Post #3641...

Something about blogs, way past time, and in the "a significant break from reality" department...

"Just roll with the flow wherever it goes even if it rolls out of here"

                                           -Michael Nesmith

The best part of writing Boat Bits has been readers who've reached out and said hi. Many of which have become friends and that's all the reward anyone could hope for.

But.

We live in a finite universe and all good things come to an end. So, time to take Mr Nesmiths good advice and roll on out of here.

It's been fun but that's all folks.

Listening to the Iron Leg Radio Show

So it goes...

and in the "Almost there" department...

Scalzi has a New Year's wish I'll second, something that brought a smile, and EBM with a bit of inspired logic...

I've been on a sorta/kinda vacance of sorts so have not had a lot of time to put in to Boat Bits during this Holidaze season.

On the other hand, I've had quite a bit of time to think about a bunch of stuff including what I'll be doing in the near future with various projects I really should be doing and some changes soon come.

In the meantime here's hoping al of you have a most excellent and safe new year.

Listening to Coverville and maybe you should be too.

So it goes...

Independence and dependence...

 

Right up there with a burning bag of dog shit left on someone's porch, just in case you haven't been paying attention, and in the "About that guy thing" department... 

I recently had a conversation with someone wanting to get into cruising and it seemed that his main goal had a lot to do with achieving a certain level of independence. 

Sound familiar?

For me, the best way to achieve a reasonable amount of independence is to simplify and live within one's means. Which, I'll admit, becomes somewhat problematic in a society fueled by consumerism.

For instance, a great way to simplify your boat search is to reject any boats that are bigger than one can manage on your own. The reasoning being that if you have to have systems on your to assist in physical tasks you become dependent on those systems. Over the years I've seen far too many examples of various boat systems not working for any number of reasons to feel comfortable depending  things I can't fix or do without.

A couple, some years back, anchored behind us during the night. In the morning they had some sort of electric problem and they were unable to launch their dinghy which used an electric winch. Luckily they had a handheld VHF and were able to get someone to give them a ride to customs so they could check in.

Once back on their boat they decided to go in to the marina but their anchor windlass would not work either so they wound up being marooned in the anchorage until someone could come and fix their electrical issues for them.

At the time, I promised myself that when I reach an age where I can't launch my dinghy, pick up an anchor or unable to fix simple issues aboard my boat I'll trade down to a smaller simpler boat that I can.

The scary part is I now see a lot of folks in their prime buying boats that are too big, with tackle too heavy, and systems they can't repair because they think independence is gained by buying stuff. Sure, having an electric winch for your RIB with a big motor might seem like a good idea but it's just another thing that you're going to be dependent on and as we all know shit happens.

“A designer knows, he has achieved, perfection not when, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Listening to Marineros

So it goes...

and in the "Still a second class citizen" department...

An interesting VW Bug you might want to check out,  Petulant Oligarchs, and EBM makes a needful point...

So, it seems that the island is hosting Biden for a bit of R&R. I suspect he could use a break down here in America's paradise and I hope he has a great time.

That said, I'll remind you that citizens of the USA/USVI are not allowed to vote in presidential elections. On the plus side we can say that we didn't have anything to do with that last guy in office.

Just sayin'...

Listening to the Camaleon Bassoons

So it goes...

Holidaze...

Lakes in Alaska, regarding those white mortality stats, and in the "Incompetent buffoons incapable of running anything properly" department...

All of a sudden it's the Holidaze and no matter what you celebrate we're all pretty much in the middle of it. Mostly I'm a New Years person as all the other holiday frolic is outside of my belief comfort zone so I tend to focus on the "Wouldn't it be wonderful if things worked out for the better in the New Year" approach.

That said, here's hoping anyone reading this has a great whatever holiday is your drug of choice.

Listening to Tom Lehrer

So it goes...

Comparing a few pumps...

Some battery tech of interest, Badtux on twitter, and in the "Just how stupid are we? department...

A while back, I needed to get a new water pump for the galley of the manual sort. My first choice where manual galley pumps has always been Fynspray and I really love this pump...

Which I'm sure you'll agree is a seriously cool bit of plumbing. The problem is that the current price of $369.99 is way more than I'm inclined to spend. That's just silly expensive. So I looked at a less expensive Fynspray which I've had before that worked just fine...

 

Obviously not as sexy as the handsome bronze one but it is an excellent pump albeit with a price tag of $148 which is still too expensive considering how simple a pump it is. So I checked out this one...

The Whale V pump ($86) that I've had good luck with in the past would be OK except it tends to need service fairly often and Whale spares ($21) are, shall we say, highway robbery or something akin to it.

So, what's a poor boy going to do?

Here's the pump I've been using for the last six months with nary a problem. It works just as well or better than any of the pumps mentioned so far...

 

With quality as good as the Fynspray and better than the Whale,                                             I'm a pretty happy camper. So much so that I bought an extra one just in case. The $10 price tag makes me smile every time I find myself pumping a glass of water.

Need I say more?

Listening to a whole lot of covers

So it goes...

