Down here in Florida the wood on your docks need to be replaced every so often. Some of my dock boards have lasted for years and others go in only a few years. I do not think the newer treated lumber lasts as long as the old stuff, but it is safer for the environment. When I was replacing boards this year I thought I would replace the dock cleats so that they all were the same. My dock had odd cleats and I needed or wanted to add a few more anyway.
Sticker shock on what replacing them hit me when I went shopping. The ones I liked were big bucks. I found some large wood ones that were real classy. They must have been for a nice classic old wood yacht, nice red wood smooth varnished cleats. And they were not cheap.
I though they would make my dock look like my dock was owned by a rich guy who's Sh## did not stink. Then I thought a wood cleat would not last. Then I thought a wood cleat would last as long as the dock boards. Then I thought I could easily make wood cleats that looked like these with minimal cost and a little work.
I picked up two ruff cut ceder two by fours and with a band saw cut out the blanks. Then with a belt sander unit, rounded the edges and hand shaped them. After 3 coats of spar varnish they looked great. Each one was a little different, but they are not right next to each other so you can not tell. They are also big enough you can easily tie a big line two and the ceder varnished up and they have a lush red tone which makes them stand out on the dock. Easily seen when looking for a cleat and easily seen so you do not trip over them. They are very classy looking.
Now my wife said that I should make a ceder dock box and bench to go with the cleats to really make the dock look high class. 8-(
What I said to that was a Classic Wood Christ Craft would look nice at the dock also but...
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Neat Knot How TO!
I ran across this www.knots3d.com link and thought I would pass it on. It is a simple easy to follow and shows you how to tie a lot of knots. It also has decorative knots *-) you can spiff up things on your boat with. Enjoy.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Ghost in the boat?
I have 3 sailboats and I am not in the market for another. BUT I still like looking. *-)
I saw a sign for a sailboat for sail and I passed it 4 or 5 times before I stopped to look at it. When I stopped the woman that came to the door took one look at me and stepped back. I wondered if I had bird shit on me or something. I checked myself and then I ask if there was anything wrong? She got a strange smile and said no, you just caught me off guard. Then she called for her husband. He also got a strange look his face when he saw me. I then new I had bird shit or something on me.
I told them I was interested in looking at the sailboat that was for sale. The two of them looked at each other and smiled. Then the man ask if I new anything about the boat they had. I said no, I had just seen the sign. Then the man described the type of boat, that they had gotten it after the original owner had died. It is in real good shape. I ask why they were selling it. The two looked at each other and then the woman said that the boat was haunted...by the man that owned the boat before...and the ghost looked a lot like me. I was taken a little aback.
I had to see the boat. They walked me down to where the boat was tied up, and the boat was beautiful! I got a double take from the man's next door neighbor when he saw me. That made me feel creepy.
The couple told me that the boat sailed great and that when they were sailing they would often see a gimps of a man on the boat, but when they would look back they saw nothing. He would be on the bow, or by the mast or in the cabin. He would often seam to be doing work on the boat. When the wench on the cabin deck stopped working and needed service he would be there, when the bright work needed touch up it appeared he was sanding the area. Even the neighbor said he has seen "it" on the boat when no one should be on the boat. When the boat needed something done to it, "it" would appear to be trying to fix it. The longer they had the boat the more they could actually see the ghost. They got a photo of the man from the original owner's family and they showed it to me. It did look a lot like a younger version of me. That freaked me out a hole lot.
The boat was fantastic. I have to say I had more then second thoughts about really buying it. It was a classic design, and in much better shape as far as upkeep then my boats. I would have to sell one of my boats to get this one. And what scarred me was the that the ghost would make me spend all my time fixing his boat. My wife at times says I already spend to much with the boats. And I was not sure about a ghost that looked like me.
Then I thought that maybe I would get to haunt my little boat when I die. *-) I would love to haunt a new boat owner to keep the boat up and to make him or her to sail it as often as they could. I want a young person to get the boat I haunt so we could sail often and long. 8-)
I did ask if I could go sailing on it with them. I would like to see if the ghost of my old dog sailing buddy would join the ghost of the boat. If he dose I will buy that boat!
