Tested the backup rudder and sailed Biscayne Bay

Sorry about the absence of live action pictures.


I had the boat out on Biscayne Bay yesterday hopping to sail across the bay and camp on Elliott Key, not to test the backup rudder. But, the rudder pin broke a couple of miles out. The shear pin worked as designed. I had banged the rudder around getting it on the car racks the night before and and it was just waiting for a little more pressure to snap. Beating into 10 knots was enough to do it.

Having never replaced one before, and didn't want to get in the water and attempt a repair so I tied off the backup and headed back. The thing worked pretty well. I had to use two hands and put some muscle into it to counter the increased weather helm, but it beat trying to find space to move the gear on the tramps in and paddle through the chop for two miles.

I made the repair at the ramp, but decided against crossing the bay with no reserve shear pin. I'll be ordering several.

I did get to finish out the day with some beautiful sailing in the area of the Park head quarters and I got to meet Brian and Teresa, owners of a TI and two AI's. Hope to sail with them some more in the future. In fact, I am certain that myself and at least one other AI owner will be staying on Sunset Cove in Key Largo in July. I think we should make it a broader event and see if we can't get a pack of Islands participating.

There's a reasonably priced motel on the Cove (Bay Cove Inn), with a ramp, small beach and dock. It's the only way to sail down here in the summer. One of the better restaurants in the Keys is right next door and several others are within walking distance.

Ted

Hey, Ted, good little report. Hummm, broken pin...bummer.

I think one problem we have when forced to use a kayak paddle as a makeshift rudder, is we try to keep the full sail up--THAT IS WORK. I think the last time it happened to me (6 weeks ago), I had no sail up or only a small sail. The wind was about 18 mph, and I could do a nice reach. I simply let it blow the kayak/me/furled sail (or mostly furled) about a half mile to an island so I could put in a new pin. It was no work at all. The wind was trying to force the bow upwind, and I simply used the paddle-rudder to prevent that--it took me right over to the closest island.

I'm now carrying 2 spares in the back hatch cover. I also carry 3-4 more in my parts box. Of course, I'm carrying that many because I have them, and because I'm usually on a multiday camping trip--often with a few other people, so the spares are for all of us, if needed.

We are not going to be able to join you at Bay Cove in July since we will be out of town.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Keith, when are you headed west? I may organize a little expedition on Suwannee River around June the 15th. I'm not sure about the length of the trip. It depends on the conditions and the participants.

I did it last year with five participants, but we day-tripped and stayed in the cabin at night. It's not the best time of the year to camp on the river, but it's doable. It still cools down at night, and the bug density depends on how wet it's been. During the day, you have the springs to cool off in - still looking for an opportunity to camp out of the AI.

I ordered and received one of the 20 Sq' sails to use on the AI while on the river, without have to use the amas. The middle section of the river is wide enough to sail on and even tack on. It's kind of crazy - you're sailing up wind one minute, and, little farther down stream, your sailing down wind.

The sail was easy to adapt for the AI. I just took about a one foot section of 2" PVC, stuffed a pool noddle inside of it and stuffed the base of the mast inside of that. I attached a quick release shackle onto the sail's down haul and hooked that to the pad eye on the bulkhead.

The pool noddle is compressed very tightly into the PVC and the mast base fits very tightly into the pool noodle. On my model of boat (2010), the small mast base fits perfectly over the SS stub in the bottom of the mast well. The result is an overall nice fit. I dry sailed it in the front yard and it works very well.

Ted

I'm not sure of our schedule, but I think we will be gone by June 15, maybe by June 1.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Ted,

What are the dates? My wife and I stayed at the Bay Cove this winter. It's old and kind of funky but a great place to stay especially considering the price.

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Jerry D.
St. Johns, Florida
2010 TI
2008 AI

Hi Ted.

Bummer about the broken pin. Sounds like you picked a beautiful day to cross the Bay.

July 1-6, we will have the TI again in Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key. Either you can join us, or we can try to meet you.

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Marc K
2010 Hobie Tandem Island
Boynton Beach, FL

I'll check with Ed from Tampa to see when in July he was wanting to go. We have been sailing in the Keys during July for several years. Since we both have June and July off we like to get in some sailing in tolerable conditions. The Keys aren't bad in the summer, especially if you have some air conditioning to sleep in. We even rented slips at John Penacamp State Park one summer and put small window units in the hatch ways of our trailer sailors. Wasn't bad for 30 bucks a night.

We are hoping to sail both in the Bay, and access the park/ramp on the ocean side and sail out to some of the off shore reefs. Can you go during the week Jerry? It's much nicer without the weekend crowds. Mark will probably drive up to sail with us if we are there when he is there.

Ted