Looking forward to Keeldraggerpalooza 2024! See everyone there!
@keeldragger2 күн бұрын
We'll see ya soon!
@TheGypsygirl20003 күн бұрын
Looking forward to our first Keeldraggerpalooza experience next weekend!!!🙌🏼🏝️🌞🎉⛵️⛵️⛵️🥳🎉🥳🎉
@keeldragger3 күн бұрын
Heck yeah!!!
@wonderboy65114 күн бұрын
The teak looks great, Mark! A couple of questions, if I may. What is your preferred varnish? Do you remove the winches and deck hardware or just tape off and varnish around them? You can probably tell that I have similar in my near future …
@keeldragger4 күн бұрын
Thanks - I can't take credit for this job.... I have someone helping me with it. Winches, etc. were not removed and just taped around. The teak was just taped off and lightly sanded and then coated with a few coats of varnish. The last couple of coats are going on today. The original finish is Epifanes and was done to a very high standard. I believe this time around is Pettit Captain's varnish. If I were super picky this time around I would have had the teak completely stripped and recoated with Epifanes including clear coat. I personally find Epifanes a little harder to work with than Captain's varnish but I believe the finish is superior. All of this being said, I did completely strip and restore old grey teak on my old Tartan 27 with Captain's varnish. That teak was so old and weathered I leveled it with an undercoating of West System Epoxy and Special Clear Hardener before building up about 20 coats of varnish. Results were fantastic but it was way too much work. Cetol Natural Teak is not a terrible compromise if you want to save yourself some work down the line. It's not as beautiful as varnish but it looks good enough from a distance and saves you a lot of time.
@marineworldclassifieds986721 күн бұрын
Good morning Cap. Do you have to check out of San Diego every time you sail out to Ensenada?
@keeldragger21 күн бұрын
No checkout required when leaving the U.S. for U.S. flagged boats. Mexico requires BOTH check in and check out. U.S. does not care about check in/check out papers from Mexico. You do have to check in when entering the U.S. and mostly they are interested in your passports, vessel documentation, and CBP decal.
@marineworldclassifieds986721 күн бұрын
@@keeldragger thanks as always
@RameyFamily21 күн бұрын
90 feet of water to anchor is nuts lol
@keeldragger21 күн бұрын
I anchor at those depths all the time and I have yet to drag anchor but I generally do not recommend it. It helps having a large, modern anchor and all chain rode. I'm generally comfortable with 3:1 at Catalina in MILD conditions and with my specific ground tackle.
@RameyFamily21 күн бұрын
Andy was telling me about that in Florida. I only have 100ft of chain to begin with. I have never dragged really myself either but I’m always in about 20 feet of water
@murphysackett552929 күн бұрын
Can’t believe I watched that
@keeldragger29 күн бұрын
lol.. did you make it all the way thru?
@crunchycrispybacon29 күн бұрын
In reality, the chances of being struck by a container ship in clear weather are extremely low. The chances being struck AND sunk, almost impossible. I feel more comfortable in the channel with these gentle giants than in a busy lake like Havasu! They are intimidating though! Take care. PS, I’d bring back the rear stay tensioner, you want your fore stay nice and tight.
@jasonippolito29 күн бұрын
Great video, you for sure had the best view of the fireworks! You could have charged people for the experience lol - svLiZARDFiSK
@keeldragger29 күн бұрын
That front-row seat to the fireworks came at the expense of a lot of rolling. Good times!
@gregjohnson635529 күн бұрын
Made first trip with wife and 5 young girls to the Isthmus last week.. Finally felt competent to single hand it while girls relaxed and learned on their maiden voyage. Crew did well, and they wanted to stay longer. Next trip is further north then whites cove. Thanks for the inspiration and education!
@keeldragger29 күн бұрын
Congrats, Greg. Sounds like you had a full boat and I'm glad your first trip went well! Looking forward to catching up with you at the Island one of these days.
@sebrofsevenАй бұрын
Fantastic video (again) Captain. Loved it.
@keeldragger29 күн бұрын
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
@MasterBaiterFishing69Ай бұрын
I'm glad you're back at the point where you feel you're ready to go when you're ready to go!
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
The list of unfinished projects never ends, but I am happy to have most of the major ones completed.
