Leaking port and delayed back surgery for my mom

| December 5, 2011

After weathering the hot summer and safely making it through hurricane season, our sailboat Encore demonstrated that wind and rain from “unnamed storms” can still find its way into a closed boat. One of the port above the book rack dripped some water onto a few books … a couple of them headed straight to [...]

And if the economy gets really bad …

| September 3, 2011

… we’ll just live on the boat (WSJ video below).

Cleaning up the Magma grill after bring it home from the boat

| March 19, 2011

I worked on one of the many items I brought home from the boat this past week – the Magma stern rail grill.  I took the layer of greasy grime off both the inside and outside, cleaned up the burner and gave it a good warm up … so much that the wooden lid handle [...]

Somali pirates take a Danish sailboat which includes 3 children

| February 28, 2011

On the heels of a tragic ending for the Americans traveling on s/v Quest, another sailboat has been taken by Somali pirates. According to news reports, the pirates have hijacked a family (parents and three children) as well as two others onboard. Report translated from DR.dk News: Danish sailing ship hijacked by pirates A ship [...]

WaterCars–but are they diesels?

| November 17, 2010

I’ve always enjoyed unique vehicles such as the AmphiCars of the past or the flying Super Sky Cycle motorcycle and Terrafugia Transition flying car, but didn’t realize how far the drive-able boat has come along. Some years ago I recall the Floating Cubans attempted to escape the grip of Fidel in a 1951 Chevy pickup [...]

Interesting underwater observation watercraft

| September 10, 2010

A couple sailing friends currently spending time cruising northwestern Madagascar are enjoying the area around Nosy Be. While doing a little map checking on the area, I ran across a couple interesting photos with someone doing some maintenance on a different kind of tourist oriented watercraft (click for larger image). Having just returned from Bermuda, [...]

Advice from shipwright and rigger Jerr Dunlap

| November 30, 2009

I’m archiving — and sharing — a good sailing advice blog and video series by shipwright and rigger Jerr Dunlap (@myboatworks) out in Marina del Rey, California — thanks Jerr. He has several great video “how-to” clips …  here are two on how to fit a Norseman Fitting.

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.