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#1
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
Well, NOAA has done us in, again. Here we are, anchored just shy of our goal, again. And, another lovely dinner before a cold bed, as "seasonal weather" has revisited the Chesapeake, and it's frost warnings, tonight (well, last night, from when you see this). When we left you, we were thinking of going to Cambridge, instead of going for Solomons Island. We did, indeed make that choice, and took a short ride to Cambridge. Before that, however, we had to get up the anchors. What a gooey mess the bottom was there in front of Schooner's in Oxford. No wonder we dragged the first time. There must have been a foot of black, fine, mud on the Delta, and, of course, with as much as we had out, the chain had lain on the bottom for quite a while as well, therefore carrying up its own load of goo. However, our second anchor was much the same story, and the way our windlass is set up, required semi-hand raising its extra-long chain and the 75# of anchor on the other end. That one had set very hard, and not only was difficult to break free, it brought up its own load of junk. Despite very careful and aggressive hosing, both chains would prove to retain lots of the mud, flaking off as it was deployed the next time. In any case, we set sail about 12:30 for Cambridge. Oops. Another fan belt failure. That one lasted all of a couple of days. Quick, throw out the anchor in deep water, so put out lots of chain, and dive into the engine room, yet again. However, I'm getting pretty adept at this by now, and we're under way again in short order. Another lovely sail results, and we shortly pull up to the entrance to Cambridge. Tom, another internet buddy, who lives between Oxford and Cambridge, has filled me in on our means of staying in town. Cambridge is a lovely town, like all the rest we have been in along the Chesapeake, and the seat of Dorchester County, MD. Their municipal building fronts on the little bay off the Choptank River, and alongside there are cleats, with signs saying one should dock at their own risk, for up to 48 hours. There were already a couple of trawlers and a sailboat there when we arrived, but we had plenty of space to pull in ahead of the sailboat. Lydia's lassooing move on the cleat was a perfect shot, and she snubbed that connection. I stern-walked in to allow her to tie off the rest of the way. It was an unusually high tide; Tom had been concerned for how much water we would have alongside. However, we found it to be quite deep, at least according to our depth finder, and we were comfortable with being there. Tom was kind enough to give a ride to a quickie shopping trip for prescriptions, groceries, the hardware store and NAPA, for yet more fan belts (about 8 or 10, I think, since we left Charleston). I need to buy stock in Gates! Anyway, the following day we went on a walking tour, enjoying the city immensely. I'll let Lydia's log fill in all the touristy bits, but we had a lovely time and met the usual assortment of animals and people. One, however, was a real hoot, having taken more than 30 (down from 50) cats to the vet to be neutered, and they all go on walks with him and his two dogs, said parade coming by the municipal system each day we were there. The next day we expected to go to Solomons Island, but the weather was forecast (see above comment on NOAA, and see below for more) at 20-25 knots with gusts to 30, and straight behind us, along with relatively large waves, which would have been very uncomfortable. So, we decided to stay in Cambridge for another day. Of course, given NOAA's track record so far (see below), it might have been a fine day to sail south. However, high tide in the morning was about 5AM, and not long after I woke to find more than the usual list (we have a small persistent port list). Hm. What's that about?? We apparently had parked on the locally famous "three foot hump" - the only place on the wall which was so short, and apparently the source of Tom's concern - and we were - AGAIN - aground. This time, though, I had no doubt that the rising tide later in the day would get us off, as it was more than 1.5' higher than the early tide, and since we weren't going to leave, anyway, if was of little account. I went back to bed, and relaxed. However, very quickly, we developed a notable list - eventually to reach 25 degrees. That made getting off the boat a bit challenging. Fortunately, I have a great stride, and was able to make it off and back on again after I slacked the lines so as to relieve the pressure not only on our but the town's cleats. Eventually, as the boat continued to heel, enough of the bottom was exposed to show that there was a small area that had accumulated barnacles. That was irritating, in that it was all very newly applied bottom paint, and there should have been no barnacles whatsoever - and not much slime, either. The slime wasn't there - but there were certainly barnacles. So, at low tide, I took a deck brush and crushed them, and then scraped them and finally scrubbed them off. Thanks, Cambridge, for making that possible! In the meantime, though, we'd