So instead of doing all the outside work I should be doing...I'm messing around on the computer playing with the video camera Jo bought me for last Christmas! I know you work too hard so take another 10 minutes off and I'll show you how owning Dauntless has changed my life. She's showed me new places and made friends I would have never met. Next to marrying 'Jo I think she may have been the single best decision I've ever made!
Contributor Captain Howie has made a number of modifications or additions to his Sanibel 18 that should "maximize the years" he's able to use her. The premise: whatever is difficult today will be impossible tomorrow. He call's the process "geezerizing" the boat.
Received a note and interesting photos from small-boat sailor Dayton Altman. Posted here with his permission.—Eds
Craig, Josh,
Hope you and your families are well, in this economic tsunami.
Here on this side of the country they have really skinned the sheep, to put it nicely, but we're weathering well in this service based economy.
Great article in your last issue, the Howard Rice interview. I'm feeling his conflict on sailing offshore in a Typhoon, after sailing about 700 miles in our Typhoon in three years, mostly in Long Bay from Georgetown to Southport with one trip to Beaufort NC.
I believe in part three he'll mention the Typhoon with a 14-foot waterline to be too small a platform to be handled safely when leaving the cockpit, reefing, sail changes etc. I know this to be true especially after installing the dodger and bimini top, to be out of the sun and wind is important otherwise I'll end up like a giant cranberry after three weeks in the ocean.
There are about fifty things that can go wrong with the traditional rig. Carol Hasse suggested the strong track system with a new battened main and lazy jacks, a departure from the standard rig but I'll still be outside the cockpit.
This fall and winter I'll be installing a free standing cat ketch rig utilizing twin Hobie Bravo rigs with A-frames. The sails furl around a rotating mast, at 86 square feet each they can be furled from the cockpit in a seated position in about 10 seconds. Small offshore boat rigs tend to be odd looking; egregious is the word and easy furling is the game.
I know I'll be giving up windward performance with a twin rig, but with 15 gallons of fuel we'll have a 300 mile range, and by furling from the cockpit the chances of becoming shark doodoo are greatly reduced, compared to Howard's trip. I'll keep in mind, its only Bermuda!
Here's the ultimate small-boat lantern. Tiny LED light attaches to common 9Volt battery and provides excellent illumination. This special Pilot model has a switch to go from bright white light over to night vision saving red LED light—perfect for use on the boat at night.
Virtually indestructible, these Pak-Lights don't roll away on you like a flashlight, standing upright on their squared battery, fitting in the palm of your hand, or between your teeth like we often end up using ours.
They are made in America by a family in Oregon that lives off the grid on 20 acres. One of the sons patented the light when he was about 15 years old, having designed it for his brother who was looking for an ultralight flashlight for a 2600-mile trek on the Pacific Crest Trail. Not only was the light small, it went the entire trip on one battery. Now survival experts and military forces enthusiastically endorse Pak-Lites and regularly carry them into combat.
The light will burn 30+ hours on an alkaline battery and 75+ hours on a lithium battery. The bulbs and switch will last essentially forever. The switch has gold contacts and the light comes with a 25 year warranty.
Additionally, we had them customize our light with their Glow Cap top. This means the top of the light glows in the dark through the night after use making it easy to find during anchor watch.
Also potentially serves as an emergency trailer taillight, port side running light and chart reading light.
