So I’m taking a leek at the Balboa Yacht Club in Panama city this morning and this is the sign that was printed and taped to the wall in front of me and the urinal. It gave me a good laugh.
Obviously the staff is doing maintenance on the 21st but I didn’t really understand the rest. It would have made more sense if they just published it in Spanish. I’m sure they used an online “translator” to try and get their message across.
It seemed apropos to the discussions going on at Project BlueSphere.com lately. 
Sometimes we are fighting to say the same thing but when we try and put it into a context that other people may understand, the message gets totally wacked.
As you know I’m helping my buddy Roger Olson (hell of a sailor) with his haul out. Roger is the author of “Plot your course to Adventure, how to become a successful cruiser” which is available on Amazon, or you can buy it at www.plotyourcoursetoadventure.com .
Its a really Good book. Roger also used to own the Sam L. Morse company which built the famous Bristol Channel cutters, and in my humble opinion the best small cruising boat ever built.
Today we installed a PYI dripless shaft packing in his new 1976 Cal –46. It was a bear of a job as we had to remove the prop, pull the shaft back, and take off the flexible coupling for the install. It all worked but was a good days work.
Something else major has happened in my life. I’m deep in Love with Alex, well actually Alexseal (http://www.alexseal.com/en/) . Roger is painting his boat with Alex seal, and WOW is it a good paint. The only draw back is it is like $350.00 A GALLON!
I’m ending up doing my job on the Ship in April. I sent in an email last week trying to get out of the job but they had already purchased my flight and if I didn’t do It I’d really burn them and that just isn’t my style. The good news is I’ll have some money to spend on really nice paint :)
Well I must say I hope many of my readers are not too stirred up. Life is too short to get mad?
I’m back to Splendid on Monday. I’m looking forward to being back home :)
Peace, Love, and Coconuts.
Alex
It either says that the kitchen will be closed on the 21st or that you will have to pee in the kitchen sink on the 21st. I think the only way to know for sure is to stay till the 21st and see for yourself. I love it when things get lost in translation!
Speaking about “lost in translation” It reminds me of a time when i was on vacation and staying at a luxury resort in Mexico. The hotel staff had posted a sign by the pool indicating that it was important to watch your small children around the pool. The sign read” BEWARE OF THE INFANTILES” I had to laugh.
That’s a Gold-digging boat needing that expensive variety of paint!
Hey Alex,
You havent stired me up at all. I have been reading the blogs wondering why people take life so seriously. Hell we are hear for a good time not a long time. All the fuss about public health, we have had it for years in Aust and it is no big deal, the ones that can pay 1.5% of income, and the ones on the street pay squat, but they are still covered, if you are not happy with that you can pay private yourself. Why does everyone get emotional about which party they follow or not, they are all normal people who are only told by advisors etc what is going on and only interested in a 30 sec grab on the evening news and the next election. Sometimes i think things would carry on better if they were not there. Perhaps i am just getting synical in my 50’s but i realy dont give a $%@* any more. I mean i even voted green for the senate last time. I also found out yesterday who watches all thoes crappy TV s shows, ie who shoots who , who has which kid, and who figured out who did what to whom. No wonder half the populations brains are fried (sorry but they are nearly all US shows). Any way sit back look at the stars and listen to the water slap slap against the stern, enjoy life, you dont get a second chance.
Mike,
Gold-digging boat? Alexseal is just really durable paint; I don’t get your point? Cal 2-46 isn’t really my kind of boat but a well built cruising boat for sure. I’m not so wild about the spade rudder and am happy to have a skeg on Splendid.
Ian,
You’re funny.
This is the longest I’ve been away from Splendid in a long, long time and I have been exposed to the TV more then, well, I don’t know when (years). I’ve watched a few shows like “American idle”, “So you think you can dance”, and “Animal planet” and I must say my brain feels a little mushy. I don’t think I can watch another kitten falling off of a regenerator. I see they actually have TV programs about pet psychologists, what is that all about?
Health care in America is a touchy subject. I’ve been in a lot of countries and have never felt like I wouldn’t be taken care of if I were sick (Australia included), as I have when I’ve been at home.
If you want to get an idea of how crazy health care is in the states search for international health care plans (get a quote) and compare the prices to be covered anywhere in the world, then add the US for coverage, the price more than doubles. It’s just out of control and something I hope we can get a hold on.
