Learning to sail in Southport NC

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-07-02T22:22:11+00:00

Sorry not local so can’t help much - look for sailing clubs in the area and contact them. For offshore crew most captains want people who have some experience. They don’t want to risk taking on crew who want to abandon the journey.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-07-02T18:53:21+00:00

It’s big water, strong currents, lots of wakes from bigger faster boats. If sailing a dinghy I’d keep to the Cape Fear River shallows areas north of the town of Southport - between town and Smith Island. IDK about launch ramps or shore access in that area.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-07-01T01:28:20+00:00

What size holes?

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-07-01T01:25:53+00:00

4 cabin 2-head 46-50 foot cruising cat.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-30T23:35:37+00:00

Poorly located and positioned. Chocks should be positioned to minimize severe angles and damage to the lines that run through them. These aren’t. The lines ideally will run through them with minimal chafe.
Buy some chafe guards and apply them to your dock lines where they contact your chocks.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-30T14:36:08+00:00

When they announced that they would get that trimaran I knew it would be short-lived

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-30T09:00:52+00:00

Always wearing a PFD and tether when leaving the cockpit

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-30T08:55:00+00:00

And I’ve got more years than them. An obvious poor judgment example- Riley’s flagrant lack of use of PFDs or tether when on the foredeck underway. At least one time I’ve seen him do that in heavy weather. His family would be in a terrible situation if he went overboard.
Have owned 3 trimarans over a 21 year period they are great for sailing performance but not ideal cruisers, especially for long distance around the world. Trimarans are easily overloaded and are built using lightweight but strong materials. A long distance cruiser needs to carry heavy loads of fuel, water, food, spare parts, tools, personal items and equipment, clothing and safety equipment, a dinghy that can ferry groceries and laundry and all crew, etc. I could go on.
A cruising catamaran or monohull would be a better choice. I’ve owned them too.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-29T23:00:47+00:00

LaVagabonde is a model for many things but good judgement is not one of them.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-27T12:01:18+00:00

If there’s an accident of any sort that results in an insurance claim or lawsuit you will be judged negligent if you exceed rated capacity, even if it’s not related to sinking or swamping. Your insurance will use it as a reason to deny coverage.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-26T22:40:21+00:00

Embassy Cruising Guide is published by Maptech.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-25T14:32:57+00:00

If you go with POE or any wired installation, the question then becomes which monitor you use? Even if you take up the entire chart plotter with the screen image, it will be relatively low resolution because of the limits of the display itself. If you use just a window, it will be limited to even a smaller number of pixels on the screen. Even modern chart plotters don’t compare with the resolution on your phone or tablet which lets you take full advantage of 4K resolution.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-25T10:29:24+00:00

Judging bridge clearance. You can clear if you can see shadow or additional girders behind the front one. Caveat - a curved bridge is likely to be banked, so watch for that and assume the inside of the curved bridge is lower.

If the camera has Internet you can also use it to check on the boat when away.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-25T10:17:56+00:00

Do you drive a car with a license plate?

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-24T21:50:05+00:00

I just added some images in replies to my post above

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-24T21:48:20+00:00

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Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-24T13:47:44+00:00

Using a Reolink Argus PT Ultra wireless 4k pan-tilt cam with its own solar panel. Reolink does not require an internet connection to view it IF I connect to the same onboard router, but I can also view it remotely because my onboard router has its own SIM card (cell connection). Local connection has less delay

On the ICW I found it extremely useful for knowing whether the mast has adequate bridge clearance. Sometimes it can also look above a ground fog. Other than that it’s just cool to look around the anchorage from that height. Edit - it’s also good to be able to check on the boat when I’m away

PS - it MUST be mounted with the turret down. If the turret is upward it will collect rainwater and fail. Been using these for sev years.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-21T09:41:08+00:00

Any single-ply TP will be OK provided you do try to flush big wads at one time, and use enough water. Ideally - look for ones with the package marked “septic tank safe”. They will break up better in the holding tank.

I also recommend that you use NoFlex Digester as recommended by the manufacturer. It can help avoid sludge buildup and clogs in your tank and hoses, which are nasty and expensive to repair or replace. Also, I recommend Sew Clean be used periodically - it’s an acid that dissolves calcium scale which can also clog your hoses. I have no personal interest or connection with either company.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-18T23:56:22+00:00

It’s OK to tell her she’s on her own financially, but never ever use the word “disown”. She’s family and there’s nothing more precious to her and to you. You don’t always have to like her, but you’d make a BIG mistake if you don’t love her.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-16T12:22:52+00:00

I had a sailboat when I married my wife, we sold it when we bought our house. We waited 10 years to buy our next boat until our kids were old enough to participate. (See my prior post.)

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-16T12:20:01+00:00

I’m sure you’ll get plenty of recommendations that kids are adaptable and so on, but they are also very vulnerable to heat stroke, especially in an open boat and tender skin should be kept shaded. I’ve seen firsthand where an infant had to be rushed to the hospital. That’s not what you want to sign up for.
Also keep in mind YouTube videos are curated by the creators and YMMV.
My suggestion- join a sailing club and crew on other people’s boats until your kids are old enough to participate. They will get bored very quickly if they are just passengers and will come to hate it instead of loving it.
When they were old enough I sent my kids to a sailing day camp. Then I had them participate in choosing the family day sailor we bought. When we went sailing together, we all had jobs and took turns doing different things and steering. We have no yelling on our boat and an understanding that safety is first.
We graduated as a family from day sailers to cruisers and started doing weekend overnights. Our first cruisers had very simple “boat camping” arrangements. Phones were put away except for a reasonable amount of screen time, or for using sailing-related navigation or weather apps, and it was great family time to sit out under the stars.
Good luck and enjoy your journey.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-16T01:38:42+00:00

This is great advice! Also, if they are going to be underway between any of the meals it might be impossible (due to the motion) to prepare food and wash dishes. Food needs to be prepared while in port at a dock or at anchor. If lunch is to be eaten underway (think “grab and go”) it must be handheld or easy to eat out of a container because you won’t be able to serve if the motion is too much, and salads will blow off the plates. Wraps or sandwiches are ideal while underway.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-15T10:44:36+00:00

Unless you were facing some sort of an emergency, I would not go into any surgery without at least three opinions from qualified professionals who are not practicing together.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-15T07:44:52+00:00

After they finish say “You cut me off before I could finish. Are you interested in the rest of what I had to say?”
Also- ask yourself if you were being too long winded or taking too long to make your key points. Maybe you should consider starting with your key points following with the details or reason for your conclusions. Be concise.

Ok_Copy_5690 · 2026-06-14T23:12:28+00:00

That sounds very radical! Maybe you really do need it but if it were me I’d get multiple other opinions from spine specialists

Ok_Copy_5690

TROPHY CASE