Well the last blog, Dinghy Vs. the Inflatable, was a popular one.
It took me a really long time to “get it” as the immediate benefits of an inflatable are so apparent. But in the long run the hard dinghy has so many more advantages, and is far, far, far more economical and practical.
My building Plans with full size panel patterns (paper cut-outs) are on 
the way from CLC boats.
However I’ve changed my mind on building it from solid fiberglass and have instead opted for a nida-core hull. There is a French sailor here building a bimini for his trimaran and he gave me two samples of nida-core. One bare, and one covered with 2 layers of cloth on either side, and I must say I am more than impressed. Light, virtually impervious to water, and strong as hell!
If your inspired to build a boat you can request a 
free sample of nida-core from 3M. If the Passagemaker doesn’t fit your fancy don’t forget to check out all the other boat designs at CLC boats.
Boat building is just good karma!
They even have designs to build a really small cruising boat, the pocket ship (14’10’), that looks like it would be a hell of a lot of fun to build & sail. The whole kit is only $3,375.00, what a cool way to get into sailing?
Now that Carla has gone I’ve managed to make a HUGE mess as usual. I moved my editing suite into the v-birth and am gearing up to build a flip up table. 
I did this to give us a dining area again and give me more privacy and space for my creative time. I can black out all the windows, shut the door, and just focus on editing.
I’m also teaching myself how to engine-turn.
Engine-turning is a lost art and I’ve always been really fond of it. I made some tools that I’m turning on my dremmel and my first tests have come out really well. People don’t like to share their techniques but I am certainty developing a few of my own.
When I have the money I’m going to make stainless engine-turned counters in Splendid’s galley. I’m a big fan of stainless counters however they scratch, and by engine-turning I’m pre-scratching and my theory is small scratches wont be so noticeable. I’m telling you, its not easy, there is no room for error as you cant step backwards 
.
I’m also making a stainless turned dash as mine is falling apart, and will make my 12v panel turned stainless as well.
I also need to give the diesel engine some love. It seems to me she isn’t putting out enough power. Today I’m going to check and adjust the valves & injectors. I also want to make sure my 
alignment is on. A guy just broke his tranny in the San Blas and when he pulled it apart he said he couldn’t believe how out of align it was.
I must tell you there is a little magic happening with this film. It’s not just all hand-held video shot on a cheap DV camera. I bought a really nice semi-professional fluid head tripod which is providing really smooth and stable images. My lapel mic is making dialogue crisp and clear. The Canon T3i (full HD (1080)) is rendering amazingly beautiful and sharp images, Carla’s music is awesome, I’m not doing such a bad job myself. My last two films had an “on the go” feel and this one has a totally different vibe.
Most importantly the content is something I feel will help the man with little or average means, shift gears, and be able to get into international cruising. For those of you who know it the call of the open-sea is a strong one, and it certainty shouldn’t go unheard because of money.
Well that’s it for today guys. Carla comes back next Friday and I only have a week to finish a few projects and restore some kind of order around here.
Sail far and live slowly (now a song 
)
– alex
Hi Alex, That nida-core looks like pricey stuff, but very nice. I have done a couple of stitch and glue boats with plywood. I finally found my password so I could log on again, lol. I like that passagemaker but am opting for Chameleon by David Greene because it nests smaller and on my 31 ft deck it matters. Good luck, Wade
Wade,
Check out the CLC Eastport nesting pram:
http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/wooden-sailboat-kits/sailing-dinghies/eastport-nesting-dinghy.html
The pram is a wonderful and practical design.
Here,in Panaman the Nida-core panels are about $80 each, about the same as a decent marine plywood. I think it’s a small price to pay when you think about what you get. I don’t want a heavy, waterlogged, ply core in ten years and have to ditch the boat. I hope I’ll still be rowing and sailing may Passagemaker years after my teeth fall out and I’m not so pretty anymore. I hope to will it to someone who I care about if you know what I mean. And when you weigh the expense to the price of a new RIB (+- 3k) it’s nothing.
I took my motorcycle out for a little ride, I’m going to put it up for sale in the following weeks.
Peace
Alex,
Your price is way cheaper than what i saw online, good deal. i really like your site but i hate to tell you. i never thought you were pretty, lol
What, not pretty? Poppycosh! You haven’t seen me in a skirt that’s all ;) LOL.
