beach. When the waves subsided, they left. So, they were listening for wave action and would come in to eat sand crabs.

On occasion, my motor oil grub run deep and would hook sand crabs. So, there must be a lot of them laying on the sand, just outside the breakers.

What I learned from this was that the points had too much current. The green bay with no current was where the fish were. They went on the bite when waves were pounding the short steep beach. You didn't need to cast a mile, because the fish were right in close.

With the fish in this close, a trout rod would be appropriate and a lot more fun.

I noticed the bigger Perch were holding young Perch inside. I've read that the pros will carefully let the hens go.

Most of the Asians were catching small, soft shell sand crabs and fishing the suds. I was the only person fishing a motor oil grubs. They had an occasional fish. I caught six within the short 5 minute window the waves boomed right up on shore.

I miss my fishing boat. I miss launching off the pier. Someday, I would like to do this again.

Suzuki Burgman Maxi Scooter

2010-03-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

2008 Burgman 400

I've been riding 40 Yrs. I ride around town shopping and commute 22 miles through the coastal fog to work and back. My commute is often cold and wet.

I've had bigger, heavier bikes. Most were comfortable, but got terrible mileage. Now that my shoulders are bad, I need to stick with the lighter weight machines. I need protection from the cold.

The Burgman offers the rider storage, protection from the wind and fog. It is light weight and offers good economy. This bike could be a light touring bike if the suspension were a little better.

My Burg 400 has 800 miles on it and gets 58 in town and 68 MPG on the freeway.

The spedometer is about 10% conservative. 70 indicated is approximately 65 mph. 65 mph indicated is approximately 60 mph by the GPS. The gas economy meter is pretty conservative as well. It reports 55 mpg commuting. At fill up, I calculate 58 mpg.

The Burgman 400 steering is a compromise between agility around town and tracking steadily enough for long freeway driving. On the freeway, I find that we cruise comforatable 2 up without problem. Due to the light weight, you can get blown around a bit. Not surprising considering the light weight. My wife reports that the Burg suspension is a little stiff as compared to the larger bikes we've ridden.

Having read many articles on the burgmanUSA forum, most riders opt for the GIVI or CLearview windshields. Most will add a top box to the bike. Suzuki sells "Side Visors". These plastic wind wings keep the wind off the rider's feet. I noticed that most insurance companies are offering discounts if you put a cycle alarm on the bike. The Gorilla 7017 alarm is a popular choice. Others add GPS and Coffee cup holders to their Burgmans.

The Burgman is not particularly sporting. If you still enjoy the roar of a charging engine, then consider the VSTROM 650. If you are looking for comfort, economy and practicallity, you should look closely at the Burgman 400.

OMC Cobra shift mechanism

2010-03-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

The OMC Cobra is a good drive with a temperamental shift mechanism. Here is a short article on working out the problems.

Disconnect the helm shift cable from the engine shift mechanism. (the upper cable) With the engine idling, use your hand to shift the engine into forward and reverse. If it shifts easily, the problem is with the helm shift mechanism or the control cables coming back to the engine. If it doesn't shift well, then concentrate on your shift mechanism/ESA/ Outdrive.

If it doesn't shift well at the engine, try activating the ESA by lifting the shift interrupt switch. This will be the lower switch with the metal roller in the saw tooth cam. The engine should stumble.
While your at it, manipulate the saw tooth and see if it activates the ESA switch. Many, many times, the switch is bad or the saw tooth needs oiling to activate. The saw tooth cam is spring loaded and will move, activating the ESA if there's tension in the lower shift cable. It wont work if it's rusted up. The old timers will spray down the whole unit with WD40 from time to time.

The Cobra should shift pretty well at the mechanism. If it doesn't, there may be other problems, like the engine being out of alignment, or corrosion (or bent) vertical shift rod (rising out of the lower part of the drive) Sometimes I will check the outdrive oil. If the drive is full of saltwater, that can definitely harm your shifting. The last drive I worked on wouldn't shift. The vertical shift rod was bent and was binding against the inside of the drive when you tried to shift. Once straightened, it shift very nicely.

One of the most basic things to do with the shift mechanism is to shift your drive into forward by hand. Then, (with the helm shift cable will be disconnected) shift the helm into forward. The helm cable should match the location where the shift mechanism is located, in forward ( Shift mechanism in forward and helm cable in forward should be the same) Adjust the helm cable to match Forward in the shift mechanism. This ensures that the drive is correctly shifted into forward when the engine revs up. Any mis adjustment can damage the drive.

If you study the ESA shift mechanism, you can see how it's supposed to work. Email me and I can send you the "Setup Manual" for the OMC Cobra.

If your helm shifter is bad, I like the Teleflex SL3 . I prefer the factory cables over the generic type 33 cables.

Marine radio antennas

2010-03-04T08:04:00.001-08:00

Sometimes the type of boat dictates the type of antenna. On a small boat that tips from side to side, the shorter, 3 db antenna (commonly used for sailboats) would work better in rough seas.

Another advantage of the short (3 db sailboat antenna) is if you have a long run of Coax from the antenna to the radio. Most high gain antenna come with 8' of Coax. The 3 db is meant to be up on a mast, so, you will get 30' of coax. This is good, because I've had all kinds of problems trying to splice coax. Any oxidation in the connectors and the antenna stops working.

The high gain antenna concentrates the signal on a narrow patch of the horizon. If the boat is rocking from side to side, part of the time your signal will be shot up into the sky, part of the time, shot down into the water. The people listening will catch part of the conversation, then loose you.

Often, you will see commercial boats put a short antenna on a tall mast. The height reaches over the horizon. The short antenna contends with the movement of the boat.

Letter to Alex about Trawlers.

2009-11-29T09:06:00.000-08:00

Vivi and I drove through the rain storm to check out a trawler at Bethel Island. The old guy has a house built up the side of the levee. The second floor looked out on his private dock and down the water way. Nice. I can only imagine if the levee gave way. The water line was 30' above the house's foundation. He complained that his neighbor made a McMansion next door, blocking his view to the north. His house was just down from D'Anne yachts. I noticed that D'Anne's docks were empty. Odd…

The trawler was a CHB 34'er. He wanted $28k for it, but would take less. As with some of the others I looked at, the decks were plywood. The teak was burnt. The decks flexed under foot. The interior wood was a very pale looking teak. It looked like they built it from the Cheap looking left over wood. . Along the bottom of the cabin, the walls of the cabin had dampness showing through. The cushions were slicked over with grime. This boat was a disaster. One thing was odd, he had an enclosure on the flybridge that contained a large Honda generator. I didn't notice any CO detectors in the boat. Dangerous.

We talked about boating on the bay and delta. Sounds like he had a good time with the boat. We said thanks, and left.

We went down to Emeryville and I turned Vivi loose to go shopping. (Ouch) That night, we went to Yoshi's and listened to Lalah Hathway sing. Inspirational.

Next day, we went to Alameda. The docks were full, filled with $200k and above boats.
We spotted a clean Fu Hwa 38'er. The story is that owner fell in love with a gal in Ohio and hasn't been back. I liked the boat a lot. All glass decks and flybridge. No window leaks. Spacious like a 40'er, single diesel with a desirable hydraulic stern thruster. The little things made this boat special. Double kitchen sink, full sized refrig, clean smelling (I'm tired of smelling diesel in these old boats) a separate bath tub and larger separate head, 6'03" ceiling, a clean bottom, full length keel with shoe. Queen berth to one side and a computer desk the other side in the aft cabin .

The price, $60k was more than I would like to pay. Of course, it might be worth it when you consider the costs involved with replacing rotted decks, house and fuel tanks, seen on other boats. As the economy tanks, we might see the price go down.

One thing that got my attention was the 38' length. Moss sells, 20, 30, 40 and 50' slips. They allow 10% over. Any of the 34'ers I looked at would be 1' over length and would have to be in a 40' slip. The Fu Hwa 38'er would fit in the same 40' slip. For the same price boat and slip fee, you could own a 38. They use the same engine. So, fuel use would be similar.

The Fu Hwa 38 reminded me of the Albin 36'er. This is a very popular boat and they seem to be holding their value.

Another boat that caught my attention was the "Island Gypsy" trawlers. They have a different look. The designer was "Halvorsen". They look different than the "Perry" designed boats. They have a nice build quality.

The broker said that he was seeing a lot of interest in the sub $100k . Not a single person was looking at the above $100k boats.

I was surprised to learn that Many of the people cruising the loop prefer the "sundeck" trawlers. They have a flybridge, aft cabin and large, covered deck aft. Most boats had a dining table and chairs on the aft deck. I need to study these boats. My initial impression is that they're very tall. How do you get off the thing to tie off?

Anyway. I think I know what I'm looking for. The trick will be to find it cheap enough. The thought was that I would sell the Bayliner 2556 and truck to offset the cost of the trawler. A slip at Moss would be a given. $6.25 a foot can't be beat. It's still early for us. I don't plan to depart for Mexico for another 3 years.

Coming home

2009-10-22T22:16:00.001-07:00

It's cold here. The night sky is black. The stars sparkle intensely. The scent of green plants, trees and cool streams fill our nostrils. The roads are narrow and bumpy. Our narrow path leads us through the tall trees. Home again.

Fear and the new motorcycle rider

2009-09-23T21:56:00.000-07:00

Re: Fear and venturing forth to the street

Wed Sep 23, 2009 20:50 20

You have to be willing to accept the fact that you'll drop the bike occasionally. Just take all due caution. Watch the left turners. I flash my head light a few times to bring their focus off their cell phone and onto their driving.

