skin on frame in the current century...

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...

an interesting dinghy...

In the "not very good news" department, some stuff you need to be aware of, and on the absurdity of pursuing limitless growth on a finite and fragile planet...

Here is an interesting take on the dinghy conundrum...



More information about it here.

Listening to Two White Cranes

So it goes...

Pop bottles...

So, today's question... which is more dangerous to children: gay marriage or a drunk homophobic republican in a power boat? Bonus questions are whether the rule of law is more important than financial stability and do you think, just maybe, they could use some tasers in Michigan or not...

A friend recently sent me a link to an article about this boat...

More info, pictures, and some video here.

Listening to Quicksilver Messenger Service

So it goes...

My next new ride...

Orlov on timing, regarding the subject of gridlock, some comparative lit, and the moral of the story...

Over the last few months I've been spending quite a lot of time looking at various kayaks as a secondary tender for "So It Goes"...

I actually wanted a real kayak as opposed to the sit on top sort because it's my rather jaded opinion that real kayaks should be capable of doing an Eskimo roll. Of course, the difficult part is finding such a beast that stows on a 34-foot sailboat. While there are any number of excellent fiberglass sea-kayaks for two paddlers, finding one that will work within the existing storage constraints is somewhat problematic.

Which is pretty much my thought process in deciding to get the Swing double kayak by Innova...

Like all things on boats it's a compromise... In a perfect world, I'd be looking for a longer (15 to 17 feet or so) rigid sea-kayak in either glass or a wood composite but none of those things will deflate and fit into a cockpit locker.

One of my goals in life is to have a boat without deck cargo...

As most of what I have planned for this boat involves fishing by myself or, when used as a tandem, exploring mangrove lagoons and suchlike, it fits the bill pretty much to a "T".

Listening to Elvis Costello

So it goes...

Learning through misadventure...

Something you should read about wolves and politics, someone at Goldman Sachs apparently grew a conscience, and what the media misses...

I'm in the midst of trying to repair a "new" to me inflatable kayak I recently bought and it's not a pretty picture...

On the plus side, nothing teaches you what works or does not work in a design like having it fail and then seeing the why of that failure and it is especially frustrating as some elements of this design make so much sense only to be ruined by cutting corners on materials or labor somewhere else. Sadly, the way things are built these days it's often impossible to see how things are put together unless they fail and you get up close and personal with them trying to fix them.

That said, the old adage of "What does not kill us makes us stronger" is certainly apt and, while the new kayak is something of a disaster, it has taught me how to build a better inflatable dinghy. The big question is now that I know, how do I turn it into a reality?

Oh yeah, you might want to give Clear Blue Hawaii products a miss...

Listening to Rickie Lee Jones

So it goes...

The project list just got a lttle longer...

Krugman says some important stuff about Texas, Vigor offers some good advice, and Adafruit points us to a great op-ed on ideas...

I've been thinking...

Yeah, I know thinking is something of questionable activity these days (apparently soon to be made illegal in some states) but it sometimes does come in handy.

Case in point, I've been reading way too much about single speed bikes (the new hip thing for those cyclists who need a quiver) as you simply can't get away from them on the cycle circuit. A lot of my dissatisfaction with the idea of single speeds is the common thread that going to a single speed (and I won't even begin to go into the nether regions of things Sturmey-Archer) is that you can use a belt because chains and derailleurs apparently are such a hassle. Just for the record, there are no plans in my future to ever have a single speed.

As it happens, a friend was telling me how neat the new Native Watercraft Ultimate kayak was and that it sported a Propel drive...



Folks may also remember I'm a big fan of the Hobie Mirage drive and how I wish more folks would design dinghies around the drive (right now there is only one that I know of). Part of the reason for the lack of designs is that the Mirage is not well suited to boats that have a lot of rocker and it has occurred to me that the Propel drive or a DIY version might be more readily adaptable...

