I have to admit I really don’t like internal combustion engines when they are part of a sailboat. Partly because they’re dirty foul things that take a disproportionate chunk of the cost of owning a boat. I mention this because I recently caught a review of a Sigmadrive unit that made a strong case for …
I’ll admit that watching the current POTUS-elect fill his cabinet with the execrable and dimmest folks he can find is just a bit unsettling. Of course, the real unsettling part of the mix is about 50% of the population of the US of A thinks he’s doing a great job. Apparently, I live in a …
Just another day in the time of flying excrement… Read More »
As it happens, my project lists have become so unmanageable it’s just time to circular-file them and start anew. Or, in other words, get a just-the-basics need/want list that makes sense. For starters, I’ll be doing something different and narrow the number of projects on the list to ten items because “ten” is a doable …
Sometimes you just have to buy something for the boat and at the moment, I really should get a hand-bearing compass. Now my first and usual reaction is to find a cruiser flea flea market and find one for around $10 bucks or so but the problem these days, is you don’t see a lot …
I keep noticing that the cost of used self-steering gears continue to rise. For example, the Navik windvane which used to sell somewhere between $150- $500 dollars is now selling for somewhere between $400-$1000 dollars (check here for a price spread on used Naviks). While it still might be the best deal going for a …
I recently had a conversation with someone wanting to get into cruising and it seemed that his main goal had a lot to do with achieving a certain level of independence. Sound familiar? For me, the best way to achieve a reasonable amount of independence is to simplify and live within one’s means. Which, I’ll …
Ian asked what affordable means and I realized I was less than clear about my wants where propulsion is concerned. So, let’s dig in… Affordable is a scary word these days and pretty much useless without context. In my case, back when I first put together an electric drive for “So It Goes” I spent …
I have a couple of leaks on the Islander and, while not serious, the fact that one of the leaks is a mystery is just a kiss unsettling. The known leak is the Lasdrop shaft seal. Lasdrop no longer supports this model so I’m currently looking for a replacement from a company that supports their …
The Islander 36, like most boats, has a pulpit and it’s the bit of the design that really gets up my nose. Of course, I really should add that in 90% of boats I see, the pulpit is problematic at best. So, why don’t I like pulpits? For starters, they are part of the the …
This week, one of the tasks I actually look forward to is getting rid of all the vestiges of AC power aboard the Islander. Partly because the existing system is right up there with the stick a fork in a power circuit combined with taking a bath with a plugged in toaster. Then there’s the …
AC/DC and a couple of thoughts on a frugal power system… Read More »
