Mike and Denise Cunningham here. We purchased Nonsuch 22 # 10024 (outboard) last autumn in Plymouth MA. We believe we are the fourth owners. Following the extreme winter this past year, and with working on her, we finally launched her July 9th. Thursday, the 16th, we departed Plymouth, along with our friend, Steve Poole, for the trip through the Cape Cod Canal to our mooring in the Wareham River, at the head of Buzzards Bay.
It was blowing pretty good at 06:00 as we motored out the long Plymouth channel, and when we got out into Cape Cod Bay, we were in 30 knot winds from the North, and 15’ breaking seas. That’s what we had until we entered the canal at slack water, with the ebb beginning. Sort of a sleigh ride, at times sideways. The new stainless tiller connection Mike Quill fabricated for her worked as advertised (Thank you!). There was an aluminum one on there when we purchased the boat. It was broken, and we had no faith a repair to that would suffice.
I am very happy to report the boat handled the conditions excellently, and instilled faith in me that it could handle worse too. We have a 15 year old Suzuki 15 hp four stroke engine on it that runs like a top (knock on wood…) We ended up motoring the whole way.
We are very pleased and impressed with the boat, from the ease of sail handling, to the room below, to the stout construction and solidness, and with it’s handling in general.
We are jazzed to be Nonsuch owners.
At this point, I have two questions. Hoping some of you may have the time to lend some insight on them.
Never had a boat with a Sampson Post. Can it be used as the mooring point on the boat? I cannot get the existing mooring pendant through the fairlead. Today, I have the pendant run outside the fairlead, across the Sampson Post plate to the bow deck cleat, with copious chafing gear correctly placed on the line. I would use the Sampson Post if it is designed for it.
I have cringles in the sail for the reef lines. The forward lines run through the blocks at the foot of the mast, then upwards through the cringles, and down the other side of the sail. I had only one unused connection point open on the hardware bracket at the base of the mast, so I attached both reef lines to that point with bowlines to shackles. Is this correct? Any ideas?
We’ve been lurking around the website and this forum since we bought An Bad (Gaelic for “The Boat”.) last fall. Seems like a great group and a great organization. Hope to meet some of you someday.
Thanks,
Mike and Denise Cunningham
NS 22 “An Bad”
Buzzards Bay, MA
Why don’t the both of you just pack up, move, and bring your NS 22 right here to the Solomons, MD area. We already have four here.
The four NS 22s and one NS 26 use the deck cleats for securing their boats. This is not to say that there is anything to be concerned about when using the Sampson post. However all of our boats are in slips. If I were being towed I would probably use the Sampson post. But for goodness sakes, it’s a Nonsuch 22, why would it need towed? Most uses I’ve seen with using the Sampson post is that the line has an eye splice and simply dropped over the post. Possibly for a mooring set up this would work fine. I like the idea of the simplicity of adjusting lines on the cleats. I do not use the fairleads for my bow or stern lines.
Regarding the reef lines. I have the same situation as you and used the same method. As long as the lines are secure and free from other obstacles, I see no wrong in your approach. I was short one reef block at the base of the mast and simply used a double block. Works just fine.
Yeah Butch, I've been following your group down there in MD through this forum. Even watched some U Tube videos of a 22 sailing at the mouth of the Potomac.
Here in the Wareham River, in Buzzards Bay, we've got my 22 and two 26s. I believe there'a few more in Falmouth and elsewhere on Cape Cod. Some up on the North Shore (north of Boston) too, I believe.
As for the reef lines, I guess I'll stick with what I've done until any problem arises.
One alternative for the mooring line is to just add a short double bridle (that will fit through the fairleads), and lead it in through both fairleads to the cleat. The problem right now is the mooring line, with it's float line attached, won't fit through the closed fairlead.
Anyhow, thanks for the reply and the info.
We've owned several mid-20' sloops, and this is certainly the biggest 22 footer Ive ever seen.
We are really enthused about it.
Hi, We use the Sampson Post to get onto our mooring in a blow, once the mooring line is secure on the Simpson Post we can then take our time and run the lines (a bridle) through the fairleads onto the cleats, and attach a safety. We have found that the design of the bow, anchor platform, supports etc.. leads to chaffing. We have 3 reef points on our 30 so we need to use double blocks, works for us. Bob Ulwick, NS30C, Wharf Rat, Scituate, MA.
The whole point about tying up or mooring a boat is chafe. Whichever way you do it, the line or lines have to run fair. Dropping a line over a Sampson Post which I do is obviously easier, but it has to run fair.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
As far as i’m concerned, you have purchased “the best little boat on earth” … but I’m being a bit subjective, having the same N22 O/B (MOUSTACHES hull #56 out of a total of 58 built).
Last year, Mike Quill phoned me, asking to borrow my tiller so that he could fabricate precisely the new type of stainless tiller head that you now have. My tiller is non-stock, looks like an assault rifle and was useless to him. glad he found one and that you guys are the recipients of his superb work.
So you travelled home in quite a blow, eh ??!! These boats are built to go to war in - and they are quick, too.
Sandra and i worked out a nice “permanent” 2 bunk arrangement on ours (with a fold-down table) that precludes having to make up bunks, sleep on a multitude of foam cushions, etc.
And then (wait for it …) I dropped in a $150.00 window air-conditioner that freezes the joint down in 2 minutes flat !! I’m maling a cover for it that will hide it until i need to use it.
I would sure like to be a recipient of those photos as well Ernie. I really love my boat also. Should have named it “Mistress”. Hmmm! I don’t think Karen would appreciate that.
Mike and Denise, any chance of getting a picture of that tiller arrangement?
Thanks for all the info folks. This group is great. I really appreciate everyone jumping in with their expertise, experience, and enthusiasm.
Bob- We’ll keep an eye out for you next time we’re in Cape Cod Bay.
Dropping the mooring line over the Sampson post to get secure first and then dressing it through the chocks makes good sense. Especially, as I learned (verry quickly) that when single-handing, I can no longer snag the mooring float from the cockpit and stroll forward to the bow cleat with it, as I used to do with my other, much, much lighter, 22 footers. The first time I tried that was an interesting moment too…
Going to try to attach a photo of the tiller connection Mike Quill fab’ed for me.
Thanks again to all.
