Edging toward simpler...

One of the problems we have in the doing-up-a-boat-and-sailing-away-gig is that most folks don't pay enough attention to the world outside a very small confined orbit... I'm lucky coming from a climbing, backpacking, and cycling background so realize the answer to all questions is not always over-priced marine gear.

For instance, not too long ago I pointed out that a figure eight descender made a reasonable boom brake for around ten dollars instead of a "marine" boom brake for hundreds. Of course, I'd never have realized you could use one to stop a boom if I had not arrested a 230-pound climbing partner's 80-foot zipper fall on Half Dome. Face it, it makes sense to look outside at what other sports use from time to time...

But it's not just the gear we need to keep an eye on as an even more valuable resource is keeping tabs on what other sports and activities are up to in terms of head-space. What are they thinking?

Left to the CruisingWorld/Sail consumer yachting world it's all about buying things and comfort or ever increasing luxury as the norm for what is needful on a sailboat. Not too long ago, the people who still are heroes to most of us sailed without engines, furling gear, refrigeration, EPIRBs, computers, watermakers or onboard washers/dryers... Hardly seems possible if you only read the sailing rags of today. What is even more surprising to some, is most of them had a pretty good time doing it!

Which is one of the reasons it's good to read blogs like "A Path Less Pedaled". It gives you a different viewpoint and makes you realize just how comfortable in the grand scheme of things a 1970's era classic plastic sailboat can be compared to riding a bicycle across the USA. A whole different head space for sure! Their post from today really is a must read if only to tweak that urge for yet more and more expensive gear/toys that the sailing rags tell you ya gotta have...

Listening to Dexys Midnite Runners

So it goes...