Random thoughts and rants on boat design, boat building, and other boat bits for those in the 99%...
Some interesting ICP tech that cruisers should keep an eye on, stupidity akin to political suicide, and EBM regarding long term plans...
The day has pretty much been confined to just enough drizzle to keep me from making some belaying pins. In the meantime I've mostly been thinking about what I'd need to build a new smaller hard dodger.
What I really need is a cunning plan...
Listening to Steve Earle cover Jerry Jeff Walker
So it goes...
Some pictures from Mars, ongoing colonial hijinks, and in the "Unsurprising fuckery in high places" department Caribbean edition...
Something interesting from Eric Henseval you might want to check out.
Listening to a literary playlist
An excellent interview with Werner Herzog, something on second class American citizens, and in the "Three years is not a lot of time" department...
So, it appears that the folks on Uma are sorta/kinda getting into the cruising boat design playground or something like it. Good for them. I'll be following what they conjure up with bated breath.
As for myself, I've never been into the idea of designing a boat for myself for a few reasons. One being that I feel my talent lies more in the building of boats rather than the design process. Which does not mean that I don't have a long list of input as to my druthers when working with a designer.
Of course, one big problematic issue where getting a designer to draw a boat I'd consider building these days is that most of my want list are not sellable to the current market. Most sane designers would not waste their time when they could be designing a condomaran or cookie cutter cruiser/racer for clients with deeper pockets than yours truly.
Not that I think a tradical VolksCruiser would be a bad investment in time for a designer. There are a lot of folks out there that, if approached in the right way, could be sold on an easy to build, affordable, sustainable, and able performing design that fulfills an empty niche in the current market.
Of course, I'd welcome and love to review and post information on any boats that designers of the tradical, easy to build, affordable, sustainable, and able performing design mindset might send my way.
Just sayin'
Listening to some Carole King coverage
So it goes...
Wendig with a must read on the subject of twitter, cutting back on meat in your diet, and in the "Made up money" department...
It’s funny how time just keeps moving on. For instance, when I sat down to write today’s post, the number 3500 was right there at the top of the page and that 3500 was a veritable shitload of posts.
Some might say that shitload is an especially apt term, in fact.
Speaking of facts, there is not a day goes by when I’m writing this that I ask myself why I’m doing Boat Bits at all. Part of it is a habit, as it’s been something to do while I have my morning coffee. Though, these days, a single decaffeinated cup is hardly what it used to be.
The main reason I keep hammering on the keyboard has to do with the folks who keep reading my drivel. Since many regular readers have become friends. They’ve caught my typos, corrected links, shared experiences (both good and bad), and offered moral support when I’m depressed with the state of the world.
Fact is, thinking about it, I get a lot more from my readers than I can provide to them.
A lot of folks tell me I’d get a lot more readers if I gave up the passe format of blogging and migrate to something like Facebook or Twitter. While that may be true, I’m not in it for the numbers. Numbers, as a motivator, impede the sort of communication I want to do.
Which is a roundabout way of saying thank you to the folks who get what I do. And, since you’re still reading, post 3500 won’t be the last.
Listening to Wargirl
So it goes...
A job that appeals to me, some depressing news, and in the "Let's not forget corporate profits" department...
Being an older person living in the future is sometimes problematic. Especially where boats and cruising are concerned.
Right now I'm hearing a lot of discussion about Starlink and the hopes and wishes that it will evolve into a service that will give cruisers the ability to be online 24/7 anywhere in the world including when in mid-ocean doing a crossing.
Just the other day I heard someone say that as soon as Starlink kicks in they'll finally be able to do a trans-Atlantic cruise. Apparently, a voyage now is impossible without the ability to access their Twitter, Facebook, and Netflix accounts.
Now, while I'm a huge fan of progress where thought and science are concerned, there's a point where I have to sit back and reconsider whether or not Ned Ludd was on to something.
For me, the most attractive part of crossing oceans, is that it gives one a chance to get away from what passes for civilization and all of the attached baggage included in the modern world. That crossing an ocean requires one to be out of touch for a given amount of time is a big part of its appeal rather than a bug in the system.
I'm certain that most of the best thinking I've done has been when on passage due to the clarity generated by cutting out most of the background noise that is part and parcel of this modern world we live in today.
I can hear the emails now...
But Safety...
Of course, not being a complete Luddite, I'll opt for a means of getting weather and the ability to send a note to folks to let them know we're OK as my mother did not raise a complete idiot.
The insight, growth, and occasional terror that an ocean crossing on a small boat provides is a wonderful thing and the idea that you need to insulate yourself from the very reasons I choose to sail is a very sad thing.
Listening to Sir Woman
So it goes...
A significant voyage, regarding "Moral injury", and in the "Maybe it's time to sail to Alaska while I still can" department...
Speaking of Alaska, there's a George Buehler project boat on offer that is all kinds of interesting and you might want to check it out.
In all honesty, I have to admit that I found the boat interesting on a lot of levels. For starters, Buehler's Juno is the epitome of a Buehler design and a lot of folks consider it, myself included, his best work. The boat comes with an interesting history that would go a long way to being the fodder of any number of sun-downer discussions and talking points. Plus it's just a great cruising boat.
