RE: Spruce Run vs. Raritan Bay

Posted by Patrick Weaver (patrick@…>)





Art,

There is as much difference btwn Spruce Run & Raritan Bay as there is between a
Lightning and a Freedom 21! I have found over the years that sailing time is
directly related to time to water (Time to Water = Prep Time + Travel Time +
Getting on the Boat + Getting the Boat to where you can begin sailing). I have
also found that Prep Time and Getting on the Boat increase geometrically in
inverse proportion to your children’s ages.

At Spruce Run, you have to get a spot on
the ramp, then you have to launch. I’ve only windsurfed or cartopped at
the Run because that ramp looked so crowded. I imagine you are going to find it
a very different experience getting a keel boat launched—fin or shoal
draft. Best attempted during the week when the ramp is quiet. (Did you buy the
Freedom 21 the Sailboat Shop had for sail?)

If you are on the Creek, you have to take
into account the railroad bridge and the Route 35 bridge though I could make it
under the 35 bridge with my tri when the tide was right—not sure I’d
be quite so cavalier with the heavier F21 and its unstayed carbon fiber mast.

Another difference is the bodies of water.
The south shore of Raritan Bay is very sloping and shallow—a concern if
your kids want to swim off the boat but don’t want to feel as if they are
in the middle of nowhere. The water is briney and has a lot of silt in it from
the rivers. You’ll definitely want some laundry jugs of fresh water to
rinse off with after a swim! I think part of the reason my wife allowed me to
buy my first multi was that we test sailed it on the Great Lakes and she loved the fresh
water. Spruce Run has nicer water but, of course, the Marine Nazis ticket you
if you go in it from the boat.

Just some things to consider from one who
has sailed both places as a child and as a parent.

Patrick

-----Original Message-----
From: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Sean Mulligan
Sent: Wednesday,
December 13, 2006 1:40 PM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [freedom21] Few
questions





Emmylou is
based out of Halloween Yacht Club in Stamford CT.


We sail Long
Island Sound and beyond.

\



Maybe Max Lent
could post a Google map on the site of where we all are!

\

Sean

-----Original
Message-----
From: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Art Quade
Sent: Tuesday,
December 12, 2006 11:24 AM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [freedom21] Few
questions



Hi Sean,
Thank-you for you
input. I kind of thought the batteries would work well there, but I wanted
to see what others may have done. The associated equipment would be a
small distribution panel.
And the gas tank
placement made sense to me as well, however, there is no bulkhead fitting
through the stern to run the fuel line through. There is the screw
closure inside the locker, but nothing through to the exterior where the motor
mount is.
The boat is
completely unmolested. The only modification done to it was converting
the mast into a tabernacle hinged mast, which looks to have been done very well.
There are no holes drilled here or there, she is basically a blank canvas.
I’ll be
sailing her inland for now. I traumatized my kids on the Lightning I
sail, so I figure I’d start off with the F21 where we left off, Spruce
Run in Clinton. My intensions are to mover her over to Raritan Bay. Morgan Creek or
points just south.
Where are you out
of now?
Many thanks,
Art





From:
freedom21@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sean Mulligan
Sent: Tuesday, December
12, 2006 10:37 AM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [freedom21] Few
questions






Greetings Art
& #48!


Traditional
location for batteries is below stbd settee aft of sink. Some put two batteries
there. I have a second battery opposite on port (not wired into panel - I run
my laptop/GPS off it). What “associated equip.” are you thinking of?
Original boat had little more than running lights. Other owners have gone to
town adding all kinds of equipment and electronics, perhaps none more so than Blue
Raven in Puget
Sound: http://www.seanmulligan.com/Stories/BlueRaven/index.html


Gas
tank / lines depend on setup. Most F21’s seem to mount engine on port side with
tank in the port cockpit locker (the stbd locker is open to the inside of the
boat - not a good place for fuel). there are molded-in places for fuel line to
run from tank to engine. Locker is large enough for our 6 gal. tank + a 2 gal.
(spare) + oil, funnel, rags, etc. Photo: http://www.seanmulligan.com/Stories/Emmylou-Summer06/target4.html


Where
will you be sailing? Amboys/New York Harbor or inland? I started sailing out of the Navesink River a bit south of you (lived in Leonardo).


Yours,
Sean (#307)


-----Original Message-----
From: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of artquade
Sent: Monday, December
11, 2006 8:50 PM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedom21] Few questions


I have realy only have had a few hours to sit and
daydream about what I
would like to do to make my new 21 “mine”, but a few things have
screamed at me while sitting in the cockpit.

  1. Looking for suggestions on the best placement for batteries and
    associated equip.

  2. Looking for suggestions on how to “plumb” the fuel line for the
    external gas tank to the outboard.

All ideas, experiences are greatly appreciated.

Art




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Posted by Art Quade (aquade@…>)



Hi Patrick,

Thanks for the words of wisdom. Kid’s
can be tough to work with, given that, I have been practicing keeping my
expectations realistic. Bottom line is that the F21 is a considerably safer
alternative to what I was sailing with the kids and this is what my primary
concern is. If I can get out there and have just an hour or two of fun sailing
with the family, it sure beats the ½ hour of anxiety produced sailing.

I’m only 20 mins away from Spruce
Run, and yes, it can become a bit contentious getting a boat in the water on
the weekends. I defiantly plan on launching her for the first time when I can
keep my wits about me and there is no pressure from people wanting to “play
through”. I have been behind people who are on the front end of the
learning curve, and I won’t do that to anyone else.

