We have bimini…, And it is soooooo wonderful!
Canvas work is really an art. The Bimini enclosure expands Splendid’s living space immensely. This week the dodger and sides will be done and we are off like a shot. I’m going to do sail covers at another time, we just need to get moving.
We had a really nasty squall roll through the anchorage the other day and it blew 45+. A bunch of boats drug (we didn’t), and the wind felt quite tropical. It’s been really hot lately, and “hot” fuels tropical weather conditions, I want nothing to do with it. Frankenstein (our Manson Supreme) held like the monster it is. I’ve come to the conclusion that I need a bigger windlass. It really doesn’t do so well getting the pick out of the mud. I need more power with a manual backup, it will do for now though.
I finally have the fuel tanks topped off, ouch. I really need to get the solar panels hooked up. On the bottom picture you can see how I’m constructing the solar panel mounts. I’m just using stainless jaw slides, cap ends, and 90’s to make a frame on top of the bimini. I’d rater have the stainless tube bunt to better match the contour of the bimini frame but I’m using scrap tubing and don’t have bits long enough. It’s a bit “boxy” looking but works for my budget. I’ll have 2 130wt panels up soon. As soon as I can afford it I’ll get 2-3 more along with a wind generator.
Well guys I’m off to work on the boat.
Sail far and live slowly.
Cheers.
– Alex
You need to humble yourself one of these days…..and tell the real story……it’s sounding like your the only real sailor in the world. Your readers should check out Reid Stowe on his web site 1000days.net. Now there’s a real sailor….Dave
Real sailor? he’s just f’ing DRIFTING! Jeesus,
I could write 1000 pages on why Alex is more of a Sailor, more of a Man, and more of a Human, than Reid will ever be.
Maybe you can tell, but I very much dislike Reid Stowe as a person (I know more than I should!). But Even if I liked, Reid and supported his “voyage” (which I don’t!) It would be absurd to compare him to anybody else, especially a ‘good ‘ol cruiser’ like Alex. Its just Absurd.
I suppose we all have our opinions though.
Dave, Dave, Dave, Dave, Dave …… for shame. Testicles have nothing to do with sailing. Especially yours.
Just what the world needs, another hero trying to prove that he’s something special crying for attention, referring to this 1000days guy. I took one look at his website, saw the words mission control and space, then left.
I’ve always thought of Reid as a scary, creepy nutcase. I’ve seen a couple of video clips and a few articles and let me tell you, he comes off about 50% overbearing jerk and 50% crackpot, with just a peppering of insanity and a hint of desperation.
When I saw that this poor Indian girl got mixed up in his 1000 days thing, I just kept thinking “poor girl, what has she gotten herself into?” I was glad that after a year or so she got fed up and left. (She says sea sickness, I say she just finally had enough crazy for a lifetime.)
Anyway, it’s true that Alex’s somewhat domesticated turn of events is a little disappointing, (I was expecting him to do something nuts like sail to the Arctic,) but don’t EVER compare him to that crackhead Reid.
Phew! That feels better…
Just what the world needs, another hero trying to prove that he’s something special crying for attention, referring to this 1000days guy. I took one look at his website, saw the words mission control and space, then left.
sorry for the double post. It seems if you refresh the page at the wrong time it happens.
Wow, I’m glad I’m not Reid :)
P.S. the Artic may still happen, who knows. It’s not Sam thats been keeping me domestic, but refitting Splendid. She will sail far :)
– Alex
Yodamouse,
Actually worse news, in a way, about the Indian girl. She had a (Reids) baby. That’s why she had to get off of the boat. She seems pretty happy though, from what I can tell.
-Eric
Cruising is about seeing new places and interacting with people and cultures. That IS what you’ve been doing! We are re-launching our boat from Deltlaville, Va. in a few weeks to return to the cruising life. Hope to cross paths with
you again. (met you on Namaste in Boot Key Harbor in — 2003 or 2004 ??)
Jim, s/v Frosty’s Fantasy
Frosty’s Fantasy, I remember you, I used your top climber when I had to replace the for stay.
What gets me is people like Dave who have never gone out more than a few hrs out of their dock if they even have a boat or ever leave the dock period.
Alex is doing what we all sailors/boats wish we could do but haven’t pull the cord yet.
And if you dont like what Alex has to say or is doing why bother visit the website? Guess it’s easier to point out the fact that your a troll than show us that you know which side of the boat if the front end.
Yup!! You’ve doubled the size of the boat with that new enclosure!!! I know how much you will like it cuz I had one made when I had my 24′ Sea Ray and it made all the difference. Great move!!!
Dean
ps. I bottled another batch of beer last night :)
I’m trying to wrap my brain around “Dave”‘s comment at the top. Humble yourself? Tell the “real story”? How did someone like you Dave, end up reading a blog for somebody as laid back as Alex? I’ve heard of this guy on the 1000 days at sea thing, and I think, whatever, have a blast. Guys like that and Vendee Globe racers have about as much in common with cruising and cruisers as a Paris-Dakkar racer has in common with a surfer in a VW van going down to Baja. They’re both in motor vehicles, that’s about it.
Sorry you have to deal with so many nutbags, Alex, I guess that’s the downside of sharing with “the public.” Get goin’ now, you can’t reason with hurricane season. I’d hate for another stormy relationship like that one you had with that gal Isabel to derail your plans.
