A daily deck inspection while cruising ensures early identification of chafe and fittings loosened by constant movement. The boat is an Ericson 38. Turn on [CC] (Closed Captions) for details.
I've enjoyed all your videos. I've even watched them a second and a few a third time. Hoping that your solo sailing book ends up under our tree this Christmas. Thank you for continuing to post. We watch your videos as a family and eagerly wait for the next. We recently purchased a Mirage 25 with the hopes that one day, with a larger boat, I'll make a sail to Hawaii. Highest regards!
Coffee sounds great. Christian, I truly enjoy your vlogs. I am 53 and would love to sail, not because I am looking for an easy life; but because I am looking for a change in life after 33 years of an accountant’s life blended with a divorce, children, four college degrees, a CPA, and working on CA Bar. Need I say more. I enjoy seeing you in action and I enjoy you combination of intellect, humor, music and literature. Thanks.
Dear Mr. Williams, I have 20+ sailing channels on my Utube feed, but i must say that you are in a league of your own for content. Your commentary and dialogue are much more closely aligned with my internal thoughts and internal dialogue than the others. I would like to impress upon you a request for more content from both your mind and over arching sailing knowledge. I know that production of these videos take both time and creativity, but you are the right style of man to produce a truely remarkable and informative genre of video content. Fair winds i wish upon you as a kindred spirit and fellow sailor.
I love how dynamic sailboats are. I suppose it can be said for power boats too. There is something hypnotic regarding the motion of your sailboat. Relative to the sea and the wind, the sails call you to embrace the sea more than engines and smoke stacks can.The sailboat is like a jujutsu artist who uses the power of the opponent to achieve their goal. The motor boat is like a puncher who forces their way to victory. My guess is there is really no true victory over the sea. Why not just get along with it? Your boat does. I also liken your sailboat to a fly fisherman who hunts the fish with great attention to detail and prey. The fly cast is artful the equipment elegant. The spinning rod is just dropping a baited hook over the side of the boat. Sometimes you catch old tires and shoes. Not so the fly fisher. Your boat is one with its surroundings and I love watching it. Your commentary is most appreciated and enjoyed.
I really enjoy watching your videos. Your narrative is what makes it, I think. You have a unique gift for storytelling that's both pleasant, informative, and entertaining. Thanks again, and looking forward to your next one, Sir. Stay breezy ~~~ - Ben
Beautiful boat. As a youngster (30), I enjoy your sailing videos more than the more "popular" ones of people around my age, I feel like I learn something from yours. I hope to learn to sail in the near future and someday have my own boat.
Your sailing/life videos are in a class by themselves Christian. I really enjoy them. Hope you continue to publish them for as long as the wind blows and the tide ebbs and flows.
Several things Mr. William's! First, ALL the best Aloha to you and your family. Mahalo for having this channel. I am born and raised west coast 'Oahu and now residing on the Clearwater of Idaho. I'm going home. Crazy how out of the blue, my wife and I are very interested in seafaring! Found your channel, and you truly make me miss my grandpa! The other thing: could a dollar store pool noodle help with marconi chafing?
Christian thank you for all your videos. I have decided to search for and purchase an E36, E38 or E46 this coming year. Between you and Captain Q I have got some great information that weighed in on my decision.
I ran across you by accident a couple of years ago. A Dedicated Fan NOW. Oddly enough, I had to go out and buy some Dinty Moore Beef Stew last week. Hadn't had that in YEARS. It was Great!
There is something about your videos that i find so instructive. thank you for telling it how it is. i think it’s because you instruct by relating your experiences.
I always love listening to the philosophies in your videos. In this video I liked very much how you showed the rigging and the many detailed variables as to how you set it up. You definitely have it mastered.
I have watched ALL your videos and received your book for Christmas last year. I enjoy the the thoughtful cadence of your speaking, your style of music when music is played. I ordered a few CD's of some of the music after hearing them first on your channel. I hope you will continue to post videos and that all is well with you. Thanks for sharing.
