San Juan Trip

Hi all,

Back at work now, but had three good days on the water. Left Bellingham on the 28th and ran around Bellingham Bay all day long, just checking out the boat since this was the first time I had it in the water. Spent the night in Inati Bay, nice little gunkhole thanks to the yacht club in Bellingham. Sailed around Lummi Island the second day in 15 to 20 knot breezes. Beating into a headwind to the lower tip was a little rough, but once we got the wind behind us it smoothed out just fine. Shot up the West coast of Lummi at 6 knots with only the main out and reefed at that. Ended up at Sucia Island to spend the second night. Nice anchorage, the island has lots of trails and beautiful scenery to boot. The intent of the trip was to circumnavigate Lopez Island, but time was running short and I knew it would take two more days than I had allotted for the trip so we decided the final leg would be back to Bellingham. Crossed Rosario Strait with a crisp breeze off the starboard beam and made about 3.5 knots all the way to the northern tip of Lummi I. Shot down the Hale Passage in good time and then the wind died out. Ended up motoring all the way across Bellingham Bay. Oh well still had a fine time shaking down the CM26. Would have some pictures but some dips**t left the camera in the truck. Definitely won't let that happen again, too much fine scenery that should be shared. Should also acknowledge my first mate, a neighbor of ours by the name of Jake. He held up real well and didn't lose his lunch or his cool.

Terry

Congrats on a great shakedown.

Sounds like a great time. My wife and I want to take our clipper marine to some of the same places.

If I ever get the thing repaired perhaps this summer Ill be sailing in the same bays you are.

You'll love it. The area is full of marine parks. Saw a couple of dolphins last time out making the best of a bait ball in the Rosario Strait. Didn't see any orcas this time out but I guess you can't have everything.

Terry

So true you cant have it all, all the time. But we can try!

How did the swing keel hold up riding over the waves? Did you hear a lot of banging or is yours installed with the retaining bolt?

Didn't notice any banging. The keel is not secured as someone glassed over the security bolt holes. I just lower the keel to full down and then apply a little tension with the cable to damp any oscillations of the keel. Seems to work for me. Going to have to don the scuba gear next time I hit the water and inspect the cable and maybe do a replacement at that time. I like the concept of the swing keel though, hitting the beach without breaking out the inflatable is real nice.

I am so scared of my swing keel that I would not even think of beaching it. My keel bangs while traversing waves. Its not loud but given the damage that my boat has I cant imagine these keel trunks being stout.

I am glad you are in the ocean because I want to sail the sound soon but got to know if these boats can hold out. My wife would kill me if our boat sank while she was in the middle of the sound.

I can't get my wife on the boat in the salt so that at least is not an issue for me. I have heard stories, from other owners of the CM26, of them venturing clear to Alaska. While not an ocean voyager, with proper care and planning they seem to be quite a capable little craft.

The keel actually falling off has occurred to some Clippers due to lack of maintenance of the pivot bolt. This is only a 1/2" bolt and due to salt corrosion and friction, they wear slowly in half. When I drop the keel this winter I am going to machine the pivot hole in the keel itself out to 1 full inch and bush it with black (graphite impregnated)UHMW down to 3/4" and then use a 3/4" stainless bolt to retain it. I will probably also locate and redrill the lock bolt holes.

That sounds great but what if your keel trunk began flexing in and out even in lakes? Bolt size would not help much, do you think a couple coats of woven glass could stiffen this area up? Check your for me next time you sail. see if it flexes over waves.

Next time you are on your boat knock on the keel housing right below the forward seat. Then try a knock on the top of the keel trunk. Tell me of the two which is stronger please.

thanks

Mine does not flex where yours does. It is rock solid. From the look of the pictures in your other post it appears the fiberglass at the root of the trunk has cracked and a repair was attempted. In order to stiffen this area at this point I would grind out the old repair and get down to good fresh plastic and then fill the area with progressively wider strips of matting and resin. I would, considering the damage, build up a substantial fillet to reinforce the area. Also inspect very carefully the inside of the trunk for cracking of the gelcoat extending from the damage inside. The water may be coming from there or the water may be following from inside the trunk through the through holes and wicking down the plywood inside the glass of the trunk. Just my way of thinkin'.

Thanks.

This is what I am going to have to do. Well with you all helping me I think I can get this done soon. My wife keeps nagging me to go sailing again, I cant complain - just keep working.