Thank you all for constructive suggestions (and philosophical statements, too, John).
I sail in little Egg Harbor Bay, between Ship Bottom and Beach Haven, NJ. Chris. If I got in trouble at low tide, I could walk home. A blessing and a curse, but if weather got nasty, a life jacket would be sensible. I will consider a trailing line any time a tiller tamer is in use. Or a way to kill the tiller tamer if I go overboard. Or both.
I’ve sailed on lake Nockamixon and Lake Galena (Peace Valley Park) in SE PA a lot. Occasionally on lower end of Lake Wallenpaupack, but on weekends, I’d rather roller skate on an expressway.
I already rigged and used a jib down-haul. I think it’s a great idea that I’ve shared with a few other sailors. Even so, I still have my mind's eye on a pvc furler.
I also may rig a jib clew line in case it gets hung up on tacks.
Various discussions of topping lifts and boom crutches very helpful. I rigged one with a pad eye I installed on the mast and an old halyard. It's long enough, that, when the sail is raised it's quite slack. For just the boom, the load seems minimal, but if i were to leave the main on the boom, then I also would feel better with a boom crutch of some sort. Maybe some sort of Tee using PVC so it can disassemble, or, even better, Chris’s suggestion of a plank across the stern which might make motoring easier and then I could just insert a boom crutch right in the middle. And create nice spot for anchor. I definitely like idea of anchor in stern.
I have yet to reef the main, but I have original Horse-shoe thing, so I'll practice with that some day. Sails are so blown out, that before spending time and money on real reefing points, I might just spring for new ones.
I’ve transferred from kayak to Sunfish and back. How much harder could it be?
Boat is on trailer under house now awaiting another hurricane. I sat in cockpit and realized that tiller extension makes all the difference and everything is reachable when I have the whole cockpit to myself. More importantly, I showed this to first mate, who seemed quite reassured. I've already started carrying cell phone with me when windsurfing, and signal is good even in middle of bay.
Interesting perspective on jib sheets. I have a DS II with captive sheets on CB trunk. Seems to me, keeping them in place is worthwhile, but Greenlake’s critique sounds valid, too so I will definitely keep it in mind. Where are your jib cleats, G?
With an onshore wind you said you motor out to raise sail, Chris. Talk me through how you do this. Tiller “tamed” or loose? Motor running (which scares me) or off? Main first or jib? Obviously, I could drop anchor, but then you have that to deal with.
Again, thank you all.
We’re making a quick trip to Ship Bottom tomorrow to set up docking lines between house pilings and boat. We think the boat and trailer floated around together a little during Hurricane – oops - Super-storm Sandy.
Mark