things are not getting better...

A required read, EBM reminds us who the usual suspects are, and something interesting/depressing about podcasting...

Today, instead of writing this blog as I wanted to do, I watched a bit of the House committee on UFOs. Sadly, it was a lot of talk with very little content. I wanted some serious information. Then again, I’d also like to see a lot of perp-walks as well.

Neither, it seems, is on the horizon.

What I was going to write about was that I came across an old North Face catalog and that in 1975, the North Face Cagoule was selling for the grand sum of $36.50. I’m pretty sure I spent less for mine, but even back in olden times I seldom ever bought anything that wasn’t on sale, being both poor and cheap.

I used the Cagoule on many backpacking, climbing, and mountaineering expeditions where it kept me dry better than any other rain gear I’ve ever used.

When I started getting serious about sailing, the Cagoule became my go to foul weather gear and worked so much better than any bespoke marine foulies available then or now.

Might have been the best money I’ve ever spent on gear.

I really should buy some material, get out the sewing machine and make a new cagoule to replace the three not quite good enough foul weather jackets that are mostly just taking up locker space.

I don’t even have to design one as there’s an excellent pattern available.

Come to think of it, maybe I should make a couple. One that would be a clone of the North Face, one and another where I’d use neoprene like my old Great Pacific Iron Works foamback cagoule that I used after I wore my North Face out. 

Still nothing interesting on the UFO front and I’ve concluded that, considering all that’s wrong, our only genuine hope of getting out of our current mess is an alien intervention.

Listening to a Tiny desk concert

So it goes...

A jacket that caught my interest...

A vaccination of note, what you need to know about fracking, and a very good point being made...

As someone who used to design mountaineering gear I generally find what passes for good sailing gear of the wearable sort fairly lacking. Most of what's available is sorely lacking in general utility and costs a lot more than it should.

Which is to say that when some company or seller of goods sends me an email touting something new of the wearable sort I don't tend to sit up and take notice.

Today was a little different as Neptonics, a purveyor of excellent bespoke spearfishing gear, sent out an email for a jacket they were now selling. Which looks like this...

It caught my attention. First off, while not exactly cutting edge design (Hey it's really just a hoodie), it's made of neoprene which I've long thought should be the material of choice where foul-weather gear is concerned as opposed to breathable fabrics that don't actually breath, don't stay waterproof, and are too restrictive to do the needful work involved in sailing.

In case you haven't noticed I'm seriously opinionated on the subject. Deal with it.

So, anyway, the jacket in question is 2mm neoprene, cut big so you can wear it over stuff, and stretchy so you can actually sail while using it. Better yet as neoprene is insulating you don't wind up with an outer-layer that condenses when it's cold so no need for a breathable fabric to let out the copious humidity.

Of course, being Mr Cheapseats and super picky about the gear I use, I'm more inclined to make my own foul-weather gear but if I didn't I'd be all over this jacket for my go to jacket when things are wet.

That said, next time Neptonics has a sale I'll more than likely be checking to see if this jacket is on sale in my size. Need I say more?

Listening to a bunch of better than usual covers

So it goes...

Some c-a-g-o-u-l-e goodness...

Scalzi with the best take on Super Tuesday I've come across, something on the voter suppression front, and regarding the global pursuit of a fugitive ship...

I expect readers who've been reading my output for any length of time realize that I'm a huge fan of cagoules and how I can't understand why more folks don't use them as they are a superior form of foul weather gear.

Apparently, I'm not alone as over at Small Boats Monthly (always a good read) Chris Cunningham has a great article on cagoules and how to make them.

Listening to the Iron Leg Radio Show

So it goes...

a better seaboot...

Some well deserved jail time, regarding both-siderism, and some needful reading...

Over the last few weeks I've come to the realization that I really need to get a new pair of seaboots so I've been sorta/kinda keeping my eye out for a decent pair with a good deal going. Now, most of the folks I know would just go to West Marine, Defender, or some other reasonable facsimile and get what's cheap, most expensive, or currently hip.

Obviously anyone who knows me or reads this virtual yellow rag already knows I'm pretty much entrenched in the cheap seats zone. However, they tend to forget I'm also a way too critical judge of stuff I want to buy to just go with what's cheapest. If it doesn't do the job I'm not buying it.

Which brings us to the same old same rubber boot.

Which, to be honest, I've never really liked as they never seem to fit and anytime I wind up wearing them they find a way to fill up with water. What's worse is that when I take them off to empty them I usually find a way to misplace one or both so wind up going barefoot. That said, boots of this ilk are cheaper than the alternatives but still way pricier than the non-marine, but just as functional, yellow Wellies from your local hardware and garden store.

Alternatives to the rubber boot tend to be built of more exotic materials (like leather) which, mostly, don't work any better than their rubber counterparts but tend to be hipper. Of course, me being Mr Cheapseats, I don't often peruse what is out and about in expensive and hip footwear but I have noticed a lot of certain hip/trendy sailing channels who don't have to pay for or make money pimping gear, are all wearing some fairly interesting stuff recently and these boots did catch my eye...

Some actual good ideas here. A short boot of sorts married to a gaiter makes all kinds of sense. While I admire the thought process, I still find myself not impressed to the point I'd ever consider shelling out $299 frelling dollars to buy a pair.

