Procedures for Winter Sailing With winter upon us, most of the Cal 20 s (keelboats) are now in the boat yard for maintenance and storage. However, we keep two of the Cal 20 s in the water for winter sailing. They dock in the Pillar Point inner harbor (our floating dock would not protect them sufficiently during winter storms). The following are the procedures for use of these boats over the winter. The electronic key card to the inner harbor gate and the key to the padlock on the boats are on an orange float hanging at the end of the bar on a hook by the window. There are two sets. Check out the boat as usual, and take a VHF radio (if you don t already have one) and a PFD. The boats are located on C Dock, slip C21. You can enter via the gate that leads to Docks A-B- C. The parking lot nearest the gate is private permit parking only, so you will have to park in the next lot over.
Each boat has an electric motor to get in and out of the slip. To protect these motors from theft, the boats cabins are locked. There is a padlock on the forward right corner of the hatch on the hatch cover rail. The electric motor is stored below in the cabin. You will need to mount the motor on the transom before leaving the dock. How to mount the motor Secure the safety line before you put the motor on the transom of the boat. Tie the safety line from the motor to a secure location on the boat, so you don t lose the motor overboard. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! You don t want to have to buy the club a new motor if you lose it overboard.
Secure the motor to the transom as far to port (not the side with the ladder) as possible. Use the mounting screws to secure the motor so it won t fall off (but don t over tighten). The business end (with the propeller) should be entirely in the water. Be careful that you are not hitting the rudder with the propeller blades. The battery is located in the lazarette (the hatch in the seat on the starboard side of the cockpit). Disconnect the solar panel connection from the battery and then move the battery from the lazarette to the cockpit. Be sure that the motor is in the neutral position. (The motor is operated with a twist grip, with the center position being neutral.) Attach the negative (black) and then positive (red) leads of the motor to the battery using the wing nuts on the battery. Screw wing nuts tight to insure good connection! Stow the solar panel in the lazarette.
How to operate the motor Twisting the motor grip clockwise will provide forward thrust. Twisting counter clockwise will provide reverse thrust. You can use either the tiller or the motor for steering. You can use the tiller alone if you like. IMPORTANT: The rudder can strike the propeller if you turn the tiller hard to starboard. BE CAREFUL!!!! Be sure that your sails are mounted but not raised before releasing the boat from the dock and motoring off. Remember that stopping the motor does not stop the progress of the boat. You can reverse direction of the motor to slow your progress. Once you are clear and have raised the sails, you can leave the motor on the transom and lift/swing the motor up out of the water by pressing the red lever located above the motor mount, re-locking after raising it. By turning the handle to port and tilting the motor forward the prop should come clear out of the water.
Optionally, you can disconnect the battery and dismount the motor and store it back in the cabin if you choose. When you have finished with your sail Store the motor inside the boat s cabin and lock the hatch. Place the battery in the lazarette and connect the solar panel to the battery and position the panel to collect sunlight. Check both boats and bail out any water you find below decks and report if there is more than you think appropriate. It also helps to know if the water is salty or fresh. If anyone would like a walk-through of these procedures, contact Jeff Ebert at jeffrey@ebertland.net or Dave Slater at davidslater34@gmail.com.