A "Simple" Boat

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Those are all good points "Celestial Sailor" especially the electronics. After GPS came out the cruiser population grew exponentially as it no longer required the type of commitment to navigation that it had earlier.

As to your point about young people working...I'm not sure. I think it may have something to do with a fear of getting a job after returning....something we didn't have to worry about as their we lots of good jobs compared to today.

Either way its nice to see that the odd younger folks are still up for a challenge. I have now slipped into your average age catagory.... well I guess that was awhile ago as well, LOL

Great point regarding trying to find work when they get back. I still have a few years before retirement. So I will have to shake the money tree again at some point.

[sww914]

I don't have a simple boat. I spend too much time fixing things, but I love having a fridge, good water, ice, computers, pressurized water, a shower etc. Good thing that I'm really good at fixing things or I couldn't ever afford this.

[jkindredpdx]

Originally Posted by sww914

I don't have a simple boat. I spend too much time fixing things, but I love having a fridge, good water, ice, computers, pressurized water, a shower etc. Good thing that I'm really good at fixing things or I couldn't ever afford this.

LOL. I think many of us feel that way regardless of the chosen complexity or simplicity of our boats.

[Shas Cho]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Well...you seem to have an axe to grind, so go for it.

Is that your version of an apology
for taking the time to falsely accuse me
of intruding the word "worship"?
If it was important enough to rebuke me for it,
surely it's important enough to retract the accusation
when it's shown to be incorrect.

Can you see how the dice are loaded here, CS?

Never mind-
I'll be the bad guy and we can return
to the topic of simple boats.

Speaking of simplicity,
I continue to be surprised
at the lack of interest in junk-rigged cruising boats.
I sometimes suspect that the unfortunate word "junk"
is responsible for the lack of enthusiasm.

For racing sailors, sure,
hi-tech materials and minimal-strength rigging make sense.
But for cruising, as Annie Hill has expressed so articulately,
the junk rig is inexpensive, safe, low-stress,
easily handled by a weak or short-handed crew,
readily maintained and repaired, and so on.

The junk rig epitomises "simplicity" to me.

- Shas

[Coops]

Couldn't agree more. I used to have a Colvin Gazelle junk rigged schooner. Loved the rig and would have it again. 42' and could reef it down by myself if it had to be done. Took all of, say, a minute to reef. Uncleat the halyard from the belaying pin, drop a few battens down, tie off. That was it.

Coops.

[Shas Cho]

It was discovering the junk rig
and learning about it through Hasler's book
(and van Loan's also, if I remembered that name correctly)
that convinced me that I could build our own cruiser.
I was never worried about the wood or fibreglass,
but the thought of building a Marconi rig intimidated me.

What do you think, Coops-
why has the cruising fraternity
failed to embrace the junk rig?

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Shas Cho

Is that your version of an apology
for taking the time to falsely accuse me
of intruding the word "worship"?
If it was important enough to rebuke me for it,
surely it's important enough to retract the accusation
when it's shown to be incorrect.

Can you see how the dice are loaded here, CS?

Never mind-
I'll be the bad guy and we can return
to the topic of simple boats.
- Shas

Bad guy? You have a right to your opinion like everyone else here. Although you seem to be negative with everyone of your posts. that's your business...I don't have a dog in that fight.

[jkindredpdx]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I agree with your points of how size and age has changed. In the 70s/80's it was a lot of people between the ages of 20-35, with boats 28-35ft. long. Very limited electronics. From California, some were know to navigate to Hawaii via con-trails from airliners overhead. In the anchorage and marina down this way in Mexico now are folks 50-70+ of age on boats 38-50ft. long. Most slips in this marina start at 40ft. long. I credit this change to electronics and the fact that younger people have to work a lot. In regards to shipping ones vessel back, I know a few who have done that. Not because of fear or age but because of time restraints and financial obligations.

Deep obversations, the tropics must be agreeing with you...

It's a Moore's Law corollary... cars, houses, boats, motorcycles etc are getting larger because thanks to technology and improved productivity costs drop. But suppliers need to add more electronic gadgets and perceived luxury to maintain revenue. Add to that our society's aversion to personal risk and discomfort instilled by media and marketing.

I rebelled against my parents by casting off their values. It was easy to find some kind of work for food, shelter, and adventures. Then I joined the rat race, had kids, taught them to go to college and be "successful". Once again I feel free to cast off again. But I'm not sure our kids have it as easy as I did.

[Coops]

Originally Posted by Shas Cho

What do you think, Coops-
why has the cruising fraternity
failed to embrace the junk rig?

Too different. Too ugly. Too slow into the wind and don't point as high. Too unknown. Pick any of these at random. Who knows really? It just hasn't and that is it. The good news is that S/H junk rigged boats are cheaper because of it.

Coops.

[charliehows]

What do you think, Coops-
why has the cruising fraternity
failed to embrace the junk rig?[/QUOTE]

Its a good question - i've never had any experience with junk rig and the only boats ive seen with it looked a little...fragile... for the south seas - which is, i admit, pure prejudice...but i probably think the way others do, right or wrong. In the interests of the 'simple boat' topic, it comes under the general heading of 'before you try out that bright idea think about how much thought and experience has gone into developing the fundamentals of this boat"...I've had my share of failures.

[PhaseSpace]

I'm curious, what would be defined as a "Pardys type of cruising"? as I keep seeing mentioned in this thread.

Little I know is they didn't use an engine. What else is unique about their style and how is it different from others?

[robert sailor]

Well its not too much different but lets start with the biggy....they built their own boat! They passed on all the electronics and used oil lamps, celestial navigation, no fridge, no bow thruster,no furling, well you get the drift, and ya no motor. A fair difference from those cruising today wouldn't you say.

[robert sailor]

Oh I forgot to mention that they sailed around the world a couple of times as well, first in a 24 footer and the last one is a 29 footer.

[robert sailor]

Junk Rigs...cool rigs actually but never made it to the mainstream. Production boat builders set all the trends and the masses follow and the poor junk rig just never caught on.
Mostly associated with homebuilt boats. They do make lots of sense for cruisers though.

[Coops]

A link to a review of Colvin's Gazelle if anyone is at all interested.

COLVIN GAZELLE: A Junk-Rigged Cruising Icon

Coops.