Christian, I'm learning to sail right now in Los Angeles, and so it's been fantastic to make my way through all of your videos during the past couple of months. Thank you for sharing your sailing experience, and, more importantly, your outlook and your philosophy. On one of my upcoming sails, I'm hoping to practice some downwind sailing skills, and this video shows some great info/detail for rigging the sails for downwind -- e.g. the preventer/downhaul run out to a cleat and back to a cockpit winch and then also the poled out genoa. Not many other places to find this kind of info presented so clearly and by folks making it look so easy. In the video, you mention (1:38) that you have two minds about the downhaul/preventer because in the event of an actual broach, it would be an added hassle to clear the preventer/downhaul in order to escape from the broach. Later on (3:50) you go over the setup for poling out the genoa. I've noticed some different approaches with whisker poles, where it looks like some folks will run with two downhauls/guy lines -- a foreguy and an afterguy, and others might not use them at all, which is what it looks like the way things are set on Thelonius. Is this another situation where you're thinking that it makes the most sense to just keep things simple/unencumbered so that you can make rapid changes in the event of a broach or other unexpected challenge? Or do you find that the working genoa sheet just does a good enough job on its own (without use of downhauls/guylines) of holding everything stable? I've never set up a whisker pole before, not even just at the dock, but I think at this point I have my head wrapped around the idea pretty much well enough to give it a shot next time I'm out there, but thought I might throw the question out there for you or anyone else who might want to chime in...thank you again for sharing all of this great content!!
Watching another video that shows the setup and it looks like maybe you’re actually using the lazy sheet as a downhaul/foreguy, cleated off to the bow cleat.
@@ChristianWilliamsYachting Super cool! Thanks for sharing that info, that seems like an appealing setup because it would not require any additional lines/setup in order to guy out/secure the whisker pole...thanks for confirming!
I am so glad to hear from you again, i just want to say i really enjoy your videos, and want to let you know that you have been a great and wonderful teacher, thank you sir.
You put out another cogent video that avoids being didactic. I've enjoyed them all so far and I still have your bio on Ted Turner that I bought many years ago when I first started sailing. You've entertained and educated me for decades. Thank you and please keep up the good work!
Great, you are a very experienced ocean sailor. I love the way you keep your boat Shipshape and how well organised you are. Saw you with Ted on Tenacious Fastnet you tube. Take Care, Guy from Belgium.
A point of chafing might be having your harness sling around the jack line. Throw a biner on and problem solved. But testing the harness system, in a safe manner, might give insight into how safe it actually is and how you would get back up if a momentary imbalance tossed you off the side. Nice video.
Long time no see.... Makes me wonder how many Flying fish there is under you, when 10-15 lands on your boat during a night. Nice job with the anchor. And a nice anchor as well;-) Cheers.
Good idea for your water/diesel cans on deck.....can you give us a more detailed explanation and/or close-up footage please. Great boat, very clean and shipshape Capt.
Christian, I appreciate your thoughtful checking of the gear on board on a day sail vs. having a breakdown in the midst of a long voyage. As a novice, I'd like to know your thoughts about the use of lazy jacks on the mainsail to aid sail handling? What's the theory vs. the reality?
It works really well, a slightly used (not brand new crisp) sail will fold itself over the boom more or less perfectly using it properly. Next best thing is to have your zippered sail cover's top attached to the bottom of the jacklines, the sail basically drops in the cover, all you have to do is just zipper it closed.
That webbing on rope safety line idea isn't safe - one could imagine being overboard for a few minutes and friction cutting the webbing. We would never use that in rock climbing. You need a webbing to carabiner to rope connection. That would clunk around to your chagrin...but be safe when it was required to be.
Another excellent video. Regarding the chocks you made to secure the shank of the anchor into the bow roller... How easy do you find them to remove once you are at the anchorage and there's maybe a bit of a swell running? Do you need to lie down flat on the foredeck and reach out beyond the bow roller to remove them? I ask, as at the moment I have just a basic lashing around the anchor on my boat, and chocks would be a far more elegant solution.
Great pointers! Question about the jib and genoa sheet leads...wouldn't it be better to have spring loaded blocks on the tracks instead of what you have there? Those seem very likely to chafe your lines.
Its great tonsee such a religious like following of harnessing in....i doubt anything feels as crappy as seeing your fully sailed boat and home sail away empty helmed over the horizon while bobbing like a tasty treat in your pfd waiting for hypothermia to take you even in 80° water.
I'm a firm believer of clipping in if your the only one on deck, no matter time of day or weather. You never know when you will find yourself unconscious or thrown in the water. Safety first and always.