attracted quite a crowd, what with the very unusual attitude (they don't often see a mast at that angle!), and every time one dispersed, another gathered. It's how we learned of the "three foot hump" - and all were very anxious to help in any way possible. It probably sounded very brave for us to keep declining help, but since we already had our shopping done, and our touring done, and weren't going to leave until the next day, there really wasn't much anyone could do! So, instead we enjoyed the brilliantly sunny day and read our books and scrubbed the bottom and otherwise behaved like full-time cruisers. No agenda, no schedule, no itinerary! Eventually, the tide did, in fact, come up, and we were off. The trawler which had pulled in to tie up in front of us was similarly aground, but they had about 8" less draft. They had settled directly next to the seawall, and were adequately well cushioned against abrasion - but I can tell you for sure I'm glad we didn't lean the other way! Standing up relatively vertically is nicer, but it would have been a great deal of abrasion until it stabilized. Anyway, our plan was to anchor out for the night, as the next day would present much the same issue, but even lower water as we migrated from the full moon. However, our anchoring misadventures continued. After trying and failing 4 or 5 times to get a secure set in the area in front of where we had been, we opted to go for the now-open slip at the other end of the wall, where we were assured it was much deeper. However, when we were tied up, it looked much the same on our depth finders as where we'd just left. The falling tide would treat us just the same as last night, and as we did, now, want to leave in the morning, that would be a distinct inconvenience! However, nearby was a waterfront restaurant with a couple of slips. Hm. Wonder what they do with them? A quickie ask got a lovely offer of free space if we came to dinner. So, we quickly put our almost-on-the-table dinner aside and berthed at the restaurant. A lovely dinner followed, and it was the least expensive meal out we've enjoyed since Lydia's mom (our benefactor) joined us. We were cautioned not to tie into the shorepower, that being reserved for paying guests, but as to do so would have required much digging in the lazarette to get to the shorepower cord, and we were "full", it was of no issue whatever. We did, though, take advantage of the water connection to fill our leak-emptied tanks, in the gathering cold. A late-night check of the most current forecast showed nearly ideal conditions for our run down to Solomons Island. North to NE 10-15, moving to W in the evening/night hours, and diminishing. We'd be either running or broad reaching, and enough wind that we might use a poled-out genny and prevented main, or maybe even the spinnaker, if it proved a bit lighter (on the 10 side). I calculated that our trip should take about 5 hours, tops. Early the next morning, the reports were the same. And, in fact, throughout the day, as we listened in disbelief, they continued, all the way to our anchorage. What happened was that our way out, a very tight pinch, started about 10:30, and was pretty much as advertised, other than the wind being a bit light and also fluky. I attributed that to being behind the land mass during our transit of the Choptank, and expected it to pick up and solidify once we reached the bay. Fat chance. It slowly died, to the point where, by the time we reached the bay, there was nearly none. As the day wore on, the waters flattened, and we were motoring at a pace which created a slight headwind. Once again, NOAA comes through! If the forecast had been similarly off (way low, in both sea state and wind) the day before, it would have been a wonderful trip down in brilliant sunlight. So, aside from the fact that we had to motor most of it, and that we didn't make the speed we'd anticipated, it was a brilliant day, and toasty in the enclosure around the cockpit. Oh, ya. So, also as has become our custom, around 4:30, Lydia alerts me to nasty noise coming from the engine room. This time we caught it before it fully disintegrated, but, once again, we were in alternator belt failure mode. The belt had shed a section of the top, and was inverted in the tracks. It would shortly fly off if left alone, but we stopped the engine, and as you've seen above, I had the new belt on in short order this time, too. This one is a different type; with any luck it will hold up better than our previous supposedly best-of-breed we've been using. Nothing could be worse; if I don't get satisfaction on these, I'll prolly just start using the cheapest I can find. But, I digress. Our slight delay, combined with the insult of a weather forecast as compared to reality, has caused us to miss our window into Solomons' Back Creek before dark. So, as has become our custom (finding someplace to throw out the hook, short of our objective), we anchored out off Drum Point, in an area which was pretty broad and relatively shallow without being dangerous to shoaling. However, I use the term "anchored" a bit generically. I don't know what kind of bottom there is, here, but