It helps to have a friend ride with you. Hopefully, someone that's not overly competitive.

I remember a time I was teaching a girlfriend to ride. We were cautiously making our way across town. She was doing great. We got to the busiest intersection in town. Cars were coming from all directions and going way fast. Sure enough, Brenda dropped the bike right in the middle of the intersection. Surprisingly, all the high speed cars came to a screeching halt, a dozen guys ran over, picked her and the bike up, got her going, and then returned to their cars. It strengthened my faith in humanity greatly.

Then, there was the other time, where she aced the tough DMV driving test, then proceeded to crash her bike into their building, trying to park. I was laughing so hard that the DMV guy tossed me off the property and gave her a passing grade. Never mind the new hole in the side of their building.

OK, have fun...

Matilda

2009-08-13T19:43:00.001-07:00

The local fishermen have spotted a small Great White shark out front of Capitola. They’ve nicknamed her “Matilda”. Often, Matilda could be seen lazily, plying the waters out front. Closer to shore, surfers and beach goers played unconcerned in the surf .

This came to an end when Matilda ate a Dolphin and the remains floated up on the beach. Hastily made shark warning signs were put up this afternoon.

Unconcerned, most of the locals walked down to the evening dance party. The bandstand sits in our small beach park, against the cliff. Our favorite group, Extra Large was playing. They are made up of school teachers on their summer break. They turn out a driving, high energy dance music. Their smiles, dance and infectious humor spread through the people. “They call us Extra Large, because when it comes to music, SIZE MATTERS”

The pulsing crowds were joined by twelve unconcerned Chihuahuas. Most bounced and dipped in their masters arms, in step with the surging crowd. We danced in the warm breezes, soft waves hissing on the beach nearby. I’m sure Matilda was out there, swimming to the beat.

Boating at night

2009-06-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

I will give a couple of observations of mine. Figure out if the moon is up or down. If it's down, the horizon will look like ink, up, down, left or right. Your only reference will be your steering wheel and dash lights. In the old days, we didn't have a GPS map. A GPS map should make quite a difference.
Figure out if you will have a lot of shore lights to give you reference. Know what your harbor lights look like from the outside. Our harbor has a single Green light, in amongst the city lights. The red light is behind a sea wall (and the green light)

If you're out watching firework, when they're done, let the idiots clear the anchorage. To keep from getting run over, I will turn on my deck/mast lights.

I remember one night, coming across a group of kayaks paddling in the dark. Huge power boats were zooming by inches away. I pulled in behind them and turned on every light. Large, high speeds boats flew past us with inches to spare. Since this episode, I've noticed that Kayaks are using lights at night.

Some channels are marked by pilings. In the old days, the pilings were lit. These days, there is a trend to put reflective tape on the pilings. A spot light is helpful for seeing these reflective pilings at night.

Make absolutley sure that your instruments are working and you are intimately familiar with the area, before going out a night.Some areas, like the San Francisco bay have restrictions at night. Know what they are.

This reminds me of another boat story. My buddy went out on the SF bay at night. He got pulled over by the shore patrol ninjas. They checked his paper work, secret compartments and saftety gear. At one point, the Coxswain and my buddy noticed that the city lights were occulted. (a large dark spot on the horizon) A quick check of the radar showed a ship was bearing down on them. My buddy was instantly given the OK and both boats made a run for it.

This picture shows how a boater might see only one channel light or the channel lights reversed, when approaching from the sea. In this csae, the left channel marker (green) is on the right and the (Red) channel marker is on the left. This leaves the skipper confused and unsure of his training.

Take note of the "approach waypoint" on this chart.

Docking in high winds.

2009-04-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of points:

1) The boat is easier to handle with the bow to the wind. The stern is flat and will carry the boat. Some people will switch sides of their marina so they can make the approach to their slip with their bow to the wind.

2) Once in the slip, the next trick is to tie the boat down quick before she takes off. Crew needs to be trained to bail out and tie off quickly.

3) If it's howling, I will take an end tie until the wind settles down. I'm not proud. Especially if I have to put the boat in a slip that is shared with another boat.

4) The stronger the wind, the more forceful I need to position the boat. I'll approach the dock faster than normal to keep steerage. At the last moment, turn the drive towards the dock and throw the boat into reverse to pull the boat into the dock. Next all hands are overboard tying the boat off.

This takes time and a lot of practice to get the feel of. Your engine and shift mechanism need to be work well to suceede.

Too high of a reverse speed, and the stern will walk. (go sideways) Know which way your boat walks with higher reverse thrust. On my old OMC, much more than 2000 RPMs, my boat's stern moves the the Starboard (Right) more than it reverses.

The pro's use this stern walk to position their boats. Typically, they will use short bursts of throttle to walk a single prop into position.

5) Put your crew on the Upwind dock lines. Leave the down wind lines alone until you get the upwind lines tied off. Next, tie off the down wind lines. Hopefully, you have a person that will run for the first cleat and bend the line around that cleat before the boat puts a strain on the line. If the wind is pulling you from the dock, you would have to get both lines tied pretty quick.

6) Crew needs to know to bend the dock lines around a cleat. You can not hold a boat by pulling on it. Let the boat take line while you run for the cleat, then wrap once and pull. The boat will come to a stop, then you can start working it back to the dock.

I remember once, we took an end tie at Emeryville. It was howling. The wind was coming in from behind us. I chose the longest stretch of end tie I could aim for. I knew I should make a U turn to face the wind, but I just wanted to get to the dock. As we approached, I put the boat into reverse, we came to a stop next to the dock, I left the helm quickly to tie off the stern. The big mistake was, there was no cleats on the dock where I stopped. The wind caught the square cabin back of the 2556 and nearly pulled me off the dock. Panicked, I let the stern line go and ran to the bow and grabbed the bow line as the stern spun out and away. Fortunately, there was a cleat next to the bow, which I tied off to. I thanked my lucky stars that the stern of my boat missed all the boat in the marina.

Surprisingly, with the bow to the wind, the boat had half the strain on the dock lines. Later, when we left this marina, having the bow to the wind made for a much smoother departure.

It was not enough to tie off at a spacious end tie, I needed to put the stern by a cleat and get the boat tied off within seconds of stopping.

Motorcycle suspension

2009-04-17T07:47:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine who weights 330 lbs leaves his rear shock on the lowest setting "because that's how it came from the factory". As he rides down the road, the rear end is all the way down and the front forks look like a chopper.

He would suffer instability, but his incredible weight holds the bike down in all conditions.

So, if the bike isn't level on the road, the weight will shift towards the rear of the bike. The front end will feel light and twitchy.

Raising the fork tubes will lower the front end, causing the weight to shift forward again. Turning up the rear shock spring will do the same.

The opposite can be true as well.. On my ST1300, when I have the rear shock turned up too high, I can feel the front forks dropping down in a hard turn, making for an under steer condition. Having your front end dropping away in hard corners is spooky.

In any case, you want the bike level, you want the front and rear compressing evenly when doing high speed turns. If the front or rear dives, you will get an unstable bike.

When I get on a bike I'm unfamiliar with, I usually jump up and down on it, making a mental note as to whether the front and rear are compressing evenly. If the front or rear compress more than the other, hard cornering is out of the question.

A letter to Dave about the Bayliner 2556

2009-04-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

We have had some wonderful times on our 2556. Many of my mentors have sold their old trawlers and have bought trailerable cruisers. Looking at what they bought, the interiors are very similar to the 2556, only narrower (8 1/2' wide) They paid $100k for their boats, I'm into mine for $20k. The trailerable cruiser may be the boat of the future.

I think the late 80s and early 90s was a time when Bayliner was turning out very good boats. I would probably try to find a 90 91 92 vintage. Even so, my 88 is just fine.

My boat is 20 yrs old. My surveyor said that all boats that are 20 yrs old will need to be refit. I'm a mechanic of sorts, so I wasn't deterred. I used the boat and found that I needed to do the following work in short order: The transom mount was rusted through, the sanitation lines made the boat smell like ****, the Jabsco head was prone to failure (put in a raritan) the refrigerator stopped working (one hot weekend) The hot water heater went bad. I spent a bundle putting electronics on two stations. The reality is, we use the upper helm every chance we get.I didn't need expensive instruments downstairs. I should replace the old type 33 cables.

Regarding inherent weaknesses, I would list the following. The Jim Black hatches need to be replaced. I put in a Bomar. The wood cabin back and gunnel caps are wood. You MUST keep the sun, weather and rain off this wood. Repaint with Cetol EVERY YEAR. I've heard of the flybridges developing soft spots. Mine is OK and I keep it covered. The electrical switches on the upper helm go bad due to exposure. Replace. Sometimes the positive and ground wiring to the upper helm needs replacing.

The work sounds daunting, but I've owned 4 other boats, and they were just the same.

Regarding towing, My 3/4 ton Chevy does OK. The primary fear has been getting the thing to stop. A boat this heavy needs disk brakes if you're going up and down mountains. My trailer has 4 big, 6 lug wheels. They were overheating when I had the boat loaded.So, empty the water and fuel prior to trailering. Fill gas at the last pump you see, prior to the ramp helps. I've started putting the heavy stuff in the truck bed to lighten the load further.

I've never had a problem towing on the freeway. Around town, Ive hit trees, run up on side walks and all manner of problems. It's too wide for narrow city streets. Oh, at one time I was trailering in high winds and the plastic venturi broke. This was costly. I didn't need to be doing 70 into a head wind.