By the way, do you realize just how wonderful the internet is when it comes to researching products, pricing, and possibilities?

So, five minutes spent on the computer leads me to boots with all the advantages of the silly expensive boots for a much more reasonable price.





Yeah, kayak boots! Apparently quite a few companies make these so the non-discounted prices seem to be $40-80 (about the same as the same old same rubber boot). It's only a matter of time now that they're on my watch list until I can get a pair on sale (Mr Cheapseats remember?).

Listening to Cory Branan

So it goes...

On DIY not only being a cheap-seats hobby...

Some recent historical perspective, a story worth reading, and in the "pictures & video of kids in dog cages might give the wrong impression" department...

I've gone on record about my feeling for what passes for foul weather gear in these modern times and, while not exactly a Luddite, I do find myself an unhappy camper when it comes time to purchase new gear.

The thing is what I want is something like this...

Pretty much just a cagoule and this one is available as a pattern from Rain Shed. As it happens, Green Pepper also does a nice pattern for an anorak/cagoule that looks like it would do the job...

So, most of the hard work is already done for me except for bringing the whole cagoule-as-boat-foul-weather-gear into the current century. Now, as someone who once-upon-a-time used to design mountaineering and backpacking gear for a paycheck, all I have to do is what everybody else does in the design world which is to look around and steal other people's ideas and, hopefully, improve on them in the process.

The first place to look, for me at least, is the folks at Stormr who seem to be making the best foul weather gear around. If you don't know who they are check this out...



Seriously, they had me at the word n-e-o-p-r-e-n-e. Not just the smarts of using neoprene either they really seem to have done an excellent job on the details. Chief of which is using wetsuit zippers and as Stormr's parent company is in the business of making wetsuits they actually seem to understand the concept of making foul weather gear that is designed to get wet (unlike these guys). Really, if Stormr made a cagoule style I'd be all over it but, as they don't, I'll have to get creative and get the sewing machine out.

The thing to keep in mind about DIY is that it is not just about saving money but a whole lot more about getting something that suits your needs more precisely than what's available on the market and doing it yourself is very much a satisfying pursuit in its own right. In this case, I know exactly what I want and have a few extra ideas that may improve it as well so I'll enjoy the process and what's not to love about that?

Anyway, hopefully sooner rather than later, I'll let you know how the new cagoule works out...

Listening to some covers from 1978

So it goes

Something for folks who want to stay dry...

Not too surprising news from Colorado, some stupidity in Texas, and a response of note to Joe the Plumber...

A while back I mentioned how impressed I was with the Stormr foul weather gear and at the time I thought it was hard to beat.

So, I was looking at the Stormr website the other day and caught this about their Surf top and it's pretty obvious that their stuff just keeps getting better...



Color me still seriously impressed but wishing it came in another color...

Listening to Asani

So it goes...

Something exciting...

Krugman making sense, a pretty clear case, and luckily I don't need a mustache transplant...

I've mentioned a time or two that I'm a pretty unhappy camper about the current state of the art where foul weather gear is concerned and some might even go so far as to call me hyper-critical on the subject...

Ya think?

Anyway, the bottom line is, where foul weather gear is concerned I'm not easily impressed and it takes something truly awesome to get me excited on the subject...

You know what? I'm pretty excited!

Stormr is making a couple of foul weather products using neoprene that really caught my attention. The Typhoon (shown above), the Stryker...

...and bibs to match!

I'm pretty sure I know what I want for the Holidaze...

Listening to Quicksilver Messenger Service

So it goes...

BTYQ Revisited

A while back I was in rant mode ( like when am I not?) bemoaning the poor quality and bad design of most foul weather gear so just a quick note to mention that my NRS gear is is still to be considered BTYQ ( better than yacht quality) and rocks!

Another great looking piece of gear (pictured) that has come to my attention is a Cagoule by NORTHWERKS which looks just like the product I was searching for . Custom sewn but at an off the rack price makes it a must have for those who understand the need to be dry and be able to do stuff at the same time.

BTYQ... NOT!

As it turns out the following post was incorrect and the NRS jacket that I was so impressed with had such a severe zipper problem that the gear is simply not up to the standards required for people using boats in anything but the most benign weather... See new post here!

A while back I was ranting on the overpriced and under-performing foul weather gear that passes itself off as state of the art these days from all of the usual suspects. I knew there had to be a better way, and folks I'm happy to say I've found a great source in NRS for excellent foul weather gear at almost scary prices...

This gear is extremely well designed. It's light and the range of movement means that you can actually do the job at hand (sailing the boat) without fighting the foul weather gear in the process. I guess this comes from the fact that the design is for a paddling jacket and sea kayakers need to be able to... paddle.

The attention to detail in the construction is exceptional and for a jacket with a retail price of $160 it just rocks! Maybe we should coin a phrase and call it Better Than Yacht Quality... BTYQ!

Shipping was fast and NRS has a great Boat Bucks program, plus free shipping on next order... stuff that a lot of companies could take some pointers from.

The bad side is that NRS sent me a catalog with my order and there are lots of neat things inside just perfect for us sailboat folk... More on that later.