Recent content by bob234

There's an expression along the lines of 'the quote for the job is (say) £100, with the owners help £200, with the owners help and advice £300'. It's a good reflection of what happens in practice and I understand the contractors standpoint, but I always ensure I am on board whenever I can so...

Unfortunately that wouldn't work for the OP. Port St Charles doesn't allow you to stay aboard overnight. They are not a marina as such and don't call themselves one. It is a waterside property development where house owners can park their boats. The new Port Ferdinand next door I believe...

That's not the case. I recently went over to digital only and the nice subscription person explained that it would be better to cancel my old sub and start again as digital only was significantly cheaper. Don't remember the figures but it is. (We are Liveaboards currently in the Caribbean and...

I believe the reason it works is that to get the short term 90 day visa you need to arrive in the US by a recognised carrier, eg, an airline or ferry. Having done that you clear out and leave on the ferry and can then return within the 90 days on your boat.

Yes. We have 2x135 Ah panels, one each side. The guard wires were removed and replaced with steel tubing and the panels are clamped to the rails. They are a fiction fit so that the panels can be rotated completely inboard. We found that they were sufficiently protected when berthing stern to...

Absolutely agree. This is the way to prevent the twisting.

Knowing Patrice and Jean Paul at Mecanique Plaisance after an engine change last year it would not surprise me if Patrice said exactly what Kelly's Eye says he said. It would also not surprise me if he was being either ironic or taking the piss. From what I could see very few of the French...

In my youth, after sailing I used to enjoy a pint of Titbread Whankard

Polish it until it is briney shite

Thank you Serin for starting this thread and to the contributors with their heartwarming stories. Reminds me why we are doing this. Thanks again, Bob

We have a Hydrovane mounted off centre on a 47 ft boat, displacement about 15 tonnes. It is a great piece of kit. It worked well across the Atlantic even down to apparent winds of about 6 kts. Once our boat speed dropped below 2 to 3 knots we put the iron sail on so don't know if it would...

We sailed across two years ago after 6 yrs in the Med. We avoid marinas but find the Caribbean significantly more expensive than eastern Med. Insurance is at least 50% more and getting work done on the boat and parts are more expensive although we try to do most of the work ourselves. Lift...

I have a 14 yr old Bavaria 47 Ocean which I have had from new and my wife and I have lived aboard for 10 yrs. Flex on the keel? Rubbish! Some boats do - wrong brand!

Couldn't agree more. I got this today as well. I subscribe to Active Captain because it is useful on this side of the Atlantic ( Caribbean). Their approach seems to be like many American liveaboard cruisers we have met, ie they have not really left 'home' and it's connectivity and must stay...

Ahhhh. I understand. Apologies.