I still use the OMC 260, it's very slow out of the hole. But, at cruise, 23 mph getting 1.56 miles to the gallon, I'm still flying compared to the displacement boats. I'm not water skiing with this boat. I expect it to be slow out of the hole. Even so, my next engine will be a 6liter Duoprop. It's the engine destined for this boat.

I think the 2556 is better than the 8 1/2' wide boats, because it's wider and has a harder chine. Jump onto a 2556 and it just sits there. No rocking around to speak off.

Out on the Ocean, the 2556 crashes through the slop as good as any of them. I've only had one bad experience. At high speed, on calm waters, a large wake from a ferry came up from behind us on our rear quarter, The boat pitched violently as the wake picked up the rear corner of the boat. **Always use the safety kill switch lanyard on the flybridge** When zooming across the bay, I keep a sharp eye out for these big rollers. I've been going a a pretty good clip with a following sea and the boat handled pretty well due to the amount of dead rise. If you start to surf, just drop the throttles and the boat settles pretty fast.

The back of the boat can draw in exhaust. (station wagon affect) This is common to many boats. Any boat with a square back will do that. It's most pronounced when you're trolling. I've thought about putting a 12volt fan up on the fly bridge, to push good air into the cockpit. Also, the square back of the boat will catch the wind at a dock and drive the boat forward. Since I've learned this, I make every effort to approach a dock with the bow to the wind. We bail out of the boat pretty quick and tie up before the boat takes off.

Finely, I want to say that we spent numerous weekends on our boat and did several 2 week trips. We learned the following. The old pump style head fills the holding tank pretty fast. Have a pump out guide at hand. We let our water run down low before moving. Both running and trailering, get the weight down and you'll be happier. We spent our days hiking and exploring the cities. We returned each night to the boat and found that it was pretty comfortable. See the photo album link

Actually, the past two years, our job situations have changed and we have not had the opportunity to use the boat. While my friends pay $280 a month for slip fees, my boat has been sitting, covered on it's trailer for free. I can't imagine paying the monthly slip fees on a boat that I couldn't use.

Oh, PS Take a camera. Sometime you'll be taking the dinghy to shore and see a shot that you'll remember forever. In my case, I reached over my shoulder and took the picture:

The Captain's frame of mind

2009-04-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

The key to being a good Captain is to look, listen and feel for the conditions at the moment you traverse ANY body of water and have the presence of mind to change your plan. It's all about your ability to take in the information and make decisions.

Take the time to learn were your marinas are. Have their numbers handy. If you run into some weather, duck into a safe harbor.

People with their 7 knot trawlers go out with the tide and return with the incoming. Wise boaters may wait out the weather a few days.

The people who are getting into trouble are completely blind to the information that's available. IE weather radar, wind charts, tide books, visual observations, NOAA weather radio, local knowledge, etc etc.

Keep in mind the differences in people. An experienced skipper with a well founded boat will be crashing through the slop and will tell you it's a "beautiful day on the bay". Next to him will be a panicked new person who's bent on running his boat onto the rocks to "save his life".

I remember once, we were down in Capitola on my 17' aluminum Starcraft. We were powering into a 15 knot wind headed back to Santa Cruz. As we went around a point, the conditions worsened.(as they do around a point) We looked towards the point and saw a boat burning a flare. Just inside him the waves were booming down onto the reef. I couldn't see anything wrong with the boat, motor or crew, but we changed our course to see what his problem was.

I yelled above the howling wind and booming waves. The two boaters said their boat wasn't capable of handling the seas. In my mind, they were doing alright, but they were certain to be in deep trouble when they got into the waves crashing onto the reef. I told them to follow me.

We turned into the wind and beat a course through the slop, away from the reef and to the safety of the harbor. The concerned boaters followed along behind us just fine.

What I'm trying to get across is that they had lost their nerve and were allowing themselves to drift into the worst reef on the coast.

Motorcycle camping

2009-03-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

I remember once being out in the middle of a great wheat growing region. I saw miles of country roads surrounded by never ending wheat fields. On occasion, I saw ancient farm houses. The country would remind you of the film, The Wizard of Oz. My KOA book said there was one of their places up ahead. Ugly bands of ink black clouds were building. I hurried on .

I pulled into the KOA as the winds started blowing. The wall of jet black clouds swept over the golden fields. Odd, a distant tractor harvesting the wheat, didn't seem unconcerned. When I finished setting up my tent and securing the bike, I climbed into my sleeping bag. As darkness fell, the wind whipped up to tornado force and lightening struck all around my frail tent.

Through the din, I heard the familiar sound of Honda 750s pulling into the spot next to me. Through the beams of their head lights, these riders struggled to set up their tents. The wind howled and the lighting streaked across the sky.

I dozed off as the storm moved northward. As time went along, it quieted down. About 4 in the morning I was awakened, the storm returned, this time coming down from the north, roaring to the southward. I learned what tornado weather was like that night.

The next morning, the sky was blue and the sun warmed our sodden camp.

I made it through the night comfortably because I had eaten early, before making camp. I managed to set up my camp early, during the normal diner time.

I greeted my new companions the next morning. They were 2 University of Minnesota students who were riding out west for the first time. Our routes were going the same way. I enjoyed their company, so, we rode together for then next 2000 miles. Fortunately, we didn't have any further encounters with foul weather..

Spotlights

2009-03-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

f you're out on the water, in the dark, you can encounter lake effect fog. It is like a mist rising from the water. A spot light will make a white beam of light into the mist. If the light is up high on the boat, you will be blinded by the wall of white mist. If the light is lower, (like fog lamps on a car), you will have less reflected light. So, in general terms, mount the light low and forward. This isn't always practical on some boats.

In many cases, I leave the spot off, and allow my night vision to pick out the little red and green lights out on the water.

My picture shows the spot mount on the very end of the anchor roller/bow sprit. It works well, forward and low. It's also, out of the way of the anchor and off the deck.

My light has a plastic cover. If I'm going to use it, I remove the cover early in the day and turn the light so it's facing backwards. This way, the lens won't pick up a layer of salt (from the mist coming over the bow)

Just a note, in the SF bay, many entrance channels are marked by pilings. In the old days, the pilings were lit. Recently, the pilings are not lit. They have reflective tape on them. So, as you make your approach, you turn on your spot and you can see the pilings sticking up out of the water. Your challenge is to keep from hitting one of the pilings at night while using them to stay in the channel.

When I put my spot on the boat, the challenge was running all the wiring. I like the idea of the "wireless" spotlights, though, I've never used one.

Ocean trim

2009-02-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

Each time I take a boat out, I like to see how the boat sits in the water. Is it trim?. Is the engine dealing with the load?

Any boat that is over loaded, in rough following seas can be tough to handle. If the bow is heavy, the boat will feel like it's diving off each wave. The bow will drop down low into the trench and will be slow to recover. Steerage is reduced because the outdrive is high in the water. Loose your nerve and drop the throttle, the outdrive looses it's grip on the ocean entirely, the stern pops up in the air and you're in trouble.

The last time I did this, the boat caught the swell and lept forward. The boat jumped to about 30 mph (the speed of the wave), my steering was loose in my hands, the boat carved a path down the wave, pitch sideways and rolled onto it's side. Fortunately the boat righted itself pretty quick. Even so the deck filled with about 18" of water. I brought the boat into the wind and pumps and scared crew with buckets tossed water overboard.

If the boat is stern heavy, you could have water intrusion into the exhaust manifolds, up into the engine.

Given a choice of the two evils, I would elect to have the boat stern heavy. I would make sure the engine was running the entire time, hopefully to keep the water out.

In any case, if your crew and supplies are tied down, the boat will right itself when you broach. Heaven help you if your crew, cooler and equipment all land on top of you, on the down side of the boat. Another thing is to keep your cabin door closed. You'll maintain floatation up front while you deck pumps are working. It is un nerving looking out the cabin door, at the foaming water in the cockpit.

If the cockpit scoops to much water, the boat is done for, you and your crew swim out the cabin. Look for your floating ditch bag, containing your flares and HT radio. My EPIRB is high on the back of the cabin. I would make maximum effort to deploy it before the boat rolls bow high, stern down.

Every boat handles differently. I was piloting a 26' Osprey once. We had a wave slam into the side of the boat. That Ospry tipped slightly and snapped back upright. That was confidence inspiring. My old C Dory was very narrow, with a flat bottom and rounded chines. That boat rolled around ever which way. It was not uncommon to have the boat on its side, the Ocean racing past your cabin window, not 6" from your head.

Most Bayliners/Trophys have a lot of dead rise, (V shaped hull). This smooths out your ride, but more importantly, when you drop the throttle, the boat comes to a stop pretty quickly. This is a great quality to have when dealing with a following swell. You feel your stern lifting, the boat starting to break loose and run before the wave, you drop the throttle and the boat slows due to the hull design.

Another technique is to tie long ropes to the stern.(Some tie on 300' of line and a small trailer tire) When it's done right, it should feel like the boat is towing a water skier. Towing a "drogue" will help slow the boat in following seas. When you drop the throttle, the boat will slow all the sooner, the stern will stay down.

__________________

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The long ride

2009-01-30T17:53:00.001-08:00

When I was young, I rode down from Seattle to Santa Cruz in one day. At approx 3 in the morning, I crossed the Golden Gate. The wind was blowing and foggy mist swept past my head light beam. About half way across the Golden Gate Bridge, a gust blew. It felt like a giant hand pushed me from the far right hand lane, across two lanes, through the cones into the oncoming lane. Fortunately, no cars were coming. I snapped the bike back through the cones into the center lane and rode to the toll booth.

