The boat has three “cabins” or rooms. Guests sleep in either the “main salon” which is the middle cabin or in the forward cabin.There is large table on the port (left) side in the main salon that lowers and converts into a double bed.There is also a bench on the starboard side that can serve as a single bed. The forward cabin has a double “V-berth” bed as well as a toilet, sink and shower.There is a second toilet, sink, and shower accessible from the aft (rear) cabin and the main salon.
(See below deck layout
http://north-c.com/AppliedPhysics/BasicInfo.shtml )
The main salon also includes a galley with a
propane stove, and a small freezer and fridge. There is a navigation station
with a chart table (tiny desk). The main salon has a TV and a DVD/CD player
with an IPOD connection, so bring your favorite media.
Intro
If you are not used to a boat, it can seem intimidating. Even if you have sailed before, all boats are different. “Applied Physics” has lots of stuff on board that people never come across in ordinary life.Please ask questions.
Take out the card in your seat pocket and follow along with me as I describe the safety features of this craft:
Safety
Safety is our greatest concern.
Accidents can easily happen on a boat. The surfaces are uneven, slippery,
moving, unfamiliar, and there are exciting distractions. Years ago I had an
experienced crew member knocked overboard by un-expected motion of the boom.
(The boom is the large pole at the bottom of the mainsail.) Fortunately it was
on a fairly calm evening in protected waters and the crew was pulled back on
board quickly.If this had happened at
night on the ocean there could have been a tragedy. I have also slipped on
pieces of cloth that I left on benches in the cockpit dislocating my shoulder.
This happened at the dock. If I had been at sea this would have required a
medical evacuation since the pain was excruciating.
Anyway, here are some rules:
1) Always wear a life jacket at night.I wear a life jacket at all times. If you fall overboard in the ocean when the boat is in full sail, going 7 knots and the water is 50 degrees don’t expect a fast rescue.
2) Don’t leave the cockpit without a lifejacket unless the conditions are calm.
3) In any place where you can’t risk falling overboard don’t leave the cockpit without wearing a harness and tether, attaching yourself to a jackline (a yellow webbing the runs down each side of the boat) or to some other strong point.
4) In rough weather wear a harness and attach the tether in the cockpit.
5) At night, when underway wear a harness and attach the tether in the cockpit.
6) At night, while on watch, wear a portable VHF radio so if you still manage to fall overboard, you can call for help on channel 16. Some of the safety equipment is listed at http://north-c.com/AppliedPhysics/added.shtml .
If someone falls overboard:
1) Shout “Man Overboard” and get everyone on deck as you …
2) Stop the boat, ( make sure you know how to disengage the autopilot) and …
3) Make sure someone keeps an eye on the person in the water, and …
4) Press and hold for 3 seconds the MOB button on the chartplotter to mark the position (ask for demo), and …
5) Throw the MOB pole in the water
6) Throw the horseshoe and strobe in the water
7) If the person is not wearing a life jacket, throw a lifejacket in the water.
8) Circle the boat back to pick up the person (DO NOT DRIVE THE BOAT OVER THE PERSON
A SPINNING PROP IS A MEAT SLICER)- try to get back without the engine if you use the engine make sure the engine is in neutral as you approach the person in the water.
9) Deploy the Lifesling (instructions are on the back of the bag)
10) There are emergency boarding ladders near the gates on each side of the boat and there is a folding metal ladder at the stern
11) If recue is not immediate, call the coast guard on Channel 16
Fire:
There are fire extinguishers in the aft-starboard cockpit locker and in the entrance to the aft cabin. Ask to see them.There is a bucket in the large port cockpit locker. There is another bucket in the starboard stern locker.There are two diesel fuel shut offs under the mattress at the foot of the double berth (open the cover board) in the aft cabin.The propane relay is near the galley sink.The propane tank shutoff is in the white propane locker at the rear of the large port cockpit locker.
There is a halon system in the engine compartment.If the halon discharges, the engine will shutdown.There is an override switch that allows you to run the engine with an empty halon tank– this switch is aft of the engine key switch in the cockpit.
Flooding:
Make sure the bilge pumps are not clogged. There is a manual bilge pump under the helmsman’s seat.The handle is located in the forward section of the large port cockpit locker,
Lost steering:
If the linkage from the wheel to the rudder breaks, there is an emergency tiller in the large port cockpit locker. It connects through the inspection port under the helmsman seat.
Lost rudder:
If we lose the rudder, (extremely unlikely) there is an emergency rudder along with attaching hardware at the aft end of the large port cockpit locker.
Abandon ship (An extremely unlikely event):
The rule is to not go into the liferaft until you have to step up into it.Unless the hull is breached, the boat is very unlikely to sink. If the hull is breached, we will try to stuff pillows in the hole to stop the water. There is an inflatable liferaft in the aft port cockpit locker.You MUST tie the liftraft’s tether to a strong point on the boat before you inflate it, otherwise it will float away without you. The tether is designed to break if the boat sinks, leaving the raft floating.You can also cut it with a knife once you are on board. (There are knives in the plastic bin labeled “knives” on the shelf above the chart table.) You must take the large yellow ditch bag with you into the liferaft. This has the EPIRB beacon that will summon help. The EPIRB must tied to the raft, turned on , and floated in the water. Also grab a handheld VHF radio from the chart table. (There should be a VHF in the ditchbag, but extra VHFs are a good idea.) Make sure you are wearing a life jacket.There is a laser “flare” in the ditch bag. There is a second laser flare in the pouch under the seat in the dingy.