@789trainАй бұрын
dont for +-11get dux gets loose when its colder
@789trainАй бұрын
sorry keyboard died
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
this is my first experience with dux. fixed intermediate backstays have not needed to be retensioned yet. backstay was on a hydraulic backstay adjuster. that failed so I had the rigger replace it with my backup turnbuckle and tang. i still have some room to add tension with the turnbuckle but I'm not sure if it will be enough without retensioning the dyneema lashing line.
@WillN2Go1Ай бұрын
Good video, thanks. I am one lucky sailor. The rougher it is the better I sleep. I think it's because I have ADHD and lived right above a discotheque for over a year back in the 80s. (The first 6 months was hell.) I crossed the ocean in a slamming catamaran 2-3 meter seas. (You're a pancake regularly being flipped while dumpsters are thrown at the boat every 30 seconds. The self tacking jib slider is going back and forth right above your head.) I'm still really surprised when experienced sailors say they have trouble sleeping on a rocking boat. I'd sell my services as The Sailing Sleep Coach, but all I can recommend is live above a loud bar for a year, or just stay awake for at least 24 hours and then try to sleep in the noisy, rocking, uncomfortable situation that keeps you awake. If you can stay awake for 48 hours you'll be able to instantly fall asleep standing up, but you'll also have a few hallucinations. (I've done that too.) I've got a Hydrovane. Tried it out a couple weeks ago. I had to heave to to get the rudder on. Everything has to have a tether and be attached. I got it on at 3 knots. The flag/sail... a bit tricky. It definitely worked, changing the 'dial' changed my course. In an emergency I feel confident I can use it, but... I'm far from an expert. The thin line on the dial jumps off that wheel. I didn't have the whole block/bungee set up. Instead I flipped the line so it crosses behind the guide holes before going around the dial. Worked good. So a figure 8. Just used para cord. 20 feet on either side of centered and you don't need a continuous loop.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
The rolling doesn't really bother me much but I've always been a light sleeper - even on land. I wish I had a better solution for mounting and dismounting the hydrovane rudder. There is no way to do it from the cockpit. It was a pain trying to pull the pin to remove the rudder from the anchorage. Swells were mild at that point but it still took some effort. It's not a huge issue for me because I see myself still primarily using the autopilot for the short passages and the hydrovane will be mostly used for the longer, multi-day passages. I just cut my hydrovane adjustment line to length and use the supplied bungie and block. Used a lighter to melt the ends of the line together to make a continuous loop. Works well. Your figure 8 solution sounds like a good workaround.
@WillN2Go1Ай бұрын
@@keeldragger Thanks. The melted ends is a good solution. (I had heavy duty furler lines and elaborate splicing in my head.) And even with the figure 8 melting the ends together would be quick, use a much shorter line, and you'd never run out of line so you wouldn't need 30-50 feet all over the place. It seems to me that a 'bracket' could be made that would hold the rudder from a 'handle' so we'd have leverage, and wouldn't have to get down on our knees on the sugar scoop, trying to hold the rudder from just the very top. Pushing it under water into the current (I was heaved to but still at 3 knots) do fit on to the shaft is dodgy, and fussy to align. A longer pole on the bracket would give you a lever, make it easier Maybe drill one hole near the top of the rudder, a pin and key. The bracket that 'holds' the front and back of the rudder. You could also have a curved part that fits over the vertical shaft above the bottom bracket giving leverage against the flow of water. None of these 'clamps' would wrap around the rudder so once the pin is pulled after the rudder is secure, it'd come free. Opposite procedure to remove it. (I'll let you know when I invent it.... I wonder why Hydrovane hasn't already thought of it. It may be completely unnecessary because attaching the rudder isn't difficult in some way I don't know, or they haven't thought of it.... Wouldn't be the first time.
@SailingSea-renityАй бұрын
Wow, it did not seem as busy as I thought it would have been on the 4th. Looks like a great trip I am hopeful to get out here soon to the island......... Great video...
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Not sure what happened with my prior comment. Busy but it was worse a couple of years ago. Looking forward to catching up on the island. Hope you can make Keeldraggerpalooza on 8/17 at Whites Cove.
@SailingSea-renity29 күн бұрын
@@keeldragger Yes I am going to try and make it out there......
@sailingsoleАй бұрын
Looked like a fun trip. I wish I could’ve made it out to join y’all.