Shaken, I gave the bridge tender the toll, put the bike in gear and dropped the clutch. The bike just sat there. I thought that I may have missed first gear or the clutch had failed when I felt the rear tire slide a little to the right. I looked down and saw that I had parked the bike in the center of the lane, right where the oil slick was. The combination of the slick and the drippy fog made the road slick as ice. My rear tire was spinning but the bike wasn't moving. Slowly I got the bike moving and rode carefully down to the 19th ave. turn off.

I was lucky. I had been riding since 7 am and was exhausted. Because I was 18 and at the top of my ability, I got lucky and avoided these two challenges.

Motorcycles

2009-01-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

If you read the history surrounding Harley Davidson, you find that they had boom and bust years. At this point, they're entering tough times. When people are really hurting, Harley is trying to sell $35,000 motorcycles.

The fact is that motorcycling as a sport or common transportation is in decline. Entry level bikes used to be in the $350 range are now $5000. Young people are choosing cars. The legion of Motorcyclists who learned to enjoy riding during the 1970s, are getting old and gray. When Harley was "fat" during the 90s and 2000s, they needed to put out an entry level bike. They didn't.

I'm reminded of a time in the 1970s, that Honda brought out their flagship CB750 bike. A large, powerful, smooth running, reliable motorcycle. This bike propelled Honda to success. Honda was very generous, and developed a smaller version of the CB750, called the 400/4. This bike was similar to the CB750, but made small for the wives and persons of small stature. They lost money on every one of them. Honda's generosity was not lost on the public.

On an international level, the manufacturers seem to be loosing interest. Honda and Yamaha used to offer hundreds of different motorcycle models. In recent times, they have scaled back production. Perhaps Honda is more interested in the larger, more profitable car market.

If gas goes up over $5 a gallon, we'll see a blossom of new riders trying scooters and other small engined bikes. This is the market that Honda got started in. I wonder if Harley will innovate, or leave it to the Asian and Italian manufacturers.

As I grow too old to ride, I worry about new riders. Urbanization has made the roads more congested. Improvements have been make to motorcycle tires and lighting. Armor padded clothing has helped. The Motorcycle safety foundation classes are good. As the cities delineate parts of the road for bicycle lanes, I would like to see the same offered to motorcyclists. Build motorcycle (only) safety lanes in the congested areas.

Riding into town

2009-01-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

When riding out across the country, I find that we usually eat twice a day. Once around 9:30 and again at 3:30 or so. This just seems to work well for us. Riding a bike, we're not so hungry. It takes awhile to break camp, so breakfast comes late. We usually like to eat before looking for a hotel or camping spot.

Generally speaking, I follow the trucks. You ride into an unknown town. There's a few places with all kinds of brightly lit signs. Groups of motor homes and overloaded station wagons seem to congregate at these places. Up the road some, you see where the trucks have pulled off. Sometimes the local Sheriff car is parked around back.

The place isn't so fancy looking. Once inside, you can smell the Tri tip. The glass cabinet has several fresh baked berry pies. The older waitress greets you warmly and ushers you to a comfortable table. You know you're in the right spot.

William Leastheatmoon wrote a book called "Blue Highways". He traveled the back roads across the country. He has quite a section on spotting the best diner in town.

The Local Harley dealer

2008-12-16T13:58:00.000-08:00

We rented a Harley in Honolulu and thought it was a good bike. Harley has a strong ownership group that will throw events quite often. Many riders really go for this. I know the resale can't be beat.

My major issue/disappointment is with our local dealer. After saying "HI" and "I like your bikes", he goes on to say that it will be a privilege to buy a Harley from him. You'll have to wait on a list for 5 months for the privilege to pay List price plus 20% for the bike. Turns out the new bikes on the show room floor have a few add on's and have a list price plus 40 % overhead. "Talk to me only if you're seriously interested" (and well financed) He turned his back and wandered off, nose in the air. Wow, what an A H.Add to this, at one time there was a policy that you could only buy a Harley from the local dealer. You weren't allowed to buy one from the "Friendly" dealer in the next town.

I'm glad to see the recession is hitting them hard. It will be a privilege for him to see me on his show room floor.

Seriously, they're a much better bike than in the old days. I used to go into their old shop. The gas tanks had Harleyesque art stickers plastered on the gas tank. A pool of oil was collecting under each bike. In the back office, the loan shark was signing up an enthusiastic newbie for 20 % financing on a new bike. Out on the back lot, the mechanics were struggling to get a new bike going for its new owner. Not good.

I'm in agreement about the Gold Wing. You have the wind protection, the storage boxes, the creature comforts, the electronics, the handling, the happy wife/passenger, two great touring associations/forums, Local clubs and your insurance will still be less than a 1/3 the price of any sporting bike.

Larry

2008-12-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

Just a funny note, my friend Larry, who is a superb fisherman, put his boat up on the trailer. He walked around to the side of the boat and the pump came on and sprayed him with water. He stepped back, muttering. He stepped forward and the pump came on again, spraying him a second time. Everyone on the pier, including the Pelicans were laughing. Times like this, make you certain that boats have a spirit of their own. :D

Coast Guard Auxiliary

2008-12-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

We were up in the bay and got a report of a demasted sailboat in the shipping channel. We found the sailboat with a family aboard. The mast, sails and rigging lay in the water. As fate would have it, a huge container ship was coming down the channel towards the sailboat.

We called the ship and informed them of the sailboat and said that we were trying to move the sailors and boat out of the channel. The Captain of the container ship spotted us. We grabbed the family off the sailboat, and started towing the sailboat and mess out of the channel. We saw the Pilot put the ship into full reverse. A huge cloud of black smoke came out of the ships exhaust. The ship was shuddering and slewing back and forth in the channel. Dark clouds of mud were churning up all around the ship. The ship loomed closer. We could feel the powerful throbbing engines through our persons. We towed the sailboat to the edge of the channel as the cargo ship went past. (straining to stop)

We were very impressed with the Pilot's (heroic) maximum effort to stop his ship in the narrow channel. Efforts which were dangerous to him. Even with his maximum effort to stop his ship, it still went past us.(in full reverse)
__________________

A short talk on electric pumps

2008-10-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

Most of the pumps in the store are designed for pumping fresh water for the boat's sinks and showers. You have to read the fine print to find the one designed for "Raw water" usage. Of course, it will be the largest and most expensive unit in the store. Be sure to buy a lexan raw water filter to go in between the water pick up and pump.

Another subtle point. Pumps will fail pretty quickly if you have low voltage at the pump. This could happen if your wiring is sloppy, undersized, or has joints using wire nuts. Run a stout set of wires. Soldier all the connections and test the wiring with a meter when the pump is in operation. You should have 12 or more volts at the pump when in operation.

Another point is to look at diaphragm, high pressure pumps VS vane pumps (similar to your bilge pump). Diaphragm pumps are for high pressure wash down hoses, sinks and showers. Vane pumps are for constant flow of water into a bait bag. (high volume, less pressure) Johnson makes good vane pumps. Their motors have a water jacket around them to keep them cool.

Another point that I forgot to mention above is the tendency for water to "Wick" up the center of any electrical wire. Water enters the wire at an improperly sealed connection and "wicks" its way up the wire. 3 month later, the wire turns black and fails. Some say that the heating and cooling of the pump motor will cause a vacuum in the pump housing, causing the pump to suck water up the wiring like a straw. Water enters the pump and good by motor.

Soldier and heat seal your connections with Heat Shrink tubing to prevent water wicking.

The roll over.

2008-09-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

When I was young, I worked summers at the local fishing pier. I spent the days launching and retrieving boats and learning a whole lot about fishing from the various old salts that hung out there.

One day, we learned that one of the pier rental boats had gone up on New Brighton beach. The owner of the boat rental, Karen and I took the 16' Avon 5 miles down to the coast to retrieve our stranded boat. The plan was to tow the rental boat off the beach before the park rangers came by and made it a state wide emergency.

As we approached the beach, Karen eyed the green waters and said "Closer, get closer". Next thing I knew, the Avon was surfing down a sizable wave. The motor was clear out of the water. The Avon turned sideways and broached. I remember the splash, cold green foaming water, then a dark shadow going over my head. I surfaced and found the Avon upright and full of water, drifting nearby. Quickly, I pulled the heavy Avon away from the beach and pushed it out towards the oncoming waves. I punched through two big waves and lost a little ground. A pause in the sets of waves and I got out a ways. I jumped into the Avon, which was completely full of water and gave the tug on the recoil starter. Our battered Tohatsu engine came to life. I put the sodden motor into gear and punched through the next set of waves, heading out to sea. Situations like this make you a firm believer in your outboard.

During this time, Karen waded ashore with a long tow line and pushed the stricken pier boat into the waves. I gunned the Tohatsu and the pier boat came through the surf without a problem.

On the long tow back the pier, I noticed that with the engine running the water flowed out of the Avon’s one way drain plug. The water in the bottom of the boat had sand, sea shells and bits of kelp . Just like the beach. When we arrived at the pier, the water had drained and my feet had dried.

From what I’ve read, you should always follow a wave into the beach. Never let one sneak up behind you. Another option, would have been to swim the tow line to shore.

