Re: [bolger] rAmBuNcTiOus Rides - a Martha Jane excursion
Mike,
Terrific article. Can't wait to hear more about your salty adventures. What
boat is next?
Mike Masten
Terrific article. Can't wait to hear more about your salty adventures. What
boat is next?
Mike Masten
For those of you who do not subscribe to "messing about in BOATS,"
here is an article that I submitted for the December 15, 2001 issue.
It is a great little magazine and I recommend subscribing.
Eventually I will put this on my web site.
rAmBuNcTiOus Rides
I suppose the inevitable finally catches any boat builder. No
matter how large the project, the time comes when it is finished
enough to actually use to go boating. No lie! Fortunately, I have
finally evolved to that state with "rAmBuCnTiOuS," my Martha Jane -
revised -- designed by Phil Bolger & Friends. Happily I am reporting
my first two cruises. (For details on the boat refer to
http://mkstocks.tripod.com/boats/martha_jane/)
Bogue Sound
The first cruise coincided with the fall meet of the North Carolina
Traditional Small Craft Association held at the Brode Estate near
Broad Creek off Bogue Sound in North Carolina. I started my trip on
Friday evening, October ??, 2001 from the boat ramp on Taylor Creek
in Beaufort with "Easter," my Bolger designed Nymph in tow.
Empirical data indicates that I seem to prefer testing new equipment
in the dark, so at about 2100 I left the ramp with my new 2001 8HP 4-
stroke Honda power thrust outboard motor pushing me along almost
silently.
This was my first trip with this new engine. As my intent was to
motor the whole 15 statute miles, I did not raise the masts or fill
the water ballast tanks. The original 8HP on my boat was a short
shaft, so I had to raise the transom about 5 inches to accommodate
this long shaft engine. That was relatively easy to do, and I like
the higher placement of the engine anyway. Along with the increase
in shaft length, this engine brought with it a 12 amp alternator,
twice the amperage of the original motor. The power thrust engine
swings a larger propeller, but at a slower RPM than its counterpart,
giving a great deal of torque - ideal for this displacement boat.
After borrowing some dock space in Beaufort proper, I made the
obligatory stop at Back Street Pub for libations with some friendly
locals then settled in for my first night aboard my boat. Early
Saturday morning under comfortable sunny skies I started the motor
for the trek down the ICW. The wind was blowing 20 knots NNE, and as
I rounded the southern tip of Radio Island into the Morehead City
Channel, I was in for a bumpy ride. Since the leeboards were up, it
was extremely hard to keep the boat on course with such a wind
whipping, but by dropping the leeboards most of the way, my control
of the boat improved greatly. Lowering the board sacrifices a bit of
speed, but I take comfort in being able to direct the boat, and with
a few more RPM of the engine I was back up to speed.
Once I passed under the bridge between Morehead City and Atlantic
Beach, it was a very comfortable 6-7 knot cruise (according to the
GPS). "rAmBuNcTiOuS" surfs well when it wants too - and with the
wind and current over my starboard quarter we surfed often. "Easter"
tows without dancing about and does not seem to mind chop.
All of the boats spent the day tied up to the Brode docks - it was
just too windy for traditional small craft, especially with its
direction. Instead we spent the day socializing, looking at each
other's boats, and watching an unending video tape of "Gilligan's
Island" episodes, starting with number 2.
Sunday morning began with a scrumptious home-cooked breakfast and
more "Gilligan's Island" reruns. With a thermos full of hot tea, I
started heading back to Beaufort under clear skies and an ENE wind
which had increased to the 25+ knot range. There were lots of gusts
and sprays on the return trip, but shelter of the house overhang and
side windows allowed me to drink my tea, stay dry, and thoroughly
enjoy the trip. This time I rounded the southern tip of Radio Island
heading north into a 4 knot current - at least that is what I figured
when I looked at how much my speed had dropped after. > I definitely
needed the leeboards down in order to control my progress at that
point, and I was happy to have all of that power behind me as I
battled both the wind and the tide. Once I got into Taylor's creek
it was smooth motoring all the way. I think I burned about 4 gallons
of fuel in total.
Wrightsville Beach
Cruise number two celebrated my completion of a celestial navigation
course. The class was taught by the staff at WaterWays Sailing
School in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Thursday in October, ?? 2001 I
launched "rAmBuNcTiOuS" from the wildlife ramp immediately NE of the
US 71 drawbridge on the ICW. > This was my first time boating in
this area, and true to form I did so in the dark (around 2100
hours). I motored a few minutes down the ICW, then turned SE to
follow Motts channel to dockage at Seapath Yacht club for the
weekend. This is an easily accessed facility with a courteous staff,
clean restrooms, friendly locals, great views, and plenty of eating
options within walking distance. I am completely at home camping on
my little boat.