So, we were talking about thinking... right?  As it happens, while I think a single speed bike with a belt drive is dumb as a box of hammers, I do get a tingle when I look at the Propel drive while thinking DIY thoughts along with dinghies and off-the-shelf bike parts.

Houston, we just added another project to the list...

Listening to BTO

So it goes...

One very cool possible dinghy!

These days we tend to think of dinghies as RIB's and that is just a little problematic... I won't get into the whole RIB's vs other forms of dinghy arguments except to say a lot of us do ourselves a disservice in not looking past the same old same...

Lately I've been leaning towards kayaks but they have their own brand of problems and compromises as well. That said, kayaks are a growing market with a somewhat explosive evolution at the moment and it is only a matter of time till a kayak or kayak like dinghies becomes a serious contender... Fact is. it might already be here!

The Nucanoe fits into that sorta kinda kayak/canoe zone and if I were to describe it to someone I'd call it more dory like than anything else...

Yeah I'd say there is a real dory influence!

The Nucanoe comes in 10 and 12 foot and the company has put a lot of thought and cleverness into making it adaptable to various uses, which for us sailing folk means we can pretty easily adapt it to OUR needs...

Like most tupperware rotomolded boats they are unsinkable and tough, not a bad thing in a dinghy...

Even better is the current pricing... The 10 foot lists for $799 while the 12 foot goes for $899... A quick search on the internet shows me street pricing is maybe $100 less... I have to say I really like this boat!

Gifts that make sense for someone cruising...

Since this is Christmas, Boat Bits might as well get on the "let's make a list of things to pimp" bandwagon in an effort to bring a little income to the blog (everyone else is).

I noticed that Blue Water Cruising (who seem to know lots about pimping) had such non-essential gear as a carbon fiber clock (but with nautical flags!), a doggie bed, and a nautical-themed (yep flags) charm bracelet... Obviously NOT the sort of territory we cover here at Boat Bits Central!

So, what sort of stuff to pimp err... suggest?

Well, I don't know a single cruiser who is not also a voracious reader. Factor in the fact that good books are hard to find in most cruising locations and a box of books starts looking like a mighty fine gift that will be appreciated not just by the giftee but by those he comes in contact with through book trades and suchlike. For sure, the sort of gift that keeps on giving!

Though one thing to keep in mind is that if you are going to give someone a book that is part of a series, send the whole series. Often I've found it nearly impossible to get either the next book in a series or the one preceeding the book someone just gave me. So It Goes has an entire bookshelf devoted to books I have not read because I have not come across the earlier titles which would make sense of the book I have... So if you want to give someone the new Joe Pike novel by Robert Crais, you might want to include the earlier one (The Watchman) as well...

Tools are always a good bet as I don't know anyone on a boat who has all the tools they need, much less want. While a tool like a little folding pull saw for the tool kit or a ceramic pocket knife for the rigging bag may not be as nautically twee as a carbon fiber clock with signal flag motif, it will be appreciated for years to come, as well as earning its keep.

Fishing gear is always appreciated. A lure or two is always a needful thing on a boat but then, just maybe, why not a whole new hobby and get them a fly rod or fly tying kit?

Something I'd love for "So It Goes" is a good inflatable two-person kayak as we sold our old one and have been kicking ourselves ever since...

But, since I guess a list like this has to have something cute (though I'll be damned if I go the Blue Water Sailing little flag twee route), how about a cool backgammon set? We really love to play backgammon but the backgammon set always seems to be something of a pain to get out. This set is in a bag and folds up into no space at all and it's cheap... Neat!

Nearly small enough to fill a Christmas stocking...

A small and tidy package...

I've spent months researching various inflatable kayaks and so far most have come up short in one way or another. So far, when all is said and done, they all seem to take up just too much space in the cockpit locker to make them a better choice than a real tortured plywood sea kayak. Inflatables cease to have an advantage if you have to keep them stowed on deck.

This one by Innovahowever, looks promising...



I'm pretty sure I can find that kind of space!