BROTM Dares to Talk Boats... In the Bilge!

[WI-Tom]

Good day, loyal Rats.

This thread will be an exploration of, and no doubt (by some) a (n attempted) refutation of, the following Truths about cruising:

1. Best done solo, in a tiny little boat whose auxiliary propulsion relies on oars. If others feel they must intrude, they ought do so in their own tiny little boat, provided they leave any infernal combustion devices ashore.

2. Best done in remote or at least semi-remote areas--the kind of places where you might go for days without crossing paths with another boat.

3. Best done for extended periods of time rather than in small chunks. A week more or less = a short trip. Two weeks = a trip. More than two weeks = a long(ish) trip.

4. Rowing ought be an essential component of the travel rather than toil and drudgery to which one submits only under duress.

5. Max ratio (lower ratios are accepted, even encouraged) of town/marina stops to cruising days: 1/13.

6. Reef early, reef often. Old rules are old for a reason.

7. A degree of self-steering capability sufficient to allow hands-off steering for long chunks of time is a necessity. This includes cleating or tying of the mainsheet.

8. A jib or staysail is an abomination. A mizzen is tolerable, if unnecessary.

9. Onboard toilet facilities required. Pack it in, pack it out.

10. Do more with less.

Thus spake the BROTM. Now go and do likewise.

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Tom

[rgthom]

Mostly yes, but there is a lot to be said for solo cruising during the day and meeting up in the evening at a funky marina, often run by a local family, with showers, a restaurant, and a bar to congregate and brag about the day.

[Tom from Rubicon]

Read your book Tom, Jagular Goes Everywhere

[Jack Loudon]

"9. Onboard toilet facilities required. Pack it in, pack it out."

I understand the pack out rule for solid waste, though poop in a 'cat hole' generally breaks down pretty quickly (I could tell you how I became aware of this). But don't most people (men) normally pee over the side, and in smaller boats pee in a bottle which is then dumped over the side? Obviously not when other boats are nearby...

[Chippie]

So why the existence of a deck bucket is'nt a mystery any more.

Thanks I keep tripping over the bloody things.

[Dave Hadfield]

Bug protection is vital.

[AndyG]

8. A jib or staysail is an abomination. A mizzen is tolerable, if unnecessary.

My boat has insane weather-helm when sailed without the genoa. May I have a pass on '8', please, Tom?

Andy

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Rules:

For the guidance of wise men - and.....

[Figment]

I'll take one River of Grass, please.

[Paul Pless]

River of Grass

one of the great nineties slacker films

this is what you get posting boat content (which i'm all for) down here in the bilge

[Jim Bow]

Don’t some boats have a specific poop deck?

[WI-Tom]

"9. Onboard toilet facilities required. Pack it in, pack it out."

I understand the pack out rule for solid waste, though poop in a 'cat hole' generally breaks down pretty quickly (I could tell you how I became aware of this). But don't most people (men) normally pee over the side, and in smaller boats pee in a bottle which is then dumped over the side? Obviously not when other boats are nearby...

It's awful hard to get far enough away from water for that to be a responsible approach when your cruising grounds involve camping on tiny islands. Solid waste, obviously.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

My boat has insane weather-helm when sailed without the genoa. May I have a pass on '8', please, Tom?

Andy

Ahem...

8. A jib or staysail is an abomination.

If you're using a genoa, you're already a lost cause.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

I'll take one River of Grass, please.

I don't dig the modern aesthetic, but I'm sure there's all kinds of reasons why that's a good boat.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

Bug protection is vital.

Tru dat. On some nights, anyway.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

Rules:

For the guidance of wise men - and.....

No rules in sight, just Truths.

Tom

[Yeadon]

Dogma is for the fragile.

[WI-Tom]

Dogma is for the fragile.

Indeed. But Truths are still Truths.

Tom

[David G]

I find that some people regard the solutions, strategies, and compromises that they have evolved... somehow constitute Universal Truth.

I find it when talking a 'slightly experienced' woodworkers. I find it when discussing strategy with volunteer political activists. I find it a LOT when talking to boaters. It is the rule, not the exception, with boatbuilders (a stubbornly idiosyncratic lot if ever there was one). And I still, after all these years, find it in the mirror on occasion.

[WI-Tom]

I find that some people regard the solutions, strategies, and compromises that they have evolved... somehow constitute Universal Truth.

Ah, but read carefully! No one has claimed there are any "Universal Truths" on this thread.

Tom

[David G]

Ah, but read carefully! No one has claimed there are any "Universal Truths" on this thread.

Tom

Do you really want to quibble about the difference between 'Universal Truthiness' and '... the following Truths about cruising'??

[WI-Tom]

Do you really want to quibble about the difference between 'Universal Truthiness' and '... the following Truths about cruising'??