we could not get a set. Each time, I could feel the chain bounce as the anchor slid and bounced over whatever hard stuff there was down there, feeling like stones against my hand. However, the good news was that the winds were still very light, and forecast (HAH!) for being even lighter, and better, from the area of the land mass, protecting us, but should we slide, taking us away from shore. So, as it involves a lengthy retrieval, I reluctantly double-anchored, again. My expectation is that our 130# of anchors, as well as the-about-300# of chain are all that are holding us from moving - but, it's doing that, at least. We stayed put, comfortably, with our anchor chains hanging straight down in the very light wind, and, while it was getting very chilly (55 in the cabin at 7AM), even our accommodation was entirely comfortable. As usual, the ladies slept in, but as we had only about 4 miles to go (so near, yet so far!), I let them, and finished this :{)) As I write at 10, the wind has piped all the way up to 4 knots - it's mostly been between 0-2. We'll be anchored in Back Creek later today in what is described as conditions similar to Spa Creek in Annapolis. That is to say, crowded, but very do-able, and as the controlling depth there is about 8 feet, won't require a great deal of scope, thus limiting the swing. We'll do more shopping, particularly at NAPA, and enjoy the area. From here we'll again head south, in a few days, likely calling at Deltaville and perhaps another one or two locations before heading to Norfolk, thence down the ICW to Beaufort. Stay tuned for further adventures. L8R Skip Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog and/or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts." (Richard Bach, in The Reluctant Messiah) |
#2
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
On Oct 30, 6:57 am, Skip Gundlach wrote:
What a gooey mess the bottom was there in front of Schooner's in Oxford. No wonder we dragged the first time. There must have been a foot of black, fine, mud on the Delta, and, of course, with as much as we had out, Skip, Delta makes a few types of anchors. Im assuming your Delta is their popular plow style similar to a CQR?? If so, might I suggest using an anchor specifically designed for those conditions you describe above.............. Your in fine mud........... sounds like a mud anchor might be a better solution than a Delta plow. but if you find your self in areas of the bay where the water runs in- out during tide exchanges you'll get more hard packed sand-mud-shell. Therefore your plow would be a good fit. So here is your question for the day: Why would you find fluffy fine mud in one part and packed sand-mud-shell in another part of hte same bay (estuary)? Bob |
#3
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
Bob brought forth on stone tablets:
On Oct 30, 6:57 am, Skip Gundlach wrote: What a gooey mess the bottom was there in front of Schooner's in Oxford. No wonder we dragged the first time. There must have been a foot of black, fine, mud on the Delta, and, of course, with as much as we had out, Skip, Delta makes a few types of anchors. Im assuming your Delta is their popular plow style similar to a CQR?? If so, might I suggest using an anchor specifically designed for those conditions you describe above.............. Your in fine mud........... sounds like a mud anchor might be a better solution than a Delta plow. but if you find your self in areas of the bay where the water runs in- out during tide exchanges you'll get more hard packed sand-mud-shell. Therefore your plow would be a good fit. So here is your question for the day: Why would you find fluffy fine mud in one part and packed sand-mud-shell in another part of hte same bay (estuary)? Bob The fine fluffy mud should settle in areas where the underwater water flow is minimal. In the areas with sand/shell/hard mud, there is more flow, washing out the fines bob s/v Eolian Seattle |
#4
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
On Oct 30, 1:03 pm, Bob wrote:
On Oct 30, 6:57 am, Skip Gundlach wrote: What a gooey mess the bottom was there in front of Schooner's in Oxford. No wonder we dragged the first time. There must have been a foot of black, fine, mud on the Delta, and, of course, with as much as we had out, Skip, Delta makes a few types of anchors. Im assuming your Delta is their popular plow style similar to a CQR?? If so, might I suggest using an anchor specifically designed for those conditions you describe above.............. Your in fine mud........... sounds like a mud anchor might be a better solution than a Delta plow. but if you find your self in areas of the bay where the water runs in- out during tide exchanges you'll get more hard packed sand-mud-shell. Therefore your plow would be a good fit. So here is your question for the day: Why would you find fluffy fine mud in one part and packed sand-mud-shell in another part of hte same bay (estuary)? Bob Who are you and what have you done with Bob? :{)) Ya, that last night stuff was very clean. Could watch the anchor about halfway down. When I brought it/them up, there was no evidence of mud on them, and I'm glad to say that the previous mud had largely removed itself on the way down and up. To your question, it's all in the delta. Just like the Nile used to do, before the Aswan - floods make for silt distribution, slack water doesn't let it carry off... So, what do you use for chain and anchor(s)? At anchor in Solomons, we have to find a laundry to resolve the dated UHT milk which gave way and soured our cushions in the saloon, ano the usual laundry and shopping which comes with towns... L8R Skip |