Christian, its been a while since you've posted this video, so I hope you see this comment/question: I noticed at about 3:43 in the video you have one reef in the mainsail, but you don't have the sail secured in the ram's horn at the gooseneck. You have some other system going with the blue and white lines instead. Can you shed a little light as to why? I purchased my first boat from San Pedro earlier this year and keep her in Avila the the Port San Louis Harbor, and have a similar reefing system (I think) I'm trying to learn and any info would be helpful. Love you videos - Thanks!
Downhaul lines on the mainsail luff secure the foot, making it unnecessary to go forward to manually attach the luff to the horns, or to release it. A bit closer look at 2:00 here: ua-cam.com/video/HVJYDWkJg_w/v-deo.html
Mr. Williams, do you have a video about keels and rudders? I notice your Ericson rudder is sort of hanging out there. Does that concern you that something could hit it?
Spade rudders, as they're called, are a proven design on fin-keel boats. They rotate on a single hefty stainless steel post and the connecting tube in the boat is reinforced against known strain. Yes, they're vulnerable to fouling and excessive forces, but usually "something else" (the bow, the keel) hits an obstacle first. I worry about the rudder as much as a fish worries about his tail. That is to say, aware of its vulnerability but appreciative of its usefulness. In the real world, modern spade rudders seldom fail, and much of preparedness is reliance on design, inspection and the odds. .
@@ChristianWilliamsYachting Thanks! I'm taking in all of these kinds of things, before buying. Then off I go from Oregon to Hawaii Maybe to Alaska first, but that's another study to begin. Boat design is my main concern at this point.
How rich do you have to be to do something like this? Remembering of course that rich is a relative term. I know many people who would consider me rich.. I do like your videos...
Some people would argue that you can live on a boat all your life with a regular salary. I'd say realistically you'd have to be able to "work from home" because I don't feel like coming back to the docks every day after work to sleep in a docked boat that I can only sail once a year..
@@Josef_R 50 K.. kind of puts it out of reach for most people.. When you think that 50% of Americans can't come up with 400 on a days notice. Not an opinion a legitimate poll..
Stability in a seaway, meaning a longer rolling and pitching moment. With three reefs, the 38 is no more difficult to singlehand than the 32. The 32 was actually more fun to sail, because somewhat lighter and faster to respond.
Thelonious II is a 1984 Ericson 381-- 38 LOA, beam 12, draft 6'6". The Ericson 38, designed by Bruce King, came in three variants of interior design, E38, E381, E-200, E380, but the hull, keel, rudder and rig were unchanged. Known for all-around capability, good windward ability, cabin joinery and quality build. Does not plane downwind as current designs do, and with its low profile and fine ends has restricted accommodations below, at least by today's standards.
I've enjoyed all your videos. I've even watched them a second and a few a third time. Hoping that your solo sailing book ends up under our tree this Christmas. Thank you for continuing to post. We watch your videos as a family and eagerly wait for the next. We recently purchased a Mirage 25 with the hopes that one day, with a larger boat, I'll make a sail to Hawaii. Highest regards!
BATTEN HOUSE me too such great videos
Coffee sounds great.
Christian, I truly enjoy your vlogs. I am 53 and would love to sail, not because I am looking for an easy life; but because I am looking for a change in life after 33 years of an accountant’s life blended with a divorce, children, four college degrees, a CPA, and working on CA Bar. Need I say more.
I enjoy seeing you in action and I enjoy you combination of intellect, humor, music and literature.
Thanks.
Dear Mr. Williams, I have 20+ sailing channels on my Utube feed, but i must say that you are in a league of your own for content. Your commentary and dialogue are much more closely aligned with my internal thoughts and internal dialogue than the others. I would like to impress upon you a request for more content from both your mind and over arching sailing knowledge. I know that production of these videos take both time and creativity, but you are the right style of man to produce a truely remarkable and informative genre of video content. Fair winds i wish upon you as a kindred spirit and fellow sailor.