Yes, it is the F21 that was @ The Sail
Boat Shop. I was going to jump on it back in August, but I’m glad I waited.
A little glass work is needed on the keel and 1 small blister @ the waterline.
Nothing too bad. I moved the boat into one of the bays in my garage so that I
can work on it through the winter. The wood work all needs to be reinstalled
on the interior, it appears there were intensions of refinishing it, but it was
never gotten to.

Morgan Creek is only a distant thought at the moment. I’d like to
re-establish sailing with the family one season at a time at this point, but I’ll
keep your advice about the Creek and the Raritan
tucked away in the memory bank.

Good talking to you.

Many thanks,

Art





From:
freedom21@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Weaver
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006
2:04 PM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [freedom21] Spruce
Run vs. Raritan Bay





Art,

There is as much difference btwn Spruce Run & Raritan
Bay as there is between a
Lightning and a Freedom 21! I have found over the years that sailing time is
directly related to time to water (Time to Water = Prep Time + Travel Time +
Getting on the Boat + Getting the Boat to where you can begin sailing). I have
also found that Prep Time and Getting on the Boat increase geometrically in
inverse proportion to your children’s ages.

At Spruce Run, you have to get a spot on the ramp, then you have to
launch. I’ve only windsurfed or cartopped at the Run because that ramp
looked so crowded. I imagine you are going to find it a very different
experience getting a keel boat launched—fin or shoal draft. Best
attempted during the week when the ramp is quiet. (Did you buy the Freedom 21
the Sailboat Shop had for sail?)

If you are on the Creek, you have to take into account the railroad
bridge and the Route 35 bridge though I could make it under the 35 bridge with
my tri when the tide was right—not sure I’d be quite so cavalier
with the heavier F21 and its unstayed carbon fiber mast.

Another difference is the bodies of water. The south shore of
Raritan Bay is very sloping and shallow—a concern if your kids want to
swim off the boat but don’t want to feel as if they are in the middle of
nowhere. The water is briney and has a lot of silt in it from the rivers.
You’ll definitely want some laundry jugs of fresh water to rinse off with
after a swim! I think part of the reason my wife allowed me to buy my first
multi was that we test sailed it on the Great Lakes
and she loved the fresh water. Spruce Run has nicer water but, of course, the
Marine Nazis ticket you if you go in it from the boat.

Just some things to consider from one who has sailed both places as
a child and as a parent.

Patrick

-----Original
Message-----
From: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Sean Mulligan
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006
1:40 PM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [freedom21] Few
questions





Emmylou is based out of Halloween Yacht Club in Stamford CT.


We sail Long Island Sound and beyond.

\



Maybe Max Lent could post a Google map on the site of where we all
are!

\

Sean

-----Original
Message-----
From: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Art Quade
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006
11:24 AM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [freedom21] Few
questions



Hi Sean,
Thank-you for you input. I kind of thought the
batteries would work well there, but I wanted to see what others may have
done. The associated equipment would be a small distribution panel.
And the gas tank placement made sense to me as well,
however, there is no bulkhead fitting through the stern to run the fuel line
through. There is the screw closure inside the locker, but nothing
through to the exterior where the motor mount is.
The boat is completely unmolested. The only
modification done to it was converting the mast into a tabernacle hinged mast,
which looks to have been done very well. There are no holes drilled here
or there, she is basically a blank canvas.
I’ll be sailing her inland for now. I
traumatized my kids on the Lightning I sail, so I figure I’d start off
with the F21 where we left off, Spruce Run in Clinton. My intensions are
to mover her over to Raritan
Bay.
Morgan
Creek or
points just south.
Where are you out of now?
Many thanks,
Art





From: freedom21@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Sean Mulligan
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006
10:37 AM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [freedom21] Few
questions






Greetings Art & #48!


Traditional location for batteries is below stbd settee aft
of sink. Some put two batteries there. I have a second battery opposite on port
(not wired into panel - I run my laptop/GPS off it). What “associated
equip.” are you thinking of? Original boat had little more than running
lights. Other owners have gone to town adding all kinds of equipment and
electronics, perhaps none more so than Blue Raven in Puget
Sound: http://www.seanmulligan.com/Stories/BlueRaven/index.html


Gas tank / lines depend on setup. Most F21’s seem to mount
engine on port side with tank in the port cockpit locker (the stbd locker is
open to the inside of the boat - not a good place for fuel). there are
molded-in places for fuel line to run from tank to engine. Locker is large
enough for our 6 gal. tank + a 2 gal. (spare) + oil, funnel, rags, etc. Photo: http://www.seanmulligan.com/Stories/Emmylou-Summer06/target4.html


Where will you be sailing? Amboys/New York Harbor or inland? I started
sailing out of the Navesink
River a
bit south of you (lived in Leonardo).


Yours, Sean (#307)


-----Original
Message-----
From: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedom21@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of artquade
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006
8:50 PM
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [freedom21] Few questions


I have
realy only have had a few hours to sit and daydream about what I
would like to do to make my new 21 “mine”, but a few things have
screamed at me while sitting in the cockpit.

  1. Looking for suggestions on the best placement for batteries and
    associated equip.

  2. Looking for suggestions on how to “plumb” the fuel line for the
    external gas tank to the outboard.

All ideas, experiences are greatly appreciated.

Art





Need a quick
answer? Get one in minutes from people who know. Ask your question on Yahoo!
Answers.





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Everyone is raving
about the
all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.






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