An interesting podcast, some solar downsides, and maybe the scariest thing I’ve read in a decade…
Over breakfast, this morning the subject of bike touring came up and it got me remembering just how little I carried while cycling from Los Angeles to NYC before the Bicentennial. Back in the day, I could put most of my life in some panniers and a day pack.
Which got me thinking that I’d love to spend a few months doing a similar ride in Europe. Rowing the French canal system is also on my list. You know, getting back to basics. Still, compared to cruising in even the smallest sailboat would be luxury compared to bike touring or rowing an open dory through the canals.
For instance, here’s what I’ve always thought of how the perfect minimal cruiser would be laid out.
Which, I have to admit, sure beats sleeping rough in a tiny tent. Harle’s Tonic stuffs a lot of comfort in a 23-foot envelope.
I’m sure that my personal ideas of luxury don’t coincide with most people’s. Mostly it just means a comfortable bed, a cozy dinette, a place to cook, and a toilet that works.
To be honest, anything bigger than this minimal cruiser is just adding more stowage to the equation. Being able to carry more tools and suchlike would be nice but doesn’t add to the concept of comfort most folk seem to need.
Hunter Horizon 232 is another with similar interior. Add sprayhood and cockpit tent, for a place to hang out wet stuff.
A Herbulot Figaro 5 would make a row/sail cruiser. Cant deal with cabin-less boats outside of a daysail.
Couldn’t agree more. Both I and the wife marvel at how much we like our 27′ boat and how it seems really comfortable. Even with a family of 4. Dinghy storage sucks. Storage overall could be better, but it’s currently adequate. Better ventilation and a heater are what we want most at the moment. Where we sail we mostly associate with hikers and kayakers, so we are always keenly aware of what they are dealing with. We truly have luxury in comparison.
Last summer we were out hiking when a storm with very strong winds came through. It blew the companionway hatch open and drenched the interior. So we get back from our rainy hike and see this… I was seriously pissed off for a moment, and then I thought to myself “hell the hikers don’t have anything dry at all, I got me a totally dry v berth! I cleaned up the mess and by noon the next day everything was good as new.