Don Walker
s/v Laurie Lee
Tampa, FL
I must admit I “need” to do a lot of things in my life, but getting “humble” isn’t one of them, I went there a long time ago. If I stand for anything it’s that we should all live our lives the way we choose, and freely! Not cowered in fear working our asses off in a system that binds us. If you want to go to sea for 1000 days, do it. It’s not my bag and I think it defeats the entire purpose of cruising but…, whatever. If you feel the need to break a record, break a record. I’m satisfying all of my personal goals and I feel comfortable with my path in life. All I can say is if you don’t like the site, go somewhere else.
Cheers everyone.
Sail far and live slowly.
– Alex
Preach it brother!
Alex,
You choose a great color, it is the same as ours. We have been replacing one item each year, first the dodger, then the main sail cover only the bimini is left and really needs to be replaced. However, our boat now has a bit of a piece meal look about it. The bimini looks gray compared to the brand new sail cover with the dodger halfway in between.
So its good that you are doing it all at one time. Just keep the sewing machined oiled so you can replace them all at one time.
Don’t pet the sweaty shit of trolls.
Best,
John
“You need to humble yourself ”
What are you on about Dave? Alex would have to be the most humble person I don’t know.
Try looking up humble in the dictionary Dave!
Dave; you need to look up “humble” in the dictionary. Alex would have to be the most humble person I know, or don’t know in this case.
Alex you need to look “Drug” up in the dictionary, its what Dave is on, not what your boat does in a strong wind at anchor, sorry to be pedantic.
I know Dave and I can’t for the life of me figure out what in the hell he’s referring to.
Alex and I talked it around and around yesterday after I finished cleaning his boat bottom.
Still can’t figure it out.
What say you, Dave?
James
I’m sorry to everyone that I was a little vague in my statement…I’m sorry to Alex, Sam, Guin and all that read this blog….Alex sometimes tends to leave out mentioning something or more details about actual events…first off a respond to David Toste…I do know what is the bow and stern of a vessel….I have had sailboats for over 15 years now and the present one is a 34′ Bruce Roberts cutter rig…..lived aboard her for the past 12 1/2 years of which 10 1/2 years have been away from a dock….on anchor…..thru hurricanes and tropical storms and the like, hot and freezing temps…no airconditioner either….also no more generator, just solar panels and wind generator.I also take my boat up to the dock every week to pump out and get water, pay a small fee for usage of the Yacht Basin facilities and parking. And have been to Key West several times and Dry Tortugas…have more plans to leave possibly to Cuba, if and when they open it then to Jamaica and end up in the Virgin Islands….Have a small part-time job to make ends meet and to buy boat stuff..I’m one of the lucky sailors who have a wonderful lady in my life that has lived on board with me for over 9 years and loves it…doesn’t complain about anything..I don’t have the luxury of asking for donations for boat stuff……about the blog from Alex….my boat and one other boat were the only boats that did drag that stormy day….not a “bunch” of boats….earlier several blogs before when the mention of guns was brought up I even asked Alex why he wasn’t honest with his readers that he had a gun or guns onboard when he came back to Ft.Myers from Key West….and was boarded by the Coast Guard..he said he should have but didn’t..he doesn’t like authority figures I guess….not many of us do but the Coast Guard, Local Water Police, Fresh Water Game Commission People are there for a reason….I have never had a problem with any of them and have been boarded on several occasions…..if your on the up and up you’ll have no problems…..and who knows they just may save your life one day…..fancy that. I could go on but I can see that some of the readers jump to conclusions and say what they want to without having any facts to back them up….I do like Alex and the web site…..have seen his first video and thought it was well produced..and told him so..maybe one day I’ll see his other video….oh and by the way I was one of the first sailors he made contact with when he came to Ft. Myers area over a year and a half ago…we met when I saved his dinghy as it floated away from Splendid here in the river….I hope this will suffice your readers and diverjames. Have a good life and a wonderful relationship with Sam and Guin…I’ll keep checking up on you like I’ve told you I do….Dave. p.s. all of us sailors should be proud of Reid Stowe, yes he maybe nuts for doing what he’s doing but he has broken the record that no man or woman has done and what about Joshua Slocum. I’m pretty sure folks thought he was nuts too.
Dave,
I didn’t realize it was you from the anchorage until James told me.
It’s not that I was being dishonest about having a gun on board, it’s just not the kind of thing you want public. This is my life you know! I didnt talk about the gun I had on Namaste either. And I really have to disagree with you on all the policing around here being a good thing, I don’t want to get into the politics tho. And I would consider 3 out of 8 boats in the anchorage a bunch. Chris was on the beach, and James drug not to mention Tony. It did blow 62 according to the office. And what “events” to I tend to leave out”?
– Alex
ENOUGH SAID, I DIDN’T MEAN TO CAUSE ANY FRICTION BETWEEN YOU AND I…WE’LL LEAVE IT AT THAT….BY THE WAY GREAT TO HEAR FROM DARRIN…..POOR SOUL, I HOPE THINGS WORK OUT FOR HIM. HE’S SUCH A GOOD PERSON. DAVE.
Sounds good to me :)
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming……………..
James
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