2000 Miles in a Tom Gilmer "Blue Moon" Yawl

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

For anyone interested in following the progress of a new, long distance cruiser, I've started blogging my cruise from the Big Bend area of Florida, down the Gulf of Mexico, through the Keys, and up the East Coast to New York...

* * *​

About once a week, I look at a tool or a trick that seems totally cool and indispensable, and for that week, that tool seems to be the most important tool or trick for boat building.

Of course, none of these are 'the most important'. It would be hard to build a boat without many tools, including things as ordinary as a good paint brush. But I seem to be addicted to such facinations.

However, this week I realized what really is the most important factor for building a boat (or even for just owning one). That factor is a supportive, enthusiastic, and energetic partner...

Read complete blog post: Most Important Factor

Enjoy: John

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Unlikely Boat Builder: Sidelights

While waiting for the antibiotics to work their magic on my poor battered shin, I have been working on my to-do list. Top on the list today was to mount sidelight boxes in the Blue Moon's shrouds.

Sidelights are the red and green running lights that sailboats must show at night. The Blue Moon came with tiny, electric sidelights, in the shape of a small plastic light that looked like it would be more in place on a kids bike than on a boat.

Even though these tiny lights were barely visible, they gulped enormous amounts of electricity from my solar-driven batteries. Taking another page from the Pardey's books, I long ago decided to use kerosene running lights.

Read complete blog post: Sidelights

Enjoy: John

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

On the ICW

Having completed some chores, like lashing my sidelight box into the rigging, it was definitely time to move on.

One problem: getting back up the Manatee River. When the wind has blown at all, it has blown straight down the river. Not only does this make it difficult to beat out of the river, it has made the anchorage darn uncomfortable at times...

Read complete blog post: On the ICW

Enjoy: John

 

[DownWest]

Hi, I had a discusion with an American friend when your boat was up for sale. He would have loved it, but..
Oil fired side lights tend to not conform to the regulations on visibilaty. You might want to look at LED types. Would work well off a solar panel.
Good luck with your efforts
A

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

UnlikelyBoatbuilder: The Boss

Yesterday, it was finally time to leave Sarasota Bay and head south. Unfortunately, a southerly wind was blowing like stink, as they say. No matter, I thought, I'll just motor. That is why sailboats have reliable engines, and I finally have a reliable engine.

So I left my sail tied to the boom, powered up my engine, and headed south. The engine was reliable, and ran 100% better than before. As I've already said, before the rebuild, the engine had been unable to push the boat into any sort of strong headwind. It could now push us along at 3 knots against a 15 knot wind.

The engine was loyal. It was game. It ran and ran all day. But by the end of the day, I knew the strain had been unfair. It was too much for the little one cylinder 4 stroke. If I wanted it to last the rest of the journey, I was going to have to be fair with it...

Read complete blog post: The Boss

Enjoy: John

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

UnlikelyBoatBuilder: Planning is Everything

One interesting thing about cruising is that, on the one hand, you need to plan ahead, and on the other, you need to realize that hardly anything works out the way you planned it.

Gary Player used to say, "The harder I practice, the luckier I get." But I say, "The more I plan, the better I am at improvising."

Read complete blog post: Planning is Everything

Enjoy: John

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Missing her

They say you know when your vacation is long enough when you start thinking about work, again. My break away from the Blue Moon voyage must be almost up, because I am definitely thinking about her!

My new engine is on order and should be delivered on or about June 7th. It wasn't easy to choose one. Here's what I was hoping to get:

* at least 15 hp
* 25" shaft
* as high a gear ratio as possible (3:1)
* as big a prop as possible
* as light as possible
* as reliable as possible
* as fuel efficient as possible
* easy to find repair people (on east coast of US)

Dealers call this a 'sailboat' motor, or a 'high thrust' motor. It's designed not for speed, but for power. And since the Blue Moon displaces about 8,000 lbs, power is what's needed.

Unfortunately, no one makes an outboard that meets all these criteria....

Read complete blog post: Missing Her

Enjoy: John

 

[bluerm166]

A likely blog

Hi John,
I'm finding plenty to enjoy in your posts but I'll have to dig out a detailed chart before absorbing any more.

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

On The Road Again

Sometimes I can be such a New Yorker. For example, here I am, living the dream, sailing on a beautiful boat that constantly attracts interest and questions, learning new things every day about sailing and cruising (and myself). And yet this little nagging voice in the back of my head keeps asking "What are you doing out here? What are you trying to accomplish?"

Read complete blog post: On the Road Again

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Hi John,
I'm finding plenty to enjoy in your posts but I'll have to dig out a detailed chart before absorbing any more.

I'd like to find an easy way to post my progress on a map or chart, but haven't figured out a way that is reasonable. If anyone knows a tool for this, I'd love to hear about it.

-- John

 

[Bajansailor]

A pal of mine who is pottering around the Caribbean on his boat says (on his Facebook page, where a map is displayed) that he uses Google Latitude - http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/latitude/intro.html
and Fire Eagle - http://fireeagle.yahoo.net/
But I don't know the procedure for setting it all up.