The other thing that appealed to me was simply that it would be an awesome project to take on and make a film about. It has all the elements a classic boat of sorts, an interesting history behind it, and a somewhat larger than life designer. The built in dramatic edge of a project with a ticking clock deadline would drive the narrative along full tilt boogie.
What a great film it would make...
Listening to Hurray For The Riff Raff
So it goes...
Making biodiversity accessible, Right whales, and in the "It's not like we weren't told" department...
An Earth Day reality bite if there ever was one.
You can watch the entire film here.
Listening to Lady Wray
So it goes...
Some interesting WalMart news, navigating the sad gap, and in the "Magical thinking" department...
I'm off to go get my second booster.
Listening to a playlist I've been waiting for.
So it goes...
Everything you need for Friday, a gathering of assholes, what I'd like to see more of from Democrats, and in the "He had me at killer robotic polar bears" department...
I've been a fan of David Reard's designs for some time and with his new Ti Scow 800 design I'm all kinds of impressed.
I expect I'll be writing more on this soonish.
Listening to PK Dwyer
So it goes...
Regarding Climate Gentrification, a very needful read, and in the "Big frelling question" department...
Well this is kind of interesting.
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| EcoCat 42 |
Listening to the Jitters
So it goes...
Florida bans math textbooks, an excellent example of form follows function, and in the "Just in case you haven't been paying attention" department...
I had a bad dream that woke me up this morning. It wasn't about COVID, climate change, or the Ukraine Russian war morphing into a nuclear debacle. All of which have been fodder for uncomfortable dreams of late.
It wasn't even about killer clowns either. It was a lot worse than that.
It was about...
Marinas
Now, I'm pretty sure I've gone on record about my feeling regarding marinas and the soul deprived creatures that own and operate such hellish establishments. As an admittedly low budget cruiser I avoid marinas just like you'd avoid taking a walk in a cemetery at midnight, going down in the basement during a zombie outbreak with only a couple of matches to light your way, and going outside to check out a suspicious noise just after having sex on Elm street.
Which might tell you a lot about how the nightscape of my dream where everyone is forced to stay in marinas may have chilled me to the bone and found myself woken in a cold sweat.
So scary in fact that to get the images of "No Liveaboards or Wooden Boats" and "Outboard Powered Dinghies Only" out of my head that I had to read some Stephen King to cleanse the dark dank suppurating images from my mind.
Listening to Drive-by Truckers
So it goes...
More climate spinoff, a bit of advice, and about those Monk seals...
Listening to Leslie Stevens
So it goes...
Some seriously scary shit, a selection of seaborne fantasy reading, and in the "How world domination and genocide is a cure for homelessness" department...
I heard that there was a Bolger AS29 for sale up in Canada and if you're someone who does the facebook thing there's information on the Bolger page.
Smaller than our Loose Moose 2 and bigger than our Loose Moose (a Bolger Jessie Cooper) it's fairly close to what I'd consider a perfect DIY VolksCruiser for a couple.
As the AS29 is really just a stretched Jessie Cooper, I've long considered building either an AS29 or a stretched JC but I''d stretch the JC out to about 32 feet allowing for a bit more load carrying, additional stowage solutions and be a bit faster.
I'm pretty sure I'd keep the lug rig and off-center mainmast over the AS29's gaff and give some serious thought to going with a junk rig for the mainsail. I'd also retain the single off-center dagger board as it worked just fine and why would I want to spend the extra cost and labor of having two off-center boards.
Still, a well built AS29 at the right price would be no bad investment...
Listening to Fairport Convention
So it goes...
A good point being made, Steve Earle making sense on CNN, and in the "To serve and protect themselves" department...
Here's an interesting link to an article about building boats that use bio-based resin, recycled PET cores, and bamboo fiber to achieve a "Less dirty" boat in terms of ecological impact.
Listening to Arcade Fire
So it goes...
Some chess related life advice, murder most foul, and a needful read for surfers...
I've been thinking a lot about various self-steering systems, evolution, and performance lately. So much so, that I really need to spend a couple of days working through those thoughts and ideas to come to some sort of conclusion that makes sense.
More on that thought process soonish.
Listening to Marah
So it goes...
About that USCG scam, some needful situational info on what's going on, and in the "Is this insane or what?" department...
Well, this is kind of cool.
I've long considered the idea of building and using a skin-on-frame dinghy but, so far, have not come across the right design. This construction method has me thinking that this just might be the right approach.
Looking forward to seeing how this company's product holds up in the real world.
Listening to the Linda Lindas
So it goes...
Tugboat labor issues, stealing gifts, and in the "It's about time" department...
A scowish moment.
Like it or not, if you're serious about winning there's a scow in your future. Sadly, in terms of historical experience we'll be seeing the first scow cruisers in America in or around 2035.
Listening to five good covers
So it goes...
Wendig with a good cause, some UFO stuff, and an evil that has no limits...