Naming your boat

2008-07-29T16:28:00.001-07:00

I may try to name my various boats, but they tend to name themselves after awhile. My big boat was called the Vivian. It wasn't long before we changed it to the "BoatAsaurus" Kinda a Dino-Saurus of a boat.

A mess of Monarch Butterflies landed on my previous boat. I didn't want to call it the "Butterfly", but settled on the "Mariposa".

A Kingfisher bird flew over my old C-Dory. It was a Salmon fishing boat, so, it was aptly called the "Kingfisher"

What I'm saying is, use the boat and the name will come.

One afternoon....

2008-07-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

I had found a 10 yrs old, 12 gauge marine flare in the locker of my boat. It was water damaged and slightly swollen. The brass base was green. Not expecting much, I thought I would shoot it down into the lawn in my back yard. Pop, the flare went off and much to my surprise, a fiery red ball bounced across the lawn and lodged itself into my wooden fence. The Ivy on the fence caught fire as I sprinted across the yard with the garden hose. The darn flare wouldn't go out, even in the direct blast of the garden hose. The neighbors started coming out just as the flare petered out. "it's OK, OK, I've got it in control!" The neighbors weren't so sure about the sizable mushroom cloud rising over my house. Dooh!:p

The celestial sky

2008-06-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

The air over California has dried out, the moon was down. The sky was ink black with the milky way showing brightly. Some stars and planets seemed to hang low, like ornaments hung by strings. It looked as you could reach out and touch these low bright stars. Comets streaked brightly across the sky .

I read an article in the Latitude 38 magazine of two different Captains. Each thought they saw emergency flares decending slowly into the sea. In both cases, after extensive searches, it was decided that the skippers had seen comets.

Another skipper was certain that they were on a collision course with a large ship. Panicked, they altered course, the large bright lights bore down on their boat. Later, they determined that Venus was showing brightly as it rose above the horizon .

The mist is common along the ocean. In most cases, our view of the sky is muddied. The dry, off shore wind brought on the super clear conditions. These conditions have seemingly dropped the stars low onto the water.

I'm reminded of a night that my wife and I were anchored out in the delta. For some reason, about 0300, we both woke with a start. Alarmed that something may be amiss, I padded through cabin to the back deck. Turning, I peared into the darkness. I'll never forget the sight. The stars shown brightly right down to the water. Stars reflected on the water gently rippled under the boat. I felt like we were under way, silently traversing the heavens. With no land in site, I felt like I was floating in a sea of stars on my trusty boat.

A short lecture on boat propellers

2008-05-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

If you have the 19 pitch prop and you're getting too many revs at wide open throttle, you would need to get a prop with more pitch. For each 1" of increased pitch, you would loose roughly 200 revs at wide open throttle.

So, with your boat normally loaded, and in normal seas, try opening it up to maximum specified RPMs and see if you have more throttle left. If you have more throttle left, you would need to increase your pitch.

Sometimes with a fishing boat, this is not a good idea. For example, if you need to slow troll for Salmon or Trout, a prop with increased pitch may make your boat too fast at idle/trolling speed. I had this happen on my prior boat. The V8 engine was too powerful. I propped it up. I found that at my trolling idle, my boat was going 5 mph. I needed to be going 2.5.

Another aspect is the sea conditions. If you have lots of distance to go over smooth flat water, you would benefit from a speed prop. If you're crashing through the slop at moderate speeds, you might find that the lower pitch prop keeps the engine at it's sweet spot during "crashing through the slop speeds".

My dad actually has two props. A low one for torque. He uses this one for towing skiers and heavy loads. A speed prop when he's on the big smooth lake and he knows he'll be going some distance. This may be a good thing for your 1802. You may need one higher pitch prop when you're fishing alone. Add 3 Rhino sized fishing buddies, you may need to prop down and inch or two.

I typically will buy two or three props off ebay for approx $40 each and give them a try. I'll end up keeping the 2 that are really right and sell the ones that didn't work out. You'll be glad for that extra prop if you break a prop at a distant lake.

The only real risk you have is if you have too much pitch on a prop and are running wide open throttle at less that optimal RPMs (lugging the engine). You can damage an engine if it's struggling along at lower RPMs with a heavy load. This is particularly true with big diesel boats. You really need to have the engine turning at the right RPM at WOT.

With regards to fuel economy, the best instrument is the fuel flow meter. Either the smartcraft guages, a Lowrance LM200 or Floscan will give you gallons per hour. For example, on the boat pictured in the avatar, the engine has a definite sweet spot at 4200 rpms. I'm saving 5 gallons per hour. When the engine thermostat failed, the engine was running cold, I lost that sweet spot and burned a lot of extra fuel. I knew all of this due to the fuel flow meter on my dash. Another good thing about the fuel flow meter is keeping accurate track of the amount of fuel burned. On one trip, I new I need to run 45 miles. My tank had exactly 30 gals left. I knew at optimal cruising speed I was getting 1.4 mpg. With this info, I pulled into a marina and put in 20 gals to get me home. All of this was based on the info coming off the fuel flow meter.

St. Elmo's fire

2008-02-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

When I was young, I worked part time at the Capitola pier boat rental operation. This unseemly job put me in the middle of the fishing action on the Monterey Bay. The pay was a pittance, but I learned quickly the skills needed to fish the bay. One spring day, I heard the Salmon were in close. I decided to take one of the old, heavy, wooden pier boats out fishing.

The conditions were typical for the bay; cool gray fog covered a lumpy ocean. I boarded the heavy orange boat. Pushing away from the gangway, I pulled the starter rope on the Nissan outboard and headed out into the mist.

A few miles off shore, I set my lines and began trolling, watching and waiting for the strike of these silvery fish. The hours droned by, listening to the steady beat of the engine and humming of the lines.

Around mid morning, a fresh breeze swept over the ocean. The sky darkened the surrounding fog. I looked around at the ocean and noticed the waters turned inky black. Bright white foam from the increasing breeze danced around the boat. The popping, splashing foam, showed brightly on the darkening waters. I remembered the locals calling this condition “Popcorn chop”. I stretched upwards from the heavy plank seat of the pier boat, looking in all directions at this unusual spectacle.

The next moment I shall never forget. I felt my hair shoot straight up in all directions. Each hair was waving in all directions. I felt a million stings on my scalp. My eyes open widely. A blue green aura surrounded me. I realized that I was close to being hit by lightening and threw myself into the bottom of the boat. Frightened, I pressed my self into the slatted bottom of the boat, my head resting next to a squished tray of pungent smelling anchovies. I looked upwards suspiciously at the sky and noticed my carbon fiber Lamiglass rod sticking skyward. I crawled forward, grabbed the rod and slipped it under the seat planks with me.

With no compass, GPS or radio, I did was old timers have done for years; I surveyed the direction of the swell and turned the boat’s port bow into the Westerly swell, heading toward shore and safety.

As time past, the surrounding fog lightened and I felt better. I clasped the sides of the gunnels and peered suspiciously at the sky. I noticed the boat entered the rusty waters of a red tide. At this moment, my rod jumped from under the gunnels and line peeled off the reel. I sprang up from the bottom of the boat, clasped my rod and played a Salmon. The Salmon raced in great circles, jumping and diving. Each moment I was certain the fish would get free. After a period of time, he tired and circled the surface of the waters, just out of reach of my net. I stretched my rod hand as far back as I could, drawing the energetic salmon closer. I stretched toward the Salmon with my net hand, reaching and watching for my opportunity. The Salmon circled closer, heading for the net. I plunged the net into the waters and the Salmon swam in. I lifted the net quickly, thrilled to feel the weight of my Silvery catch inside.

Looking back, I realized that the fog had concealed the presence of the thunder clouds overhead. Even so, I should have realized something was going on when the waters darkened. I’m more careful now. I check the weather four different ways. I watch the breezes and move more quickly away from trouble than I used to. I must admit, with internet weather radar, weather radio and offshore buoy reports, keeping track of the weather has become easier.

I've often wondered if I had been in an aluminum boat if my chances of being struck with lightening would have been greater. I've since read accounts of St.Elmos fire lighting up the rigging of ancient sailing ships. Most of the mariners of the time had been as frightened as I .

The San Joaquin Delta trip

2008-01-30T12:07:00.000-08:00

The DeltaBaylinerClub is a loosely organized Bayliner club based in the center of the San Joaquin Delta. (California) Most club members with the larger boats are based out of the Discovery Bay marina/housing development. From this pristine marina, many delta anchorages can be reached in an hour or two.

Once a month, the club has an informal raft up in a quiet, backwater delta location. Most “good” locations are behind a north/south running levee, protecting the anchorages from the late afternoon Westerly. Depending on how close you are to the main rivers and channels, you can expect some tide movement. I learned early, that many of these anchorages were deep in the delta and were known only by word of mouth. Finding these spots required some work and good communication.

Vivi and I decided to trailer our boat from the cool foggy coast up to the delta and join the monthly club raft up. We left the modern cities behind and entered the hot inland valley. We passed miles of arid ranch lands. Ranch lands gave way to heavily irrigated fruit orchards. We passed through valley farming towns getting closer each minute.

When we approached the delta, we saw a brown dirt levee stretching for miles. At the top of the levee, we saw rich green waterways stretching to the horizon. Bamboo, Palm trees, and all sorts of rich green water plants lined the waterway. Frogs croaked and fish splashed in the dark green waters. Herons stalked the shallows for fishy morsels. Boys in overalls and straw hats sat on the aged docks, patiently watching their cane fishing poles. The warm humid air carried the scent of tropical flowers. It felt like we had entered a Huckleberry Finn storybook.