#5
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
On Oct 30, 9:52 am, RW Salnick wrote:
Bob brought forth on stone tablets: The fine fluffy mud should settle in areas where the underwater water flow is minimal. In the areas with sand/shell/hard mud, there is more flow, washing out the fines bob s/v Eolian Seattle Hey Bob EXCELLENT ! That response is accurate AND concise = A+ How long a road do you use when anchoring in Elliot Bay ????? (joke) Have you been lunching with those oceanography types at UW again.? I think I saw you at the mexican place at the bottom of U ave.... You know the one, next to the kyak rental place?? Bob |
#6
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
On Oct 30, 9:53 am, Skip Gundlach wrote:
Who are you and what have you done with Bob? :{)) Ya, that last night stuff was very clean. Could watch the anchor about halfway down. When I brought it/them up, there was no evidence of mud on them, and I'm glad to say that the previous mud had largely removed itself on the way down and up. Hummm, interesting discovery. DO you think you can use that info when choosing a place to anchor?? that is if you want to avoid soft mud? To your question, it's all in the delta. Ya wonder why its called a DELTA ??? slack water doesn't let it carry off... Good on mate. You have just discovered ALUVIUM or ya mght say, alluvial depsits. Have yo ever gone clam digging. Usually I go for cockles. they tend to be in the sandier deposits. Some people rake for cockle but I prefer the barfoot stratigy. I trully reocmend clam diging as an anchoring lesson. Once you get barfootin around the estuary (bay) youll have a much better under standing of "mud suction factors" and holding ability. So, what do you use for chain and anchor(s)? SInce you have read Hinz (note tie no T) you alread know the answere to that......................................... what the most common conditions require. Right now.................. My boat is 26,000 lbs RIght now I have 200' 3/8" HT and a 45 lb CQR hung. BUT thats only cause of where I am. Yes, I do have a couple FX Fortress (mud and sand) and a Bruce stashed. and a buch of double braid nylon lines, a series drogue, a gailrider, and para anchor. and ofcoures a few bridles. Each is designd for a very specific use. Used all in various conditions. Im not that smart so I needed to practice with each. But Im also the kinds guy that goes out on a beautiful day, put a big visor over my eyes, and motors through the channel using RADAR only. Of course I take a peek avery few moments. Kinda like IFR practice for u pilot types Why, sharpen my radar skills. But then again Im single and dont have "thoes constant demands." Skip........... it aint what ya got................... its knowing when to use it. Go clamming nad get ur boots sucked off your feet and fall on your butt in the mud. You'll have a better appreciation of alluvial suction factors. bside, ya might end up wit some good clam chowda. Bob L8R Skip- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - |
#7
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
I used to use Gates, but now I've been using Dayco Topcog belts that are
sold at Advance. They were recommended as better, and certainly seem tougher. BTW, you aren't using the Gates belt with Kevlar are you ? I tried them once resulting in rapid, repeat failure. From a call to Gates I learned that if any sheave is below a certain diameter, kevlar reinforced belts will not last. "Skip Gundlach" wrote in message ups.com... October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)... Well, NOAA has done us in, again. Here we are, anchored just shy of our goal, again. And, another lovely dinner before a cold bed, as "seasonal weather" has revisited the Chesapeake, and it's frost warnings, tonight (well, last night, from when you see this). When we left you, we were thinking of going to Cambridge, instead of going for Solomons Island. We did, indeed make that choice, and took a short ride to Cambridge. Before that, however, we had to get up the anchors. What a gooey mess the bottom was there in front of Schooner's in Oxford. No wonder we dragged the first time. There must have been a foot of black, fine, mud on the Delta, and, of course, with as much as we had out, the chain had lain on the bottom for quite a while as well, therefore carrying up its own load of goo. However, our second anchor was much the same story, and the way our windlass is set up, required semi-hand raising its extra-long chain and the 75# of anchor on the other end. That one had set very hard, and not only was difficult to break free, it brought up its own load of junk. Despite very careful and aggressive hosing, both