How do you pass time on a long voyage?

[Seevee]

Originally Posted by BandB

We have a keyboard and background music and karaoke equipment.

BandB,

Cool, and I thought I was nuts. I've got a real nice electric piano that I'd consider taking, but can't figure out where to put it. It's only 75# and pretty skinny, but boat space is a premium......

Might consider a table top unit, but not sure what to get that really sounds like a piano.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Seevee

BandB,

Cool, and I thought I was nuts. I've got a real nice electric piano that I'd consider taking, but can't figure out where to put it. It's only 75# and pretty skinny, but boat space is a premium......

Might consider a table top unit, but not sure what to get that really sounds like a piano.

We like other sounds too but if piano is your main interest, some of the small, inexpensive Yamahas are pretty good. Sam Ash is running a great deal on an 88 key Yamaha if you want to spend more. The portables only way 15-20 lbs and take up virtually no space. A lot connect to iPhones to be used as controllers too. We never travel without a keyboard and background/karaoke.

[Bay Pelican]

Originally Posted by South of Heaven

The freighters are faster????

Many we see in the open ocean are going 20kts. I have posted many a story of my love for AIS as it enables me to call a freighter by name and ask (plead?) for guidance in avoiding the freighter. The freighter crews have generally been helpful.

[Seevee]

Originally Posted by BandB

We like other sounds too but if piano is your main interest, some of the small, inexpensive Yamahas are pretty good. Sam Ash is running a great deal on an 88 key Yamaha if you want to spend more. The portables only way 15-20 lbs and take up virtually no space. A lot connect to iPhones to be used as controllers too. We never travel without a keyboard and background/karaoke.

BandB,

THANKS MUCH,
Did a quick chat with them and they have some nice stuff. The Yamaha, 115-88 looks like a great value, $600 (900 retail), perhaps last years model, which is fine. Weighted keys, full 88, and very portable. Looking into that one, but doing a bit more shopping now.

I have a Casio Privia, which is a dynamite good performer at a reasonable price and would like to come close to that quality, which is possible.

Good ideas. Thx again.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Seevee

BandB,

THANKS MUCH,
Did a quick chat with them and they have some nice stuff. The Yamaha, 115-88 looks like a great value, $600 (900 retail), perhaps last years model, which is fine. Weighted keys, full 88, and very portable. Looking into that one, but doing a bit more shopping now.

I have a Casio Privia, which is a dynamite good performer at a reasonable price and would like to come close to that quality, which is possible.

Good ideas. Thx again.

Quality improves every year on the pianos and organs. I don't play more than just a few notes in learning a song or something but my wife plays very well. Just over the last 16 years she's learned so much more and gotten keyboards capable of so much more.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Seevee

Might consider a table top unit, but not sure what to get that really sounds like a piano.

Good keyboards can sound very much like a good piano, even a high-end concert piano. Wifey's keyboard sounds every bot as good as her small grand piano.

But that also means good amplification, etc... and sometimes means stereo amplification, speaker separation, etc. Not unsolvable, except for maybe extreme speaker separation depending on boat size and shape.

You'll know this, but the "feel of the keys" (weighted, etc.) and a full-length (88 keys) keyboard are generally important for serious work.

When wifey shopped, she ended up eventually focusing on Roland, Korg, Yamaha, and... hmmm... another brand I can't remember right now... I suspect almost all the good ones from each of those companies are pretty impressive.

-Chris

[Seevee]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Good keyboards can sound very much like a good piano, even a high-end concert piano. Wifey's keyboard sounds every bot as good as her small grand piano.

But that also means good amplification, etc... and sometimes means stereo amplification, speaker separation, etc. Not unsolvable, except for maybe extreme speaker separation depending on boat size and shape.

You'll know this, but the "feel of the keys" (weighted, etc.) and a full-length (88 keys) keyboard are generally important for serious work.

When wifey shopped, she ended up eventually focusing on Roland, Korg, Yamaha, and... hmmm... another brand I can't remember right now... I suspect almost all the good ones from each of those companies are pretty impressive.