Many delta launch spots are no more than a sun swept country store, bar and BBQ spot perched on the side of the levee. We saw a hand painted sign advertising the Friday night special BBQ. The place was vacant during the day. It appeared that most locals came out in the evening when things cooled off. Parched, we entered the store. At some time the footings to the building sank a bit on one side. We walked through the crooked building to the crooked freezer. We handed the crooked proprietor our launch and soda money. We paid $5 for the launch and 3 days of parking.

Some delta launch ramps are no more than steep pavement on the levee, suitable only to launch a skiff from. These are typically 2 or 3 feet deep. Other, more prosperous marinas had upgraded to trendy two lane cement launch ramps, with docks (!) These places were teaming with the water skiing crowds.

According to Chapman’s, the risk with inland waterways is running aground. Close scrutiny of the charts will reveal some of the problem areas. Only the locals keep tabs on the shoaling in the other places.

We proceeded slowly through the narrow channels of the upper delta. We slowed for several 5 mph zones. At one point, the channels opened up into the expansive “Frank’s Tract” bay. I was glad to get some open water around me. In the bay, I started noticing Clorox bottles moored in different locations. We ran aground shortly afterwards. Luckily, we backed off the mud and weed bar. We started looking for a way out of the “tract”. I prayed my Bluecharts were accurate about the 4’ of clear water ahead of me. At this point, I noticed most boats were taking the channels around the “tract”.

I’ve since learned that boaters avoided this inviting bay. A submerged tractor lay just under water in the middle. You could hit submerged tree stumps anywhere in the bay. We found the channel and proceeded on our way.

When you proceed down the bigger channels, you will see an occasion marker. These markers were numbered and were essential for finding your position on the map. Miles of levees gave way to thick tulle and tall grasses. Occasional signs warned to avoid under water pipes.

Further along the channel, we came across a low railroad bridge and a tugboat pushing a large gravel barge. Most bridges have a sign listing the bridge name and a VHF marina channel to call. We gave a call and the bridge operator tilted the bridge up, letting us pass.

We were deeper into the delta. The waterways looked more like the rivers in the Deep South. Large trees with vines lined the shores. We approached the anchorage and spotted the club raft up. Club members waved and pointed to our position. Large boats were placed on one side, smaller on the other end. Numerous helping hands secured our position in the line up. Great care was taken to see that our swim step lined up with the other boats. I’ve since learned that the swim steps served as the informal side walk for the groups of visiting members.

This was our first raft up. Vivian was tepid to the thought of spending the “whole” weekend on such a small boat. I was relieved to find such warm sunny people at the end of our journey. Later, success was secured when a large group of women came down the swim platform sidewalk to visit. Vivian joined the group, and wandered down to the big 47 footer, chattering with her new found friends. I smiled; knowing that boating with the Admiral had just become a success.

I learned that club members put out some elegant meals, and drank beer, explored the nearby islands and drank more beer. Many brought PWCs and went exploring. We took our dingy around the anchorage. At one point we got stuck in a weed bed.

I enjoyed my conversations with seasoned “delta rats”. I admired their boats. As the weekend progressed, the aches and pains of the workweek faded and were replaced with the warm glow of the sun, the camaraderie of the group and memories of the beautiful anchorage.

Bare Back riding

2008-01-30T12:02:00.001-08:00

We must be having an Indian Spring in California. Temps soared into the 70s, the faint breeze brought the sweet smell of the ocean. From my cottage, I could hear the distant crunch of the waves. I loaded my Long surf board onto my rusted bicycle and rode to the beach. I surfed a spot called the hook. A long, flat table rock went out under the Ocean at this location. The clear blue waves curved a bit on this rock shelf, so the wave was called the "hook".

I walked out onto the flat rock shelf, walking deeper into the swirling, cool green waters. I could feel various slimy sea creatures under foot the deeper I got. The waves lifted and crunch down, sending a foamy wash into the shore.

I took my turn riding the waves with a pack of 10 yrs old kids. The bronzed kids paddled the ocean and handled each wave with the grace of dolphins. I was definetly over matched.

As the afternoon wore on, the tide went out and I could see more of the flat table rock along the shoreline. I decided to take my last ride in. A set of waves came in and the kids "squids" all took off. Alone, I saw that the next wave was my ride to shore. I felt the lift of the wave, my board became alive and shot forward. I stood up, healed the board and shot along the face of the wave, following the shore line. As I approached the shore, the wave began to diminish. I could feel my surfboard starting to hit the bottom.

The next set of circumstances I'll never forget, I jumped off the board and landed on the back of a giant Ling Cod, sitting in the shallows. Startled, I saw the charging 5' fish under my feet. I flipped over onto my back and watched the surprised fish racing away.

I never imagined that the Ling Cod would ever be in 7" of water, so close to the beach. Wow... bareback riding a Ling Cod!

San Francisco

2008-01-30T11:56:00.000-08:00

This story was written on afternoon in the cabin of our boat. We had just taken trains and hiked to San Francisco's China town. I was quite excited about visiting SF, but my body was shot. So, I curled up in the cabin of the boat and typed out my experiences on my old HP laptop:

South Beach Marina has a new Harbor Masters complex. It is a nice upgrade from the portable building’s showers we've used in years past. The marina sits next to the SF Giant Baseball park. Across the street from the marina are delightful Italian, Chinese and American restaurants. My favorite is the South Beach Cafe. They serve good Breakfasts and Lunch's with an Italian flare. We ate our scrambles while KION TV filmed Willy Brown and the head of the Democratic party. They debated national issues while supping fine Viennese coffee.

Fortune continues to smile upon us. We blew into town in time to catch the Giants at their home stand. We have tickets for today’s noontime game. The following evenings in South Beach come alive when the Giants played their night games. The roar of the crowd thunders across the marina. We were compelled to listen to the game on KNBR 680, as we settled in for the nights.

I enjoyed the back alleys in China town. Strained sounds of the Asian violin echoed up and down the brick lined walk. The slap of Mahjong tiles could be heard from the windows above. Ancient shops were occupied by bundled up, graying Chinese elders. Vivian laughed and said my presence startled them. Oh, the giant man is here, don’t hurt us!. Fortunately, Vivian rattled off Cantonese and smiles cracked from their upturned faces.

The key to San Francisco is the metro. The Metro map should be kept on oneself the entire time. Vivi and I ranged from Fisherman’s wharf to China town. $1.50 tickets allow 90 minutes of transfers. Most everything is accessible due to the city’s excellent metro. Even so, we probably walked several miles today.

The city is sparkling clean. Everyone greeted us cheerfully. Young people jogged on the water front. Athletic women lay out in the various parks along our pathway. Small, brightly colored, stylish European cafés could be found on every corner. Meticulously groomed urbanites looked like flower arrangements around the outdoor tables.

Despite the warm weather, at different times cold winds would sweep into town. Thanks to Mr. Backpack, we were always ready. Our dress ranged from shorts and T-Shirts to bundled up and shivering. I suspect that these spring time breezes are keeping the fog away.

At the end of our stay, the KFOG radio station put on a rock concert/fire works display. Vivi and I had a great view of the fireworks from our slip.

Cruise through the Carquinez Strait to Benicia

2008-01-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

Benicia May 5th 2006

Upon the completion of our stay in Petaluma, we pulled in our lines made our way down the serpentine river to the San Pablo bay. We were told that the Benicia Marina was nice and preferred to the Napa River. We decided to follow local knowledge and give Benicia a try. Once out in the channel, we were vexed with the contrary tide again. The Boatasaurus struggled up the bay to the Carquinez strait. By 10:30 am, the wind had picked up and was running against the outgoing tide. Boatasaurus rocked and rolled over the waves. We could see two boats struggling behind us and a line of merry trawlers coming down the straight, speeding along with the current to San Francisco.

We passed under the Carquinez straight bridge and beside the gigantic C&H sugar plant. Everything gets big in these parts. Tug boats as big as Ocean Liners pushed square Barges as big as small towns. Oil Refineries could be seen for miles on the Starboard. Oil tankers lined up along the docks unloading their precious commodity. Fortunately, the straight was wide and had room for visitors such as us. The Port side of the channel had rolling hills with occasional houses.

Benicia Marina lay behind a small point, lined with Palm trees. Ancient commercial tug boat wrecks lay on the Western side of the point. Once around the point, the black steel entry to the harbor appeared. The modern Benicia Yacht Club and condominiums lay beyond. We registered and proceeded to our slip.

Once tied up, we where met our first local “Hey, I’m George, the Ancient mariner.” George hobbled down the dock with a Cain in each hand. George continued “why, you must be the young mariner, say, can you let me out of the gate?”. I proceeded to the gate and discovered that it was locked on both sides, keeping many people out and a few in, such a George. George encouraged us to crash the yacht club’s Friday night party, where, $20 could get you all you could eat. George liked that.

Vivi and I finished tying up the Boatasaurus and headed into town. 1st St. lay just a block from the harbor and was lined with a variety of beautifully restored Victorian era buildings. We strolled down the tree lined street admiring the colorful flags and welcoming signage. The farmers market was setting up booths offering a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. I I bought a ½ pound of dried apricots from one vendor. The local bar advertised Thursday night Jazz. Locals were quick to recommend the 1st St café for breakfast and lunches and Matsuri’s for Japanese food. We opted for Matsuri’s. Matsuri’s offered Japanese dishes with the style and beauty found only in the best establishments. Flavors came alive in our mouths. Modern Jazz played softly in the background.