@MasterBaiterFishing69Ай бұрын
Yeah, I like watching those videos when you guys hook up.
@MasterBaiterFishing69Ай бұрын
Yep, you gotta watch out for sketchy seaman!
@hebertcentrone6804Ай бұрын
watch for andy and his catalna
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Tried to coordinate with Andy but he had other commitments and was still wrapping up his windless install.
@hebertcentrone6804Ай бұрын
@@keeldragger i thought you guys are divorcing or just taking some time apart 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
the bromance is still solid. LOL. check out the episode he just dropped. he's been doing some pretty epic stuff.
@hebertcentrone6804Ай бұрын
@@keeldragger 😂😂😂
@sailingthehoneybadger1567Ай бұрын
Wife and I are north of frog rock We will ne here for the summer stop by nect time out.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Looking forward to connecting with you at the Island.
@maritimetees2315Ай бұрын
Mark, my wife, gets sick as well. She uses scopolamine works pretty well. Although, I would have gotten a ball for her. When I am at Santa Cruz I do not have satisfaction of mooring. When she is on board, I normally have to throw a stern hook.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
She's had decent success with scopolamine in the past. I made an attempt to get a mooring but there was a long line due to the Holiday. Agree with you on the stern hook. I wasn't equipped to drop one at those depths. I also considered moving in closer where there is a little less swell but then things got pretty crowded.
@breakingwind_sailingАй бұрын
Looks like it was a blast. Next one for sure
@joeyjojojunior1794Ай бұрын
28:00 I bet the person that placed the message in the bottle has a unique business opportunity! 😅
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
just heard back from them. they were trying to contact me about my car warranty!
@FarallonjoeАй бұрын
any 2 boats going in the same direction are racing.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
agreed, but I downplay it if I am behind!
@scottybearАй бұрын
So can I buy a sail boat and immediately shove off and motor it down to Ensenada for repairs and live on it?
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
It's not quite that easy. You need to make sure your boat does not have an existing Mexican Temporary Import Permit, purchase Mexican Liability Insurance, have your CG/CF registration docs, and valid passport. The marinas in Ensenada are less restrictive on liveaboard slips but you need to explicitly ask each one about availability and rates. They will charge extra for liveaboard. Once you have all of that worked out, it's best to make a reservation with the marina before you leave. They will likely want some form of deposit in advance. Once you are there, they will help you with the Mexican paperwork (for a fee). Good luck!
@scottybearАй бұрын
@@keeldragger I'm a good surfer. Ive watched your stuff. I wanna buy it and sail baja and surt and keep going south.. I have all the passport stuff. I need understanding of the buying and exit procedure.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
@@scottybear Easiest to use a broker for purchase and a documentation service like Dona Jenkins to check for boat title, confirm their are no tax liens, and apply for USCG documentation. Can also have them see if the boat as an existing temporary import permit. You can do all of this without broker & documentation service and save some money.
@scottybearАй бұрын
@@keeldragger So I buy this boat, then ??? take it to a mooring??? Give the docs to: documentation service Dona Jenkins, I don't live near So Cal... How long am I looking at till I can go south??
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
@scottybear my suggestion is to call Dona Jenkins and see how long the paperwork process takes
@MasterBaiterFishing69Ай бұрын
Keep it up! Thanks for going out there and bringing us along again.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Appreciate the comment. More adventures to come.
@wonderboy6511Ай бұрын
Looks like you had the full spectrum of wind environments. Enjoyed tagging along, even if only virtually. James
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
We had a little bit of everything on that trip. Looking forward to seeing you out there one of these days, James.
@789trainАй бұрын
ahoy there! thank you for the videos. does one of your videos show you dropping and weighing anchor solo ? i could use some advice in this regard . ty
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Most of my sailing is solo and I anchor more often than I pick up a mooring. I do not have any videos specifically focused on my anchoring, but many show parts of the process. Is there anything in particular you are looking for or are there any specific questions I can answer?
@789trainАй бұрын
@@keeldragger im a little unsure how its done cause no one at helm . do you run your windlass from the cockpit ? or idle up while weighing anchor at windlass ? setting anchor doesnt worry me too much, cause of wind blowing the boat back. am i missing something ? thank you for answering me, launching in aug .!
