Stop Press -- 84-Year Old Man Crosses Atlantic In Garden Shed

[Dockhead]

It's official -- the Blue Water Boat idea is dead. You can cross the Atlantic in anything. So stop ragging on our Hunters, will you!




Across the Atlantic - in a garden shed: Most 84-year-olds would settle for a Saga cruise. But this ancient mariner had other ideas...* | Daily Mail Online

Actually, all kidding aside, this is a very impressive project. Like Hot Rod and the Flyin Hawaiian, this is built out of Home Depot materials (or B&Q, as the case may be). Note that the main structural fixing method uses ratchet straps ROTFLMAO.

However, utterly and totally different quality of engineering to Hot Rod's -- he built a model, then a prototype, before building the actual vessel, which held together admirably. Water storage is integral to the structural cross-members. Which are made out of B&Q water pipe . Kudos to that bloke

[Dockhead]

Note that the vessel has daggerboards

[Steadman Uhlich]

I find this rafting trip admirable in the way it was successfully accomplished.

To successfully finish a big project involving others, led by a skipper in his mid 80s, crewed by amateurs, with construction of a low cost vessel by amateurs, and crossing an ocean without major mishap (no loss of mast or rudder, no sinking, no abandonment, no rescue) or loss of life is a real "success."

_______________

For a bit of humor…

Gunboat could learn a thing or two.

[glenn.225]

Like the Tri(Quad)marine?? eyes.

Was his weather router better than Rainmakers?

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Attachment 98107


Note that the vessel has daggerboards

Looks like a live aboard escaped his moorings.

Perhaps the GB maker could hire them for nautical design help.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by glenn.225

Like the Tri(Quad)marine?? eyes.

Was his weather router better than Rainmakers?

Obviously

What is more impressive is that they did not simply cross the Atlantic to St. Lucia, like the ARC -- they sailed all the way to the Bahamas, to Eleuthra. Almost in sight of Florida. At two knots (!).

One of the main challenges of a big ocean crossing is supply -- provisions, water, etc., for a few weeks. These guys were at sea for three months!!

Superbly planned and executed; really inspiring. The old guy did go to Oxford Somewhat different cultural and educational level from Hot Rod . . .

[Jim Cate]

Superbly planned and executed; really inspiring. The old guy did go to Oxford Somewhat different cultural and educational level from Hot Rod . .

Yeah, yeah, that's true, but where's the big motorbike on this raft? He didn't plan for ground transport upon arrival!

(Before anyone jumps me... this is in jest. I quite admire the gent and his accomplishment).

Jim

[glenn.225]

Well it did take two attempts first landing in St Maarten and finishing the next year. But well done anyway. Seems he did have a few other adventures besides this one.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Yeah, yeah, that's true, but where's the big motorbike on this raft? He didn't plan for ground transport upon arrival!

(Before anyone jumps me... this is in jest. I quite admire the gent and his accomplishment).

Jim

[Canibul]

Awesome. Inspiring. And he did it in a monohull, at monohull speeds!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Awesome. Inspiring. And he did it in a monohull, at monohull speeds!

Looks like a Multi to me..
The raft platform itself would need to be in the water to qualify as a mono... I'da thought..
Need the speed to outrun the weather...

[colemj]

I wonder how this thread would have gone if he had not made it and needed rescue?

Mark

[gonesail]

ok here's a cuban based design for you speedy multihull aficionados .. needs new rigging but reasonably priced with recent blue water experience

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by colemj

I wonder how this thread would have gone if he had not made it and needed rescue?

Mark

Probably the same way as the Professionals in the Gunboat..
Cancel that.. Worse.. these guys were Amateurs...

[SniperSailor]

Beautiful story, thanks for posting.