I love how dynamic sailboats are. I suppose it can be said for power boats too. There is something hypnotic regarding the motion of your sailboat. Relative to the sea and the wind, the sails call you to embrace the sea more than engines and smoke stacks can.The sailboat is like a jujutsu artist who uses the power of the opponent to achieve their goal. The motor boat is like a puncher who forces their way to victory. My guess is there is really no true victory over the sea. Why not just get along with it? Your boat does. I also liken your sailboat to a fly fisherman who hunts the fish with great attention to detail and prey. The fly cast is artful the equipment elegant. The spinning rod is just dropping a baited hook over the side of the boat. Sometimes you catch old tires and shoes. Not so the fly fisher. Your boat is one with its surroundings and I love watching it. Your commentary is most appreciated and enjoyed.
I really enjoy watching your videos.
Your narrative is what makes it, I think.
You have a unique gift for storytelling that's both pleasant, informative, and entertaining.
Thanks again, and looking forward to your next one, Sir.
Stay breezy ~~~
- Ben
Beautiful boat. As a youngster (30), I enjoy your sailing videos more than the more "popular" ones of people around my age, I feel like I learn something from yours. I hope to learn to sail in the near future and someday have my own boat.
Your sailing/life videos are in a class by themselves Christian. I really enjoy them. Hope you continue to publish them for as long as the wind blows and the tide ebbs and flows.
Cheers, Patrick! CW
Several things Mr. William's! First, ALL the best Aloha to you and your family. Mahalo for having this channel. I am born and raised west coast 'Oahu and now residing on the Clearwater of Idaho. I'm going home. Crazy how out of the blue, my wife and I are very interested in seafaring! Found your channel, and you truly make me miss my grandpa! The other thing: could a dollar store pool noodle help with marconi chafing?
I would love to just sit around a fire listening to you tell stories.
Christian thank you for all your videos. I have decided to search for and purchase an E36, E38 or E46 this coming year. Between you and Captain Q I have got some great information that weighed in on my decision.
Always enjoy the way you teach. I'm ready to come learn, Of course I'll buy the cocktails!!
For baggy wrinkles I use foam insulation for water pipes. Fits on quick and can be removed easily. It does not live a stain on the sail.
I ran across you by accident a couple of years ago. A Dedicated Fan NOW.
Oddly enough, I had to go out and buy some Dinty Moore Beef Stew last week. Hadn't had that in YEARS. It was Great!
There is something about your videos that i find so instructive. thank you for telling it how it is. i think it’s because you instruct by relating your experiences.
I don't know sailing terminology, but thanks to your videos, you make it easy for anyone watching to know what you're talking about!
I always love listening to the philosophies in your videos.
In this video I liked very much how you showed the rigging and the many detailed variables as to how you set it up. You definitely have it mastered.
I have watched ALL your videos and received your book for Christmas last year. I enjoy the the thoughtful cadence of your speaking, your style of music when music is played. I ordered a few CD's of some of the music after hearing them first on your channel. I hope you will continue to post videos and that all is well with you. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you are back!!! I really enjoy your videos
Great video 👍🏽. Love the sensible fix for the anchor.
Christian, I'm learning to sail right now in Los Angeles, and so it's been fantastic to make my way through all of your videos during the past couple of months. Thank you for sharing your sailing experience, and, more importantly, your outlook and your philosophy. On one of my upcoming sails, I'm hoping to practice some downwind sailing skills, and this video shows some great info/detail for rigging the sails for downwind -- e.g. the preventer/downhaul run out to a cleat and back to a cockpit winch and then also the poled out genoa. Not many other places to find this kind of info presented so clearly and by folks making it look so easy. In the video, you mention (1:38) that you have two minds about the downhaul/preventer because in the event of an actual broach, it would be an added hassle to clear the preventer/downhaul in order to escape from the broach. Later on (3:50) you go over the setup for poling out the genoa. I've noticed some different approaches with whisker poles, where it looks like some folks will run with two downhauls/guy lines -- a foreguy and an afterguy, and others might not use them at all, which is what it looks like the way things are set on Thelonius. Is this another situation where you're thinking that it makes the most sense to just keep things simple/unencumbered so that you can make rapid changes in the event of a broach or other unexpected challenge? Or do you find that the working genoa sheet just does a good enough job on its own (without use of downhauls/guylines) of holding everything stable? I've never set up a whisker pole before, not even just at the dock, but I think at this point I have my head wrapped around the idea pretty much well enough to give it a shot next time I'm out there, but thought I might throw the question out there for you or anyone else who might want to chime in...thank you again for sharing all of this great content!!
