Why I find myself asking … “How would James Baldwin refit this boat?” Atom Voyages has always been the gold standard for refit videos. If you have an issue of what to do with your classic plastic project there’s a 99% chance that Atom Voyages has the answer. Nuff said.
So, yeah, about that Islander 36 project boat… Confronted with a boat like the Islander, my first impression is “Ugh”. My second is “Get rid of all the crap and clean the sucker up and there might be a good boat in there somewhere”. And, my third reaction is “I need to do the math!”. …
Yesterday, while making a list of stuff I need to procure, the thought crossed my mind that boat stuff, more than likely with the incoming regime, is going to become a whole lot more expensive in a hurry. For that matter, everything is going to cost more than we’d like with maybe the exception of …
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 …
I’m having a lot of trouble keeping my mind on boat jobs I need to be doing. While I should be building a new dodger, sorting out needful spares for Yanmar, chasing down that mystery leak that’s driving me nuts but my mind always seems to be somewhere else… Like wondering how nearly 50% of …
I’m currently in the midst of getting the boat ready to get out of dodge for the “H” season. The biggest hassle being getting rid of all the stuff I no longer need (including a Cal 34) and getting the Islander in cruising trim. The current possible destinations are Grenada, Trinidad, Curacao, Columbia or Panama. …
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. …
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 »
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 …