chains would prove to retain lots of the mud, flaking off as it was deployed the next time. In any case, we set sail about 12:30 for Cambridge. Oops. Another fan belt failure. That one lasted all of a couple of days. Quick, throw out the anchor in deep water, so put out lots of chain, and dive into the engine room, yet again. However, I'm getting pretty adept at this by now, and we're under way again in short order. Another lovely sail results, and we shortly pull up to the entrance to Cambridge. Tom, another internet buddy, who lives between Oxford and Cambridge, has filled me in on our means of staying in town. Cambridge is a lovely town, like all the rest we have been in along the Chesapeake, and the seat of Dorchester County, MD. Their municipal building fronts on the little bay off the Choptank River, and alongside there are cleats, with signs saying one should dock at their own risk, for up to 48 hours. There were already a couple of trawlers and a sailboat there when we arrived, but we had plenty of space to pull in ahead of the sailboat. Lydia's lassooing move on the cleat was a perfect shot, and she snubbed that connection. I stern-walked in to allow her to tie off the rest of the way. It was an unusually high tide; Tom had been concerned for how much water we would have alongside. However, we found it to be quite deep, at least according to our depth finder, and we were comfortable with being there. Tom was kind enough to give a ride to a quickie shopping trip for prescriptions, groceries, the hardware store and NAPA, for yet more fan belts (about 8 or 10, I think, since we left Charleston). I need to buy stock in Gates! Anyway, the following day we went on a walking tour, enjoying the city immensely. I'll let Lydia's log fill in all the touristy bits, but we had a lovely time and met the usual assortment of animals and people. One, however, was a real hoot, having taken more than 30 (down from 50) cats to the vet to be neutered, and they all go on walks with him and his two dogs, said parade coming by the municipal system each day we were there. The next day we expected to go to Solomons Island, but the weather was forecast (see above comment on NOAA, and see below for more) at 20-25 knots with gusts to 30, and straight behind us, along with relatively large waves, which would have been very uncomfortable. So, we decided to stay in Cambridge for another day. Of course, given NOAA's track record so far (see below), it might have been a fine day to sail south. However, high tide in the morning was about 5AM, and not long after I woke to find more than the usual list (we have a small persistent port list). Hm. What's that about?? We apparently had parked on the locally famous "three foot hump" - the only place on the wall which was so short, and apparently the source of Tom's concern - and we were - AGAIN - aground. This time, though, I had no doubt that the rising tide later in the day would get us off, as it was more than 1.5' higher than the early tide, and since we weren't going to leave, anyway, if was of little account. I went back to bed, and relaxed. However, very quickly, we developed a notable list - eventually to reach 25 degrees. That made getting off the boat a bit challenging. Fortunately, I have a great stride, and was able to make it off and back on again after I slacked the lines so as to relieve the pressure not only on our but the town's cleats. Eventually, as the boat continued to heel, enough of the bottom was exposed to show that there was a small area that had accumulated barnacles. That was irritating, in that it was all very newly applied bottom paint, and there should have been no barnacles whatsoever - and not much slime, either. The slime wasn't there - but there were certainly barnacles. So, at low tide, I took a deck brush and crushed them, and then scraped them and finally scrubbed them off. Thanks, Cambridge, for making that possible! In the meantime, though, we'd attracted quite a crowd, what with the very unusual attitude (they don't often see a mast at that angle!), and every time one dispersed, another gathered. It's how we learned of the "three foot hump" - and all were very anxious to help in any way possible. It probably sounded very brave for us to keep declining help, but since we already had our shopping done, and our touring done, and weren't going to leave until the next day, there really wasn't much anyone could do! So, instead we enjoyed the brilliantly sunny day and read our books and scrubbed the bottom and otherwise behaved like full-time cruisers. No agenda, no schedule, no itinerary! Eventually, the tide did, in fact, come up, and we were off. The trawler which had pulled in to tie up in front of us was similarly aground, but they had about 8" less draft. They had settled directly next to the seawall, and were adequately well cushioned against abrasion - but I can tell you for sure I'm glad we didn't lean the other way! Standing up relatively vertically is nicer, but it would have been a great deal of abrasion until it stabilized. Anyway, our plan was to anchor out for the night, as the next day would present much the same issue, but even lower