Man everything is in order & life is good in water-world!
I’ve got THOR (my new computer) sorted out, money for a small generator & equipment on the way, 
and now we’re just waiting for the funds to clear so we can go to the San Blas. I’ll also have money for provisions & fuel. When Splendid’s tanks & pantry are full I feel as I could never ask for more, life is perfect! Splendid’s decks are done and she is just about ready to Rock & roll! My focus is turning solely towards filming The Minimalist Sailor and completing my refit to cross the Pacific next year.
My big projects seem small and can wait till we are ready to do 
some distance cruising. Carla’s writing a blog about home (boat) economics and it’s got me thinking about money. What I really want for Splendid is to finish my big refrigerator project, get the H20 maker running (need new membrane & 12v clutch), buy a drifter & mizzen stay-sail (maybe 3k), and have some stainless hardware made for the forestay (maybe $500). I have a few dozen cheap & quick projects but they are in the back of my mind now. I know people say “the boat is never ‘done’” but there is a fine line 
between restoration & refitting, and being in maintenance (cruising) mode. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel : )
Carla and I made a really nice cheese the other day from powdered milk. It is my opinion that the more we can make, the freer we become. The cheese was similar to a ricotta before I pressed it with some diving weights in a cheese-cloth. After it was pressed it was more of a queso blanco/mozzarella, YUMMY!! From start to finish the cheese took about 15 minutes to make. How cool is that? I will be making some “how to” videos to share this knowledge 
with you guys. In the mean time if you’re interested in the recipe ask Carla on her blog page, I’m sure she will share.
On another note Splendid’s full-enclosure is just about finished. The cockpit will be a dry-haven this rainy season. Our friend Heather has done a really beautiful job making this happen.
Carla also had friends (Sandra & Michael) visit from Zurich. We did some spear fishing, rum drinking, and cooking. Michael had a nice underwater camera and took some cool pictures of the reef. I’m going to start using the GoPro more for underwater video & pictures to share. However 
the underwater pictures I’ve taken haven’t been as good because there is no flash on the GoPro. I’m in the market for an underwater video light for it, as well as a LED video light for topside filming on the DSLR. Speaking of lights, Carla’s friends forgot two very nice Petzl head lamps. Carla and I were talking just the night before how we need to get a few good head lamps. I often buy the cheepies only to find they don’t work well. Funny how things have been finding their way to us.
My neck is in pretty bad shape (pinched nerve) today and I’ve 
had a movie day. I heard a great line in Kevin Costner’s film, The Postman.
“Wouldn’t it be great if wars were fought by the assholes that started them?”
It’s rainy & gray today, a good day to watch films, nice and dry in the cockpit.
Life is uber-good.
Sail far & live slowly.
– alex
PS
I have a buddy hat needs to sell his Cheoy Lee 33 Offshore Ketch. 37.5′ overall, 33′ on deck with lots of cruising gear ASAP and will take 15k, maybe a pinch less. Motor & rig strong, and you could take off with little 
money and investment of time.
Someone really needs to jump on this one!!!
The boat (Chinquapin) is in Houston, take the plunge 
If your interested (really interested) email me at alexdorsey at gmail dot com and ill send you the contact info, time to go cruising!!!! If I had the money I’d buy her to resell.
Published in Alex Dorsey
Hey Alex,
I have a GoPro as well and the default lens that comes with the underwater case does a pretty bad job with the underwater videos/pictures. The one that it comes with will cause the image to look distorted. There are a few solutions to fix it. You can see the videos on Youtube showing the differences.
Here is one example: http://www.wetresolution.com.au/blur-fix-adapter-flat-lens-for-gopro-cameras/
There are a few others out there.
David – Toronto.
I’m glad things are going well for the both of you! By the way, I read Carla’s blog. I have just one word for that girl. KEEPER!
Well I just posted the pictures of my buddies boat for sail (sale). I was aboard her a few years back, pretty :) I think she probably needs a little TLC but I hear the motor and rig is strong, plus has a lot of cruising gear and solar panels. For 15k its a boat you could take off on soon. If your interested let me know. By the way I like wood spars. They are more maintenance but easily fixed anywhere in the world.
