the sound of a magazine hitting the bulkhead...

Robert Reich with a needful point, something about sand, and the best boat oriented blog post I've read in ages...

Sailing Anarchy has a really excellent piece on the current state of sailing in the US of A and it got me thinking about why I've been in a bad mood since reading this years Pittman Awards in the new Sail magazine.

It's all about the winch...

Well, really, it's a little more complicated than that. For one, Sail happens to be the only mainstream sailing magazine I still subscribe to as its TATBID (thrown-against-bulkhead-in-disgust) factor is much lower than say, CW whose only use I can find these days is driving me to excessive drinking and copious profanity as I don't have a bird cage to line. Anyway, I actually like Sail magazine and the Pittman awards are something I really look forward to because they seem to understand what the definition of the word "i-n-n-o-v-a-t-i-o-n" means when talking about sailboats.

Or so I thought till I read about the EWincher...

Insert sounds of Sail Magazine hitting the bulkhead, profuse profanity, cat hissing, and the pouring of cheap as we can find rum...

The thing is, a winch of even modest size multiplies power in a big way. Even a wimpy guy or someone way past their prime (like me) can tear sails apart, rip hardware out of the deck, and just generally do all sorts of mayhem that would impress the Incredible Hulk. Add in the fact that most sailboats are already overwinched and have BFWs (spelled BIG FRELLING WINCHES) which are more than capable of pulling the frelling mast down. So, imagine my surprise to find out that what we've all been needing is a smartphone-programmable, $3100 Ewincher. I guess trimming sheets is just too difficult and physically taxing for the average sailor to handle these days.

Truth be told, I think what really pisses me off is that, for the most part, they're probably right and the average sailor needs all the help available because the physical exertions of even the most simple sailing tasks are beyond them.

Which is just all sorts of depressing.

Listening to a Zombie cover of note

So it goes...

Just another horrible apocalyptic event to worry about...

Badtux with a very good point, a bit of our shameful dark history in the Pacific, and to think I thought marine refrigeration was pricey...

In the "Will I need to get a new compass" department.



Listening to Me-Gumi

So it goes...

A video channel you should be following...

Something to make you feel better, Warren Miller is no longer with us, and in the "At least someone still has a wicked sense of humor" department...

From the folks at Gone Floatabout.



Listening to the Fall

So it goes...

and the world keeps spinning...

On undermining trust, why your next solar panel purchase will be more expensive, and in the Senate "short eyes" department...

Sadly, Ursula K. Le Guin is no longer with us.



Listening to Rodney Crowell

So it goes...

A map of interest...

Someone who will be missed, living in the era of "truth decay", and the NYT making sense...

A great way to get out of your language-centric head space.

 The Endonyms of the World map

Listening to the Flusters

So it goes...

SNAFU watching...

Regarding Luke 3:11, a cease & desist kinda guy, and stuff you need to know about Puerto Rico...

To be honest, I've been watching the government shutdown antics and not exactly paying attention to boat stuff. That said, there is a little sailing news of some import that, I expect, you'll find all kinds of interesting and worth checking out.

Now, if you'll forgive me, I'll get back to observing the US of A spiraling down the white ceramic chute.

Listening to some Cranberries covers

So it goes...

Something you'll want to read...

All hat and no cattle, some new interesting tech, and the possibility of life on places other than Earth...

Sailing Anarchy has an excellent must read rant... Check it out.

Listening to Stephen Stills

So it goes...

Some jobs...

A new voice of interest at L,G, & M, words on a wall, and a point well taken...

Some jobs on boats can be the stuff of nightmares. For instance, what's on today's menu of tasks involves a big honking sander, a stack of forty grit, and a small enclosed space... In other words, a real horror show.

Of course, what I'd like to be doing is working on my latest guitar build (an electric 12 string) or some such project that does not necessitate several hours of shop vacuum cleanup to deal with the aftermath.

That said, some jobs are needful and, as much as I'd love to do anything else, you can only put off stuff for so long.

Listening to BTO

So it goes...

On my project list...

Sailing Anarchy makes a case, so does John Scalzi, what you really should know about Haiti, and today in the "Spineless cowards and enablers" department...

I've spent the last couple of days thinking about various heating options for "So It Goes" and trying to come up with a cunning plan of where/how to install such a beast. It makes my brain hurt.  Obviously there is a lot to be said for avoiding travel to places where a new wardrobe is required.

Add to that the fact that a haul out for bottom painting is way past needful and, in my current location, the cost of a haulout is crazy expensive as well as somewhat problematic as the yard is still full of boats from "H" season. Of course, all made worse by the age old question of what sort of antifouling to go with...

Note to self: NEED TO BUY MORE ASPIRIN!

Listening to some Doc Pomus covers

So it goes...

Shit...

Regarding the Endangered Species Act, a sailing story in the news, and a request from some people who have a special perspective...

Oh yeah, in the "racist asshole" department tRumps doing his best to make Americans unpopular where you might want to cruise.

Listening to Odetta

So it goes...

Regarding the new (sorta/kinda) Wylo 35...

Troubling news, a question of note, and some very interesting numbers...

PBO, has a blog post, discussing a new cruising boat coming to the market that you might want to check out.

Still here?

Listening to Gregg Allman

So it goes...

Some pictures of interest...

Ten principles of design, boy howdy but this really sucks, and the scariest thing I've read in ages...

HEO (Hisse et Oh) regularly has photo contests and the current one involves DIY improvements with lots and lots of great ideas with, I'm sure, lots more to come.

Check it out.

Listening to France Gall (who is no longer with us)

So it goes...

Some sense being made...

What grown-ups do, an alternative to plastic packaging, and over in the "Scum & Villainy" department...

Over at the Proa File Michael Schacht makes the case for the Cargo Proa which is something you need to check out.

You're still here?

Listening to Metalachi and liking it.

So it goes...

Ummm Noah...

Some interesting reading, a record of note, and in the "Time to start practicing drop drills again" department...

A little bit of excess windage.


Ark van Noach replica op drift en ramt enkele zeilboten from ClubRacer on Vimeo.

Listening to Passenger

So it goes...

On building a surfboard...

EBM with an important historical note, today in the "Not good news at all" department, and a book review you might want to check out...

Just nice.



Listening to Rob Galbraith

So it goes...

2018

Dick Dorworth making sense, something on the subject of IV bags, and Daily KOS has an excellent piece on Puerto Rico, the USVI, and the ongoing aftermath of hurricanes Maria/Irma...

So, yeah...

20-frelling-18

Survived another one, didn't we?

That said, for those of us stuck in tRumpistan, a country that bears more than a passing resemblance to ex-Yugoslavia just before the shit-hit-the-fan. The operative word being just before...

Interesting times. The kind of times that make you want to sail away or drive you to drink.

So, yeah...

2018.

Time to get serious about shit and channel the whole fight/flight mojo into something positive, kick-ass, and effective.

And, yes dear reader, we'll continue to talk about boats, piss (some) folks off, and just generally do our level best to scandalize the neighborhood...

Listening to Kathleen Edwards

So it goes...