"sandy" wrote in message
ups.com...
We recently became the proud owner of a Neptune 16. We are keeping it
in the water on a lake in NE Washington. I've made a sailcover for the
main but find that the mainsail (which has a rope luff that goes in the
mast slot), comes out of the slot when I lower the sail. Is there some
sort of sail "stop" made for this type of rigging so I won't have to
thread the sail into the slot every time? Or is there some sort of
improvised thingie that would do the job?

Also...As we are keeping the boat in the water for the season, any
suggestions on what I should be doing to keep boat in good shape.
(Like....should I remove the rudder or leave it in the water? Raise
the outboard out of the water every day? We will probably be using
boat 2 or 3 times a week.

Appreciate any suggestions. As Hubby is disabled, I'm doing it all
myself and would like to not make any stupid mistakes. Thanks!

Sandy


What year is your boat?

Place a very tight bungee cord around the mast just above the gooseneck to
prevent the sail from feeding out.

Remove the small fiberglass cover on the cockpit deck in front of the cabin
door and check your centerboard bolt. Make sure it isn't bent and has the
nut on it. People have lost keels on Neptune 16s. Some of those covers are
glued down tight, it is an ordeal to remove them.

The rudder is glass/epoxy coated but if it has any dings in it keep it out
of the water.

Make sure the topside is water tight, there are no limber holes in the bilge
and it could be a tough one to drain out if it does get water in it.

I'd remove the outboard when not in service, it clamps to the hull on two
thin wooden strips and I wouldn't want to load the hull.

Make sure your cockpit seat storage hatch is held down. Should you capsize,
it will open and you'll flood and sink.

Lube up the keel clamp bolt, it is useful if you sail in high winds it will
keep you from sinking..

Make sure the keel winch cable does not bind.

Rig up an anchor line to the front eyebolt that you can pull in from the
cockpit so you don't have to go forward.

If you sail in water of sufficient depth you may want to remove the keel
winch altogether so it is not in the way. Just the leave cable coming up
through the cockpit floor and crimp a loop into it.

It's a tricky boat to center on the trailer if you have no guides.

All the cleats are anchored with small washers. You may want to re-anchor
them with metal plate or wood.

The outhaul pinches off into a vee jammer cleat. Replace it with a jam
cleat. In high winds you'll never get the line out of the vee jam.

Put a boom vang on it. In stronger winds the booms lifts and that sail can
overload the boat.

Move the outhaul pulley as far out on the boom as you can, otherwise you may
never be able to flatten the sail.

The battens on the main can easily get hung up in the single strand
stainless mast standing rigging as it tapers back the mast below the
spreaders. Be careful pulling the sail down. Use a downhaul and keep the
boom centered.

The tiller hits the top of the transom when it is pushed down (and not too
hard at that). Raise the rudder assembly 1/4- 1/2 inch or so.

If you don't have one add a topping lift.

Keep the door and hatch closed and bolted. If you get knocked down with them
off you will sink.

If you have kids aboard make sure they wear life jackets.


Glory!

Bob Crantz

I own no boat!