The other day I found a new Hamilton Marine catalog in my PO box. I'll also add that it's now the only marine catalog on the boat, partly because it's more grounded than the West or Defender ones as they don't just market to pleasure boat folks, and partly because they just have a better catalog in my opinion.
Still, I could not be bothered to look past the first couple of pages and filed it on one of the shelves near my various boat design and building books.
Way back when, receiving just about any boat oriented catalog would result in a great amount of study and comparison of how to integrate new must-have products into the boat. So many hours wasted in the pursuit of buying stuff I really did not need.
We all need to buy stuff from time to time and having the catalog on the shelf is a handy reference when I actually need something. Which is a pretty positive state of affairs when all is said and done.
Listening to something new from Pink Floyd
So it goes...
The question of the day, clean water, and in the "It's not like we don't have the tools to fix stuff" department...
The new issue of WoodenBoat is out and it's a better than most issues from where I happen to be sitting. It talks about a couple of dinghies I'd love to build, Tad opines on a mini-scow cruiser, and there is a solid article on wood species for free-standing masts that I may or may not agree with. Combined with a variety of other articles I have not yet read it looks like I'll be reading it cover to cover.
That said, I don't think I've ever had a copy of WoodenBoat that I haven't read cover to cover.
Listening to the Cactus Blossoms
So it goes...
Polar bears, an alternative history game, and Scalzi making a whole lot of sense...
I just saw that Guirec Soudée is doing the 2024 Vendee Globe race albeit without Monique. Monique, who's getting on in years is in retirement with Guirec's family but, apparently, still laying eggs.
I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of high stakes, big money, yacht racing but Guirec Soudée with Monique has grown on me and I'll be watching his campaign closely and rooting for him to kick some ass in the process.
Listening to the Iron Leg Radio Show
So it goes...
A phrase every boat builder knows is true, some money well spent, and in the "Everyone is tired of COVID, but COVID hasn’t tired of us yet" department...
Yann Quenet has arrived in Recife Brazil having completed a South Atlantic crossing in his thirteen-foot Baluchon. More about it on Voiles et Voiliers and Yann's blog.
Color me still impressed.
Listening to Soldat Louis
So it goes...
Scarily right on the money, those disappearing lakes, and in the "Everything has a carbon footprint" department...
One of the portlights aboard "So It Goes" had a part fail and, unsurprisingly, the company (Vetus) that made the port no longer supports their product. Kind of a bummer that.
In searching for said part from other purveyors of portlights I didn't really come across anything that would work but I did find myself saying "WTF" a lot at the pricing of said bits.
So, what to do? The choice seems to be a new port or fabricate the bit I need.
Of course, if I replace one port I'd have to replace four ports because even I would not be able to deal with mismatched ports as it would drive me nuts. On the other hand, replacing four ports would cost close to $1K and my Mr Cheapseats persona could not handle that on any level.
Leaving me with the only sensible answer to the problem is to fabricate my own bits.
As it happens the part is actually fairly easy to build as all I really need is a 1/4" thumb nut ($0.36) and a 1/4" threaded stud ($0.81) combined with ten minutes with a file and drill to make it work.
That works out to $1.17 and I think I can handle that.
Listening to songs in aid of a theme
So it goes...
The sort of boat blog post we could use more of, regarding some who think corporate profits are more important than affordable Insulin, and a very good point indeed...
I used to subscribe to quite a few sailing magazines namely WoodenBoat, PBO, Yachting Monthly, Sail, and Cruising World.
These days, the only magazine I subscribe to is WoodenBoat which is a magazine that just keeps doing an exceptional job of providing great content on a regular basis. I've been reading them from the beginning and I've never yet seen a bad issue or article.
Cruising World was the first subscription I cancelled as it, in my opinion at least, had morphed into Cruising World light and catered to a readership I simply no longer recognized as cruisers. That said, from time to time there is excellent content but it's no longer something you can count on and more about the quality of a specific writer rather than the magazine's editorial work.
Sail came off the list when my subscription ended as it simply had become a shadow of itself with less of just about everything that made it a good read. These days I consider it to be a sort of diet version of a sailing magazine with little or no real content leaving me with an urge to go out and read a real magazine. Again there is some good writing but even then the editorial stance of the magazine gets in the way.
Then there's Practical Boat Owner, while still an excellent magazine the price has reached the point where it became both silly and insulting. At $7.99 an issue the yearly subscription is $103.87 which is nuts.
The last to get canceled is Yachting Monthly who is published by the same publisher as PBO. Still an excellent magazine but at $5.99 an issue is not what I consider a good value.
On the positive side. Latitude 38 is a great magazine that could teach Cruising World, Sail, PBO, and Yachting Monthly a whole lot about what makes an excellent periodical as well as how magazine publishing economics are supposed to work. Better yet, Latitude 38 has great content and it's FREE.
Need I really say more?
Listening to Silvana Estrada
So it goes...
Ĉi tio estas interesa, bonega biciklo, kaj en la "kial ĉi tiu ulo ankoraŭ estas ĉi tie?" fako...
Lamenligna boatmodelo de noto.
Aŭskultante iun elektan kovradon
Do ĝi iras...