The primary goal was to attend class until Sunday afternoon, so I
stayed tied up to the dock until Monday morning. Captain Sonja, one
of the live-aboards, was kind enough to come with me for a shakedown
sail starting about noon. We had clear Carolina Blue skies, and a
comfortable 15 knot wind out of the NE. Under sail, the leeboards
need to be straight down in order to tack quickly without getting
caught in irons. We kept a single reef in the entire time, and that
seemed to be just about right. On a balanced lug rig, if you reef
the sail and keep the downhaul in the same position, the aft end of
the boom wants to sag. Loosening the downhaul a bit before
tightening the throat halyard sets the reefed boom slightly higher,
but greatly reduces the dip in the aft end of the boom.
Sonja's favorite steering position is up on the quarter with the
tiller tilted aft. This gives a great view, but the bass-ackwards
tiller motion (until you get the hang of it) lends itself to testing
how the boat reacts to accidental gybes. Fortunately in this design,
the cabin keeps crew well away from the boom, and the balanced lug de-
powers the gybe instead of sending the rig crashing once it gets most
of the way around. In order to make an antenna adjustment, we had to
lower the mast while we were in the channel, and she was quite
surprised how easily it pivots up and down. I was glad to have the
extra set of experienced hands to tend to the steering while I messed
with the mast. We got it back up and under way easily enough, and
made a few runs up and down Banks channel getting the feel of boat
and rig. Finally she asked "want to head out to sea?" So out to sea
we headed. She steered us on the run out Masonboro inlet commenting
how fast this boat can fly downwind. On a run, we discovered that it
is easiest to steer if the boat runs wing and wing - the mizzen off
to one side and the main off the other.
Once we reached the RW "A" Mo(A) whistle buoy, we headed NE along
the coast. Sometimes we tacked and gybed the boat, and sometimes it
tacked and gybed us. Eventually we figured out the knack of getting
the mizzen balanced so the boat would self-steer and we controlled
the boat instead of the other way round. After reaching up and down
the coast we figured out that moving the tiller slightly to windward
and then planting a foot on it to hold it still on the floor seems to
do the trick. Make course alterations by pulling or starting the
mizzen sheet about 6 inches at a time - I am glad I installed a cam
cleat for the mizzen sheet. We encountered a few gusts, and she
admitted that a few times she figured she was about to get cold and
wet, but we never heeled over quite that far.
After an hour or so, we were a ready for a break, so we hove-to --
my favorite point of sail. To heave-to with a mizzen, sheet it in
all the way and let the bow swing around into the wind. Once in
irons, lash the tiller over all the way to one side (ideally to the
side to which you intend to go when leaving). The boat will start to
move backwards slowly, and as it does, the mizzen is exposed to the
wind, which pushes the boat right back. > Heaving-to on a sloop
usually involves a lot of heeling, so I much prefer the negligible
degree of heel the mizzen affords when hove-to. To begin moving
again, leave the tiller alone, and release the mizzen sheet. This
allows the boat to move backward, positioning itself for a close
reach. Once the proper attitude is attained, move the tiller to
slightly windward of center, sheet in the mizzen, and you are under
way again.
Captain Sonja set a course SW back to the whistle buoy and we
relaxed and enjoyed what was undeniably perfect sailing weather. She
motored us back in the inlet as I dropped and tied the main, and
wrapped the mizzen sail around the mizzen mast. She finally allowed
me to steer again as we pulled up to the dock at 1530. Leaving the
boards straight down, docking is easy with a spring line and a
pivoting engine.
She popped her head back into my hatch at 1830 all ready to go to
dinner. In keeping with the serendipitous events of the day, we
decided to motor to supper in one of her dinghies instead of
driving. She pointed out that not many dinner engagements begin
with "do you have some spare running lights I can borrow?" - but I
had some spares to lend her, the flashlight style kind - and we
attached them to her boat and motored off to the restaurant.
So there it is. The idea to build my own boat popped into my head
about 4 years ago. A great design, a stack of plywood, some 2x4's,
epoxy, paint, and countless trips to West Marine later, and I have a
boat. A happy little motor cruiser or sailboat - with plenty of
shade for my hair challenged head, standing headroom for a fellow of
my stature, lots of seating space - plenty of potential new memories
with my friends.
