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Date:Fri, 28 Apr 2023 02:19:00 GMT
Moving a Boat
Was it stealing a boat at night??!
Last night at 10pm we needed to move a boat before some folks stripped it.
The entire story is very sad, but the bottom line is if we didn't move the
boat some group nearby was going to strip the boat. So Sam and I helped the
new owner move the boat in the dead of night and anchor it between several
other boats. The boat had no working motor, no working steering and had
three anchors twisted about. So in the dark we cut the anchors free marked
them, and used 4 dinghys to move the derelict boat to a safer location. We
had three dinghys pushing, one steering, pulling the bow in reverse, and
two spotting. We ran aground near M row after an argument about whether to
go that way or not. We pulled it free and continued on to the anchorage
location and anchored the boat with a borrowed CQR anchor in about 10 feet
of water with only 50 foot of line. I'm not sure how well the anchor was
set but it has held so far! Luckly there was no wind or current to deal
with at slack tide. It was a 33 foot Morgan. So it was a heavy boat but if
you can move a boat with your hand at dock you can tow it easily with a
dinghy.
Yesterday we rebuilt the black water vacuum pump that we rebuilt originally
and got it completely out of the boat this time to rebuild it better. It
was easy to rebuild but getting it in and out was a real pain. In order to
get it back in the boat we had to heat the PVC on the input end. But after
nearly all day working on it now both forward and aft pumps are working.
We also cleaned out the bilge after leaking black water in there. It was a
stinky mess of course. But it's done now and shouldn't be needed for a good
long while. In process I found that the pump out PVC into the black water
tank is not sealed in.
Today I finally figured out how to use my signal flags. Amazingly enough
there is nothing on the net about it. We did a video. I don't know if it
was because it should be obvious or if it's just lost knowledge but most of
the suggestions were terrible and didn't show the old school method. I had
to figure it out but I must say that after figuring it out it is very
obviously simple. Trying to think old school and realize that it had to be
quick and easy with just knots was a key. So here it is: The top of the
first flag you tie with a reverse cow hitch. (pass a loop in the halyard
through the loop at the top of the flag. Then pull the entire flag through
the halyard loop backwards.) Stack the flags with loop and toggle till you
get to the last flag. Pull it all tight and tie a clove hitch with the
halyard on the bottom toggle. It's fast and easy and requires no clips.
I have hoisted the YQ pattern up which says "I want to communicate" we'll
see if anyone in the harbor answers.
NGA Pub 102 the International Code of Signals 1969 edition revised 2020
from msi.hga.mil is your bible for these
messages. There is some simple things in Chapman's piloting but the full
list is in that document.