Category Archives: Modifications

Sculling an 18,000 lb Boat? Yes You Can.

13 Tuesday Aug 2019

Posted by in Equipment, Modifications, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Upgrades

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Sculling the FarReach out of her slip on 25 Nov 2018 at the beginning of my singlehanded voyage to the Virgin Islands.

During the six year rebuild of the Far Reach I decided to remove and sell the original Perkins 4-108 50 hp diesel engine (you can read more about the decision process to ditch the engine here). We initially relied on a sculling oar to propel and maneuver the boat for the first year after the launch which included 3,500nm of sailing and a voyage to the Virgin Islands and back to North Carolina.

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The Main Thing is to Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing….

23 Thursday May 2019

Posted by in Modifications, Musings, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging

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Everyone needs a place of Zen and happiness…this is mine.

My good friend Colonel Steve Davis USMC was the first person I ever heard say “the main thing….” He was a terrific leader and had a unique gift for preventing his unit from getting distracted. He never lost sight of the mission and knew how to keep the team focused like a laser-beam.

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Our Surface Supplied SCUBA System or Hookah

11 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by in Maintenance, Modifications, Uncategorized, Upgrades

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The basic hookah is the first stage, 50’ of air hose, and the second stage regulator. I added a pressure gauge to the second stage after the photo was taken.

I have a fair amount of diving experience. I earned my PADI card when I was 17. I’m also a military trained diver and served in dive billets for nine years. But I don’t have diving gear anymore and I think I made my last dive about 2003. I just snorkel now.  But I always think about options….

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Easy Living

26 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by in Modifications, Musings, People, Repairs, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging

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The Far Reach has proven to be wonderfully comfortable during extended live aboard. 

For the last month or so it’s been pretty easy living. The Far Reach and I have mostly remained here in Elephant Bay, St Thomas until Gayle could join us.  The pace of living has been slow and relaxed. There has been plenty of time to read, sleep, swim, eat, study the sky, think, and meet new people.

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A Simple System for Taking on Water

13 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Modifications, Provisioning, Uncategorized, Upgrades, Voyaging

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Water hauling day: 35 gallons or 280 lbs of water.  Our 9’ Fatty Knees has been a real work horse for almost 15 years.  She’s tough, rows well, and with a 15’ tall mast carries a lot of sail for her size. I can’t imagine trading her for an inflatable.

As part of our “keep it simple” approach to all things sailing we have developed a system for filling the water tanks on the Far Reach.  It didn’t happen all at once…it took a little time and some trial and error.

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Improving Ventilation: A Jalousie Drop Board Window

24 Saturday Nov 2018

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The jalousie window keeps rain from being blown into the cabin when the wind is aft yet helps to maintain ventilation. To install it just swap it out with the center drop board.

During my last voyage to the BVI, and especially on the downwind sail home, it became evident to me that life aboard would be improved if I could prevent rain from being blown into the boat through the companionway from an aft wind while at the same time maintaining airflow in the boat.

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An Inside Lock for the Companionway Hatch

18 Sunday Nov 2018

Posted by in Modifications, Repairs, Uncategorized

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The new hatch lock conceals the bulk of the brass barrel bolt and makes it stronger. It also can’t be reached from the bridge-deck. 

One of the things I have not liked about my boat is I have no way to lock the companionway from the inside.  It’s an odd thing when you think about it.  When I rebuilt the boat, though I made a lot of changes, I kept the basic design of the original companionway intact. This is an important capability when you are sleeping on the boat and you can’t lock the “front door” so to speak. You are therefore vulnerable. I heard about more than just a few boats getting boarded at night when I was sailing in the West Indies.

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Installing Off-Shore Stanchions

13 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Modifications, Uncategorized, Upgrades

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Singlehanding home from Sint Maarten to N.C. in May 2016.  The lifelines felt too low and I wanted to replace them.

During the six year rebuild of the Far Reach I wanted to replace the original 24” tall lifeline stanchions with taller ones of about 30 inches.  But, at that time, taller stanchions were not enough of a priority to make it on to the budget. We made do for the past three years including 3,500nm of off-shore sailing.  

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