DaySailer.org Forum

I missed the opening of the season. Trying to catch up, I drove right to trailer parking at the marina and started to rig. The lot was oddly empty. Just before I drove to the ramp, another Day Sailer owner pulled up to tell me there was "more water" at the marina across the lake. "Well, I have a slip here," I said. He told me he didn't think it would be a problem. When I got to the ramp, I saw why. The docks closest to shore were sitting on mud. It was a ghost marina, like pictures from Japan after the tsunami. I had been travelling for the previous three weeks, and had missed the news that the Pacific Northwest is in a major drought.

But the news isn't all bad:
1. There was enough water to launch.
2. My slip isn't close to shore.
3. The sailing was excellent.
4. My nagging desire for a bigger boat all but vanished.

talbot wrote:4. My nagging desire for a bigger boat all but vanished.

I'm glad you had a good first sail! It is amazing how just getting out in my DaySailer does the same thing for my nagging desire for a different/bigger boat.

Ya just gotta love the Daysailer. I see a lot of full keel sailboats for sale around my neck of the woods these days with the record low water levels in the Great lakes and Lake St. Claire. I can drop my Daysailer into practically anything a duck can float in.

I've seen my share of low lake levels in central Texas the last couple of years. Lake Travis just west of Austin is only about 40% full at present, that's 50 feet below it's full level. No usable ramps left open on the lake. Fortunately for me I sail on Canyon Lake which is south of me. It is only down 9.5' and still has several ramps that are usable. A smaller, but more constant level lake.

John

talbot wrote:3. The sailing was excellent.
4. My nagging desire for a bigger boat all but vanished.

I too had excellent sailing this past weekend. More wind than I would have preferred but I made do with a reefed main & jib. Found a few new (to me) sandbars in the Indian River Lagoon as well. Even dragged the rudder at one point (now that's shallow!)

Everytime I get that twinkle in my eye for a bigger boat I remind myself:

* my DS costs me about $40/year for registration of the boat and trailer
* the boat lives in my yard when not in use so I have no dock rent or storage
* it is (relatively) easy to rig and get on the water

I read somewhere that the best boat is the one you use. I see too many boats 25' and up that seldom leave their slips. My old DS gets wet on a regular basis.

My boats too live in the back yard when not in use. Often, larger boats that are kept at a dock or mooring sail only one lake. The DS can be easily moved around to be able to explore other waters.

John

An image of my boat (you have to look closely at the end of the dock), still the only occupant of a 200-slip marina.

This is what we call a drought in the Northwest.

--Talbot
--DS#6546

Well, I got a perfect first boat.