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
@@789train You may or may not want to follow my practice because it's not necessarily recommended by everyone. I tend to anchor in DEEP water (often 80-100 ft). I do pay attention to wind and work to get the bow directly into the wind. I then proceed to go up to the bow and let the chain out very fast. The risk in doing this is having the chain pile up and foul the anchor. I do try to modulate speed with drift so I'm not piling the entire chain in one place. Once the chain is out and I put on the snubber harness, which is 1/2" nylon rode to absorb shock loads from my all chain anchor rode. Then, I go back to the helm and put the boat in reverse to about 1500 RPMs or so to make sure the anchor is set. After that, I set an anchor alarm on my iPhone and watch it periodically over the next hour or two to make sure I am not dragging. I shallow waters, I might opt to use the windless remote from the cockpit. I prefer not to because I do not have a remote chain counter and cannot tell how much chain I've let out. Most folks recommend at least 5:1 scope in mild conditions and 10:1 or more in storm conditions. I regularly anchor with 3:1 scope using my 300 feet chain and modern Rocna anchor at Catalina in mild to moderate conditions and have never had an issue dragging anchor. I would not advise that you follow that as the best example and would suggest you be more conservative with your scope, particularly if you are not familiar with the anchorage, do not have all chain rode, or do not have a modern anchor (e.g. Rocna, Mantus, Spade, etc.).
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
@@789train I would also suggest anchoring somewhere easy, like Newport Beach, before attempting deeper waters.
@hebertcentrone6804Ай бұрын
Amazing display of fireworks
@WestcoastButcherBlockАй бұрын
Rude Powerboater… they need to get Chatman’s Boating Book!
@Stolen_IdolАй бұрын
The Hydrovane is a great addition to Keeldragger! Looking forward to seeing it in action.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Looking forward to using it for its intended purpose!
@theblogfatherАй бұрын
Nice setup. Its cool to have a spare rudder too.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Thanks, Dawg. Pretty happy with it so far.
@wonderboy6511Ай бұрын
Hi Mark, great stuff, as always! Q: What are your thoughts on aux rudder systems (like your Hydrovane) vs the pendulum-servo designs (e.g. Cape Horn, Aries, etc)?
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
I have zero hands-on experience with the other designs. I like the simplicity of the installation for Hydrovane as well as the ability to use it as an emergency rudder. Control authority seems good enough but I need to experiment with it in varying wind conditions and with the sails out of balance. I had an opportunity to do some of that this last weekend. I watched Christian Williams' install video on his Cape Horn, and subsequent issues with blocks and potential chafing that had to be remediated below decks. Scratch that one off my list. It is nice not to have additional lines and blocks run thru the cockpit to the helm like many of the servo-pendulum designs require. Maybe they have better control authority and respond better since they use your own rudder to hold course. Not sure as I haven't used one.
@daveg4963Ай бұрын
Heck yeah!
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
🤟
@sailorspenceАй бұрын
Can't wait to see you solo sail to Hawaii! I just finished Christian Williams Alone Together autobiography/memoir and he makes the trip seem so easy for a 71 year old.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
He's done that trip solo a few times now. I'm more inclined to head directly to French Polynesia and stop by Hawaii on the return. Still working on timing but Keeldragger will be ready.
@kkotsАй бұрын
@@keeldragger Considering doing the same with a brief stop in Mexico 1st then the jump to FP, Hawaii and back home. Excited for your progress on getting you and the boat prepared for wherever the journey takes you.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
@@kkots Depends on timing for me. If I depart early enough, I'd head down Baja and use Puerto Vallarta as my launching point for FP.
@kkotsАй бұрын
@@keeldragger Right on. I'm still working on some fairly big projects and this work gig keeps getting in the way. Right now I'm looking at the fall of 2025 as my target date and working the timeline backwards. A possible re-engine ( like you did) could be in the mix for me so...that could screw it all up but hey, its sailing.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
@@kkots yeah. good to have a timeline to work towards, though
@RameyFamilyАй бұрын
June gloom is real
@stevegoldberg8845Ай бұрын
Those are the best times…
@KenWallaceFilmsАй бұрын
I think they recently dredged that north entrance, and the south side has some build up, so guessing people are favoring the north side which has more room now. Last time I went out there you had to use the south side while they were dredging the north.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
I heard the dredging was completed this season. I suspect it had more to do with boats favoring heading towards Santa Monica vs. El Segundo. Depths were good coming in from the South.