Watching another video that shows the setup and it looks like maybe you’re actually using the lazy sheet as a downhaul/foreguy, cleated off to the bow cleat.
@@stephenallen3888 Yes. I have extra-long genoa sheets to make that possible.
@@ChristianWilliamsYachting Super cool! Thanks for sharing that info, that seems like an appealing setup because it would not require any additional lines/setup in order to guy out/secure the whisker pole...thanks for confirming!
Loved your videos Relieves the stress that im currently in hope to see more of your videos
I am so glad to hear from you again, i just want to say i really enjoy your videos, and want to let you know that you have been a great and wonderful teacher, thank you sir.
Concise and informative, well done. Thanks for sharing and fair winds.
Thank you for another wonderful episode! We are always so excited to watch your updates. SV ANNA MAY crew.
Excellent useful commentary!
You put out another cogent video that avoids being didactic. I've enjoyed them all so far and I still have your bio on Ted Turner that I bought many years ago when I first started sailing. You've entertained and educated me for decades. Thank you and please keep up the good work!
This man is so awesome
My favorite or your videos so far, which are all great. This technical knowledge is so useful to prevent bad things!!!
Your great teacher. Send more videos
This is such a vital video for new sailboat owners such as myself... please more..
Miss your voice Christian! Great idea for the anchor, Mantus makes an arm to hold the anchor too.
Thank you for adding English subtitles, Sir.
Baggywrinkles and Circus', a perfect analogy..
brillo vid Christian ....Why anyone would give it a thumbs down eludes me?... thanks from Australia cheers Phil
I've enjoyed your audiobook too. If you're ever back in the Chesapeake area, drinks are on me.
Chris great idea to use Trex blocking to settle the anchor!
Good information.😎 love what you’ve done.
Great, you are a very experienced ocean sailor. I love the way you keep your boat
Shipshape and how well organised you are.
Saw you with Ted on Tenacious Fastnet you tube.
Take Care,
Guy from Belgium.
I just started reading your book. Great so far.
Thnx4vid, Great to see you again!
What a pleasant downwind run.
As always, excellent video and information. Thank you!
Keep up the good work!!!!
A point of chafing might be having your harness sling around the jack line. Throw a biner on and problem solved. But testing the harness system, in a safe manner, might give insight into how safe it actually is and how you would get back up if a momentary imbalance tossed you off the side. Nice video.
Long time no see....
Makes me wonder how many Flying fish there is under you,
when 10-15 lands on your boat during a night.
Nice job with the anchor. And a nice anchor as well;-)
Cheers.
Thanks for such a practical walk thru of the deck. S/V ...Waves
Great video thanks for all you do
Good tips and a beautiful boat! I love the Ericson 38 and was looking at a Pacific Seacraft version in kemah tx but it was way out of my budget!
Great tips Christian ....S/V Teak Key
Good idea for your water/diesel cans on deck.....can you give us a more detailed explanation and/or close-up footage please. Great boat, very clean and shipshape Capt.
Another great vid!
Good tips to spot chafe. Ignore at your peril....
Quote of the day;
“Wam Bam, Thank you Mam”
Good video
thank you
Christian, I appreciate your thoughtful checking of the gear on board on a day sail vs. having a breakdown in the midst of a long voyage. As a novice, I'd like to know your thoughts about the use of lazy jacks on the mainsail to aid sail handling? What's the theory vs. the reality?
It works really well, a slightly used (not brand new crisp) sail will fold itself over the boom more or less perfectly using it properly. Next best thing is to have your zippered sail cover's top attached to the bottom of the jacklines, the sail basically drops in the cover, all you have to do is just zipper it closed.
Great video thank you! How was the Hawaii crossing when comparing the Ericson 32 vs the 38?
Could one rig pipe insulation or even pvc pipe over the stays to guard agaonst chaffe on the main like the "baggy wrinkle" mentioned??
That webbing on rope safety line idea isn't safe - one could imagine being overboard for a few minutes and friction cutting the webbing. We would never use that in rock climbing. You need a webbing to carabiner to rope connection. That would clunk around to your chagrin...but be safe when it was required to be.
