On Sun, 30 Jan 2011 09:29:41 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

snipped a bunch

Sharp! It looks like it's brand new. You must be meticulous in your
care. I confess that I don't know much about sailboats, but I do know
about neat and tidy (and warm weather!).



I must have missed this post in the shuffle. Thanks for the good words,
Jessica. It's refreshing after the constant jealousy-related put downs some
of the pretend sailors in the group seem overly fond of dishing out.

Neat and tidy is important in a sailboat as cluttered and untidy results in
accidents and equipment failures. What many people seem to forget is that
"first she's a sailboat." In other words, first things first and don't
install or change anything that reduces the efficiency of the sailing
machine. And, spend the majority of time on the boat as a sailing system
than anything else.

Yes this is certainly true. One thing we're constantly reminded about
is to be aware of the general condition of a job site. It's a clue
about what you'll find when you start really looking. Our first
priority as inspectors is for personal safety. I have my PPE kit with
me at all times. I don't go into areas that look messy, e.g., piping
laying around. Again, I don't do much commercial these days, and we
tend to give resid. consumers a break, but commercial sites have been
cited for stuff strewn about.

I keep reminding myself that boats are female! So, we have to be
handled surely but gently. We're a bit fickle but if we're treated
right, we have great moves!


This is the problem I have with people like Joe. He was constantly modifying
his erstwhile motorsailer, "Red Cloud." He had her looking "real purty" from
a cosmetic standpoint, at least but, unfortunately, he spent the majority of
his time trying to make RC into a floating apartment with all the shoreside
amenities so he could satisfy his wife's domestic urges. In doing so, he
ignored the important things like making sure his rudder was up to the task
on an ocean voyage. Because of his poorly engineered rudder and his not
paying attention to it and not modifying it to cope with normal ocean voyage
conditions, it failed catastrophically and punched a hole or holes in his
transom. Now, wouldn't his time have been better spent not worrying about
the shower, mirrors, vanity and hair drier, etc. for his wife and taking
care of important ships systems? No man compromises the integrity of the
ship in order to appeal to the distaff side.

The bottom line is a sailing yacht will always be a compromise but one
should always compromise greatly on the "all the comforts of home" than on
the ship's systems side. The functionality and safety of the ship always
takes precedence over crew comfort. This is what wannabes like Joe, Bruce
and Skippy can't seem to get through their highly-domesticated skulls.

Well, I'm certainly not into the "comforts of home" too much. I'm not
spartan, but I don't have an apartment filled with stuffed animals
either!