A “cruising” philosophy

We are gearing up to launch “The Minimalist Sailor” soon and I want to explain a little about what it actually is.

The Minimalist Sailor is a philosophy, and one geared for developing a life-path towards freedom while voyaging the world.

I was recently talking to a Kuna about the changes I’ve seen here in the last eight years.

Eight years ago there was very little money trading hands and everything was on the barter system. There was no road to San Blas, no cellular signal, electricity, television or radio, and no tourists aside from the occasional sailor. There was just an over abundance of peace suspended in a timeless environment of perfect tropical islands. The Kuna were only dependent on themselves and their abilities.

Living with the Kuna eight years ago changed my life in a profound way. They wrenched my eyes open, offered me fish, friendship, and freedom. I’ve never been the same, nor will I ever be. Kuna Yala is the most beautiful and magical place I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of beautiful islands.

Once the Panamanians managed to forge a road through the jungle, everything changed. White man appeared with sacks of money, alcohol, fuel, and technology. Friendship is fading, business is booming, and “poverty” is something that was never known here. A once proud family of fisherman and sailors is now looked down upon for having little “material” things. Believe it or not the “successful” Kuna trade fresh lobster, fish, and crab for money to buy SPAM, low-quality hot dogs, soda, and alcohol to be more like us. A couple of Kuna kids paddled up to Splendid and asked Carla if she wouldn’t mind charging their blackberries last week as they don’t have electricity in their grass huts. Man, it just breaks my heart, but we did charge their “smart” phones.

Seeing the Kuna sailing is becoming much more rare as they are starting to modify these little dugout canoes with outboard motors. I photograph them sailing every chance I get. The image of a simple man sailing with his family is one that touches my heart deeply, and on a personal level. I wish I had grown up sailing and fishing with my father.

I tried to explain to my new friend that the more time we pursue money in our relationships with others, the poorer we become. Well…, I should say “poor” in the things that really matter like friendship, love, and time.

The Kuna are divided. Carla sees many of the kids trying to hold on to their heritage, they can see what’s happening, they just can’t stop it. Many of the Kuna speak decent Spanish and Carla communicates well with them, however most still speak Kuna.

It’s never been more apparent to me, simplicity is freedom.

The Minimalist Sailor is about getting down to basics, on a sailboat, and living in the world. It’s as much about home-canning and drying food, as it is about sailing techniques and building a refrigeration system. The key to my cruising philosophy (The Minimalist Sailor) is living small, happy, healthy, and within your ability.

I’m not saying you can’t have refrigeration. However we must learn how to live and cruise without it. If you still want one after you have learned to live happily without one, go for it. You should learn how to design, build, and install the system yourself and take 100% responsibility for its function. This is freedom.

Control technology, don’t be controlled by it. The truth is we don’t need it to live happy and fulfilling lives.

I see and hear it every day. Frustrated “cruisers” preoccupied with having an unnecessary system fixed by others, and complaining about the price and quality of other men’s work. I know “cruisers” who have been doing this for over a decade and still have never had the time to feel freedom blow over their skin as they are just too stressed.

I’m getting a bit older and know what I want for my future. I’ve lived minimally and sailed extensively on small boats. I would like to carry fresh vegetables in a refrigerator, and have a clean water source for my older years. As I’m building these two systems (refrigeration and watermaker) I’m keeping minimal and practical design concepts in mind. I’m building them redundantly, and with various power options. I will have spare parts, the knowledge to fix them and, more importantly, I know how to live without them without worry. I’ll still have a solar food dryer on the back deck and a bucket full of salt for fish. I know my refrigeration and water making systems are simply luxury items.

I had a bad experience while building my watermaker, and I’d like to talk about it. I bought a new membrane ($180) and hi-pressure vessel ($570) from Applied Membranes. They informed me that I would also need to buy part number “whatever” in order to install the vessel and integrate it into my system. The part was just under $200.00 and I had to agree as they were quite vague and insistent about the whole thing.

Well, when the part showed up it was simply a plastic bag filled with 2 flair fittings, each costing under $2 off the shelf at a hardware store. When I emailed the guy and called him on it he tried telling me that they were “special” hi-pressure flair fittings capable of dealing with the hi-pressure (1000 psi) of the application. Man did I get mad! “Well, I hate to tell you that they are the same flair fittings I used on my dive compressor, and they are all capable of pressure exceeding 4000 psi”. After a few minutes on the phone he agreed to refund the money even though I was unwilling to return the parts from Panama.

I find it so very sad that people lower themselves to such criminal business behavior. I believe in capitalism, however without greed and doing honest and reputable business. Applied Membranes (wateranywhere.com)  charged me more for these two flair fittings than for the membrane itself, “despicable”!

My experience with Applied Membranes is a good example that if you don’t have basic knowledge of the systems that control your life, they (greedy people) will take advantage, and control you.

Try being a white guy in a foreign port looking for someone to take responsibility (fix) your systems and see what happens. You will almost always get terrible, unqualified service and raked over the coals for every dime possible. This leaves such a bad taste in most cruisers’ mouths that they run back to the states with broken dreams where they can be serviced, pampered, and can call sea-tow when they run aground after anchoring improperly. I’m hoping to fill this gap and empower men with dreams of voyaging with the knowledge they need to successfully unplug and sail the world. I’ve been saying it for years. It’s not about having the money to go, its about taking responsibility and having the desire. If you want it, TAKE IT!

Well the good news is I’m just about to finish the watermaker. The Cat pump is rebuilt and painted along with the 110 electric motor. It is mounted on this shelf which is about to be glassed into the engine room perfectly aligning the pulley on the cat pump, with the spare pulley on the main engine. Everything will also be in line of the 110 electric motor (seen here) giving me redundancy in how I can power the system.

I have grand hopes for my design and hope it works half as well as I think it will?

It’s a big day for Carla also. She just finished her first canvas job. She had to make a fitted Sunbrella tablecloth with elastic corners for a big catamaran. She is also building winch covers for them. I must say I’m really proud of her.

Well, that’s it for today guys.

Peace, Love, and Coconuts.

– alex

Author: Alex

I'm just a sailor bum ;) View all posts by Alex