I’ve also watched a fair amount of CNN in the past 5 days and the whole new “War in Libya” ha me all spun out. If ignorance is bliss, I vote for my own ignorance. I just don’t want all that negative $hit in my life. I think we need to focus on our own problems, American problems? If anything I’d like to send Japan all the money we have spent on missals in the last week. Talk about some people who need a F’n hand?
Go to war in Libya when hungry Americans roam the streets, positive or negative?
I know enough of this world to know I don’t know $hit!
Well it looks like Florida (Fish & Game) is trying to regulate anchoring again:
myfwc.com/boating/anchoring-mooring/
I guess there is just too much money in charging people for mooring?
I have to say that this is the nicest way I have ever heard someone say not in my backyard in my life. Funny!
The pilot program is intended to explore potential options for regulating the anchoring or mooring of non-live-aboard vessels outside the marked boundaries of public mooring fields. The pilot program are to encourage the establishment of additional public mooring fields and to promote the establishment and use of public mooring fields, promote public access to the waters of this state, enhance navigational safety, protect maritime infrastructure, protect the marine environment, and deter improperly stored, abandoned, or derelict vessels.
Alex,
I was making a joke about the “sailboat” demanding such a high grade of paint thus making her a Gold-digger. Hey, I got the joke.
Mike,
Marine paints are an education in themselves. The Alexseal is going to last me 8-10 years, where cheaper 2-part LP may only last 4-6. The last thing I want to be screwing around with is painting Splendid in 5 years so the choice in paint is pretty important to me, especially on the hull. I’d rather not think of it again for a decade (:
WOOT, I’m back on SPLENDID!!!!!
Good to be home.
Wow! Paint lasting 8-10 years in a marine condition is amazing, no wonder the price is a little hefty. I haven’t seen too many things last 8-10 years on the ocean, besides a Twinkie.
threadjacking here, but, the link i sent you to the FWC is a very real issue. it looks like they’ve screwed us proper this time. i was blissfully unaware of the whole thing, but it’s been on-going since 2009.
Since they’re doing it under the guise of a “pilot program”, it’s not officially a law, and therefore doesn’t violate state/federal laws. however you want to look at it, you won’t be able to drop the hook in any of these places until 2014, when the “program” ends.
it’s really quite sad, and it’s just fuel for me to get outta here sooner. i’ll spend my money in places that at least pretend to appreciate my business.
also, alexseal isn’t any better than awl-grip, in my experience. both provide decent uv protection and last quite well when looked after. i prefer awl-grip because of the luster i can get out of it, but that is just because i don’t have much experience with making alexseal look like awlgrip. 8-10 years is not out of the question. i have been maintaining a 90foot motor yacht that had her hull and super structure awl-gripped by a good painter 12 years ago, and it still looks like it was sprayed last week.
proper maintenance is key to anything marine, and with an extra little bit of care, you can make non-marine products last pretty damn long, but the work is exhausting.
as a hammock attendant, i tend to look down upon things that make me work harder.
hope she ends up looking good and stays that way for years to come.
i’m using my april job paycheck to fund a brand new rig for the alberg.
you’re going to laugh at me when i tell you what i’ve decided to name her!
oh! also… my alberg’s awlgrip job is over 6 years old, and had been subjected to the florida sun while she sat derelict in a boat yard for all those years, and it, also, looks like it was sprayed yesterday.
almost looks a little too shiny for a boat that belongs to me. har har
Alexseal is made by Awlgrip. Awlgrip was designed for
aircraft and to be applied with a light coat for weight issues. Alexseal is designed to go on thicker/harder and alexseal is reparable, awlgrip is next to impossible to repair/touch up. And the alexseal is also designed to roll and tip if you prefer.
Darren, sorry about the Florida Nazis. It is such a shame. I don’t see how they can get around federal laws though?
i wasn’t aware awl-grip actually made alexseal. but i assure you, awl-grip is most certainly repairable. i have done int many times. although, if you clearcoat over it, now that is a serious pain in the ass, but also still doable. you can also roll-and-tip awl-grip (i’ve also done that), but the amount of reducer that you need to put in it so as to not leave brush marks makes the paint extremely dull. spraying is definitely the best.. you can get lotsa paint on that way without adding coats adnauseam. i do believe alexseal is a tiny bit cheaper, but i haven’t looked recently, and i’m also looking at wholesale prices so it’s a bit different (albeit not astronomically different… uggh).
ah, yes. the peckerheads will always find a way to F you in the end. if you read the exhaustive information they provide, it still doesn’t make sense, but you can see how they’ve weaseled their way into getting what they want. which is: rent a mooring ball/slip or GTFO.