Ok, so I'm ready to build another Phil Bolger & Friends boat now.
Mike Stockstill
Raleigh, NC
here is an article that I submitted for the December 15, 2001 issue.
It is a great little magazine and I recommend subscribing.
Eventually I will put this on my web site.
rAmBuNcTiOus Rides
I suppose the inevitable finally catches any boat builder. No
matter how large the project, the time comes when it is finished
enough to actually use to go boating. No lie! Fortunately, I have
finally evolved to that state with "rAmBuCnTiOuS," my Martha Jane -
revised -- designed by Phil Bolger & Friends. Happily I am reporting
my first two cruises. (For details on the boat refer to
http://mkstocks.tripod.com/boats/martha_jane/)
Bogue Sound
The first cruise coincided with the fall meet of the North Carolina
Traditional Small Craft Association held at the Brode Estate near
Broad Creek off Bogue Sound in North Carolina. I started my trip on
Friday evening, October ??, 2001 from the boat ramp on Taylor Creek
in Beaufort with "Easter," my Bolger designed Nymph in tow.
Empirical data indicates that I seem to prefer testing new equipment
in the dark, so at about 2100 I left the ramp with my new 2001 8HP 4-
stroke Honda power thrust outboard motor pushing me along almost
silently.
This was my first trip with this new engine. As my intent was to
motor the whole 15 statute miles, I did not raise the masts or fill
the water ballast tanks. The original 8HP on my boat was a short
shaft, so I had to raise the transom about 5 inches to accommodate
this long shaft engine. That was relatively easy to do, and I like
the higher placement of the engine anyway. Along with the increase
in shaft length, this engine brought with it a 12 amp alternator,
twice the amperage of the original motor. The power thrust engine
swings a larger propeller, but at a slower RPM than its counterpart,
giving a great deal of torque - ideal for this displacement boat.
After borrowing some dock space in Beaufort proper, I made the
obligatory stop at Back Street Pub for libations with some friendly
locals then settled in for my first night aboard my boat. Early
Saturday morning under comfortable sunny skies I started the motor
for the trek down the ICW. The wind was blowing 20 knots NNE, and as
I rounded the southern tip of Radio Island into the Morehead City
Channel, I was in for a bumpy ride. Since the leeboards were up, it
was extremely hard to keep the boat on course with such a wind
whipping, but by dropping the leeboards most of the way, my control
of the boat improved greatly. Lowering the board sacrifices a bit of
speed, but I take comfort in being able to direct the boat, and with
a few more RPM of the engine I was back up to speed.
Once I passed under the bridge between Morehead City and Atlantic
Beach, it was a very comfortable 6-7 knot cruise (according to the
GPS). "rAmBuNcTiOuS" surfs well when it wants too - and with the
wind and current over my starboard quarter we surfed often. "Easter"
tows without dancing about and does not seem to mind chop.
All of the boats spent the day tied up to the Brode docks - it was
just too windy for traditional small craft, especially with its
direction. Instead we spent the day socializing, looking at each
other's boats, and watching an unending video tape of "Gilligan's
Island" episodes, starting with number 2.
Sunday morning began with a scrumptious home-cooked breakfast and
more "Gilligan's Island" reruns. With a thermos full of hot tea, I
started heading back to Beaufort under clear skies and an ENE wind
which had increased to the 25+ knot range. There were lots of gusts
and sprays on the return trip, but shelter of the house overhang and
side windows allowed me to drink my tea, stay dry, and thoroughly
enjoy the trip. This time I rounded the southern tip of Radio Island
heading north into a 4 knot current - at least that is what I figured
when I looked at how much my speed had dropped after. > I definitely
needed the leeboards down in order to control my progress at that
point, and I was happy to have all of that power behind me as I
battled both the wind and the tide. Once I got into Taylor's creek
it was smooth motoring all the way. I think I burned about 4 gallons
of fuel in total.
Wrightsville Beach
Cruise number two celebrated my completion of a celestial navigation
course. The class was taught by the staff at WaterWays Sailing
School in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Thursday in October, ?? 2001 I
launched "rAmBuNcTiOuS" from the wildlife ramp immediately NE of the
US 71 drawbridge on the ICW. > This was my first time boating in
this area, and true to form I did so in the dark (around 2100
hours). I motored a few minutes down the ICW, then turned SE to
follow Motts channel to dockage at Seapath Yacht club for the
weekend. This is an easily accessed facility with a courteous staff,
clean restrooms, friendly locals, great views, and plenty of eating
options within walking distance. I am completely at home camping on
my little boat.
