Category Archives: Upgrades

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

13 Tuesday Aug 2019

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

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

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.

Continue reading →

Our Surface Supplied SCUBA System or Hookah

11 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by in Maintenance, Modifications, Uncategorized, Upgrades

≈ 1 Comment

80931741-100F-45A2-9DD5-E4E62354E056

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….

Continue reading →

A Simple System for Taking on Water

13 Sunday Jan 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2ba65ce3-981f-4841-9f6b-8b622693384a

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.

Continue reading →

Improving Ventilation: A Jalousie Drop Board Window

24 Saturday Nov 2018

Posted by in Modifications, Uncategorized, Upgrades

≈ Leave a comment

9B4BEEA1-67E4-430A-A71F-5600DA746A82

 
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.

Continue reading →

Installing Off-Shore Stanchions

13 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Modifications, Uncategorized, Upgrades

≈ Leave a comment

2899D768-8AB8-4D01-B49B-0A1C6FE97692

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.  

Continue reading →

A Few Small Projects: Bug screens, whisker pole mod, windlass rebuild, and a new sculling oar lock.

23 Tuesday Oct 2018

Posted by in Equipment, Maintenance, Modifications, Repairs, Uncategorized, Upgrades

≈ Leave a comment

8CC0EBDB-FBC3-41D1-9247-B897F02A5582

We never had problems with bugs in the West Indies as we always anchored out and there was always a breeze.  Nonetheless, I wanted to have a full set of screens for the Far Reach.

With Hurricane Florence behind us, it was time to return to the preparation of the Far Reach for the voyage back to the BVI and the West Indies.  At the moment we are working on a few small but important projects. Described below are a few of them.

We completed building the drop-in companionway bug screens.  I built the teak frames last winter but got side tracked before installing the screens. I still need to sew up some screens for the foredeck and saloon deck hatches.  Gayle sewed a nice padded pouch to protect them when stored under a bunk.

Continue reading →

Splicing Wire Standing Rigging in British Columbia

23 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Boats, People, Planning, Upgrades

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

400C2DCC-B2DF-4953-9BBB-39F044CC3F15

I spent three weeks on Vancouver Island splicing rigging and helping my friend Kaj install the rig on his self built Lyle Hess designed 34’ Falmouth Cutter.

As mentioned in an earlier post, I was invited by my friend Kaj Jakobsen, to help him  step the mast and splice the standing rigging on his beautiful Lyle Hess designed 34’ Falmouth Cutter.  I flew to Vancouver Island in the middle of July.  I had never been to British Columbia and all I can say is wow!  It is gorgeous.  It reminded me of Montana but with a lot of water.  Many islands.  Clear water.  Deep fiords.  Lovely Douglas Fir trees everywhere.  Clear sunny skies.  Perfect temps.

Continue reading →

Hand Splice Standing Rigging—The Liverpool Splice

16 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by in Equipment, Maintenance, Modifications, Musings, Uncategorized, Upgrades

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

 

6605E4C5-9F2F-4B38-9C4F-2DE760E55F5A

All of the standing rigging on the Far Reach is spliced to include the 3/8” bob-stay and the 5/16” sprit-shroud stays.

Readers of our rebuild website may remember I hand-spliced the standing rigging for the new mast we built for the Far Reach. It was one of the many projects associated with the six year rebuild. I used a splice called the Liverpool Splice. I learned it by reading Brion Toss’ book The Rigger’s Apprentice.

Continue reading →