Recent content by Hippocampus

My experience is quite different than that reported in post#47. The only boat I ever had that wasn’t a PIA I had built for me. It was a semicustom. Other than two structural bulkheads I could do want I wanted and spec every detail and piece of equipment and machinery. This allowed me to make use...

Current thrusters allow you to pin against a dock then handle lines. Various remotes allow you to control thrusters and engines. While home used a marina in RI. There had a pier neighbor running a 45’ sportfish by himself. Truly an amazing boat handler. Would dock stern first then go to neutral...

Starlink can serve as a Satphone. It is a satellite system . Feel it’s important to have some form of satellite communications when in a raft. Starlink doesn’t serve that function. Look at their web site now. Service is degraded. Not something you would want in a key piece of safety equipment...

A very good reason to have some form of Satphone on your boat in traveling outside the US coastal waters. We carried a Fleet one Sailor as well as a handheld device. Never had an issue transmitting or receiving with the ship based unit. The handheld was fairly reliable but at times dropped the...

through the years I’ve just replaced them. My concern is not only hazing but think they get brittle. Can envision a crack causing an air leak or breaking altogether. So when hazy would replace. Same with the plastic tops of strainers.

Cruised the eastern Caribbean for more decade. Don’t have experience of the western. Did follow noonsite closely and hope you reported this story to them as well. Unfortunately the San Blas have gotten a bit of a reputation but most difficult interactions near shore or on land. Our recurring...

Seems an even split among us with decent justification for either decision. Truly a matter of preference.

Yes there’s a detailed writ up on their site about exhaust. TT pointed out what he thinks is the downside to it. If I understand him correctly it’s corrosion in the system over time. Would think if done with good SS that would be manageable.

Totally agree with you. That Northern is one hell of a boat. Like it better than their current version which doesn’t have full wrap around decks. Also doesn’t those large areas of glass in the hull which seems to be the recent fad for the last few years. Would buy it in a heart beat if I didn’t...

Agree just preference. For me it’s been not if but when but I like exploring and have been in places where charting has been sketchy.Slow is pro. Dancing through coral heads and shifting sands has been most troublesome. US east coast, even the ICW , hasn’t been bad as it’s just mud or sand so...

Our brains work differently. Water depth from the surface is accurately measured. It’s the same regardless of what your draft is. Your exactly right you can easily work backwards to get that number know what offset you put in. But it’s another calculation when comparing to a chart reading or...

Your draft varies as your fuel and water is used up. In skinny water that maybe quite important. Setting at a “depth under keel “ is almost never accurate. Simple depth is accurate. To be safe if using that number you should only use your maximum depth when full. That means an additional guess...

We have screens. They come in anytime you go in or out. Looking for old school fly paper in rectangle or square shape. Could lay it flat and not worry about roll or wind.

Just did Deltaville to near mouth of C&D. Although we left with no flies they’ve troubled us since leaving. Two types. Common house flies and something slightly smaller than Maine black flies but they also bite. Have used fly paper in those rolls in the past. But with the boat rolling any they...

One offs have the same problem as steel or aluminum in North America. They maybe much better boats than their production cousins but the typical NA buyer won’t consider buying them. Also the typical NA buyer considers the brand and it’s following but less so the NA and yard. Have had several...