Their rationale is they want to cut down on people living on derelict boats, and dumping raw sewage into the water. first: the derelict boat thing, although it is a real issue, is kind of sideswiping the real issue… which is people not having a place to live… i’ll leave that one alone for now (at least on your log! hahaha! i’ll leave that sort of stuff for my own blog.).
but their other point –raw sewage being dumped– is also moot, in my opinion. at least it is in my current situation.
You’ve been to this anchorage. as you know, there aren’t really a whole LOT of boats, compared to other places in florida where there are TONS of anchored boats –like miami–. i call the martin county pump out skiff guy. he comes. he takes what i offer him, and i watch him go to a few other boats (with people on them) and pump them out. i then watch him go over where? that’s right, the mooring field at sunset bay marina. he stops at 2-3 (that’s being generous) moored boats and goes on his way. there are sometimes like 80 boats or more (just guessing here) in that place. i see a few of the other boats there go up to the pump-out slip, get water, pump out, and return to their ball.
now, what about all those other boats? i am lead to believe that they do one of 2 things: 1) they rush ashore every time they need to relieve themselves (uhhh.. right), or, 2) they are, themselves, dumping their nasty into the water and not being scrutinized because they have PAID for their mooring ball.. it’s also fairly obvious that the people in the marina, who are also living aboard are doing the same thing, as you will never see them leave their slip (there’s no pump-out at every slip, as there is in other higher end marinas). it all comes down to one thing, and one thing only: money.
have some? yes? cool. give me some of it and i’ll let you go about your business.
don’t have enough? that’s no problem! just get the eff out of here. thanks!
i think i’ve accosted your ship’s log enough, but that’s just scratching the surface of the blatant BS that’s going on around here. luckily, finally sooner than later i will be leaving this strange place. in the meantime i will try to find a private dock with power where i can do work on the alberg. i may have a lead on a slip for 100bucks a month + power. at least, it was offered to me a while back. oddly enough, i have been offered free slips in the past at private docks, but gratefully declined because i hate docks and would rather live on the hook… i should really keep people’s phone numbers when they say that kind of stuff!
oh! let me know how the rolling-tipping of splendid goes with the alexseal. call me if you want some pointers or my secret list of miracle additives that i have been piecing together over the last while. i’ll be needing to redo the paint on my deck too, as above the topsides on the old girl is all original gelcoat, and is beginning to wear through and craze.
also, you may want to look into an electric spray gun. the painter i’ve been working with for a while now (30+ years experience.. i get to learn lots of awesome tricks!) is a ridiculously amazing painter. this man can polish a turd! we used one of these things (bought it for a hundred bucks at napa) to shoot some awl-brite on a 56foot kadey-krogan. came out beautiful, plenty thick and almost zero over-spray, due to it’s hvlp nature.
i think it’s time for an evening coffee! wooooooooooooooo
Just saw on CNN….Obama is sending troops to extract an economic terrorist now in Panama…..Alex Dorsey…it is reported that his tax revolt is the newest threat to our ability to wage war in more than 5 countries at the same time….more at 11
Plan B, now that there is funny.
^lol at the Twinkies comment. If you eat them , you may only last 8 to 10 years too. LOL
The same happenings as in Florida have been happening up here in Washington State. There have been communities on the water, some existing for over 150 years. One in eagle harbor, has preexisted a town that developed there. The town is being forced by the state to develop a marina system of “official” buoys these boats can tie up to, and pay rent. The town has to pay the cost of creation, and pay taxes to the state for the land use, and the town does not want to, so the state is forcing the community of sailboats and houseboats out. Its been delayed but still changing. t.co/eYh9RJV The state has cited they have the right to claim taxes on the use of state property (ie the water), and have cited sewage and other issues. The state insists the city must enforce and collect and pay the taxes essentially. These boats and houseboats will have no permanent location to call home if they do not pay for a marina buoy or slip.
There is a representative on the state legislature that has been pushing to outlaw live aboards entirely, citing pollution/sewage concerns.
Never mind across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the city of Victoria in Canada pumps 130 litres of sewage into the water each day, lol. Need to start with the cities first. The traffic in the Seattle metro area dumps oil residue from rain off of roads, into the Puget Sound. The state officials have measured it at the equivalent of the exxon Valdez disaster occuring every two years in the puget sound, just from the oil residue alone. Sometime needs to change, but the liveaboard community is of far less impact. It is just they are visable on the water. I do enough sailing, I am never inthe same location for over a month, and fall outside those rules of liveaboard status. Fighting alongside live aboards however, to try and keep that freedom alive and available.