I just came over from the French trimaran, I’ve been watching him work with the Nida-core, it’s cool stuff. He owns a famous racing boat, had it to 24kts so he’s really concerned with weight, thus the Nida-core. He also agrees it would be a gr8 core material for my pram.
Wade, I’m going to tell Carla on you… Not pretty :(
don’t worry, Carla has taken up your slack in looks department, W
That’s for sure, as I always say, I’m such a lucky man :)
Tip 362.7,
Oil lamps really brightn your boat when it rains for days on end. Oil lamps will dry a dank cabin or saloon pretty fast while providing some beautiful light, beets the hell out of LED’s.
My friends from Brazil are back in the anchorage we had a big sashimi shindig last night as he caught a nice size tuna about 10 miles out.
Life’s Good cruising on little (<=_) get it?
check this out 40 ‘ $23k honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/boa/3155024208.html
Tip 362.7,
Oil lamps really brightn your boat when it rains for days on end. Oil lamps will dry a dank cabin or saloon pretty fast while providing some beautiful light, beets the hell out of LED’s.
My friends from Brazil are back in the anchorage we had a big sashimi shindig last night as he caught a nice size tuna about 10 miles out.
Life’s Good cruising on little (<=_) get it?
Gary,
That looks special for sure. Colombia’s are solid boats. I’m not wild about a Volvo penta but a small price to pay for so much boat.
Cheers,
Alex,
Nida-Core Corp. was a nice small business rigth here in my neck of the woods. 3M bought them out about a year ago. I’m gonna run up to their facility in the next week or so and check this material out.
Paul
Maybe you could check on something for me since 3m didn’t respond to me.
My concern is, if a core is exposed to water, let’s say below the waterline, will saltwater seep to nearby cells. That cell will be under pressure as I may load 600lbs in the boat?
This project is keeping me up at night :(
Carla’s back on Saturday, I really need to clean up this place, been sanding, varnishing, fixing, epoxying, and blowing the place up.
Funny, as I write this there is a guy in the anchorage pulling, pulling, pulling and yelling at his outboard.
Cheers.
Cheers
Hummmmmmmm?
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/fiberglass-composite-boat-building/info-nidacore-11146-2.html
just spent a lifetime(1 year) in another boatyard and watched some cabins and bulkheads built with this stuff….some like it… some don’t. there is a new material that is a solid core and very strong,yet light and supposedly 100% waterproof. sort of like vinyl/plywood without wood……..proplemo est i don’t remember the name…nilo…nipro….suks being old. i will find out tomorrow…. G
Thanks Gary.
At the end of the day I may go back to building out of fibraglass or using the plywood core that the instructions call for.
I’ve opened up a discussion thread at http://www.boatdesign.net:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/fiberglass-composite-boat-building/solid-fiberglass-stitch-glue-44297.html#post574222
I’m switching from coffee to tea and life is better :)
Hey Alex, Long time listener, first time caller…. or something like that.
Dinghys: have you seen these?
http://www.woodenwidget.com/index.html
I just ran across them and though they were cool.
Anyway thanks for the inspiration. I have been working & planning for the last few years and in late September my wife and i take the plunge. Last fall we bought our cruising boat, a 1981 Endeavour 37′ ketch for $5k. I have been doing the refit most of the summer and we start heading south this fall.
Rod
http://www.svgypsysoul.com
R. Miller,
Good on ya M8, sounds like you have priorities in order.
I have seen them, way too light 4 me,’I need a workhorse for fishing, diving, hauling, not to mention a life boat. My dyer is really gr8 but just a bit too small for Carla and I, two backpacks, and 5 jugs of fuel or water. We don’t go to a dock for anything so hauling is important, not to mention I am a big man (220ish).
I hope we can meet up in an anchorage somewhere.
Peace.
plans for 11′ for sailing, motoring and rowing looks good …….G http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=FB11
Man, I must say I’m a bit speechless today. Carla had to go through a full body scanner at the airport. WTF is going on in the states. Has anyone checked these things out online? What happened to good old American privacy?
carla came back? crap, i owe mavis $10…….and i thought she was smarter than that….don’t hurt your back…………….G