@KenWallaceFilmsАй бұрын
Nice job backing out of that slip. Did you just use short bursts of power to get steerage, without giving the prop a chance to walk the stern to port?
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Exactly. Short burst of reverse to get the boat moving fast enough for steerage, shift to neutral and coast with the rudder hard to starboard, short burst of power with rudder to port to get steerage moving forward. Fairly easy when there is no wind or significant current. I wish I would have filmed backing into the slip last weekend to work on the hydrovane install. That took a couple of go arounds but still relatively drama free. That would not have been the case with my previous full-keeled Fuji 35!
@markwright3005Ай бұрын
Been watching your videos for awhile, always look forward to them. I have a question for you, how are you solar panels mounted to the Bimini top? I would like to add some to my but not sure about putting hole in it. thanks
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Hi Mark. The prior owner had some cut outs on the bimini frames to accommodate the solar panels. In essence, holes but they were purpose built with the bimini. I currently have 2 x 125W panels and will soon be upgraded to 2 X 250W panels. The new panels are almost the same size.
@markwright3005Ай бұрын
@@keeldragger thanks for the info, keep up the story telling very entertaining.
@robbraxmansailingАй бұрын
Neat that you got there when the "Cat and Back" race is happening. You missed the partying at Two Harbors then :)
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
It was pretty mild at TH before they arrived. I didn't see or hear the partying at anchor.
@maritimetees2315Ай бұрын
Good video, Mr. Keeldragger. I see you wearing your tees. Good for you. The boat looks great! Hope to see you at the meet-up. It's a bit of a haul for me from Ventura, but I will definitely try.
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Hope you make it. If not, I'll catch up with you in Ventura one of these days. Love the tees! I'll be ordering more.
@martinreynolds7688Ай бұрын
Like watching your videos a lot! Looking forward to your off shore adventures very much
@keeldraggerАй бұрын
Glad you like them, Martin. Planning for many more in the future.
@wonderboy65112 ай бұрын
Hey Mark, love the sections of the video from the midst of a pod of whales. Next time you can stream it and show these creator kids what a real “podcast” is …
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
Love it!
@lhollander63352 ай бұрын
Love cooking with Keeldragger as always. My Cardiologist is accepting new patients, highly recommend 🤪
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
No kidding. I need to clean up my act
@sebrofseven2 ай бұрын
Wonderful Captain. I have been remiss lately watching your superb videos.
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
Good to see you here again. Hope you are doing well, Mike!
@sebrofsevenАй бұрын
@@keeldragger good to be back
@kylemacarthur31772 ай бұрын
Your video has me scanning the area for Grolsch Beer... Well done as always! AND, it is ALWAYS better to look good than to sail good...
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
Stater Brothers in Riverside has it... I've seen it elsewhere but can't recall specifically.
@wonderboy65112 ай бұрын
Used to be drinking buddies with a former member of a noteworthy Seattle grunge band, now the founding member of a yuge socal rock band. His bev of choice was Grolsch … which nearly matched his name.
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
He does the best Christopher Walken impersonation.
@greencoastdesigns94922 ай бұрын
What do you think the crossing conditions will be like this Sunday ?
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
Forecast is still a few days out but I expect the typical mild conditions with light winds in the morning, possible from SE turning into 10 kts give or take from W in the afternoon. 4-6FT waves from W and SW. Hopefully you can sail it, would be a little lumpy if you had to motor.
@greencoastdesigns94922 ай бұрын
Thank you !!
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
Not going to the island this weekend but give me a shout if you see me out there!
@dalebunch78702 ай бұрын
Past my old stomping grounds.
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
Car compass, Texaco roadmap, bubble up soda, and bologna sandwiches!
@robbraxmansailing2 ай бұрын
Did you repower to Beta marine? Nice. I did that on my prior boat. Replaced a Volvo. Unfortunately my new boat is back to Volvo.
@keeldragger2 ай бұрын
Yes! I had a Volvo Penta 2003T with almost 6k hours. V-drive seals and bearings started to fail. Difficult to impossible to get a lot of the parts and what parts I could source where $$$. I decided to repower with a Beta 35. I just passed 500 hrs and I have been happy with it so far. In retrospect, the 35 is big enough but I think I would opt for a Beta 50 if I had to do it again.