Lately I’ve been thinking quite a bit about buying and installing an AIS transponder but stuck in the need/want and affordable/ not affordable tests. The bottom line being that I just don’t want to spend $700 or so for a transponder with all the needful bits. Here’s a solution for an alternative solution that would …
Minimal boat, minimal systems. Just about as seaworthy as you can get.
I’ve been mulling over various solutions to mount our chart-plotter in such a way that it could live in the boat but allow for it to hinge into the companionway to allow it to be seen from the cockpit. Hardly rocket science but it does exercise the mind into coming up with a workable solution. …
Now that we’ve finally sorted out the various Yanmar issues, pretty much got the boat livable, and no longer seem to be sitting around waiting for parts, it’s time to finally get around to the fun stuff. Which translates to tweaking the rig and installing some needful stuff. As far as the rig goes, the …
I’ll be honest and get out front and tell you that I really hate shopping. Which, according to the marine press, is something of a rarity as it appears in reading them that the main point of sailing or cruising is buying stuff and spending money. That said, having bought an elderly but new-to-me boat …
So, I’ve had a lot of time the last couple of weeks to think about how electronics are at best somewhat problematic these days… My issues with computers recently have not been a “It’s on a boat” problem but simply that electronics of any sort can be a real pain in the ass. Especially when …
I’m not a big fan of electronics in the cockpit as a wet and UV-rich environment is really not a great place to mount them. Sure they all say they’re designed for the wet and have covers to deal with the UV issue but, at least in my personal experience, the instruments start showing their …
It’s been pointed out to me on many occasions that the whole concept of VolksCruisers puts some folks at a real disadvantage in the social context of cruising. Many have even suggested/demanded that I should come up with some, shall we say “cunning”, ways to make a VolksCruiser more socially acceptable. Seriously? I can only …
Here’s a simple cheapseats AIS receiver over at Hisse et Oh you may want to check out. Now, don’t you wish you’d paid more attention in French class during high school? Not to worry, Google translate is there for you if you need help…
This is just neat… A Garmin GPS chartplotter and fishfinder for $299. While being told I’m a Luddite all the time I can still see the value of good quality cheap electronic aids to navigation because they make the whole VoksCruising gig easier, safer, and more affordable. Sure you can pay a lot more for …
and in “the best of times the worst of times” department… Read More »
