Been a while since I posted on a build, not a kayak,canoe or perogue though, a 17' cat/ketch sailboat. Started back in early march pretty much full time (did take time out to build 2 Toto's for my fishing/camping buddys and cristen them on Brazos trips)see Toto buildhttp://www.southernpaddler.com/php ... 516#p85499
Anyhoo finaly finished and splashed last night, put her in about 5ish took quite a while to rig, had to do that at my dock rather than at the ramp as I need to do a fair bit of tree pruneing
Had to motor out of my creek area before raising the sails, then the wind completly died on me off to the north I see the dark clouds of the front so I'm determined to spend some time on the water now I'm here so good time to learn how to reef whilst on the water. Discretion being the better part of valour ( read chicken) I went with the maximum double reef on main and mizzen. No sooner than I got that done when here comes the wind out of the north, by gps even fully reefed I was enjoying a downwind run at 6.5 mph.
thats the leadind edge of the front to the south.
Ran south for awhile playing and getting a feel for the boat,then about face and do some tacking into the wind still managing a respectable 5+ mph. Played until it got dark then sail to creek entrance, douse the sails and motor on in against the wind, and unrig at the dock in the dark (thankfully good moonlite between breaks in the cloud).
so a good 1st impretion, couple of minor things to improve sail contol and make up some weather protection for camping aboard then put in some real time.
MM
Anyhoo finaly finished and splashed last night, put her in about 5ish took quite a while to rig, had to do that at my dock rather than at the ramp as I need to do a fair bit of tree pruneing
Had to motor out of my creek area before raising the sails, then the wind completly died on me off to the north I see the dark clouds of the front so I'm determined to spend some time on the water now I'm here so good time to learn how to reef whilst on the water. Discretion being the better part of valour ( read chicken) I went with the maximum double reef on main and mizzen. No sooner than I got that done when here comes the wind out of the north, by gps even fully reefed I was enjoying a downwind run at 6.5 mph.
thats the leadind edge of the front to the south.
Ran south for awhile playing and getting a feel for the boat,then about face and do some tacking into the wind still managing a respectable 5+ mph. Played until it got dark then sail to creek entrance, douse the sails and motor on in against the wind, and unrig at the dock in the dark (thankfully good moonlite between breaks in the cloud).
so a good 1st impretion, couple of minor things to improve sail contol and make up some weather protection for camping aboard then put in some real time.
MM