Ever do something....
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 1:15 pm
....you thought you were doing right but turns out you were 180 degrees out? I gotta tell one on me that happened yesterday.
I found this little O'Day Widgeon for a grand total of $250.00 complete with sails and trailer. The longer I examined the boat the better it looked, especially for a 1969. So I brought it home and proceeded to clean it up and it is in REMARKABLE condition! I had to sail it. Yesterday was nice, 5-8 mph winds, cobalt blue skys and in the upper 70's so I hooked up the little boat and headed for our equally little lake. The darn thing rigs up in about 1/2 hour so I was on the water pretty quick. Here's my "duh" moment. I looked at the centerboard ropes, yup, pull this one the board goes down and the other pulls it up. Took off and it sails just ok....lots of lee helm and I ain't got this figgered out.....and why do I keep getting closer to the dam....I'm tacking the other way...what's up with this? Now I'm sure all you guys got this pegged already but dodo here didn't. Not even after I got all tangled up in the underwater weeds close to shore. Finally got out of that mess when the wind turned a little and got headed back to the boat ramp. Everything is fine and as I get closer to shore I pull the rope to raise the centerboard....get closer to shore and something is dragging bottom...what gives here....the board is up....ain't it.....no it ain't! Well horse manure....no wonder the darn thing didn't sail well. Ok...get turned around just as the wind picks up for it's last fling of the evening and this cute little boat really DOES sail good!!!! I had about 15 minutes left before the wind started dying in earnest and that 15 minutes was a blast...shame I wasted the previous two hours!
I found this little O'Day Widgeon for a grand total of $250.00 complete with sails and trailer. The longer I examined the boat the better it looked, especially for a 1969. So I brought it home and proceeded to clean it up and it is in REMARKABLE condition! I had to sail it. Yesterday was nice, 5-8 mph winds, cobalt blue skys and in the upper 70's so I hooked up the little boat and headed for our equally little lake. The darn thing rigs up in about 1/2 hour so I was on the water pretty quick. Here's my "duh" moment. I looked at the centerboard ropes, yup, pull this one the board goes down and the other pulls it up. Took off and it sails just ok....lots of lee helm and I ain't got this figgered out.....and why do I keep getting closer to the dam....I'm tacking the other way...what's up with this? Now I'm sure all you guys got this pegged already but dodo here didn't. Not even after I got all tangled up in the underwater weeds close to shore. Finally got out of that mess when the wind turned a little and got headed back to the boat ramp. Everything is fine and as I get closer to shore I pull the rope to raise the centerboard....get closer to shore and something is dragging bottom...what gives here....the board is up....ain't it.....no it ain't! Well horse manure....no wonder the darn thing didn't sail well. Ok...get turned around just as the wind picks up for it's last fling of the evening and this cute little boat really DOES sail good!!!! I had about 15 minutes left before the wind started dying in earnest and that 15 minutes was a blast...shame I wasted the previous two hours!