Thank you for posting your updates on here, you have a very interesting log, and your Blue Moon is gorgeous.

About 20 years ago there was a firm in England building steel multi-chine versions of your Blue Moon called the Bluewater 25 - again lovely boats - but I dont think they built very many before they went out of business.

There is a photo of one on this Forum - http://www.myasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=sbf&m=158 - scroll down a bit.
And lots of interesting comments and info subsequently posted.

I had forgotten that Blondecell in England were building a fibreglass multi-chine version called the Tradewind 25. They used to have a website www.blondecell.com but it looks like they are no longer trading either now.

 

[DownWest]

Over on the WBF, there has been a Blue Moon launched in the last few days. Guy took over a damaged hull and replanked some of the carvel construction. Still needs to finish the cabin and interior.
A

Oops, should pay more attention.. It was a 'Maid of Endor'

 

[bluerm166]

progress plotting

I'd like to find an easy way to post my progress on a map or chart, but haven't figured out a way that is reasonable. If anyone knows a tool for this, I'd love to hear about it.

-- John

I was thinking to actually look it up on a traditional map but at a decent scale thats not easy as we've been spoilt by google so with a gps you could upload your track for free to sportstracklive.com and embed the plot on the relevant blog page.See http://www.sportstracklive.com/track/detail/Stourmouth/Sailing/thames-estuary/circumnavigation/6565 as example.

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Enemy #1

They call Florida "The Sunshine State", but for a small boat sailor in Florida in June, a better motto might be "The Too-Much Sunshine State".

When I set sail from Steinhatchee in April, I was wearing my Irish wool sweater on deck to keep warm, and zipping myself into a sleeping bag at night. The sun was a pleasant companion who's warming rays were always appreciated.

Two months later, I'm doing everything possible to fend the sun's rays off.

Read complete blog post: Enemy #1

Enjoy: John

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Natural Florida

Since my mom and brother live in Florida year round, I get to see plenty of 'developed' Florida. But one of the best parts of this voyage has been the discovery of 'natural' Florida, which there is still quite a lot of. Practically every day I've sailed through long stretches of coast which seem pristine, and I've been using the "Skipper Bob" anchorage guide to find out-of-the-way gunk holes in the most natural settings possible.

Read complete blog post: Natural Florida

Enjoy: John

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Beautiful St. Augustine

If I had to pick my favorite city in Florida, St. Augustine would win hands down. Helena and I made a short visit here a few years ago, and we both loved it. This time, I had the pleasure of landing in it from the sea side.

I anchored off the Municipal Marina, which is located right downtown, at the foot of the main street. I arrived just in time to sit out the daily thunderstorm, which have started to become a real issue... They come like clockwork every afternoon around 5, and you really need to have an anchor down in a sheltered place before they strike...

Read blog post: Beautiful St. Augustine

Enjoy: John

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Improved Out Of Existence

One of my goals on the Blue Moon is to get really good at this sailing/cruising business. I've sailed practically my whole life, first with my Uncle Marty (who's sailing the Newport-Bermuda race, right this minute), then with my father, and finally on my own boats, but sailing over 700 miles in a small boat has given me a whole new outlook.

Oddly enough, practically every improvement I've made in how I'm doing things has involved eliminating things. I call this process improving things out of existence...

Read blog post: Improved out of Existence

Enjoy: John

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Bronze Casting for Boat Builders demonstration

This Sunday, Helena and I drove up to Mystic, CT for the annual Wooden Boat Show. One day really isn't enough for this great show. Next year, we plan to sail the Blue Moon down the Sound to Mystic so we can anchor off the show (as several other boats did this year) and spend 2 or 3 days there.

But working guys and gals have to be happy with what they can get, so we made the most of the time there.

One thing I wanted to see was Sam Johnson's demonstration of bronze casting. This is something I have been interested in for a while, so I was super keen on seeing this, and Sam did not disappoint...

Read complete blog post: Bronze Casting

Enjoy: John

 

[DownWest]

Thanks for the nice photos of the casting John. Of interest to you and possibly other forumites, is www.myhomefoundry.com I bought the CD and am now starting to build my furnace. A bit bigger than Sam's as I want to make larger fittings. The detailing of the processes is very good.
Andrew

 

[UnlikelyBoatbuilder]

Sail-Tie Envy

I am a volunteer crew member on the Christine -- the oldest Oyster Sloop in America. This 50' gaffer is commanded by Captain Pete, who likes everything ship-shape and Bristol fashion.

A chilly-but-game Girl Scout troop enjoying a spring sail on the Christine
photo jalmberg​

This summer, the Christine was sporting a brand-new set of sail ties, and as soon as I laid eyes on them, I realized that I'd been making due on the Blue Moon with an sad collection of old scraps: odd lengths of frayed rope, a couple of ragged bungee cords that had long lost their spring, and a knotted strip of cloth that must have been salvaged by a previous owner from a drowned kite.

In contrast, the Christine's new sail ties looked like they'd been hand-crafted by a master rigger. Sail-tie envy burned in my breast. I had to have a set, just like them!

Read complete blog post: Sail Tie Envy

-- John