We needed to test getting he on oand off the traler and a see how she handled on the water – we spent hours rigging her up and makeing a list.
Once lauches the river was running too fast and high to venture out under the bridge so we thought a potter around the marina would be good but the engine let us down and failed to run in anyway convincing me to unite her. Luckily next to the site there is Sirius Marine who took the engine in agreeing to strip and clean the carb.
Not happy with the boats name, we took the decision to rename her. After much debate we took Nancy’s grandfather’s boats name – the ‘Odd Times’ and carried on the tradtion – it also works a pun ‘Odd Times II’ but it isnt really meant as that. The Ship Registry was dealt with and a new name added to the transom.
We also needed a name for our new dinghy – an Ebay bargin – and Sparklefarts was christened.
There was much more garden rigging and measurements, lists made of work to do.
The canvas cover needed some love and the zips and tapes on the cuddy needed a lube up
It also becomae apparent that the width of the bunks was going to be a problem for me as a side sleepers and would need expanding.
The jackstays didnt seem right and the cover had been cut to make the arrangement work – this needed some consideration too.
How does it all work – what goes where and how do you make the sail go up?
Tape measures out!
So after looking at Ruby we thought it would be good to test one out make sure it sailed well and we liked the experieince, Also a huge consideration was Shackle, out black lab who is still young and has been on a yacht and a canoe and seems ok but has never been dinghy sailing.
We headed up to Ulswater where the sailing school there has a fleet of these boats and probably know more about sailing them than anyone.
It was a blustery day and a reef was required to keep our nerves and the dogs and we loved it. We definately needed more height on the boat as my legs got cramped and the modern hull shape would give it to us.
Whilst at the coat on holiday we decided that time had come for us to get a boat again. We have had several from single handers to performance raceing dinghys but this time it would be a traditional dayboat – a trailer sailor with space for sleeping and a keel or heavy centre board.
We had seen one advertised we liked. The gallery is of the owners photos he used to advertise ‘Ruby’. A Character Boats Coastal Weekender, based on a Lune Whammel this boat is updated with a higher freeboard, inbuilt bouyancy and a layout for sleeping two.
