Macka17
New Member
Question...
RED Diesel? (Gasoil as we called it in the '70's)
What's the story?. I've been in Aust since '73. Don't have it here.
we used it "legally" in those days. rated tax Free. for ALl off road machinery
and Heaters, Cooking etc on boats etc. NOT Engine fuel,
we had to assess and calculate %age of fuel. %age of cooking\Heating. Paid tax accordingly.
I wasn't the only one with a separate diesel tank under drivers seat in LandRovers and vans. One with white. one with gasoil.
(Guess which feedline had a tap on it)
Regarding Channel crossings.
Those days I had a lovely old Nicholson 26. Hartlepool based. Did a coupla laps round UK, b4 trotting over channel.
Pick a harbour. Bearings. Tide charts\Currents. and assess speed through water for leeway. More speed. Less Leeway. Pick arrival point to suit.
You do go sideways.
I only had a Rope, then Walker towing log. Old Plath Sextant. coupla watches and Aviation Tables (easier) Then modern H\Held RDF.
First decent trip in '57, was a joint passage.; 2 x single handers. Via, Jib. Canaries. Bermuda East Coast US. Coming home 2 yrs later b4 going in Army,
Via Halifax (Boat left with family, Trawler deckie home and back). Iceland, And Haggis Land.
We saw a coupla patches of Plywood floating round out there. Plywood Cat's and boats were the big thing in those days. BUT didn't tend to last long
ofshore. Only the PLY floats. everything else goes under.
Full Length planking was best. With Concrete and Steel next.
Last 27 yrs I've had Steel Yachts.
Nowadays. with electronice. You can pick a berth in a Marina and land there.
But learn your Sextant for "ron'. You WILL need it one day. and always remember Coastal deflection when figuring landfall from RDF.
IF just starting out. Look around bookshops\Net. for a little yellow book called "THE SAILORS HANDBOOK. Printed in '83.
Others are "Seamanship For the Cruising Yachtsman". By Richard SIMPKIN
Another interesting one. Is "The Cruising WOMAN'S Advisor By Diane Jessie Foreword by LIN Pardey.
There are others I have but harder to get. I have a 70+ yr colection.
The Yellow. Waterproof "Sailors Handbook". SHOULD be on all boat chart tables.
Along with a current "List of lights" Zoned to suit. and the "worlds Oceanic Currents" if going offshore.
"List of lights" gives EVERY Lead. Channel Marker and thing stuck in the ground off ALL coasts. WORLDWIDE. (Aust is K Edition.)
Have fun. Sailing is a lifetime hobby. and Coastal is the most dangerous.
With a decent boat Offshore is just bigger waves with bigger holes behind them. and a few containers intermingled in there.
I hit one 35 yrs ago. STEEL Yacht. got home. And you'll shit your pants more than once too.
RED Diesel? (Gasoil as we called it in the '70's)
What's the story?. I've been in Aust since '73. Don't have it here.
we used it "legally" in those days. rated tax Free. for ALl off road machinery
and Heaters, Cooking etc on boats etc. NOT Engine fuel,
we had to assess and calculate %age of fuel. %age of cooking\Heating. Paid tax accordingly.
I wasn't the only one with a separate diesel tank under drivers seat in LandRovers and vans. One with white. one with gasoil.
(Guess which feedline had a tap on it)
Regarding Channel crossings.
Those days I had a lovely old Nicholson 26. Hartlepool based. Did a coupla laps round UK, b4 trotting over channel.
Pick a harbour. Bearings. Tide charts\Currents. and assess speed through water for leeway. More speed. Less Leeway. Pick arrival point to suit.
You do go sideways.
I only had a Rope, then Walker towing log. Old Plath Sextant. coupla watches and Aviation Tables (easier) Then modern H\Held RDF.
First decent trip in '57, was a joint passage.; 2 x single handers. Via, Jib. Canaries. Bermuda East Coast US. Coming home 2 yrs later b4 going in Army,
Via Halifax (Boat left with family, Trawler deckie home and back). Iceland, And Haggis Land.
We saw a coupla patches of Plywood floating round out there. Plywood Cat's and boats were the big thing in those days. BUT didn't tend to last long
ofshore. Only the PLY floats. everything else goes under.
Full Length planking was best. With Concrete and Steel next.
Last 27 yrs I've had Steel Yachts.
Nowadays. with electronice. You can pick a berth in a Marina and land there.
But learn your Sextant for "ron'. You WILL need it one day. and always remember Coastal deflection when figuring landfall from RDF.
IF just starting out. Look around bookshops\Net. for a little yellow book called "THE SAILORS HANDBOOK. Printed in '83.
Others are "Seamanship For the Cruising Yachtsman". By Richard SIMPKIN
Another interesting one. Is "The Cruising WOMAN'S Advisor By Diane Jessie Foreword by LIN Pardey.
There are others I have but harder to get. I have a 70+ yr colection.
The Yellow. Waterproof "Sailors Handbook". SHOULD be on all boat chart tables.
Along with a current "List of lights" Zoned to suit. and the "worlds Oceanic Currents" if going offshore.
"List of lights" gives EVERY Lead. Channel Marker and thing stuck in the ground off ALL coasts. WORLDWIDE. (Aust is K Edition.)
Have fun. Sailing is a lifetime hobby. and Coastal is the most dangerous.
With a decent boat Offshore is just bigger waves with bigger holes behind them. and a few containers intermingled in there.
I hit one 35 yrs ago. STEEL Yacht. got home. And you'll shit your pants more than once too.
