Bump's World

SPRING 2012 - THE BEGINNING

The weather could not be better this spring. Last week we enjoyed record temperatures in the eighties. The flowers are out and the trees are budding.
 
The New England Boat Show also enjoyed almost perfect show weather. The show was a third bigger and the attendance was good. Overall people were upbeat and optimistic about the future. There is continued strong interest in our Hanse and Sabre lines. We sold the Sabre 386 which was at the show and our stock Hanse 495.
 
The economy is definitely on a slow but steady recovery. The stock market is inching its way up with reports of good corporate earnings. Unemployment numbers get better every month. Even the housing market is showing a significant increase in sales.
 
The boat manufacturers have worked really hard to offer new features and keep the costs as low as possible. There is a lot of completion between the major boat builders, and the consumer is the one benefiting.
 
Ease of sail handling and docking are the areas getting a lot of attention.

Self tacking jib systems really work and save a lot of back pain from grinding in huge genoas. Also no need for electric genoa winches. Both in mast furling and boom furling systems get better every day. The stack pack mainsail system and Dutchman systems make dealing with that big mainsail easy. Single line reefing systems make that process much easier. Everywhere you look on a new boat there are systems that make everything easier. The sails go up and down and in and out effortlessly.
 
Anyone who hangs around marinas and yacht clubs cannot wait for the next captain to try and put his yacht in a nearly impossible slip or dock space. With cross currents and gusty winds the best boat handler can be challenged.
 
I remember going to Oak Bluffs with my wife and dog so we could be dock side, and they could get on and off the boat easily. I was shown a slot between a few pilings with 2 big powerboats on either side. The only access was by the stern so I would have to back in and secure the boat with the 2 pilings on either side without drifting into the pilings, the other boats, or the granite pier behind me. Everywhere I looked it was tight. There was a cross gusty wind and a sideways current. Lots of by standers were looking for a show. They almost got one.
 
Remember I am doing everything myself. I would not even think to ask my wife, I would have a better chance with my dog. I put 4 bow and 4 stern lines out. I lined up my approach and took a practice run to see what the wind and current effect would be. I did get pretty sideways and my anxiety level increased.
 
I came in on my second and final approach thinking speed is your friend, but be careful. There could not have been more than 1 foot to spare between the pilings, on either side of the wide stern of the Hanse 40. I could see I was not going to quite make it. I absorbed the impact with my shoulder. Not the best decision I ever made, but I was able to force the stern into the slot. I could see the opposite side would hit the forward pilling so I ran forward with a couple of fenders to absorb the impact.
 
I threw the lines over the windward side pilings and tied her off. I made it and with only some minor shoulder damage. Many spectators were disappointed.
 
I got to spend a couple of days watching even power boaters crash their way into pilings and their neighbors.
 
Half of the boats we sell now have bow thrusters. A couple even have bow and stern thrusters linked together. With this docking system even a beginner can put a boat anywhere with ease. The future of the dock side spectator is limited.

Please mail comments to me at Bump@newwaveyachts.com

Bump Wilcox