water as we migrated from the full moon. However, our anchoring misadventures continued. After trying and failing 4 or 5 times to get a secure set in the area in front of where we had been, we opted to go for the now-open slip at the other end of the wall, where we were assured it was much deeper. However, when we were tied up, it looked much the same on our depth finders as where we'd just left. The falling tide would treat us just the same as last night, and as we did, now, want to leave in the morning, that would be a distinct inconvenience! However, nearby was a waterfront restaurant with a couple of slips. Hm. Wonder what they do with them? A quickie ask got a lovely offer of free space if we came to dinner. So, we quickly put our almost-on-the-table dinner aside and berthed at the restaurant. A lovely dinner followed, and it was the least expensive meal out we've enjoyed since Lydia's mom (our benefactor) joined us. We were cautioned not to tie into the shorepower, that being reserved for paying guests, but as to do so would have required much digging in the lazarette to get to the shorepower cord, and we were "full", it was of no issue whatever. We did, though, take advantage of the water connection to fill our leak-emptied tanks, in the gathering cold. A late-night check of the most current forecast showed nearly ideal conditions for our run down to Solomons Island. North to NE 10-15, moving to W in the evening/night hours, and diminishing. We'd be either running or broad reaching, and enough wind that we might use a poled-out genny and prevented main, or maybe even the spinnaker, if it proved a bit lighter (on the 10 side). I calculated that our trip should take about 5 hours, tops. Early the next morning, the reports were the same. And, in fact, throughout the day, as we listened in disbelief, they continued, all the way to our anchorage. What happened was that our way out, a very tight pinch, started about 10:30, and was pretty much as advertised, other than the wind being a bit light and also fluky. I attributed that to being behind the land mass during our transit of the Choptank, and expected it to pick up and solidify once we reached the bay. Fat chance. It slowly died, to the point where, by the time we reached the bay, there was nearly none. As the day wore on, the waters flattened, and we were motoring at a pace which created a slight headwind. Once again, NOAA comes through! If the forecast had been similarly off (way low, in both sea state and wind) the day before, it would have been a wonderful trip down in brilliant sunlight. So, aside from the fact that we had to motor most of it, and that we didn't make the speed we'd anticipated, it was a brilliant day, and toasty in the enclosure around the cockpit. Oh, ya. So, also as has become our custom, around 4:30, Lydia alerts me to nasty noise coming from the engine room. This time we caught it before it fully disintegrated, but, once again, we were in alternator belt failure mode. The belt had shed a section of the top, and was inverted in the tracks. It would shortly fly off if left alone, but we stopped the engine, and as you've seen above, I had the new belt on in short order this time, too. This one is a different type; with any luck it will hold up better than our previous supposedly best-of-breed we've been using. Nothing could be worse; if I don't get satisfaction on these, I'll prolly just start using the cheapest I can find. But, I digress. Our slight delay, combined with the insult of a weather forecast as compared to reality, has caused us to miss our window into Solomons' Back Creek before dark. So, as has become our custom (finding someplace to throw out the hook, short of our objective), we anchored out off Drum Point, in an area which was pretty broad and relatively shallow without being dangerous to shoaling. However, I use the term "anchored" a bit generically. I don't know what kind of bottom there is, here, but we could not get a set. Each time, I could feel the chain bounce as the anchor slid and bounced over whatever hard stuff there was down there, feeling like stones against my hand. However, the good news was that the winds were still very light, and forecast (HAH!) for being even lighter, and better, from the area of the land mass, protecting us, but should we slide, taking us away from shore. So, as it involves a lengthy retrieval, I reluctantly double-anchored, again. My expectation is that our 130# of anchors, as well as the-about-300# of chain are all that are holding us from moving - but, it's doing that, at least. We stayed put, comfortably, with our anchor chains hanging straight down in the very light wind, and, while it was getting very chilly (55 in the cabin at 7AM), even our accommodation was entirely comfortable. As usual, the ladies slept in, but as we had only about 4 miles to go (so near, yet so far!), I let them, and finished this :{)) As I write at 10, the wind has piped all the way up to 4 knots - it's mostly been between 0-2. We'll be anchored in Back Creek later today in what is described as conditions similar to Spa Creek in Annapolis. That is to say, crowded, but very do-able, and as the controlling depth there is about 8 feet, won't require a great deal of scope, thus limiting the swing. We'll do more shopping, particularly at NAPA, and enjoy the area. From here we'll again head south, in a few days, likely calling at Deltaville and perhaps another one or two locations before heading to Norfolk, thence down the ICW to Beaufort. Stay tuned for further adventures. L8R Skip Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog and/or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts." (Richard Bach, in The Reluctant Messiah) |