Somebody jump on this one!!!
Cheers
wow what a good looking hull….black is beautiful……..G
Hey Guys
I was reading your log and wanted to let you know that if you’re looking for a good deal on sails you should check out baconsails.com
I bought a new/used main that is in great shape for a good price. Just a thought . Have a good day.
Some info on my buddies Cheoy Lee for sail (sale):
volvo penta 37 hp three cylinder diesel. 20 gallon tank. never had a bit of trouble with it.
Ground Tackle
Ground tackle was chosen and installed following the Alex Dorsey philosophy of cruising learned from following his blog since the beginning and his own advice, and in some case his help.
Lofrans Tigres anchor windlass, dual direction, wired to it’s own battery in the bow, works like a champ, mounted on a 1/4″ stainless steel backing plate. (i paid $900 used)
bow cleat is also mounted on a 1/4″ backing plate
giant fortress anchor, F-85 or F-125, never used (thank God)
35 lb Manson Supreme, galvanized (might actually be the 45 lb, gift from wife) anchor, new unused. w/ extra rail welded to bowsprit to hold it.
35 lb plow type anchor.
200′ 5/8″ anchor line
200′ 3/4″ anchor line
(never got around to getting the heavy chain to match the gypsy on the windlass, don’t tell alex)
20 lb stern anchor
Sails & Canvas
4 1/2 year old 135% furling headsail w/
4 1/2 year old pro-furl furled (Alex’ recommendation) (below i pasted some of the email from when i ordered the sail, the price shown included furler)
4 1/2 year old headstay, over-sized.
2 year old halyards (main halyard is not new, it is a wire halyard fixed to a winch mounted on base of mast; i like it.)
2 year old standing rigging on mizzen mast
Dodger new in September of 2009
a double headsail (old technique) that hanked onto the headstay, now the furled is in the way, but it might be rigged not hanked onto anything.
old hank-on 155% genoa
old hank-on 110% genoa
sorry no cruising chute, have been looking for one.
mizzen boom was raised 18″ by professional yacht carpenter, rasing entire mizzen 18″ (so you can stand under it; it was a huge pain before.)
Main and Mizzen sail are old, but in good shape.
Stem to stern awnings (3 separate pieces, you will love them.)
two hatch sails
mosquito netting for every opening on the boat !
bosun’s chair
Fabric mast steps that run up the mainsail track, (you can go up alone if you wear a harness with a belay device, and belay yourself on a halyard or safety line run up a halyard)
boom vang (notice gangs were considered only racing gear when this boat was built, but i have a loose one that i rig from main-boom end to the rail, works great, in fact, boat is very fast for size and style)
Life-lines are 2 years old (alex helped install them) but only top line is in place.
2 sweet rigging knives, (maybe i’ll keep one, though)
various extra rigging parts, shackles, blocks, etc.
some rigging tools
2 older Lewmar self-tailing winches, i bought them used for $450/each.
Spruce spinnaker pole or whisker pole (really heavier than a whisker pole) that needs some work and some varnish.
Electrical System
2 130 watt Kyocera solar panels, new in December 2009, and charge controller (alex chose and installed them, stopped working last fall, and haven’t had time to troubleshoot.)
battery monitor
Xantrex Freedom HF 1800 watt inverter, w/ 40 amp charger, new only partly installed
balmar charge controller max-charge something.
four golf cart batteries
new (2 years old) alternator (70 amp, i think.)
stainless microwave oven, works.
16,000 btu air-conditioner/heater, works well.
relatively new dc switch panel
relatively new ac switch panel
two or three electric cords w/ adapters and such
a box of electrical tools and wiring parts
3-year old masthead led tricolor. uses no power, i used to leave it on all the time but people kept telling me my anchor light was on, so i mounted a three- position switch. (tricolor and anchor.) In an electrical emergency, you can operate it with a 9-volt batter !
Galley
Force 10 stove and oven, 4 years old three burner propane stove and oven on gimbals, works great. (currently runs off of 1 lb propane bottle i keep outside the cockpit coaming on the stern. i have a fender mount that i intended to re-build to hold a fiberglass propane bottle.)