-Chris

Yes, the options are very good. I'm happy with a good weighted touch and a "reasonable" sound. I'm not going to install high end speakers. Would be nice, but just not the room. Perhaps I can hook to my old Bose, which are pretty nice, but I'm only entertaining myself and the Admiral. A few beers and I can play rag time... works for me.

I'm excited about the piano now...didn't think it would work.

[MYTraveler]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Good keyboards can sound very much like a good piano, even a high-end concert piano.

Very true. Our Yamaha Disklavier (player piano) has a mode in which the note sounds are produced electronically, rather than by actually striking the strings (although the keys still move). Anyway, the electronic sound is so realistic, the only way I can tell which mode the piano is in is by careful observation.

[BandB]

Wifey B: I've never owned a real piano. Only keyboards. I've played regular ones here and there.

Learning keyboard for me was just something I decided would be fun as I was young and working hard but not interested in going out and partying and I always loved to sing. So, took some lessons and practiced constantly and since I met my hubby I get even more experience. Also been to the store for training on additional features and sounds and what to use with what kind of music. Obviously, I learned from the pop music standpoint and as to any form of concertos or other similar music, I'd be totally lost. I see professional concert pianists and I'm just amazed. But I have fun.

[cardude01]

To pass the time I now play with the steadying sails, and sometimes sail into (then away from) giant thunderstorms. [emoji51]

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by MangoMan

Here's an idea .... how about keeping a proper lookout no matter how long or short the voyage?

How do you do that while crossing oceans or even doing long coastal single handed?

[Bay Pelican]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

How do you do that while crossing oceans or even doing long coastal single handed?

Obviously you can't. This of course is one of the reasons many of us don't believe in crossing oceans single handed.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Seevee

Yes, the options are very good. I'm happy with a good weighted touch and a "reasonable" sound. I'm not going to install high end speakers. Would be nice, but just not the room. Perhaps I can hook to my old Bose, which are pretty nice, but I'm only entertaining myself and the Admiral. A few beers and I can play rag time... works for me.

I'm excited about the piano now...didn't think it would work.

Yeah, there's only so much you can do without good speakers and a subwoofer in the system... but in a small space you can usually get pretty good tone anyway. You might investigate whether there might be transmitter/Bluetooth speaker options these days... if so, that could perhaps give you more flexibility, maybe easy-mount speakers up high around the saloon or whatever...

The last several times we've played out, we've announced right up front that we weren't starting the music until everyone in the crowd had at least three drinks... and until we had three drinks each, too! I think we must have sounded great!!

-Chris

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by SaltyDawg86

Proper lookout doesn't mean that's 100% all you do. It's easy to stand a proper look out.... Relax.

Don't set the boat on autopilot and go below to take a dump.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Yeah, there's only so much you can do without good speakers and a subwoofer in the system... ..........

Or a pair of headphones.

[OldDan1943]

Hence the 'black ball', ship not under command.
But the black ball is pretty big for boats our size.
I don't have a mast to hang it either.

[OldDan1943]

Originally Posted by WesK

Don't set the boat on autopilot and go below to take a dump.

Hence the 'black ball', ship not under command.
But the black ball is pretty big for boats our size.
I don't even have a mast have a mast to hang it either.

[AusCan]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

How do you do that while crossing oceans or even doing long coastal single handed?

The interpretation of a "proper lookout" has to vary according to the risk.

In some situations a single person needs all their wits to monitor all the traffic and hazards on hand. (heavy traffic, bad weather, reefs, breaking waves)

There are times where you may not see another vessel or hazard for days (open water, good conditions, far from shipping channels). In these conditions, I see minimal risk in taking a short nap. Whether that nap be for 5 minutes or 5 hours would depend on the assessment at the time.

[OldDan1943]

Originally Posted by AusCan

The interpretation of a "proper lookout" has to vary according to the risk.
Whether that nap be for 5 minutes or 5 hours would depend on the assessment at the time.

5 hours without plotting your position on the chart does seem a bit excessive.
If during your nap, your GPS goes down, where are you when you wake up??

[psneeld]

Just for the record...

A black ball is a vessel at anchor..

2 in a vertical line is vessel not under command.

Leaving the helm unattended is not really vessel not under command....though it comically is the same

After 5 hrs napping, and the gps went down....I would just check one of the other 5 gps aboard.