I saw a sign for a sailboat for sail and I passed it 4 or 5 times before I stopped to look at it. When I stopped the woman that came to the door took one look at me and stepped back. I wondered if I had bird shit on me or something. I checked myself and then I ask if there was anything wrong? She got a strange smile and said no, you just caught me off guard. Then she called for her husband. He also got a strange look his face when he saw me. I then new I had bird shit or something on me.
I told them I was interested in looking at the sailboat that was for sale. The two of them looked at each other and smiled. Then the man ask if I new anything about the boat they had. I said no, I had just seen the sign. Then the man described the type of boat, that they had gotten it after the original owner had died. It is in real good shape. I ask why they were selling it. The two looked at each other and then the woman said that the boat was haunted...by the man that owned the boat before...and the ghost looked a lot like me. I was taken a little aback.
I had to see the boat. They walked me down to where the boat was tied up, and the boat was beautiful! I got a double take from the man's next door neighbor when he saw me. That made me feel creepy.
The couple told me that the boat sailed great and that when they were sailing they would often see a gimps of a man on the boat, but when they would look back they saw nothing. He would be on the bow, or by the mast or in the cabin. He would often seam to be doing work on the boat. When the wench on the cabin deck stopped working and needed service he would be there, when the bright work needed touch up it appeared he was sanding the area. Even the neighbor said he has seen "it" on the boat when no one should be on the boat. When the boat needed something done to it, "it" would appear to be trying to fix it. The longer they had the boat the more they could actually see the ghost. They got a photo of the man from the original owner's family and they showed it to me. It did look a lot like a younger version of me. That freaked me out a hole lot.
The boat was fantastic. I have to say I had more then second thoughts about really buying it. It was a classic design, and in much better shape as far as upkeep then my boats. I would have to sell one of my boats to get this one. And what scarred me was the that the ghost would make me spend all my time fixing his boat. My wife at times says I already spend to much with the boats. And I was not sure about a ghost that looked like me.
Then I thought that maybe I would get to haunt my little boat when I die. *-) I would love to haunt a new boat owner to keep the boat up and to make him or her to sail it as often as they could. I want a young person to get the boat I haunt so we could sail often and long. 8-)
I did ask if I could go sailing on it with them. I would like to see if the ghost of my old dog sailing buddy would join the ghost of the boat. If he dose I will buy that boat!
Friday, January 22, 2016
Safety cable covers...cheap
I have safety cables along the sides of my boat fore safety reason's like most sailboats. They do the job they were put on the boat, but the ones right around the cockpit can be a comfort problem. If you lean on them when sailing they sort of cut in to the part of the body resting on them.
My rich brother-in-law (he is not really rich...I am just to cheap) has padded lines. They are about a 1 1/2 " and soft and they have a canvas cover over them that matches all the canvas on his boat. I really liked them. He paid a bunch for them. They are functional and attractive.
I had a few ideas for inexpensive covers for my boat. My first was the swim noodles kids and old people use in pools. *-) [I use them in a pool also, but I am not sure if I am a old kid or a young old person] Some of the noodles come with a hole down the middle and you can slide the cable through them. They come in different colors so you can match the color to your boat. They are about 2" around so they give good padding and you can still easily put your hand around them. When I went looking for them I found they could cost as much as $20.00. 8-(
Then I found at the hardware store in the plumbing department, foam insulation that slip over hot water pipes. These were gray and had a split along one side so they fit over and around the pipe. The split has a peal off paper that covers a sticky glue on one side. You put it around the pipe then pull the tape off and the two 1/2s of the split stick together. And they were way cheaper than noodles. and they look clean and neat. And they easily slip over the cable with the slit in them. I could sew canvas covers for them but then I would have to fight to slide them over the foam tube. The foam is tough enough to last a season and cheap enough to replace if it gets damaged.
My rich brother-in-law (he is not really rich...I am just to cheap) has padded lines. They are about a 1 1/2 " and soft and they have a canvas cover over them that matches all the canvas on his boat. I really liked them. He paid a bunch for them. They are functional and attractive.
