Kris Cringle
Super Anarchist
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- #881
I feel sorry for people that sail year-round. They don't get the exhilaration of that first stiff wind sail when you wonder what holds it all up. That's the real shakedown sail. You can see which turnbuckles need tightening and other bits that need adjustment in the 20-knot gusts.
That was at the end of 4 days of much-needed time on the water. Plus you finally get to enjoy the rewards of projects you took on over the past off-season.
Thanks to the Dyneema thread here, the Dyneema main halyard on the reel winch is a great upgrade. Firstly, gone is the springy tendency of the last few turns of wire to jump off the reel and jam. The Dyneema lays on the reel right to the last inch. Evans knot works like a charm. I even hoisted my daughter on it in the bosuns chair to the spreaders (a mis-lead lazy jack). I told her to keep her eye on Evans knot,... as my son backed her up with the spinnaker halyard on a regular winch and cleat. I almost forgot the reason to switch was to stop chewing the varnish off the spruce spar! It's very easy on the hand in comparison.
The LED spreader lights light the boat up like a stage. I'd be embarrassed to go on deck they're so bright but good to have if you need to. And the LED mast top anchor light works great and I couldn't drain off even 10% of my small house bank firing my usual gizmos.
The ice box! I put just 3, 10-pound blocks in on Friday morning. The box was only half full for the 4 days. By Monday afternoon when we got off, we still had enough of the blocks to go another day. That's great in our experience and should be even better when we fully load the box with the normal 50-60 pounds and usual week provision supply. Plus the yoga mat over the 3 doors is easy to use and likely helps.
The composting toilet, so far, has exceeded my expectations. But I won't review it until I've gone through the entire process. But I will say that my wife - who was a somewhat reluctant proponent - can't stop raving about it.
2 adults, 4 days, we've given it some use. It's super easy, there's nothing to clean (outside of an occasional spray with a simple mix of water and a bit of bio dish soap). It works! We just kept walking into the head and enjoying the smell of fresh clean sea air.
There is no boat head smell so far, none. A first for us. But more about the composting head later in the season.
Clear sailing (and not sailing), now. We spent one night anchored in Pulpit.
That was at the end of 4 days of much-needed time on the water. Plus you finally get to enjoy the rewards of projects you took on over the past off-season.
Thanks to the Dyneema thread here, the Dyneema main halyard on the reel winch is a great upgrade. Firstly, gone is the springy tendency of the last few turns of wire to jump off the reel and jam. The Dyneema lays on the reel right to the last inch. Evans knot works like a charm. I even hoisted my daughter on it in the bosuns chair to the spreaders (a mis-lead lazy jack). I told her to keep her eye on Evans knot,... as my son backed her up with the spinnaker halyard on a regular winch and cleat. I almost forgot the reason to switch was to stop chewing the varnish off the spruce spar! It's very easy on the hand in comparison.
The LED spreader lights light the boat up like a stage. I'd be embarrassed to go on deck they're so bright but good to have if you need to. And the LED mast top anchor light works great and I couldn't drain off even 10% of my small house bank firing my usual gizmos.
The ice box! I put just 3, 10-pound blocks in on Friday morning. The box was only half full for the 4 days. By Monday afternoon when we got off, we still had enough of the blocks to go another day. That's great in our experience and should be even better when we fully load the box with the normal 50-60 pounds and usual week provision supply. Plus the yoga mat over the 3 doors is easy to use and likely helps.
The composting toilet, so far, has exceeded my expectations. But I won't review it until I've gone through the entire process. But I will say that my wife - who was a somewhat reluctant proponent - can't stop raving about it.
2 adults, 4 days, we've given it some use. It's super easy, there's nothing to clean (outside of an occasional spray with a simple mix of water and a bit of bio dish soap). It works! We just kept walking into the head and enjoying the smell of fresh clean sea air.
There is no boat head smell so far, none. A first for us. But more about the composting head later in the season.
Clear sailing (and not sailing), now. We spent one night anchored in Pulpit.