A DIY article to check out...

Imagine 40% of Americans think this clown should be in office, some needful reading, and in the "Just another scam for witless boat owners" department...

 

48° North has an excellent article on DIYing a dodger using plexiglass that costs out somewhere short of $500. Considering that a Sailrite dodger kit and their dodger frame kit will cost you over $1600 or so, that amounts to a significant savings.

Of course, my go to method for dodgers is stitch and glue plywood construction which costs a whole lot less and is strong enough to stand on when the need arises. 

Still, the plexi dodger sure looks sweet and 48° North is free as always so well worth checking out.

Listening to Preoccupations

So it goes...

Way too expensive for me...

A new land speed record, some interesting details, and in the "Believe them when they say they're going to do shit" department...

Well at least it doesn't have that condomaran look. 

Listening to Moonalice

So it goes...

a pretty interesting plywood scow...

Some scary numbers, the current state of things in the water under your boat, and in the "Urbanized Knowledge Syndrome" department...

Some pretty plywood for sure.

Now it's about time for someone to start designing some shoal draft scows.

Listening to the Mavericks

So it goes...

guess what I found...

The current daily death count, a film you may want to keep an eye out for, and in the "A cartoon pretty much says it all" department...

I just came across an electronic anti-fouling kit for a boat up to eight meters that is surplus to requirements. So if anyone has fond memories of those Heathkit days drop me a line.

Listening to a great cover of Mad World

So it goes...

a drone I actually like...

Insanity on display, 167 Theremins, and in the "Well of course she did" department...

A drone that actually interests me.

More info can be  found at the company's website.

Listening to some holidaze coverage of sorts

So it goes...

Some uncomplicated and mostly traditional modifications...

A book you might want to check out, surprising collateral damage, and in the "recycled economy" department"...

A better than most YouTube channel you should be watching. 

Need I say more?

Listening to the Iron Leg Radio Show

So it goes...

Something for next hurricane season?

The case for dropping Facebook/Twitter, Eyes in the sky, and in the "Building stuff with hemp" department...

As much as I'd love to row various canals in France it occurred to me how great the canal system would be for bike touring.

Off hand I can't think of better routes through Europe than following the various canals along their towpaths.

Listening to Soldat Louis

So it goes...

a fixer upper Hurricane cat that's going to need a lot more fixing...

Some good news in the Bahamas, regarding those10,000 lakes, and in the "I mean like really?" department...

Well this sure is depressing. It was floating Thursday.

 Bummer.

Listening to The A's (a bit weird but they grow on you)

So it goes...

an interesting scow...

Some climate musings that jive,  a book I very much want to read, and in the "Not surprised but still" department...

Well this is sorta/kinda interesting.

 

From the same design firm that designed the Brava 25 comes the Fast Cruising scow. Check it out over at VPLP Design.

Listening to Midnight North

So it goes...

Today's reading material...

A sailing horror story of sorts, a good point being made, and an upsetting tale of access to public land...

The December issue of Latitude 38 is up.

Still the best free sailing rag around.

Listening to Acid Tongue

So it goes...

Must be that time of the month...

A current dumpster diving trend, a good take on Crypto, and in the`"Just how stupid/greedy have we become?" department...+

I often tend to forget that most folks knowledge of how boats work is not based on any kind of study but simply what they think a boat should look like. Or, as our previous stable genius president opined, "I trust my gut". 

A lot of people who are motivated to write me don't like schooners, junk rigs, volkscruisers, free standing spars, extreme shoal draft, or scows.

I actually wonder why some of these folk bother to read Boat Bits at all. Maybe they're just addicted to outrage and BB is just low hanging fruit to stoke their rage in the morning.

I'll also add that the folks who take offense to Boat Bits also seem to be the loudest complainers when I miss a day... Obviously we live in a strange and getting stranger world these days.

As it happens, I have some ideas regarding semi-freestanding spars and junk rig that I'm sure will piss off just about everyone.

Soonish.

Listening to Kid Sistr

So it goes...

Did someone say scow?

 Something needful regarding methane, Shrinkflation is today's word, and in the "Like I don't have enough scary shit to keep me up at night" department...

I've been following the Rosie G build for a while and it's nice to see it all coming together.

More about the design and build can be found at Red Dog Yachts.

Listening to Jimi Hendrix

So it goes...

almost back on track...

Floating solar arrays, scary airplane stuff, and in the "Zombie apocalypse" department...

So, I expect if you're reading this that you've had your dose of turkey, listened to Alice's Restaurant, and watched Bullwinkle in the Macy's parade without overly ill affect.

Now if we can just survive the Cyber Monday I'll get back to writing something about boats.

Listening to J & the Causeways

So it goes...

Now where's that turkey baster?

EBM with a very good point, how the midterms elections affect fish/fisheries, and in the "Selling hate" department...

Since T-day is just around the corner I'll be taking a couple of days off so nada till Saturday.

Here's hoping that you all have a safe and sane Thanksgiving.

Listening to some Laura Nyro

So it goes...,