Stuff that works

a current project…

A very good point, EBM says the needful, and in the “interesting breakdowns” department… I’m just about to put together a project kit to build a Jean-du-Sud style, side-mounted outboard bracket for the Islander. Which will be an interim solution for the morphing diesel to electric propulsion process. You know, something like this… Far Reach …

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A simple auxiliary solution…

John Scalzi on how to prove you’re a US citizen, something about Native American education, and Daniel Ford says what I’ve been thinking… Part of the appeal of an electrical auxiliary system is that it’s simple, easy to put together, and inexpensive. Well, compared to marine industry pricing. But, keep in mind “Marine” electric propulsion …

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doing stuff on a budget…

Something I did not know about landfills, an interesting read, and some Cosplay Barbie news… The June issue of Caribbean Compass has an interesting article about crossing the Atlantic west to east entitled Crossing the Atlantic, an Electric-Powered Passage: Part II. It’s worth the read. However, I have a few quibbles with the methodology and …

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an Harlé VolksCruiser…

Regarding internal refugees, a factoid of note, and in the “well of course they did” department… Three of my favorite boats that I consider VolksCruisers are the Tonic, Sangria, and Sangria NV/ Fantasia. By today’s standards they’re all too small for most folks to consider. We’re not most people now are we? The thing about …

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a DIY windvane…

A needful read, regarding AI/audio books, and the stupid, it burns… I’ve never been a fan of the Hydrovane self-steering gear as I feel they are overly expensive and prefer trim tab auxiliary rudder systems. That said, this guy seems to have built a hydrovane type gear for somewhere around $50. Which, judging from the …

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some current thoughts…

An interesting article on navigation, a book I think I need to read, and in the “STUPID STUPID STUPID” department… Yachting Monthly has a most excellent article on the reality of electric propulsion. Really, you should read it. Having had three different electric propulsion systems on “So It Goes”, I’m well acquainted with both the …

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My current ride…

An interesting take on AI, a 4th grader making sense, and in the “competitive authoritarianism” department… I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to sort out where our bikes are going to reside on the Islander. At the moment, it appears that the most logical place is by the shrouds amidships. Might even hang …

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some anchor thoughts…

This pissed me off, some very good points, and in the “Yep, stupid” department… Getting ready to get out of Dodge and I have to make some decisions about anchors. Seriously, it keeps me up at night. Our main anchor is a 44# Mantus. It works despite being anchored in two Cat 5 hurricanes (Irma …

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