We finished our meal and walked down to the harbor. A stiff breeze was blowing and a thick black fog tumbled over the marina. A Hunter sail boat tied up next to our slip. A weathered couple struggled with a loose roller furling jib. Slap slap slap the jib went.

As with any trip that goes on for a few weeks, we were glad for the company of our new neighbors. Janice had to leave for a get together with family, but Barney agreed to join us for a bottle of wine, cheese and crackers. Within a short time, Barney had the Hunter secured and he joined us. Our conversations lasted into the night. We were oblivious to the wind and swirling fog around our merry cabin.

Sausalito in the Spring

2008-01-29T16:27:00.000-08:00

Sausalito is located along the narrow Richardson bay, just inside the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. Most anywhere in this sheltered bay you and enjoy a spectacular view of SF. The center of the bay is populated by various boats anchored out. The shoreline is lined with the city of Sausalito and a string of Marinas. Near the end of the bay is the old Sausalito ship yard where liberty ships were built during the war.

http://www.ci.sausalito.ca.us/shs/saus-hist/Sausalito%20History%20(Page%202).htm

Vivian and I navigated up the Richardson bay channel. We noticed a number of bearded old salts rowing, turn of the century dinghy’s around the bay. We tied up at Schoonmaker’s marina, a sun swept back water marina near a Kayak Club and delightful beach area. We were told by the ancient harbormaster to tie up at the dingy dock.

Most of the Marinas on the Richardson Bay have dingy docks to service the numerous live aboards. The dingy of choice appears to be a weathered 8’, hard rowing shell. Some had ancient outboards, many didn’t. Various old salts greeted us merrily at the dingy dock.

Sausalito is an art town. Art sculptures and paintings are found dotting the landscape. Simple things like mail boxes were attractive pieces of art.

We walked into town along a shoreline path and were pleased to find Sausalito’s spring time crafts and Jazz fair. I found a Chinese vendor selling Jade. I bought Vivian a dark green gold fish necklace.

We each bought a margarita from the local charity and sat down under an umbrella for an afternoon of Jazz. Whoa, what did they put in that margarita? The music became defused and the gaily colored banners swam. The sun beat down as “Liz” belted out a Frank Sinatra numbers. A Spanish dance group came on later. It’s clear that Jazz is the sound of the city. People and small children gathered and danced the afternoon away. Much later, we ambled back along the dirt pathway, through the rushes to our boat.

Later that night, we discovered that the dock stayed busy until early in the AM. A neighboring cruiser was boarded by a preppy group of men, who announced that they were going to the city for the evening. Periodically, dingys came and went as the bars closed. Vivi and I deployed our ear plugs and snuggled under the warm blankets.

Later that night, I opened that hatch above us and counted the stars. A pale shaft of moonlight illuminated our cozy rest. Cool breezes freshened the cabin as I spied on our surroundings. Our merry band of young men brought their unsteady yacht back to its berth, all singing loud songs of adventures. A splash and one fell overboard. “Dude, I fell off the boat!” There boat bounced into the dock and the young men hollered for lines. They quickly finished tying up and walked off singing ballads of conquest.

Bright sunlit morning, the bay looked as a piece of silvery glass. The neighboring kayak club was putting out boats on the dewy shoreline. Lean, athletic types came down and boarded boats, slicing their nimble kayaks through the silvery waters.

The fragrance of eggs, toast and ham drift over the marina rousing us. Vivi and I hiked to the nearby breakfast spot.

As with any trip, there becomes a time where you need to find the laundry mat. With a sizable duffle over my shoulder, we hiked to laundry mat and freshened our clothes. Pleased to get this boat chore out of the way, we embarked on another hike to “Mollie Stone’s grocery”. The trip to Mollie stones took us through the heart of the Sausalito shipyards. Various ancient boats sat on the hard having their wooden hulls repaired. Ancient shipyard machinery lay along the water front.

Mollie stones grocery was unlike anything we have seen. http://molliestones.com/ Sushi chefs made Bento boxes to go. Every product was elegant. The prices reflected such service. They described it a Passion shopping. Mmmmm

We enjoyed our stay in Sausalito. It is a lively and pretty town with the art, warm weather, music, history and beauty that can’t be beat.

Craig

US Coast Guard Auxiliary

2008-01-29T16:12:00.000-08:00

The Coast Guard Auxiliary was formed just before WW2. When the war broke out, U-Boat attacks ravaged the shipping off the East coast. Civilian vessels and commercial fishermen, working as auxiliary, rescued numerous merchant marine survivors.

http://www.uscg.mil/history/Auxiliary%20History.html

These days, the Coast Guard Auxiliary has three functions. The first is teaching boating skills and seamanship classes. The second is doing safety patrols and the third is socializing with each other.

I enjoyed the seamanship classes, but most enjoyed taking my C-Dory out for safety patrols. As time passed, I was surprised at the number of rescues we did. I will describe one such patrol here:

The commodore of our local Auxiliary asked me to bring my boat to the harbor, for a late afternoon class he was teaching. He told me he needed a boat to demonstrate the trailer and boat nomenclature. I didn’t mind.

I towed the boat to the harbor and parked it by the classroom. As it turned out, the Commodore didn’t need my boat. At the end of the class, I asked if he and the other teaching Auxiliaries want to go for a ride. They did and I proceeded to launch the C-Dory.

We left the harbor mouth, the waters were sparkling and the visibility was 15 miles in any direction. I glanced to the West, looking out past Santa Cruz’s lighthouse point, not a boat to be seen. I looked straight ahead to the South and didn’t see nary a boat. I could tell it was going to be a short ride. Dejected, I looked to the East. I spotted a fisherman a ways off beyond Blacks point. It was clear he was fishing, but I thought I should run down and check the only visible boat on the water.

We ran past the fisherman at a safe distance. He was busy casting a line. My hopes for a rescue faded, when he glanced at us and made his next cast. As we past the fisherman, Milt pointed a ragged finger ahead. Sure enough, at the tip of the Pleasure Point reef was another boat. I pressed the throttles forward and we surged ahead.

As the sun kissed the waters to our West, we saw the most unusual sight. An ancient, 1963 blue/green Dorsett speedboat sat bobbing in the middle of kelp, just off the ragged Pleasure point. Just inside lay the reef and the booming waves. The male in the Dorsett was hanging over the side hanging onto a thick matt of brown kelp. The stout female sat in the passenger’s seat, arms crossed, frowning. Behind this couple sat two small children, dwarfed by their large orange life vests. I noticed the Dorsett’s ancient white outboard sat quiet.

I threaded the Dory carefully through the heavy kelp to get closer to the Dorset. Warily, I kept a close watch on the breaking waves to the inside of us. I kept an eye out to sea for any approaching rouge wave. A rolling swell gently lifted our boats, making the kelp spin and slip under the surface. A 100 yards away, the wave tripped on the reef, stood up and crashed down. Steam shot towards the sky. I asked the hapless boater what happened?. Looking panicked, he cried that his motor died. He protested that he just had it worked on and it had already failed him.

I called Station Monterey and told them “Auxiliary vessel 190” had found a disabled boat just off the Pleasure point reef. A sleepy voice quickly came into focus and recorded our position. We threw a line to the Dorset and proceeded to zig zag through the heavy kelp, towing the Dorsett into deeper water.

At the harbor we inspected the Dorsett. Milt filled out several pages of reports on our find. The boater had indeed had the engine’s carburetors rebuilt, but he ran the same contaminated fuel into them, killing the engine. I told the boater about he needed an anchor. Exasperated, he said he had one, but when he threw it overboard, the bundle of rope went with it, straight to the bottom. I now understood why he was holding onto kelp. We learned that he had been hanging onto the kelp since 2 PM..

Looking back on this episode, I realized that you never know when you will find people in distress. I am certain the chances of us coming by were a million to one that day. I was glad for the kid’s sake, we found them.

Several years later, an Auxiliary boat got into the waves in the nearby Mitchell’s cove. The waves picked up the boat and threw it upside down onto the beach. The Auxiliarist inside perished.

Cruising at night

2008-01-29T16:07:00.000-08:00

There are times when it's dark and misty and you're running slowly on instruments all night. One person stares into the darkness looking for "anything". The pilot watches the GPS map like a hawk.

When it's misty, and you turn on the spot, the whole boat is lit up in a white cotton ball. Instead of inky black, now everything is white. I don't recommend this as you may miss seeing nav lights from another boat. So, I've switched off the spot and we continued to crawl through the blackness, eyes peeled for any shore or boat lights.

If you have radar, you would have one crew stuck to the Radar display, one peering out into the blackness and the pilot glued to the GPS map.

If the mist clears, you may pick up lights from cities, bouys or lighthouses. Pay attention to these lights. If a large object occults the lights, you're looking at a ship. Get out of the channel now.

Sometimes harbors will only show a single red or green light. These lights can be hard to spot in the city lights. When you see only one light, there's a chance that the harbor channel entrance is going sideways.(like around a breakwater) In this case, you're seeing only one side of the channel. Review the chart to determine the best way to approach this entrance.

Now, for clear nights, where you're trying to find a channel, a spot can be useful for seeing the channel markers. In the old days, channel markers (poles) were lit. These days you see them wrapped in reflective tape. So, a spot makes them quite visible. High quality binoculars will seemingly gather more light than the human eye alone. If you're on a small boat, the motion can render binoculars useless.