The primary goal was to attend class until Sunday afternoon, so I
stayed tied up to the dock until Monday morning. Captain Sonja, one
of the live-aboards, was kind enough to come with me for a shakedown
sail starting about noon. We had clear Carolina Blue skies, and a
comfortable 15 knot wind out of the NE. Under sail, the leeboards
need to be straight down in order to tack quickly without getting
caught in irons. We kept a single reef in the entire time, and that
seemed to be just about right. On a balanced lug rig, if you reef
the sail and keep the downhaul in the same position, the aft end of
the boom wants to sag. Loosening the downhaul a bit before
tightening the throat halyard sets the reefed boom slightly higher,
but greatly reduces the dip in the aft end of the boom.
Sonja's favorite steering position is up on the quarter with the
tiller tilted aft. This gives a great view, but the bass-ackwards
tiller motion (until you get the hang of it) lends itself to testing
how the boat reacts to accidental gybes. Fortunately in this design,
the cabin keeps crew well away from the boom, and the balanced lug de-
powers the gybe instead of sending the rig crashing once it gets most
of the way around. In order to make an antenna adjustment, we had to
lower the mast while we were in the channel, and she was quite
surprised how easily it pivots up and down. I was glad to have the
extra set of experienced hands to tend to the steering while I messed
with the mast. We got it back up and under way easily enough, and
made a few runs up and down Banks channel getting the feel of boat
and rig. Finally she asked "want to head out to sea?" So out to sea
we headed. She steered us on the run out Masonboro inlet commenting
how fast this boat can fly downwind. On a run, we discovered that it
is easiest to steer if the boat runs wing and wing - the mizzen off
to one side and the main off the other.
Once we reached the RW "A" Mo(A) whistle buoy, we headed NE along
the coast. Sometimes we tacked and gybed the boat, and sometimes it
tacked and gybed us. Eventually we figured out the knack of getting
the mizzen balanced so the boat would self-steer and we controlled
the boat instead of the other way round. After reaching up and down
the coast we figured out that moving the tiller slightly to windward
and then planting a foot on it to hold it still on the floor seems to
do the trick. Make course alterations by pulling or starting the
mizzen sheet about 6 inches at a time - I am glad I installed a cam
cleat for the mizzen sheet. We encountered a few gusts, and she
admitted that a few times she figured she was about to get cold and
wet, but we never heeled over quite that far.
After an hour or so, we were a ready for a break, so we hove-to --
my favorite point of sail. To heave-to with a mizzen, sheet it in
all the way and let the bow swing around into the wind. Once in
irons, lash the tiller over all the way to one side (ideally to the
side to which you intend to go when leaving). The boat will start to
move backwards slowly, and as it does, the mizzen is exposed to the
wind, which pushes the boat right back. > Heaving-to on a sloop
usually involves a lot of heeling, so I much prefer the negligible
degree of heel the mizzen affords when hove-to. To begin moving
again, leave the tiller alone, and release the mizzen sheet. This
allows the boat to move backward, positioning itself for a close
reach. Once the proper attitude is attained, move the tiller to
slightly windward of center, sheet in the mizzen, and you are under
way again.
Captain Sonja set a course SW back to the whistle buoy and we
relaxed and enjoyed what was undeniably perfect sailing weather. She
motored us back in the inlet as I dropped and tied the main, and
wrapped the mizzen sail around the mizzen mast. She finally allowed
me to steer again as we pulled up to the dock at 1530. Leaving the
boards straight down, docking is easy with a spring line and a
pivoting engine.
She popped her head back into my hatch at 1830 all ready to go to
dinner. In keeping with the serendipitous events of the day, we
decided to motor to supper in one of her dinghies instead of
driving. She pointed out that not many dinner engagements begin
with "do you have some spare running lights I can borrow?" - but I
had some spares to lend her, the flashlight style kind - and we
attached them to her boat and motored off to the restaurant.
So there it is. The idea to build my own boat popped into my head
about 4 years ago. A great design, a stack of plywood, some 2x4's,
epoxy, paint, and countless trips to West Marine later, and I have a
boat. A happy little motor cruiser or sailboat - with plenty of
shade for my hair challenged head, standing headroom for a fellow of
my stature, lots of seating space - plenty of potential new memories
with my friends.
Ok, so I'm ready to build another Phil Bolger & Friends boat now.
Mike Stockstill
Raleigh, NC