I had a few ideas for inexpensive covers for my boat. My first was the swim noodles kids and old people use in pools. *-) [I use them in a pool also, but I am not sure if I am a old kid or a young old person] Some of the noodles come with a hole down the middle and you can slide the cable through them. They come in different colors so you can match the color to your boat. They are about 2" around so they give good padding and you can still easily put your hand around them. When I went looking for them I found they could cost as much as $20.00. 8-(
Then I found at the hardware store in the plumbing department, foam insulation that slip over hot water pipes. These were gray and had a split along one side so they fit over and around the pipe. The split has a peal off paper that covers a sticky glue on one side. You put it around the pipe then pull the tape off and the two 1/2s of the split stick together. And they were way cheaper than noodles. and they look clean and neat. And they easily slip over the cable with the slit in them. I could sew canvas covers for them but then I would have to fight to slide them over the foam tube. The foam is tough enough to last a season and cheap enough to replace if it gets damaged.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Boat LED lighting useing 110 LED lightbulbs.
With the availability of 110 LED light bulbs that fit in to a standard light fixture I went with all LED light bulbs in all my light fixtures on the boat...the ones that were on the 110 land plug side of the boat wiring. When plugged in to the dock it is just like a land house. I do have a DC Converter that lets me run small AC things off the batteries but not the AC lights.
There are just 3 main overhead AC lights on the boat. I was put in a new electric box in and rain the 3 lines to those lights in to it. Then I wired AC in to the box from the land line circuit, and also a line in to the box from the DC converter box. These went to a switch that would let me select which would supply the lights with AC. Now at the dock I use the land AC, and on the water I can use the AC from the converter by just the flick of the switch.
There are two types of power inverters. The less expensive type are the Modified Sine Wave inverters (MSW) and is good to run small motors, lights, fans and such. These can run but should not be used to run hi tech electronics like cell phones, plasma screen TVs, Lap tops. The modifies sine wave output is hard on these.
A True Sine Wave inverter should be use with digital electronics. They are a little more expensive and they will run everything from power tools and high tech electronics with out damaging them.
An example of these are:
The Pro Mariner True Power 400 W Power supply : A MSW unit:
The Xantrex PROwatt SW600 True Sine Wave Inverter: A True Sine Wave Inverter
Both types come in different watt output sizes. Pick a size that meet your need.
These two are good for most needs on a boat but larger sizes are available.
There are just 3 main overhead AC lights on the boat. I was put in a new electric box in and rain the 3 lines to those lights in to it. Then I wired AC in to the box from the land line circuit, and also a line in to the box from the DC converter box. These went to a switch that would let me select which would supply the lights with AC. Now at the dock I use the land AC, and on the water I can use the AC from the converter by just the flick of the switch.
There are two types of power inverters. The less expensive type are the Modified Sine Wave inverters (MSW) and is good to run small motors, lights, fans and such. These can run but should not be used to run hi tech electronics like cell phones, plasma screen TVs, Lap tops. The modifies sine wave output is hard on these.
A True Sine Wave inverter should be use with digital electronics. They are a little more expensive and they will run everything from power tools and high tech electronics with out damaging them.
An example of these are:
The Pro Mariner True Power 400 W Power supply : A MSW unit:
These two are good for most needs on a boat but larger sizes are available.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Migraine onset when sailing
I have had headaches, bad headaches on and off all my life. I can honestly say that headaches are one of the things I truly fear. I get true migraines with the flashing lights in my head and the floaters in my vision, light and sound super sensitivity, nausea ... the whole package. I know a few triggers for them and I often have some warning that one is coming on and can often head them off with med's.
If I stop what I am doing and go dormant, take over the counter meds I can often get away with just a mild headache that passes quickly. I have been taken to the ER a few times by friends when I scared them. *-)
I went sailing one afternoon by my self. Was a great day to sail, sunny, light wind and smooth water. I had been out about an hour when I started getting light flashes in my head. I headed for home ASAP!
I had no meds, and I had not let anyone know I was going out by myself. I had a hand held VAF and a cell phone, but I forgot about both of them. I just wanted to get home to a dark quiet place. The headache was coming on fast and I knew I was not going to get back before my head exploded with pain,
I put the boat in to the wind, dropped the sails and just got the hook set when the first wave of pain rolled through my head. I when below and just crumpled on the bunk. I got waves of hed pain and then waves of nausea. The light breeze that lightly caused the sail to flap sounded light thunder to me.
