Human powered propulsion...

A good climbing film streaming for free, klepto-warfare, and in the "Stuff you need to know about Immigration" department...

Gas is currently $5 a gallon here in paradise and a lot of folks are complaining. A reader from France pointed out the other day that he was paying $7.80 so it's not Biden's fault and just the current price set by some greedheads to up their profits. The word Greedflation pops to mind.

That said, maybe it's best to keep in mind that oil and its byproducts are a finite resource and volatile pricing is just going to be part of the mix as supplies become rarer.

Time to invest in a yuloh or some sort of pedal driven boat propulsion system? 

Speaking of which, Michael Schacht (AKA that Proa File guy) caught a pic of an interesting entry in the R2AK.

Listening to FKA twigs

So it goes...

If you're reading this you're not stupid...

Well worth a read/watch, about those mangroves, and in the "Free speech" department...

Arthur C. Clarke pretty much nailed it with this quote:

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." 

I was thinking about this when I read something about watermakers being a highly sophisticated system that anyone without copious and serious tech juju or deep pockets should avoid.

I'll go on record and say that's just bullshit. Making fresh and potable water from sea water is just simple plumbing that has nothing to do with high tech or magic. If the science behind how watermakers work exceeds your grasp, it is not because the science is difficult (it's not), it's because you're educationally and mechanically deprived.

I agree that folks on boats should understand the basic concepts of how things work where boats are concerned, and heartily recommend that they should not go to sea without such knowledge. However, I don't buy into the excuse that most sailing related skills are too technical for the average guy/gal to sort out because it's all pretty simple.

If you believe otherwise, someone has sold you a bill of goods and, more than likely, the sellers are doing it because there's a profit in fleecing you.

Seriously, if you're reading this there's no reason you can't manage a splice, tune your rig, or (dare I say it?) build and operate a watermaker.

You're not stupid.

If by chance your knowledge is a bit fuzzy on a subject, just do a little research and read a book. Like I said, you're not stupid and it's way past time to be letting an industry get away with telling that you are.

Rant over.

Listening to a whole lot of Stevie Wonder covers

So it goes...

something regarding design...

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...

Two gaff rig boats I like...

Regarding a good cop, a commercial befitting the times, and in the "This is just so wrong" department... 

Down here in what is purported to be paradise you don't often see gaff rigs much. That bothers me just a bit.

For me at least the sailplan on Reuel Parker's Pilot Cutter 31 is pretty awesome. For starters it's simple, easily fabricated, and affordable which is a real bonus for a powerful rig.

Of course, gaff rigs don't always have to be on what most would consider to be traditional boats and they can make a lot of sense. Take this modern scow design by Yann Quenet which I need to build.

Now if this damn pandemic will just lighten up so I can find a building site and get to doing...

Listening to a bunch of R&B/Soul coverage accompanied by an excellent article.

So it goes...

on the evolutionary conundrum of boat gear design...

On the subject of where money for children in need goes, some Beatles stuff I'm really looking forward to, and in the "a slab of misery on wheels" department...

The other day it came to me that what "So It Goes" needed  were a few more cleats or suchlike to take care of a couple of extra halyards and the most obvious answer was to add a couple of pinrails. As it happens pinrails actually make all kinds of sense.

The problem, for me at least, is that most folks think of pinrails as being some varnished teak bits on the shrouds. You know, sort, leaky tiki old school traditional sort of stuff.

But, I asked myself, why haven't pinrails evolved into the current century? For that matter why hasn't someone designed and built an evolved tradical gaff rig?

Anyone seen any cool evolved pinrails? I'd love to see some pictures.

Listening to fifty Paul Simon covers

So it goes...

a really nice boat...

Something that might bring a smile, Dorworth getting to the basic question, and what's going on in some places...

A climbing gear company that sends me mail from time to time used a term the other day that resonated with me like a tuning fork...

Tradical

Which, I suppose, is a clever way of saying Traditional + Radical and whether clever or not it did catch my attention and I think it works pretty well.

Where boats are concerned the collective "we" seems to have devolved into two groups, the first being all about progress and the second being those of the "If it ain't broke there's no reason to fix it" because, you know, tradition mindset.

Now, it's been pointed out me on numerous occasions that I'm an opinionated asshole where things boat are concerned and (yes dear reader) hardly surprising that I have an opinion on both camps in this horse race.

Both groups have their heads up their asses.

For instance, take the new Crabber...

I'm sure one camp will be scandalized that it sports a carbon fiber mast while the other side will be offended that it has a gaff rig, doesn't have a wing mast, and the ability to foil.

Me, I see it as just more evolution in a positive direction of a good boat (it is the MK 5 after all) and while I'm just a bit disappointed that it does not also sport a carbon gaff (which is a pretty obvious upgrade to my mind) it is a pretty awesome boat and tradical as all get out. Spars aside, there are a lot of other neat details in the new design worth studying so really a boat to check out.

Listening to five good covers

So it goes...