Are You a Non-Tech Sailor....?

[CSY Man]

Just read this on the Electronic Forum:

like most non-tech sailors, that you hadn't provided a concise overview of your situation / equipment / application / needs...again, this isn't a big deal, but just drags the discussion out and prompts some bad advice to be given....

It sure makes me a Non-Tech Sailor, but curious if there is Low-Tech Sailors, Medium-Tech Sailors, High-Tech Sailors and perhaps Super High-Tech, or Senior High-Tech Sailors.
Also, how do I move from the lowest group up to the second lowest?
Is there a test, or a hazing process? (Hopefully not too painful?)
Please advise, I have obviously been sailing no-Tech and in the blind for the last 34 years, not counting my Merchant Marine time.

[Paul L]

On CF the level you reach is based on how adept at googling tech things you are. It clearly has nothing to do with having actual cruising experience with those things. That's not required to give your strong opinions.

[CSY Man]

Originally Posted by Paul L

On CF the level you reach is based on how adept at googling tech things you are. It clearly has nothing to do with having actual cruising experience with those things. That's not required to give your strong opinions.

Uh, ok thanks..I guess.
I failed Google, but will try harder.
Dear Santa, please give me a higher tech-sailing rank..

[thinwater]

On the other hand...



The experience card is overplayed a lot too. If it was that simple, everyone over 40 would be brilliant at every skill they have practiced. It hasn't worked that way for me.

[CSY Man]

Originally Posted by thinwater

On the other hand...

Thx, I deserved that, no doubt.
(I am the one labeled the Non-Tech Sailor.)
Probably not too far off, first sailboat had no roller furling or reefing, no windlass, no auto pilot, no fridge, no air conditioning, no gps, no nothing except great sailing qualities and a young and hard working crew.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by thinwater

....
The experience card is overplayed a lot too. If it was that simple, everyone over 40 would be brilliant at every skill they have practiced. It hasn't worked that way for me.

If the question is how do you live a good life, I probably agree with you. But the opinion of someone who has 3 years experience with a product on a cruising boat far outweighs in my mind the opinion of someone who searches the web for the spec sheet and declares it's greatness on CF for a cruising boat.

[CSY Man]

. The experience card is overplayed a lot too. If it was that simple, everyone over 40 would be brilliant at every skill they have practiced. It hasn't worked that way for me.

The number I heard is 10,000 hours.
If you got that in your field, whether as a sailor, surgeon or seamstress, you should be very good at it. If not, go goofing off on a beach and enjoy life..

[Lake-Effect]

Hmmm.

My work and hobby life is tech. Electronics, mechanics, software. It does extend into my boating, as represented by the electrical stuff I've built and installed in the boat. Custom LED lighting with dimmer, USB jacks everywhere, custom DC panel, extended-range voltmeter, etc.

But when it comes to actually sailing... I dunno. It's the tiller in one hand, mainsheet in the other, eyes running from horizon to ticklers to windex, or maybe just gazing off while sailing by feel...

I have instruments - depth gauge (fishfinder, actually), and a handheld GPS (Christmas present). But I abhor the idea of sailing with my face in a display like I was watching TV.

Truth is, my sailing time is my time to get AWAY from tech. A 90+ min sail with minimal intrusion from tech is my antidote and reward for having spent 40+ hours in the week immersed in the stuff. A weekend (or a week) out... even better.

[Don C L]

Well.. I'm there too... pretty low tech... all I got is my GPS. But hold on, back in the day I (we?) had more TOOLS that I actually used... paper charts with my dividers and parallel rule (well still got 'em but they are gettin moldy), RDF, hand bearing compass (ok still got that but don't use it much,) a log, a lead line (still got it but it too is moldy...) the tech was just different, not low so much as less dependent on electron flow? I don't know, in my case I read a book when I was a kid that made a good point I thought: never bet your life on something that will stop working if soaked in salt water... so maybe better to shoot for multi-tech?

[CSY Man]

. My work and hobby life is tech. Electronics, mechanics, software. It does extend into my boating, as represented by the electrical stuff I've built and installed in the boat. Custom LED lighting with dimmer, USB jacks everywhere, custom DC panel, extended-range voltmeter, etc.

Ouch, you fail..LED lights with dimmers, USB Jacks..?
Don’t go to the electronic chapter of this forum, you will be roasted over the coals, you be like Non-Tech Sailor..

[CSY Man]

. never bet your life on something that will stop working if soaked in salt water... so maybe better to shoot for multi-tech?
__________________

Multi-Tech, or Non-Tech?
Paper charts with dividers, sorry Sailor, you no good, you Non-Tech.

[Stu Jackson]

Depends on how you mean "tech." I know, another typical CF deflection, but...


I knew a lot of sailing from when I was a kid, bought a C22 in 1983, learned more, a C25 for 13 years, learned more sailing but simple boat still, 1998 to now our current boat, learned: plumbing, diesel, mechanical and electrical.


Still learnin'. But got stuff working, repeatedly.

[rmlarson1098]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Just read this on the Electronic Forum:



It sure makes me a Non-Tech Sailor, but curious if there is Low-Tech Sailors, Medium-Tech Sailors, High-Tech Sailors and perhaps Super High-Tech, or Senior High-Tech Sailors.
Also, how do I move from the lowest group up to the second lowest?
Is there a test, or a hazing process? (Hopefully not too painful?)
Please advise, I have obviously been sailing no-Tech and in the blind for the last 34 years, not counting my Merchant Marine time.

A Luddite here. Makes me a decidedly non-tech, whether sailing or ashore.

[Tillerjockey]

As an old sailor, I think the two greatest tech advances that allow me to sail most any boat single handed are the autopilot and roller furling. A gps is nice but not essential if you have basic sailing skills. The rest of the electronice gizmos are just " stuff " unless I'm racing.

[Mike OReilly]

I wouldn’t say I am non “non-tech” — perhaps “low-tech.” I favour simple and mechanical over complex and digital/electrical. Manual windlass, windvane, compost head, mechanical winches, simple rigging, etc. But I’m not a luddite. Chartplotters/GPSs, radar, radios, LED lighting, fridge, diesel engine, computers, tablets…

The problem isn’t technology, it’s how we use it that matters. Too often we become dependent on our tech. Many of us even shape our lives around it. How many of us now must have an Internet connection all the time, or get stuck waiting for experts and parts to fix their various luxury item.

The trick with tech () is to use it, not let it use you.