After about an hour or so I was wishing I would throw up...That often made me feel better, but I also knew I had very little in my stomach. I drank a bottle of water so I had something in my stomach and got a cat litter bucket I had on board to up chuck in. The I sat on the head just waiting...Then when it came, I emptied my body from both ends. I drank a second bottle of water and crawled back on my bunk. I did feel better and the headache started to back off.
After about another hour I still had a headache but was functional. I pulled up the anchor and headed fr home using the QUIET trolling electric motor. It moved the boat about as fast as I could sail but I could go straight back with out tacking. I pulled in to my slip, tied up and just left everything. I got my meds and a dark hole to sleep off the rest of the headache.
The next day I went back to the boat and put her away...It was a mess! When the guy that had the boat next to me ask what happened I just told him had sea sickness the day before. He said ...sea sick on a day like yesterday...you may want to consider selling your boat. 8-)
If I stop what I am doing and go dormant, take over the counter meds I can often get away with just a mild headache that passes quickly. I have been taken to the ER a few times by friends when I scared them. *-)
I went sailing one afternoon by my self. Was a great day to sail, sunny, light wind and smooth water. I had been out about an hour when I started getting light flashes in my head. I headed for home ASAP!
I had no meds, and I had not let anyone know I was going out by myself. I had a hand held VAF and a cell phone, but I forgot about both of them. I just wanted to get home to a dark quiet place. The headache was coming on fast and I knew I was not going to get back before my head exploded with pain,
I put the boat in to the wind, dropped the sails and just got the hook set when the first wave of pain rolled through my head. I when below and just crumpled on the bunk. I got waves of hed pain and then waves of nausea. The light breeze that lightly caused the sail to flap sounded light thunder to me.
After about an hour or so I was wishing I would throw up...That often made me feel better, but I also knew I had very little in my stomach. I drank a bottle of water so I had something in my stomach and got a cat litter bucket I had on board to up chuck in. The I sat on the head just waiting...Then when it came, I emptied my body from both ends. I drank a second bottle of water and crawled back on my bunk. I did feel better and the headache started to back off.
After about another hour I still had a headache but was functional. I pulled up the anchor and headed fr home using the QUIET trolling electric motor. It moved the boat about as fast as I could sail but I could go straight back with out tacking. I pulled in to my slip, tied up and just left everything. I got my meds and a dark hole to sleep off the rest of the headache.
The next day I went back to the boat and put her away...It was a mess! When the guy that had the boat next to me ask what happened I just told him had sea sickness the day before. He said ...sea sick on a day like yesterday...you may want to consider selling your boat. 8-)
Friday, January 8, 2016
Florida Weather and Keeping your boat looking nice.
Florida weather can trash your boat if it is kept in the water in just a few months. Because of the high humidity any surface fill grow algae and mildew on it. The fiberglass surfaces, vinyl seats, canvas covers, metal surfaces....just about everything. Some times of the year are worse than others but surfaces just grow stuff.
I need to wash my boat down about once a week on the minimum just to keep it looking OK. If I do that I can just use a bucket of soapy water (environmental eco soap) and a boat brush to lightly brush all surfaces I can get and then just hose it off. A quickie wash does wonders. If I skip a week I usually need to add a little bleach t the wash. A ammonia wash will kill algae and mildew but you can NOT use it with BLEACH! You need to wash it with ammonia, rinse well and them use a dilute bleach rinse. Let the bleach water stay on the surfaces for a while and then rinse it off. The bleach will get rid off the dark mildew and will help keep it from growing back.
After cleaning the interior, I use Damp Rid to help keep the humidity down and I also have a 15 watt light bulb lit inside the boat. The light helps prevent mildew from growing and the dry heat from the bulb helps keep the interior a little more dry.
Even the wood work will get algae growing on the wood and or varnished surfaces. I wipe them down to keep them looking good, but if you let it go to long you will have to sand and refinish.
A little work saves a lot of work. About every 3 months I take my cheap power washer down and spray off the boat and then soap wash it. Mother's has a great soap that is eco and has a little wax in it.
