Recent content by oldbloke

I have had a boat with this(rs Aero) and it can be a bit of a pain. The reasons for doing it this way are:- 1, if you cleat at the bottom of the mast as it bends the halyard takes the shortest route like a bowstring and the sail drops a little. Not masses but enough to affect sail shape and...

I suspect it was no accident that you were given this berth. Get your name on the list to move to an easier one as as becomes available

I'm not in need of a mobility aid at present but can see the need on the far horizon. My issue is cardiac so within my limits I am fine. I have idly looked at the regs a d as far as I can see there is nothing stopping you from using an e scooter if you need mobility help . There is no...

I know Customs and Excise are a law unto themselves but, "de minimis non curat lex" . Its not as if we are Belgian

Considering the trek you would have to make to either Brixham or ,more likely, across the river and up the hill to Townstall. In either case several miles and about 10,000 metres of climb. I would have no hesitation in using the jerry can. If I was feeling guilty about defrading the government...

Surely it's the other way round , in light airs no strain pulling forwards on windless. It's in breeze , waves,foul current that engine +/- technique come into play

Many many years ago, at anchor in Florida, watching the sun go down we could see ,silhouetted on the flybridge of a large motorboat, a man's head bobbing up and down. Got out the bins and could see he was running on a crosstrainer.

The seas are full of people merrily using their windlass to pull their boats forwards and then pull their anchors up. I guess they have never been told not to, but somehow get away with it.

Not quite answering your question but.. You have South Devon as your location, if you are resident in one of the coastal councils you will be eligible to apply for a residents mooring in your local estuary. These are pretty cheap, but there is usually a waiting list. It might be worth getting...

There are plenty of Spring 25s that have lived happily in mud berths without sinking or tearing the keel off. It may have happened, Cheasapeake mud can be v gloomy, but I am sure our east coasters would say ours 8s better

I used to have a MG Spring 25 which came with the wing Keel as standard. There were various stories/ theories but the main one was that it was the easiest way of putting a lot of iron onto a shallow draft keel. Certainly, along with the twin rudders it would stand up unaided. It was also...

On our 30'er I use my arms. No major problems with corrosion after 70yrs. Much quicker than a manual windlass, although I do get the point about the control being at the other end of the boat. A big bonus is modern anchors and anchor chain theory meaning much less weight to lift.

This thread prompted me to Google. Whilst I am aware of the "hole" in the ozone layer I hadn't really realised the reality of the change. Antarctic summer uv levels were always quite high at 6-8, about the same as southern UK they are now at 12 -14 which is the same, or more, than San Diego in...

You are mis-reading that. The UV tends to be absorbed by the atmosphere, so the further north the lower the UV. I think the big danger for the yachtsman, and other outdoor types, in and around the UK (and especially Scotland) is that its so bloody cold that you don't realise the exposure. On a...

I am sure the Greig City Academy in London would find a good use for them