[GordMay]

I was feeling a little guilty about my unsympathetic (to Ali & Pat’s predicament) posting - so I went back to the “Bumfuzzle” site and read a little more. Could it be that I’m jealous that these youngsters are out there doing what I wish I were? Am I envious of their apparent financial independence?

Nov. 17/04
“... We happened to show up at the marine store a little bit before some free safety seminar they were giving there. They had pizza and beer for free, just for showing up. Believe it or not though, we were too stuffed for either. We did gladly accept the free gift bags right before we ran out of there. Phew, that was close, we almost learned something about being safe on our boat. They probably would have just ended up scaring the hell out of us ...”

Need I comment?

Sept. 8/04
”... Once again I lugged 150 feet of line down to the stores figuring we'd be able to have somebody splice the shackle onto it. Wrong. Three marine stores and one shipping yard and we still haven't found anybody that can splice a line. Guess I won't feel bad for not knowing how to do it myself ...”

Jan. 7/05
Replying to a comment posted about their ineptness [“ Best example of clueless introspection I can remember: They went from island to island in the SoPac, complaining that no islanders knew how to splice double-braid line. There was just no comprehension that THEY needed to bring some skills along with them, or that they looked like the dumbest of the folks on any island they visited since they had the line, they had the need, and they lacked the skills.”]
And replies:
”... But number three really says it all, because it is people like him that think if you don't spend twenty years learning how to sail in a dinghy at your local marina, then you have no business being out here. What a clown. Now everyone get out there and splice a line, or you can't go sailing with him ...”

I thought that the poster put it rather well - even if Pat missed the point. How can you disparage someone else, for sharing your own ignorance? It’s not so much Pat’s ignorance, as his expectation that he should always be able to purchase the expertise that HE needs.

Jan. 27/05 (Discussing a mast-top “Windex” wind indicator)
“... Turns out he meant some thing that goes on top of the mast and shows you the wind direction. A manual wind direction indicator I guess. We just use the one on the cockpit controls that shows us a nice picture of the boat with a needle on it that indicates the wind direction. Who wants to look straight up at the top of the mast? ...”

Huh?

I’m glad I read a little more - turns out I don’t have much to feel guilty about. The “Bumfuzzles” are (bumfuzzled). Their general good humor, physical attractiveness, and youth (read callow) do not excuse their ignorance.

I’ve copied their entire correspondence (72 pages) and will comment further on the build-quality issues they raise, when I’ve had a chance to digest it all. I will stand by my (earlier) preliminary opinion that the manufacturer’s analysis seems (at first glance) to be easily as plausible as theirs.

I’ll also add my vote to those that disparage the Kiwi surveyor’s ethics. While some would permit surveyors to also engage in repair work - none allow surveyors to contract repairs on the same boat they’ve surveyed. This important failure of ethics makes everything he subsequently says very suspect.

IMHO
Gord