I have a cheap rag mop I use on the boat deck as a quick clean up when I get back from taking the boat out. That also saves a lot of work. My dog can leave foot prints that are almost impossible to get off if I do not wipe them down when the are still wet.
I need to wash my boat down about once a week on the minimum just to keep it looking OK. If I do that I can just use a bucket of soapy water (environmental eco soap) and a boat brush to lightly brush all surfaces I can get and then just hose it off. A quickie wash does wonders. If I skip a week I usually need to add a little bleach t the wash. A ammonia wash will kill algae and mildew but you can NOT use it with BLEACH! You need to wash it with ammonia, rinse well and them use a dilute bleach rinse. Let the bleach water stay on the surfaces for a while and then rinse it off. The bleach will get rid off the dark mildew and will help keep it from growing back.
After cleaning the interior, I use Damp Rid to help keep the humidity down and I also have a 15 watt light bulb lit inside the boat. The light helps prevent mildew from growing and the dry heat from the bulb helps keep the interior a little more dry.
Even the wood work will get algae growing on the wood and or varnished surfaces. I wipe them down to keep them looking good, but if you let it go to long you will have to sand and refinish.
A little work saves a lot of work. About every 3 months I take my cheap power washer down and spray off the boat and then soap wash it. Mother's has a great soap that is eco and has a little wax in it.
I have a cheap rag mop I use on the boat deck as a quick clean up when I get back from taking the boat out. That also saves a lot of work. My dog can leave foot prints that are almost impossible to get off if I do not wipe them down when the are still wet.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Phone or VHF on short trips
A Friend that keeps his boat at my dock came over and was checking the VHF Radio on his boat. Over the last few months it started to act up. He found that corrosion had made the antenna connection bad and the internal speaker so it did not work. He was going to try cleaning up contacts and re soldering some contacts to see if he could get it working.
He ask if I had any good deals on VHF's and what I could suggest. He seldom goes any place where he needs a VHF. The bridges and locks all near us have Cell Phone #s posted on them. My suggestion was get a small hand head VHF that was waterproof and floated and use his poorly working VHS as his back up.
He likes the distance advantage of the mast mount antenna though. With a hand held line of sight is all the distance you can get with a hand held. I said we could make a pigtail that he could hook a hand held to the mast antenna if he wanted to get the advantage of the taller antenna. I did give him prices on some VHF units though.
I then decided to check my own VHF...it worked. I had to admit it was also in sad shape from lack of use. I can not remember when I used it last. I just use my cell phone and hand held these days. If I was going to run up the coast or get off shore I would want the old VHF, but for the sailing I do these days the hand held and cell do just fine.
I took my old VHF out of its bracket and caped the antenna line off to keep the moisture out and took it home to clean up. I will clean it up and zip lock bag it to keep it ready if I want to use it this summer. Or maybe sell it to my friend. Better yet, sell him a new hand held we can share my working cleaned up VHF if either of us go on a trip that needs the bigger unit. 8-) It will be bagged and ready to go...just plug it in.
He ask if I had any good deals on VHF's and what I could suggest. He seldom goes any place where he needs a VHF. The bridges and locks all near us have Cell Phone #s posted on them. My suggestion was get a small hand head VHF that was waterproof and floated and use his poorly working VHS as his back up.
He likes the distance advantage of the mast mount antenna though. With a hand held line of sight is all the distance you can get with a hand held. I said we could make a pigtail that he could hook a hand held to the mast antenna if he wanted to get the advantage of the taller antenna. I did give him prices on some VHF units though.
I then decided to check my own VHF...it worked. I had to admit it was also in sad shape from lack of use. I can not remember when I used it last. I just use my cell phone and hand held these days. If I was going to run up the coast or get off shore I would want the old VHF, but for the sailing I do these days the hand held and cell do just fine.
I took my old VHF out of its bracket and caped the antenna line off to keep the moisture out and took it home to clean up. I will clean it up and zip lock bag it to keep it ready if I want to use it this summer. Or maybe sell it to my friend. Better yet, sell him a new hand held we can share my working cleaned up VHF if either of us go on a trip that needs the bigger unit. 8-) It will be bagged and ready to go...just plug it in.
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