Another excellent video. Regarding the chocks you made to secure the shank of the anchor into the bow roller... How easy do you find them to remove once you are at the anchorage and there's maybe a bit of a swell running? Do you need to lie down flat on the foredeck and reach out beyond the bow roller to remove them? I ask, as at the moment I have just a basic lashing around the anchor on my boat, and chocks would be a far more elegant solution.
Great pointers! Question about the jib and genoa sheet leads...wouldn't it be better to have spring loaded blocks on the tracks instead of what you have there? Those seem very likely to chafe your lines.
I think you're right.
Its great tonsee such a religious like following of harnessing in....i doubt anything feels as crappy as seeing your fully sailed boat and home sail away empty helmed over the horizon while bobbing like a tasty treat in your pfd waiting for hypothermia to take you even in 80° water.
I'm a firm believer of clipping in if your the only one on deck, no matter time of day or weather. You never know when you will find yourself unconscious or thrown in the water. Safety first and always.
Christian, its been a while since you've posted this video, so I hope you see this comment/question: I noticed at about 3:43 in the video you have one reef in the mainsail, but you don't have the sail secured in the ram's horn at the gooseneck. You have some other system going with the blue and white lines instead. Can you shed a little light as to why?
I purchased my first boat from San Pedro earlier this year and keep her in Avila the the Port San Louis Harbor, and have a similar reefing system (I think) I'm trying to learn and any info would be helpful. Love you videos - Thanks!
Downhaul lines on the mainsail luff secure the foot, making it unnecessary to go forward to manually attach the luff to the horns, or to release it. A bit closer look at 2:00 here: ua-cam.com/video/HVJYDWkJg_w/v-deo.html
It is called jiffy reefing system with all reef lines led to the cockpit, as far as I know. Perfect for not having to go forward when singlehanding.
a sailor who has something to say ..and says it well..
Mr. Williams, do you have a video about keels and rudders? I notice
your Ericson rudder is sort of hanging out there. Does that concern you that something could hit it?
Spade rudders, as they're called, are a proven design on fin-keel boats. They rotate on a single hefty stainless steel post and the connecting tube in the boat is reinforced against known strain. Yes, they're vulnerable to fouling and excessive forces, but usually "something else" (the bow, the keel) hits an obstacle first. I worry about the rudder as much as a fish worries about his tail. That is to say, aware of its vulnerability but appreciative of its usefulness. In the real world, modern spade rudders seldom fail, and much of preparedness is reliance on design, inspection and the odds. .
@@ChristianWilliamsYachting Thanks! I'm taking in all of these kinds of things, before buying. Then off I go from Oregon to Hawaii Maybe to Alaska first, but that's another study to begin. Boat design is my main concern at this point.
What make of windvane steering do you use?
How rich do you have to be to do something like this? Remembering of course that rich is a relative term. I know many people who would consider me rich.. I do like your videos...
Some people would argue that you can live on a boat all your life with a regular salary.
I'd say realistically you'd have to be able to "work from home" because I don't feel like coming back to the docks every day after work to sleep in a docked boat that I can only sail once a year..
A used boat like that costs you about the same as a middle class car. So it's definitely not unreachable. It's more a matter of priorities.
@@Ashmodai So do you mean 25,00 to 35,000?
@@Josef_R 50 K.. kind of puts it out of reach for most people.. When you think that 50% of Americans can't come up with 400 on a days notice. Not an opinion a legitimate poll..
@@Josef_R That is excellent information I'm certainly gives me a clearer view of what it takes to live the sailboat life..
You Sir, can not have too many videos or videos that are too long!
Hello Chris. What is the main difference you noticed between the 31 and the 38 ft?
Stability in a seaway, meaning a longer rolling and pitching moment. With three reefs, the 38 is no more difficult to singlehand than the 32. The 32 was actually more fun to sail, because somewhat lighter and faster to respond.
@@ChristianWilliamsYachting Sounds like the 32 would be a great compromise for local and coastal sailing with an occasional offshore trip thrown in.
What year is your boat?
Thelonious II is a 1984 Ericson 381-- 38 LOA, beam 12, draft 6'6". The Ericson 38, designed by Bruce King, came in three variants of interior design, E38, E381, E-200, E380, but the hull, keel, rudder and rig were unchanged. Known for all-around capability, good windward ability, cabin joinery and quality build. Does not plane downwind as current designs do, and with its low profile and fine ends has restricted accommodations below, at least by today's standards.