Back when I was a kid, cruising was not about buying stuff, keeping up with the Joneses, or being cool. It was mostly about being there and doing it. Most everyone out cruising was on a budget, no one had fan clubs or followers, and companies were not handing out gear to Influencers. To tell …
One of my favorite cruising books I’ve come across is Orca and if you have not read it you really should. I mention this because there’s a sequel “Thicker Than Ice” by John Pennington that’s even better. Truthfully, I was not able to put the book down till I was finished and there are not …
Not too long ago, someone wrote and asked me why I did not focus on catamarans because all the hip kids were cruising cats and I really should get with the program. Since, at least in my mind, I’m writing for blue collar or minimum wage folks and I just can’t get my head around …
Today I get to get rid of a three burner propane with oven that I’m pretty sure has issues I don’t want to deal with. The previous owner of the boat, apparently, was not someone who cooked very often if ever. Which is no bad thing because when I was first confronted with the propane …
While it would seem that a lot of folks no longer read and prefer their boat building education to be administered via YouTube, I’ll point out a few books that cover just about everything you need when taking on a VolksCruiserish project. Dan Spurr’s Boatbook is the first book I brought on to the Islander …
One of the things I’ve noticed with the advent of YouTube cruising video channels is that they seem to inspire all the wrong questions about getting a boat and sailing off into the sunset. Which is hardly surprising as most of the YouTube videos seem to fall into the cinema faux zone. Which is not …
I’ve been following the build of a Bolger design of late and it’s akin to fingernails being dragged across a chalkboard to me. Admittedly, it’s a very common mistake that’s being made but I find that the misuse of epoxy just drives me batshit crazy. Epoxy is great stuff but it is expensive and it …
Back in the dark ages, when I was living on a CAL 20, I went to a lecture by Herman Daly who really blew my mind with his thoughts on economic growth. Sadly. he passed away recently. I mention this here because his take on economics has a whole lot to do with my thoughts …
The popularity of the Bermuda rig has caused a general lack of knowledge on most other rigs and how to rig them. Luckily for us a few books are all you need to sort out that problem. Phil Bolger’s “103 Sailing Rigs” talks a lot about various rigs and their variations in a common sense …
For some reason or other I found myself reading “Voyaging on a Small Income” by Annie Hill and realized that it’s still the best book out there on the subject. Sure it’s a kiss dated here and there but the bulk of the information contained within it’s covers is just as valid as it was …
