regarding Colin Archer...

“Downright scary and disturbing”, a book on my need to read list, and in the "Nonviolent resistance is hard" department...

Tom Cunliffe is on a pilgrimage.



Listening to the Bad Shepherds

So it goes...

Patagonia steps up its game...

Today in the "Well his lips were moving" department, some spot on commentary, and regarding ships that go bump...




Listening to an Iron Leg episode

So it goes...

Celestial happenings...

Sailing Anarchy points out something of interest, plastic bottles in the parks, and in the "Faux spring water" department...

Stuff to do today and where the frelling hell are my sunglasses?

Listening to Tuomo & Markus cover the Dead

So it goes...

Some MOB heresy well worth reading...

Wendig has some excellent advice (really a must read), something from the "You didn't leave me, you just beat me to the door" department, and an interesting way to compensate for the impact of President tRump's climate policies...

The new issue of Yachting Monthly has a really excellent article on MOB that makes a lot of sense that is well worth the cost of the issue.

Good stuff!

Listening to Jungle Fire

So it goes...

Just another day in paradise...

A quick primer on Guam,  something about boats, and a very good point being made...

Time for the pre-storm mega shop just in case.

Listening to some Elvis covers 40-years on

So it goes...

a sweet ride...

Wendig with some needful commentary/suggestions, a worthwhile cause, and here's a question you might want to ask yourself or your elected representatives...

Something very cool from Chris Morejohn.

Lots more to check out here.

Listening to White Reaper

So it goes...

Just the same old same...

John Scalzi & Josh Marshall both making good points, a Broadway review, and EBM points out we've entered the "Step up or be complicit" zone...

The other day I was in the process of servicing my winches when I had one of the bearing races self-destruct. The fact that the winch in question, a Barlow 24, is at least 48-years old makes it not all that surprising and something of a testament on just how long good gear will last if you keep up with its basic maintenance regime.

Looking at both of the 24's, I noticed that all of the races were somewhat long in the tooth and while the bearings were in perfect condition, the race bits that hold them together had seen better days. In a perfect world the races would be standard sized but the only source I know of for Barlow/Barient winch bearing races is Hutton-Arco in Australia and they are sorta/kinda expensive.

Actually expensive is a pretty relative term where boat stuff is concerned and compared to the extortionate cost of winch parts from Lewmar, Harken, or Andersen for currently in production models, the Hutton-Arco parts are downright cheap.

The words "highway robbery" jump to mind...

Just a side note but, not too long ago, I needed a spring for an Andersen winch and found it impossible to buy said spring by itself as Andersen only sells it as part of a "rebuild kit" which actually costs more than I paid for the winch. Think about that for a second of two... Anyway, I was able to buy a reasonable facsimile stainless spring at Ace Hardware for less than a dollar and, as a result, Andersen lost me as a client forever.

Back on the Barlow/Barient front... I got on eBay and found a pair of bronze Barient 24's for just $114 with free shipping. Worst case scenario is I'll be able to use them for parts/spares but I'll let you know how it all works out.

In the meantime, if anyone reading this knows of a good resource for winch bearings of the Barlow/Barient sort, I'd really appreciate hearing from you on the subject.

Listening to Venus in Furs cover the Jefferson Airplane

So it goes...

Now, where the hell can I find a moose skeleton?

A film from 1947 that is far too apt in 2017, a needful read, and something to consider for the upcoming Labor Day weekend...

This, from Sailing Anarchy, might make you smile. Either that or give you a case of terminal bowsprit envy.

Now, where the hell can I find a moose skeleton?

Listening to Hurray for the Riff Raff

So it goes...

waiting on a cunning plan...

Gonads well in hand, clueless, and this sorry state of affairs just pisses me off...

I'm currently sharing my bed with an yet uninstalled pressure vessel and membrane. The thing is, I just don't have a good idea where to install the new watermaker.

I keep waiting for a "cunning plan" to make itself apparent.

My previous not-so-cunning-plan was to set up the water maker as a portable unit and stow it in a cockpit locker. The problem (and yes dear reader there is always a problem) is that the wear and tear of unstowing, assembly, and restowing the system would be problematic as well as being an accident waiting to happen.

So, I need to install the sucker or, at least, parts of the system and all I have to do is figure out a sensible and sane place to put it.

Listening to 5 + 1 good covers

So it goes...

Brute force is seldom your friend where boats are concerned...

Penguin feathers, some depressing Gulf of Mexico news, and in the "It's way past time to be worried but if You Weren’t Worried Yet, You Can Start Now" department...

So, yesterday, I spent some time watching them try and salvage a catamaran.  It did not go well. Brute force is never the right option if there are other courses of action and resources available.

Which got me thinking (yet again) that if you're going to cruise and live on a boat you really need to be as self-sufficient as possible because, when all is said and done, most folks do not have your best interests at heart. Especially those in the marine trades.

It's your boat, your responsibility, and, as such, you really need to have a game plan for all the shit-hits-the-fan scenarios that boats and sailors fall prey to. Because if you don't, someone else will do it for you and, chances are it won't be pretty.

Do your homework.

Just something to ponder a bit...

Listening to River Whyless

So it goes...