If you know that you're going to be out on the water at night, take a look to see when the moon comes up. A full moon will give you some visibility. If you're going out to see fireworks from the water, they choose nights with no moon. You wont get a break on a night like this.

If your on the water with large high powered fishing boats racing past you going to the fishing grounds, you might consider turning on a deck light to keep them off of you. The same situation happens when 100s of drunken boater race for port after watching fireworks on the water. Turn your deck light on and proceed slowly til they clear out. On nights like this, Channel 16 comes alive.

The Coast Guard require immersion suit be worn on night operations. I would recommend that you have every bit of safety gear at your disposal should you have an accident. The small ACR combo strobe/flashlight attached to your PFD is useful for getting around the deck and as a strobe in an emergency. Sometimes on Ebay you can find the large parachute rocket flares. I have these and a VHF in a floating bottle.

I hope these experiences help.

After being out all night there's nothing better than seeing the sun rise in the morning .

__________________
Craig

Petaluma turning basin

2008-01-29T15:25:00.000-08:00

May 3^rd Petaluma river first trip.

Vivi and I left the Emeryville Marina a little late and went up to the San Pablo Bay. I could see the channel running straight up the center of the bay. The outgoing current was roiling. I managed 18 mph in the current and 22 on the side of the channel. It was inviting to leave the channel and explore the expansive bay. Once done, my charts showed that much of the bay was 1’ of depth. Quickly, we returned to the San Pablo channel, went up and hung a left at the Petaluma river channel.

We have since learned that locals will change their scheduled departure and arrivals to coincide with the tidal direction.

The Petaluma Channel guarantees 5’ of water on low tide. On one place we found 4.6’ of water. The rest of the channel stayed around 9’ the rest of the way to the turning basin. The “river” to Petaluma takes a winding path through the meadows, dairies and vineyards. Along the way, various old boating establishments keep an assortment of ancient fishing and live aboard vessels. Rabid locals, will run to the waters edge and throw rocks at the boat if you make a wake through these establishments.

We were late, and as we passed Gilead’s marina, I heard the D street bridge operator on channel 9 asking where were we?. I told him we were late. He said he would return to the city yard and see us in ½ an hour. We were grateful for his flexibility. Upon our arrival at the D St. Bridge, the clang clang clang of bells could be heard followed by a loud “Toot” and the bridge rose. We entered the City turning basin.

The basin was lined with docks to the east and west. The basin has been in transition from an industrial barge turning basin into a fashionable water front. We saw boats on the East side. We pulled tied up next to an assortment of fishing vessels. Crusty individuals sized us up. The gang way led up to a barren industrial area. The “Yellow House” bar nearby was gearing up for an all nighter. Vivi exclaimed “Oh My” ! At this time, I called the visitor center and discovered that the West Dock, near the tiny Petaluma Yacht club was the preferred spot.

We moved the boat to the West Dock, which was right next to the stylish downtown restaurant, theater, antique store district. The downtown was fashionably rustic, but the people all were upscale San Francisco. All clothes were hand made designer stuff. All food was quite pretty and trendy. We found 12 high fashion hair salon places, run by fashionable young men named “Donovan, Trace or Maricio”. I think this is typical of “Marin County”. This is quite a departure from the city’s history of being the egg and industrial capitol of the west.

I’ve heard that in the summer months, the city requires boats to be tied shoulder to shoulder, sterns to the dock. Once full, boats will raft up in the center of the turning basin. We had the place to ourselves, with the exception of an occasional tourist or young couple down the dock.

We explored several antique stores and were surprised at the amount of old Chinese figurines, dolls and jewelry we found. We were told variously that the proprietor had bought someone’s collection. Based on the amount of this stuff, I would say the fashion crowd decided that Chinese artifacts were “out”, and were trying something new.

Later that night, Vivi and I went to Depsey’s, a bustling brew pub. Elegant couples graced the tables. The simple menu offered excellent quality meals. I found that Depsey’s Rooster ale to be a little darker than the Pelican Ales back home.

We settled back into the boat late that night. The muffled sounds of revelers in the back ground, gay city lights in the distance.

The next day greeted us with cooler, foggy weather. We felt a little sun burned and woozy from yesterday’s travels. We snuggled under the covers, letting our bodies catch up.

Ayala Cove in the early spring

2008-01-29T15:04:00.000-08:00

Ayala Cove 05 08 06

Darkness set in at Ayala Cove. Vivi and I were exhausted from hiking the island. We settled into bed, looking forward to some rest. The boat bucked and swayed at its moorings. All I could think of was the distant ferries churning up the seas. I noticed the barometer dropped another 2 points. Every minute we hoped for the foul weather to end.

I heard the flags snap. Gusts of wind first came from the West and later, from the East. An icy sliver of wind came in from the gap in my port window. I saw the currents swirling menacingly around the boat. We settled into our berths, dozing fitfully. A pale shaft of moonlight sliced down between our narrow V berths. We were roused each time the boat sloshed and crunched through a new set of waves.

In the early morning darkness, I could hear the splash of running water coming from the engine room. I sprang out of bed, alarmed at the thought of the boat being holed and the bilge pumps running on such a foul night. I grabbed the spot light and opened the door to the aft deck. A fresh splash of cold wind rushed in the door, the stars shown icily above. I lit up the aft deck and saw the mooring lines taught at an odd angle. The mooring ball was tipped over, straining to hold our vessel. The currents rushed past the boat, splashing against the side. I’ve never seen such a strong current. A look below showed only our trusty engine hunched below deck. I returned to my bunk and pulled the thin blankets over my shoulder.

The next morning, the sky was white with morning mist. Our neighboring boats were moving off into the haze. The fog was in our heads, our eyes sticky with a lack of restful sleep. We departed Ayala cove in route to San Francisco. We were looking forward to warmth, calm water and terra firma.

Looking back, we enjoyed the hike around Angel Island. We took a different route and saw a new side of the island. We had a magic moment when Vivi and I took the Zodiac ashore and sat on a sunny beach, admiring the cove and the sight of our boat moored off shore. Knowing what I know now, I would have made this a day trip. Mid week, you will find that you are the only ones on the island, making it all the more special.

We’re going on ten days now. Memories of work, home, families and our dogs are fading away. The feeling of the never ending summer vacation is upon us.

Things that continue to work well for us:

1) Local knowledge. Asking the locals has improved this trip 100%.

2) Getting off the boat for most of the daytime hours. Sunscreen to keep from burning up for those long hours in the towns, beaches, ballparks, spring fairs, outdoor jazz shows.

3) Good folding chairs for those evenings spent on the deck watching the sun come up or go down.

4) The large back pack for hauling food to and from the market. Hauling the laundry to and laundry mats. Most are 2 to 5 blocks away from the marinas.

5) Lap top computer and decent quality digital camera. Occasional Gaming and wireless internet, priceless.

6) Fresh, new 100 and 200’ mooring lines for Ayala Cove.

7) Good AM, FM, CD player. We’ve listened to KKSF jazz since the start of the trip. We caught parts of the Giants games. Thankful for the simple pleasures.

8) Decent hiking shoes and clothes. We are averaging 4 miles a day of walking. At the start of the week, we were moaning after a mile. After two weeks, Vivi and I did a 6.2 miler around Angel Island and didn’t break a sweat. I’m feeling muscles where I never felt them before.

9) Travel guides, metro bus and trolley maps. Between the guides and sheer luck, we’ve managed to hit festivals at each stop. Reading about a marina in the guide book before traveling has been useful.

10) Complete toiletry bags. One for each of us. It’s nice having everything together once you’ve made that long hike to the showers. Four towels.

11) Maptech charts. I found a number of them on Ebay. I’m finding that paper charts are necessary for the proper planning of routes. It is much harder to plan routes on a small GPS screen.

12) Power boats. We met a couple who were in a sail boat, Barney and Jess. They came over one evening and we shared stories and a bottle of wine. They asked where our heater was? I said that it was stowed away and that I didn’t think we needed it. They said that their sailboat had so much keel in the water that it took on the temperature of the surrounding water, usually, 54 degrees. They said they ran the heater constantly. They agreed that our cabin was warm and suggested that it was insulated better. I doubt the Bayliner was insulated better, but our cabin was built above the tanks, raising the cabin sole a foot above the water. Additionally, we didn’t have much more than 20” of boat under the water. In further conversations, they admired the width of our boat and the lack of motion. Barney said that Jess struggled handling their boat under sail. I think Jess was sold on the idea of a power boat. Later, I went and looked over their Hunter 32. I noticed that the anchor roller was crushed back into the bow. I could see fresh cracks in the bow down to the water line. They must have had a collision on their trip.

Things that are not working well for us:

1) Spring time tides and winds make anchoring out hard. The ancient mariner said to avoid “full moon tides”.

2) Empty fuel tanks make the boat lighter and the motion at night harder to live with.

3) Old Zodiacs. Ours is nearly 15 yrs old and the rubber coming apart at the seams. I spoke with the ancient mariner who said that 15 yrs was tops for these boats. He said that he bought a West Marine boat, but didn’t like it. He found that it was hard to row. He thought it may work better under power, but didn’t want to put the motor on it in most circumstances. I mentioned that most of the ancient mariners we saws in Sausalito were using hard dingys.

4) Salt water must have dripped onto the engine pulleys at one time, rusting them up. This is causing the engine to eat belts. The engine room is full of a black powder. (from the belts)

5) Foul head odors. Mostly from the salt water used in our system.