Recent content by thataway

I appreciate the draw of an "all in one unit". There are now several dozen various "suitcase power supplies". or Solar Generators, which is the suitcase (batteries, fuses ?? monitoring, and inverter in one piece.). Pecron, Jackery, Oupes, etc. I much perfer to use the equiptment which I know...

I suspect that the boat was traveling at a very high rate of speed, to cause the tree to peel the entire foredeck and cabin off the hull and almost to the pilot house. The bank was severely underwashed, and other trees looked as if they had fallen. From the position of the tree, and damage...

Thanks to all of the C Brats at the Hontoon gathering for calling to say "Hello" at their lunch today. Thanks to John Highsmith who arranged the call. It looks like a great number of boats, C Brats and good weather! Have fun!

A whole new concept on "open bow". I suspect that the boat will be totaled. Ranger 23, described as a "fishing boat" by one account. Before 7 AM--asleep, or impaired by drug, alcohol or medical issue. Near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Injuries described as minor.

Harvey, I know that you are not so short that your eyes are 3' off the water. It would be closer to 5' and maybe a bit more. That was an excellent point about VHF antennas, that they should be perpendicuar to the water--and never slanted back where most of your signal is going off into...

Thank you KC--I agree that the Strobe beats the "flare", except for battery replacement--and extra batteries can easily be kept aboard in the ditch bag. We had this on our last C Dory 25, along with DSC on the marine VHF radio. Be sure and get the proper MMSI number from Boat US. in only...

Is there a core in the bulkhead you are re-doing the hatch covers? If so, any bad core (wet or broken down) must be removed before doing anything else. Then use Life Seal Life Caulk as your sealant for plactic to fiberglass. If you have a local 'gasket" or "Rubber company" often they can make...

Dowsil 795 is a very tough sealant used for adhesion and glazzing of windows on large office builings. It is also used on the MegaYachts for their large window sealing. I became familiar with it when we removed the glass windows and put in 3/8" lexan "bullet proof" windows in our Cal 46--these...

The Raymarine 24" radar does not look out of place on a C Dory22 where as a 4' open scanner would. The dinghy serves all sorts of other uses than just taking a dog ashore. We have used ours in several emergencies to get people out of the water, to get an emergency message out at Lake Powell...

"Having nine panels of BOTH materials to choose from would be really elegant. Happy Hunting" I am not sure where John came up with 9 panels. The opaque material is light weight, and in a single sheet for each side. The can be hung with snaps, lift the dot fasteners or Velcro. On out last 25...

It is difficult for me to believe that there is not some water influex into the cockpit through John's Phifertex panels in heavy rain and wind--certainly conditions we have encountered in all areas of the US in our cruising C Dorys and larger boats. There certainly is visability through John's...

I have used both the free fall and power down Lewmar 700. I much perfer the standard power down, because it can be totally controlled at the helm. I Drop the anchor to the bottom, note which way the wind or current will push or pull the boat. Then I back down slowly, paying out the line with...

Excellent post; Thank you John. I wonder about the outside person being able to see inside the Phifertex plus at night when it is dark outside and you have a light on in the cockpit? Do you have a cloth or some blocking material in case this happens? The alternate to the DECKadence carpet is...

"I've never seen a transom saver with a spring in it." I guess I can say "I have never seen a Transom Saver without a spring". Mine had a spring in the center which has a bit of give, and acts like a shock adsorber. Only a short distance of travel. However it is the only Transom Saver I have...

The Transom Saver in this case is a strut which goes from the leg of the motor/motors tilted up to the trailer frame, and is spring loaded. (There is also a "Transom Saver" which is a hdp plastic block attatched to the transom to screw the depth sounder transducer into, avoiding multiple holes...