Calling for help in a life threatening emergency
You can set off a Digital Distress Call by pressing and holding the “Distress” button on the wall mounted VHF radio near the chart table.If all the other electronics is on, this radio will have our GPS position and will broadcast it to nearby ships with a registered code that identifies us. The Long Island Sound Coast Guard should be able to pick up the signal as far as Cape Cod.
You call also call for help on Channel 16.
The Engine
Every day, before starting the engine, the oil and
coolant level should be checked. If the captain fails to do this, remind him.
The engine is started like a car, by turning the
key momentarily all the way to the right.Unlike
a car, the engine is stopped by pressing the “stop” button above the key.
Turning the key to the left while the engine is running won’t stop the engine,
but it can destroy the alternator. Don’t do it! The engine should be in neutral
for starting – the shift lever at the right of the wheel pedestal should be
vertical. Pushing the level forward engages the forward gear, pulling back
engages reverse gear.
Good cruising RPM is about 2200 which should give
about 6.5-7 knots of speed. Don’t exceed 2600 rpm for extended periods. Max RPM
is 3100.Below 1600 RPM for extended
periods will build up carbon deposits in the cylinders.
Periodically (at least every hour) – check the engine temp and oil pressure.Engine temp should be 80C or less. Oil should be ¼ to ½ full scale.
The Autopilot
The autopilot can be engaged by pressing the “Auto”
button and disengaged by pressing the “Standby” button. If a Route has been
programmed into the chartplotter, the autopilot can be engaged by pressing the
“track” button – but you may have to press the “restart xte” soft button on the
autopilot first – ask for a demo.The
autopilot can also sail the boat to a set wind angle.Press
the “WV” to hold the current course to the wind.
Sometimes the autopilot clutch will not engage when the boat is heeled to port on a starboard tack.Jerking the wheel back and forth once or twice sometimes fixes this problem, or just reduce the heel.
The Boom
Applied Physics has a massive boom. If it comes across the deck in an uncontrolled manner with the wind behind the boat it could kill anyone hit by it and also destroy the rigging. When running (wind behind the boat) make sure the boom brake is fully engaged.In general, it is good practice to keep the boom break engaged. Ask for demo.
Winches
Winches multiply the tension you can put on the
lines (ropes).All lines should go
clockwise around the winch.At least three
turns are required before the line is fed into the self-tailer. (Ask for demo.)
You can easily develop enough tension with a winch to break the thing you are
pulling on.If something won’t go with
moderate effort, don’t force it … ask.
Sea-Sickness
Even experienced sailors get mal-de-mer.It seems to be caused by a mis-match between what you see and what you feel.Here are things you can do to make it less likely or make it go away
1) Before you start out, eat something starchy, like a bagel or a piece of bread so your stomach is not empty.
2) Avoid going inside while the boat is moving
3) Look at the horizon
4) Take the wheel
5) Don’t read or do close work
6) Don’t get too hot – dress lightly
7) If you need to go inside, lie down and close your eyes
8) Eat ginger snaps or ginger candy
9) If you feel bad, let others know so they won’t send you into the cabin to prepare lunch for the rest of the crew.
Preparing for Daysails:
Bring a windbreaker and light-soled sneakers or shoes - dark soles leave marks on the deck. The toilet on the boat is tricky to use ... better to first visit the wonderful bathroom at the Keyport Yacht Club.
Preparing for Cruising:
What
to bring
First,
remember that there is very little storage space on the boat.
Pack light. Do not bring a hard
suitcase. All your stuff should be in duffels that can be squished flat.
On
the ocean, the temperatures can be in the low 50s. It can be windy and wet. On
land in Maine, temps in the 70s are typical, 80s likely. Further south, 90s are
possible, but rare. There is lots of fog in Maine and even as far south as Long
Island fog is likely.
If
you have foul weather gear, bring it.Also
bring a windbreaker and a sweater or fleece jacket to go under the windbreaker.
A ski hat and fleece gloves might be nice as well. Obviously bring long pants
suitable for hiking as well as shorts.
Some of the Maine islands are havens for mosquitoes, so you will want to be
able to cover up, if necessary.
(It is really not so nasty ... just be
prepared and you will have a great time.)
Bring shoes that are good for hiking if
you will be with us in Maine. In any case, bring boat shoes or sneaks with
light-colored soles - black rubber soles leave hard-to-remove dark streaks on
the white deck. We won’t go any place fancy, so you don’t need dress-up
clothes. Make sure you have a means to put restraints on your glasses – they
can easily fall in the water.
We
will have periods of rain and fog when we won’t be able to sail … bring some
books. If you come by car we may ask you to pick up some groceries at a
supermarket since in many places the only shopping within walking distance of
the shore are tourist shops.
After writing the following long note of potentially scary stuff I don’t want people to be put off. We are on board to have a good time.Nevertheless, these are things you need to know.
Alcohol
Our rule is no alcohol while the boat is in transit. It’s ok at a mooring, but even then you may be required to tend to an emergency in the middle of the night – it happened to us in 2007 at a mooring in Cuttyhunk when we had fend off an uncontrolled boat in unexpected high winds at 1 am.