Fridge & Freezer, DC, installed in giant ice-box, works. (ice-box really is giant, and has access in galley and from cockpit.)
Cabin
several fans, some installed, others not, all original.
several DC led lights
original dc lights
AC lamps (matching)
framed photos of ernest hemingway (if you want them)
16,000 btu air/heat pump, with an extra water pump.
marine windup clock and barometer (rings bells on marine time, you will love it, i will miss it.)
Head
marine head is 5 years old, pumps through y valve to holding tank in bow, never a single problem.
13 galling holding tank
shower (no hot water)
60 gallons of fresh water tankage.
a box of plumbing tools and extra parts and clamps, etc.
Nav. Gear
Raymarine X-5 wheelpilot, new Sept 2009, works great,
Standard Horizon CPF300i Multifunction Display (chart plotter/fishfinder & will even show movies from dvd player!) loaded with charts of north&South america
old depth sounder (works, no idea of vintage)
vhf radio w/ dsc (of course)
Other
Dripless packing gland, 5 years old. never dripped a drop!
Top and bottom paint is 4 1/2 years old
oil change pump
hull is 1 1/8″ thick to 3/4 inch thick – bomb proof.
every floor board is easily removable for storage (also, they have been stripped and are ready to be bleached and re-finished.)
lots of fishing gear for cruising.
emergency tiller that fits to rudder post head
teak boarding ladder
ratlines on shrouds (i am sure you saw)
pinrail w/ belaying pins to store lines (i am sure you saw, when i go past the boardwalk people call me the pirate ship.)
2 high-back “go-anywhere” seats (blue)
great hammock that fits perfectly between the main mast and the headstay
2 year old 4″ thick memory foam cushions for cabin, new upholstery on most by professional canvas guy (ran out of fabric)
New – never in salt water Spear-gun (maybe, i’ll throw it in if you are going cruising.) i have practiced a few times in the portofino pool! don’t tell anyone)
two inflatable pfd’s. never rigged up.
rope splicing kit (many lines are spliced by me; it is easier than people think)
two large round fenders, 18″, i think, (best for rafting up; some of my friends wouldn’t let me raft with them until i got them. )
Dinghy (extra, of course)
5 year old walker bay 10.2′ RIB, w/
5 year old 15 HP 4 stroke motor, recently serviced.
(i chose this boat because it is relatively light and will fit between the headstay and the mainmast on passages.
two marine kettle bar-b-q pits, one propane, the other charcoal only.
4 years old floating dinghy dock ($1,500 new!)
I just received a $25.00 pledge on my kickstarter page from someone who is doing something really cool, zero emission small cargo shipping. Check out his project at:
http://www.greenheartproject.org
If anyone wants to support me with a few bucks or is looking for a deep discount on a charter my kickstarter campaign is over in 31 hours:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/projectbluesphere/the-minimalist-sailor
Cheers
Greenheart looks supper cool. Have they started to build yet?
Chuck,
They are about to start, I really, REALLY love the GreenHeart concept, they are also planning a kickstarter campaign.
Well our kickstarter campaign is ending in a few hours and Carla and I are going to celibate with a shot of our home spiced rum, WEHAAAAA :)
With the extra money I’m going to buy some LED lights, an underwater light, and hopefully a rail system for my camera. I’m going to have a floating production facility :) :) :)
I must say I really like the kickstarter concept. Our artists & free thinkers are such an important aspect of our society and need support. I’ve enjoyed scrolling through various projects and seeing what people are trying to do.
Carla and I are planning a trip to Barriloche Patagonia for Christmas (summertime) so I can meet her folks, sister, and friends. I’ve always wanted to see Patagonia and I must say I’m excited.
I must say Life is good to me and I want to thank all of you who are supporting The Minimalist Sailor: If you haven’t seen the video on my kickstarter page I shot it with the T3i, even if you don’t make a pledge you should check out the quality of the video:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/projectbluesphere/the-minimalist-sailor
Cheers, Peace, Love, and Coconuts
PS
If anyone has a used marine 110 battery chargerg (40 amps +) sitting in their garage they want to let go at a fair price let me know, I’m digging around on ebay now :)