Important things we don't talk about much

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Probably, but why would I have lighter fluid on my boat (and don't dare say to use gasoline). Plus would still to lite the stick from the stove and carry it to the cockpit without it going out.

We always have lighter fluid on the boat, really good for cleaning and removing stuff like some glues

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Probably, but why would I have lighter fluid on my boat (and don't dare say to use gasoline). Plus would still to lite the stick from the stove and carry it to the cockpit without it going out.

Sheesh, Don, the ignorant peasants in Transylvania never have any trouble with their burning sticks going out, all the way to Dr Frankenstein's castle. Surely you can climb up the companionway ladder...

Jim

[Buzzman]

It has long been known in the bush that petrol (gasoline) poured into a dish of sand and set light will burn safely for some time.

A 'spill' of paper is a tightly wound roll, sightly conical in shape, and is best made of a sheet of heavy paper such as A4 cartidge paper or printer paper, which burns relatively slowly.

Another old standby is cotton cloth, tightly packed into a small tin and soaked in gasoline, somethng like a small round tobacco tin is fine, which can easily be extinguished by placing the lid on it and starving the flame of oxygen.

But it does need to be held at arm's length with tongs or multi-grips....

[weavis]

I have several of these

[weavis]

And some of these.
I have been given a piezo electric igniter but have not tried it yet. (OK-I cant find where I stored it safely )

[Zai]

I have been using a bic lighter (the long type). It ran out of gas after the first couple of months, but the piezo gadget which lights the gas still functions fine. The gas supply comes from the grill and the spark from the lighter.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Zai

I have been using a bic lighter (the long type). It ran out of gas after the first couple of months, but the piezo gadget which lights the gas still functions fine. The gas supply comes from the grill and the spark from the lighter.

I just found out where my piezo lighter is. Turns out the ladies at the clinic have been using it for months to light the gas boiler and the gas hob. Seems it works fine.

[quill]

Everybody has a story about the crew from hell. But what makes a good crew or crew member. I've been lucky to crew on a few boats and the captains were very picky about crew selection. Usually there were 5 or 6 including the captain/owner. Generally the skill level was mixed. Other than the integrity of the boat, I think crew selection may be one of the most important contributors to a sucessful voyage. I'm interested in what you have to say.

[YachtOgler]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

Oh, and has anyone seen my 'dream mug' anywhere?

Instead of the plastic or brushed stainless 'liner' it has a porcelain liner.

Porcelain is SOOOO much easier to clean than tea-stained plastic or (especially) brushed stainless.

Have searched high and low to no avail, but perhaps one of the CFers has tripped over one in some remote place, like maybe Pitcairn Island.....???

Suggestions?

Go to eBay and search for 'Feltman Langer'. You'll find the mug you're looking for, but it probably won't be cheap. Spill resistant shape and slip resistant padding on the bottom of the mugs, porcelain throughout and some of the good ones even come with the heat retaining lids for slow drinkers. In my opinion they're the perfect shaped boat mugs for coffee or tea. Hope this helps you on your quest!

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by YachtOgler

Go to eBay and search for 'Feltman Langer'. You'll find the mug you're looking for, but it probably won't be cheap. Spill resistant shape and slip resistant padding on the bottom of the mugs, porcelain throughout and some of the good ones even come with the heat retaining lids for slow drinkers. In my opinion they're the perfect shaped boat mugs for coffee or tea. Hope this helps you on your quest!

Stainless steel "commuter mugs" available from LLBean in the past. Do not know about current availability, but they are a variant of the shape. Excellent on watch mugs.

Ann

[Jeff Bird]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Actually when you choose to sail "alone" you are a single hander.

Please forgive me for quoting and old post. But this one sentence just made a lot a cheap American beer come out of my nose.

Thank you for the laugh Robert.

[sailorboy1]

Have I mentioned a flyswatter yet? When you need it, it is VERY important.

[kerrydeare]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I can never sleep with my legs higher then my head ...

Sometimes this is hard to control on passage.

[kerrydeare]

Originally Posted by BandB

... Sleep is very important and our mattresses are. We purchased a mattress about a year ago for our home and fell in love with it. So did our friends ...

We're not usually considered "fuddy duddy" but I must admit we don't often have our friends use our mattress. Is this a California thing?

[kerrydeare]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

I'm not judgmental generally but over the many years I've been around cruising I have met a ton of single handers, they are a unique breed and don't tend to attract others to them. I guess this all makes sense as they tend to enjoy their own company much better than others.

To be honest, I am judgmental. My judgments are most often based on how my experience with a particular place, individual, or thing compares with my own values and past experiences. That's really the only way I've found that works well enough for me (and I say this at age 72, not 27).

To get back to the solo sailing thing (my style for the last 30 plus years), there certainly is a difference in how solo sailors interact with crewed boats. First off, when it comes to boat management and making a passage there are obvious technical considerations (starting for example with merely hauling the anchor and getting going while not whacking another yacht). It just gets more complicated from there on, making repairs, keeping a good watch, etc. Solo sailors usually want to know how the other person did it, and with what kind of result.

In harbor there are also differences, some of which are related to the "third wheel" idea. I have had many good times and experiences with "he and she" crew over the years, but I'd hazard a guess that two "he and she" crews are perhaps more likely to have things in common than the "third wheel" arrangement. I say this having had many quite close friends of either sex along the way and therefore many quite candid and personal discussions. Still ...

One thing I have noticed that's peculiar to solo sailors (the majority of whom seem to be male, even these days) is that once a solor sailor comes into harbor, he or she really welcomes the warmth of interacting with another compatible human. This has universally been my own experience, as well as the experience of other solo sailors I know well.

So yes, there are differences between single-handers (who only rarely have only one hand) and crewed boats. Yet having what one might call an anti-social nature is not likely one of them. Note that I did not discuss the transition from crewed boat to solo sailor that I've observed often in harbor, while (usually) she exits the boat with duffle bag and he scratches his head wondering why.