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 »
Today the plan is to glue up the self-steering rudder, continue thinking about a hard top Bimini and dodger. The current Bimini is fugly and not strong enough to carry solar panels. I have a few ideas but it remains to be seen whether they are cunning or “cunning” if you know what I mean. …
I’m currently waiting for a dry day so I can glue up the three boards set to become the new self-steering gear for the Islander. I’ll be upfront and say that I currently have a severe case of workshop envy. Which is not to say you can’t build a self-steering gear or dinghy on a …
Over the last few months I’ve been thinking a lot about how to fit too many musical instruments into a 36-foot boat. You might say I really need a cunning plan to make sense of three electrics, two acoustics, a bass, a uke, a mandolin, and a piano/organ. Which, I’ll point out, not really a …
dealing with what some might think are too many guitars… Read More »
Every morning at just about 9:00 a.m., a daysail trimaran slips past our stern taking tourists off to Buck Island. I mention this because most of the days I really envy their quiet outboard as they whisper past. Yeah, I suffer from outboard envy. Outboards make all kinds of sense for sailboats and I often …
One of my least favorite parts of a new boat is dealing with the sail end of the task list. Whether fixing old sails, buying new ones, or searching out good used ones it’s just a big pain in the ass from where I’m sitting. Of course, dealing with what passes for competence in the …
Every once in a while I find myself somewhat dumbfounded on just how bad some of the Islander 36 build and design happen to be. Far too often I find myself doing the “What the hell were they thinking of?” two-step mantra and it’s just sorta/kinda crazy making. Of course, the truth is that the …
One of the issues that the Islander presented was that the opening ports were well past their sell by date. All six ports either needed parts or required replacement and, as the cost of Beckson parts were astronomic, new ports were a given. My first impulse was to build Wiley ports as they are dead …
next job on the list, installing new portlights… Read More »
One of the reasons we bought our Islander 36 was because it ticked the same needs as the Dufour 35. For comparison here’s the islander 36… As far as the numbers go they’re very similar and if you want to check them out you can find them here for the Dufour and Islander at Sailboat …