#8
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
Bob brought forth on stone tablets:
On Oct 30, 9:52 am, RW Salnick wrote: Bob brought forth on stone tablets: The fine fluffy mud should settle in areas where the underwater water flow is minimal. In the areas with sand/shell/hard mud, there is more flow, washing out the fines bob s/v Eolian Seattle Hey Bob EXCELLENT ! That response is accurate AND concise = A+ How long a road do you use when anchoring in Elliot Bay ????? (joke) Have you been lunching with those oceanography types at UW again.? I think I saw you at the mexican place at the bottom of U ave.... You know the one, next to the kyak rental place?? Bob Hi Bob - Yeah - that place is Agua Verde (a lot prettier sounding in Spanish than in English). And those oceanography types were probably my daughter and son-in-law. That must have been some time ago - I haven't been there for quite a while... |
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
On 2007-10-30 10:57:50 -0400, Skip Gundlach said:
The next day we expected to go to Solomons Island, but the weather was forecast (see above comment on NOAA, and see below for more) at 20-25 knots with gusts to 30, and straight behind us, along with relatively large waves, which would have been very uncomfortable. So, we decided to stay in Cambridge for another day. Of course, given NOAA's track record so far (see below), it might have been a fine day to sail south. I can't quite figure out which day you're referring to here, but Friday, Saturday and Sunday were solid 20-25 with a regular higher gusts. Moderated a bit Sunday afternoon to 12-15 with some gusts. Our raft-up of "corks" (very light & buoyant boats) broad-reached at hull speed north on Saturday, south on Sunday (How often does the wind do *that*?), one logging about 15 nm, the smaller doing about 30 nm. 'Twas a wonderful downhill sleigh ride. You probably would have been fine jib-sailing, but you're cruising now, so not moving for any or no reason is just fine. -- Jere Lull Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/ Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/ |
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posted to rec.boats.cruising
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October 30 - Aground again, Naturally (a riff on a 60's song)...
On Oct 30, 6:40 pm, "Garland Gray II" wrote:
I used to use Gates, but now I've been using Dayco Topcog belts that are sold at Advance. They were recommended as better, and certainly seem tougher. BTW, you aren't using the Gates belt with Kevlar are you ? I tried them once resulting in rapid, repeat failure. From a call to Gates I learned that if any sheave is below a certain diameter, kevlar reinforced belts will not last. Hi, Garland, I don't know - they are Napa's "heavy duty FHP" 4L490W. Certainly that's a possibility. I really think it's got to be the pulleys, which are demonstrably smaller than 1/2 other than on the alternator. I also have a new 3/8 pulley, and the current belts I'm trying are 10mm, as recommended by one in another list as lasting him more than hundreds (plural) of hours, so I'll mount that after this one fails. Currently, it just goes into both of the engine sheaves, and sits low in the alternator, though well off the bottom. It's also cogged on the bottom, cited as better for tight turns as well as heat dissipation. I've felt the engine pulley, and I believe that it's potentially at fault, too, in that the edges, while not rough (sandblasted during our refit, and repainted, not rusting before reinstallation), are slightly pitted. In any case, the speed of wear on the new belt will tell us - and, for those better connected than I to the world of belts, it's a 25 Xl 7483, which is a tiny bit longer than I need; I'm going to get the next shorter one today, along with another of these as a spare, and if the shorter one doesn't go on in the next change, exchange it for a 7483. I tried Top Cogs, but I'd been told I needed a 50" belt, and while it went on easily, there wasn't enough stretch room, and they quickly started slipping. I've been trying to find another source after the one I found in Charleston and haven't succeeded yet, but will lay in some of those as well, if I can. And, of course, if the 3/8-10mm route works, that will save me having to buy new pulleys, a route I'm sure will be horribly expensive as they're no longer made... L8R Skip Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog and/or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts." (Richard Bach, in The Reluctant Messiah) |
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