Archive for 'Systems'
Learning the ropes (and wires, and rods, and spars)
As an interlude, of sorts, in our hectic schedule of looking at boats, decrying their deficiencies and/or costs, and freaking out about where to live until we find one, Mandy and I had the opportunity to attend one of famed local rigger Brion Toss’ Rig Your Boat weekend workshops. These workshops are something of a [...]
Full StoryKeeping busy
It’s amazing how self-contained you can be on a boat. All the running back and forth to various marine hardware stores that happens when one is in port must either serve to stock up on a variety of otherwise superfluous supplies, or simply be unnecessary, because there is never any lack of things to be [...]
Full StoryThe Joys of a Dry Boat
Damp is a constant condition for most boats, or at least a condition that owners constantly must fight with in order to maintain a dry and pleasant aspect aboard their vessel. Everything, understandably, is stacked against a boat being dry (and I don’t mean dry in the alcoholic sense; indeed, the wetter your boat is [...]
Full StoryThe Rules
No, not the Rules of the Road… I’m talking about the real rules that govern the day to day lives of sailors. Most of you have some idea what I am talking about even if you have never put names to them. Every sailor I know, for instance, has some selected multiplier he or she [...]
Full StoryAll Hauled Out
Hauling out, that annual or biannual, or in our case triannual, ritual, is a taxing business, and I’m feeling pretty overtaxed even though we’re done with it finally. Turns out that while it can be a pretty demanding event for anyone, when it’s your home going up on blocks, it’s even more stressful. I had [...]
Full StoryIrreducible Minimums
“Oh, great,” you say. “Here he goes again about risk and checklists and aviation or something. BOOORRRIIING!” Well, fear not, my friends. I’m not going to talk about that tedious old crap. I’m going to talk about another kind of crap altogether, fresh, exciting crap that you will be happy to learn about: our stuff. [...]
Full StoryThe Spring Fancy
It’s spring, and the light green sprouts on the hillside above the marina make it look as if Bob Ross has taken his great celestial brush and begun the annual creation of his legions of happy little trees. The sun is out, warmth begins to seep into the cabin from outside rather than leaking out [...]
Full StoryWhat’s on your life vest?
I always find it interesting to compare gear and outfitting among different crews I come in contact with. Even more interesting is the thought process and the experiences that inform those choices. The Internet presents some fascinating and detailed perspectives from sailors all over the world on how and why to equip yourself and your [...]
Full StoryAn Early Spring
As is typical in boating, our practices this winter didn’t follow the plans made in the fall. We had imagined we would be out sailing more, nearly as frequently as during the summer, rather than house-sitting and splitting our time commuting between boat and house. We didn’t spend much time winterizing, imagining we would be [...]
Full StoryLong Shots
The mariners of yore had it easy; oh, sure, the boats were frail and wooden, the weather was unpredictable and the waters uncharted… but did they ever have to try to pull in a wireless Internet signal from five miles out? There are still sailors, of course, who hold to a philosophy of austerity, spurning [...]
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Marty McOmber
Scott Wilson