Anyway, just wanted to say it is not just in Florida.
i was reading this article in cruising world and just thought i would post it. It’s just a general article so it should not cause to much fuss.
By the way, i mispoke regarding my son and following orders….99% of the time he does follow orders…but he also follows his gut and if it’s something he strongly disagrees with…he will voice his concern with the captain. I don’t recall the full story, but there was a situation in which he disagreed with his captain….had to do with towing a sailboat and something with the anchor…my son voiced his concern….and in the end the captain agreed with him and he did end up getting an award for saving lives/sailboat.
http://www.cruisingworld.com/how-to/living-aboard/the-coasties-are-coming
Thanks Mitch, I read and appreciated that article. I appreciate what the coast guard does, and all inspections have been of the highest professionalism. I have been boarded by the navy and homeland security too (being on the border always), and they acted in an authoritarian manner. with extreme arrogance, respect was given in all instances by me however. Appreciate the ones they keep of the water and understnad they have no idea how I am.
Taxes by state of washington regarding a freedom that has been here since this land was discovered, is a little sore spot though. :)
Appreciate the article and links contained there in to prepare.
Mitch,
Thanks for the post and link.
I submitted an article to Cruising World years back and was told I didn’t understand the “Cruising World Philosophy” of writing by the editor, and was asked to “try again”. Basically Cruising World doesn’t post the negative sides of cruising. I’m sure if I wrote an article about my experience with the Coast Guard in Ft. Myers Beach it would never make it past the editor. The articles are heavily edited because Cruising World is in the business of selling new boats and the “dream”. Their loyalties lay with the advertisers, not the readers. You won’t hear so much about the hardships of cruising, equipment failures (by their advertisers), and deadly piracy incidents in the pages of Cruising World, you will find a lot of pretty pictures though. I conceder them the “CNN” of cruising information, as they are quite bias. They have an agenda and it’s making money, big surprise.
Cruising World will also lead you to believe you need every new modern gadget in order to cruise safely. If you want real information on cruising gear go to http://www.practical-sailor.com/
If you want an unbiased account of cruising you might find it here ;) or by reading first hand cruising blogs. I also like to read Latitude 38, Latitudes & Attitudes, and Ocean Navigator.
After 911 the Coast Guard has turned into more of a police presence, then safety oriented, at least in my opinion. I have an EPIRB and life raft (not legally necessary) only because the girls were with me and to appease their family concerns. For myself I don’t feel the need to have an EPIRB or Life raft. I also have a spot, but that is for you guys so you can see my position on the website. Trust me; your drive in your car to work on the freeway is much more dangerous than any of the days I’ve been cruising. I do not need any agency forcing their way into my home and telling me what they believe is “Safe”. My “Safety” is my business. If I choose to take certain risks, it is my choice. If I don’t have something they find is “necessary” I don’t think I should be imprisoned or fined because of it. It is a victimless crime and I believe the money Americans spend to police people like me would be better spent on health care and the needs of the American people.
Is there an agency that forces themselves upon you if you decide to go hiking in the mountains. Does anyone tell you, you need to bring a radio, GPS, certain food or amounts of water?
I like the Coast guard and have dealt with the Colombian, Panamanian, and French Coast guard and always had a pleasant experience. Unfortunately my experiences with the American Coast guard have been marginal to quite bad. I hope that changes.
I’ll tell you right now I took out my holding tanks after I left the states. I don’t think there is a pump out station for 700 miles. Most international cruising boats don’t hold sewage on board as it is quite disgusting, and when people pump out their tanks they dump large amounts of waste at one time, nasty!
Do you know in the states it’s legal to hang your ass over the side of your boat (as long as you’re not publically exposed) and take care of your bodily functions? But you can’t pump your own waste through a hose overboard, what’s up with that?
These kinds of rules/laws boil down to one thing…, control, the harnessing of personal liberty, and financial gain.
That being said, and as I have said many times in the past, I have great respect for the USCG S&R efforts. I just don’t like it when they play police man.
Cheers.
Someone pointed up that the text on my main page was dated, I modified it as to be more current with the BlueSphere agenda.
Also yesterday a really nice French couple came up to Splendid. I actually met the Cap back in New Caledonia. They wanted to borrow a hand grinder. I lent them one and they returned it today with a very nice bottle of french wine :)
hh this is actaully really funny ,
by the way I saw the discussions on BlueSphere.com .
Great blog ,I glad that you shared this with us .
Thank you Alex!