I am the BROTM. I have a mandate for quibbling now.

Besides, not a quibble at all. A crucial distinction, I'd say. (You'll note my OP invites refutations).

Tom

[Kevin T]

Did someone say "Pack it up, pack it in." @#9

Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin
I came to win, battle me, that's a sin
I won't ever slack up, punk, ya better back up
Try and play the role and yo, the whole crew'll act up
Get up, stand up, (c'mon) c'mon, throw your hands up
If ya got the feelin', jump up towards the ceilin'

Muggs let the funk flow, someone's talkin' junk
Yo, I bust him in the eye, and then I'll take the punk's ho
Feelin', funkin', amps in the trunk, and
I got more rhymes than there's cops at a Dunkin'
Donuts shop, sho' nuff, I got props
From the kids on the Hill plus my mom and my pops

I came to get down, I came to get down
So get out your seat and jump around
Jump around (jump around)
Jump around (jump around)
Jump around (jump around)
Jump up, jump up, and get down
Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!

(Steady on the left) Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! (Everybody jump)
(Steady on the right) Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!

I'll serve your ass like John McEnroe
If your girl steps up, I'm smackin' the ho
Word to your moms, I came to drop bombs
I got more rhymes than the Bible's got Psalms
And just like the Prodigal Son, I've returned
Anyone steppin' to me, you'll get burned

[David G]

I am the BROTM. I have a mandate for quibbling now.

Besides, not a quibble at all. A crucial distinction, I'd say. (You'll note my OP invites refutations).

Tom

Well sure... if you're gonna play the BROTM card... I will, of course, defer <G>

[Todd Bradshaw]

What strikes me most is the photo showing clearly that radial corner patching doesn't set properly on cross or vertically cut sails. Sorry, but that has always been a pet peeve of mine.

[Ted Hoppe]

I want and would.

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[AndyG]

Headsail, Ted.

We're dead to Tom.

Andy

[John hartmann]

I remember a very blustery sail in the Deer Isle Thorofare, all of the sail and oar boats fully reefed down and feeling like heroes as we hiked out, getting soaked with spray. One of our group was a small gaff yawl; the almost 80 year old skipper and his crew enjoyed tea and cookies at hull speed reaching under jib and mizzen, and arrived at our stopping point dry and relaxed. It was eye opening. Umami has a jib and a mizzen; I usually carry tea and cookies in my stores, just in case.

[WI-Tom]

Headsail, Ted.

We're dead to Tom.

Andy

The good thing is, no one needs my approval to sail the way they want to. As I said, I make no claims that my Truths are Universal Truths.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

I remember a very blustery sail in the Deer Isle Thorofare, all of the sail and oar boats fully reefed down and feeling like heroes as we hiked out, getting soaked with spray. One of our group was a small gaff yawl; the almost 80 year old skipper and his crew enjoyed tea and cookies at hull speed reaching under jib and mizzen, and arrived at our stopping point dry and relaxed. It was eye opening. Umami has a jib and a mizzen; I usually carry tea and cookies in my stores, just in case.

I've heard similar things about other jib-and-mizzen-capable boats. John Welsford's Pathfinder comes to mind. Navigator, too? (I think there's a yawl rig for that).

I guess the equivalent to jib + mizzen in my boat would be "oars." Better yet, spend the blustery days exploring on shore, or broad reaching at speed with a deep-reefed sail. That can be fairly relaxing. Georgian Bay is set up nicely to broad reach south and east along the coast on blustery days.

Tom

[WI-Tom]

I want and would.

3752AC9B-0F22-4B75-AEEC-2CD462A78E43.jpg

Wow! That looks like an awfully big boat to singlehand. You could haul a bunch of crew around with you if that's your thing. I don't see a lot of seating in the cockpit--are there any seats?

Tom

[Ted Hoppe]

Wow! That looks like an awfully big boat to singlehand. You could haul a bunch of crew around with you if that's your thing. I don't see a lot of seating in the cockpit--are there any seats?

Tom

Of course there are seats! I am not the barbarian you would think.

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I usually only single hand. This is my dream boat with a huge goal of drifting down rivers and gunk holing. An open boat with a boom tent and storage in the forepeak to hold an ice chest, 2 chairs a table, a couple of sleeping bags, a tent and two folding bicycles would be all I would need.

[WI-Tom]

Of course there are seats! I am not the barbarian you would think.

Well, you do sail with a jib, after all.

Tom

[Ted Hoppe]

Well, you do sail with a jib, after all.

Tom

What are your thoughts?



Bill and I began to draw a jib driven boat for me. Alas the project fell apart with time. I think about one often.

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[Todd Bradshaw]

I mused about a Genoa-only rig for a canoe once, but never got around to trying it. Top right drawing, though it would probably need some shrouds.

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