"amdx" wrote in message
...
On 4/20/2013 5:58 PM, Wayne B wrote:
We're getting along into late April and it's time to splash,
especially in the Chesapeake and farther south, but even the northeast
should be warming up by now. When I was racing sailboats on Long
Island Sound we would have already been out for practice at least once
by this time.

Let's hear some on the water reports from you guys.

We're in English Harbour, southern part of Antigua at the moment.
There are lots of exotic old sailboats here this week for the Classic
Boat Regatta, and next week the racing hot shots show up for Antigua
Sailing Week. Everything is good here except the weather - lots of
gusty winds and heavy rain squalls that come and go. The rain and
mist make it look a bit like Maine or the Pacific North Wet at times
but the temperatures are much more agreeable in the upper 70s and low
80s.

http://antiguaclassics.com/v1/

http://www.sailingweek.com/v3/index.php


I spend about 45 hrs a week on my boat, but I don't go anyplace.
Does that count?
Mikek


Yes, that counts you as one intelligent individual who'd
rather live on the water in a boat than in the festering, filthy
and disgusting zoo where landlubbers accumulate like
the out-of-control planetary disease they really are.

--
Sir Gregory

"amdx" wrote in message
...


I spend about 45 hrs a week on my boat, but I don't go anyplace.
Does that count?
Mikek

---------------------------------------

Absolutely, IMO.

Some of the most enjoyable times I had on my boat were spent in the
middle of the winter, especially during snowstorms.
I kept it in the water year round the last three years I had it. The
marina had bubblers running 24/7 in the area my boat was in. The
reverse cycle AC/Heat system supplied enough heat until the middle of
December after which I used space heaters (when aboard) plugged into
20 amp outlets that I wired into each of the four AC system supplies
that were not used again until spring. I also installed foil lined
Styrofoam insulating panels on most of the main cabin windows . The
boat was always nice and warm, even when the outside temperature was
well below freezing. The space heater in the main cabin was one of
those fake fireplaces. Had a Direct TV dish and receiver hooked up
and wi-fi from the marina office. Nice and cozy and "away" from it
all.

On 4/28/2013 8:00 PM, Eisboch wrote:


"amdx" wrote in message ...


I spend about 45 hrs a week on my boat, but I don't go anyplace.
Does that count?
Mikek

---------------------------------------

Absolutely, IMO.

Some of the most enjoyable times I had on my boat were spent in the
middle of the winter, especially during snowstorms.
I kept it in the water year round the last three years I had it. The
marina had bubblers running 24/7 in the area my boat was in. The
reverse cycle AC/Heat system supplied enough heat until the middle of
December after which I used space heaters (when aboard) plugged into 20
amp outlets that I wired into each of the four AC system supplies that
were not used again until spring. I also installed foil lined Styrofoam
insulating panels on most of the main cabin windows . The boat was
always nice and warm, even when the outside temperature was well below
freezing. The space heater in the main cabin was one of those fake
fireplaces. Had a Direct TV dish and receiver hooked up and wi-fi
from the marina office. Nice and cozy and "away" from it all.


Well, to complete the picture, I have a modified pontoon boat that is
docked in a marina. I sell seafood from the boat. That means I'm working
when I'm on the boat. I also get to walk the marina when I'm not busy.
It's on a bay in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mikek

"amdx" wrote in message
...

On 4/28/2013 8:00 PM, Eisboch wrote:


"amdx" wrote in message
...


I spend about 45 hrs a week on my boat, but I don't go anyplace.
Does that count?
Mikek

---------------------------------------

Absolutely, IMO.

Some of the most enjoyable times I had on my boat were spent in the
middle of the winter, especially during snowstorms.
I kept it in the water year round the last three years I had it.
The
marina had bubblers running 24/7 in the area my boat was in. The
reverse cycle AC/Heat system supplied enough heat until the middle
of
December after which I used space heaters (when aboard) plugged into
20
amp outlets that I wired into each of the four AC system supplies
that
were not used again until spring. I also installed foil lined
Styrofoam
insulating panels on most of the main cabin windows . The boat was
always nice and warm, even when the outside temperature was well
below
freezing. The space heater in the main cabin was one of those fake
fireplaces. Had a Direct TV dish and receiver hooked up and wi-fi
from the marina office. Nice and cozy and "away" from it all.


Well, to complete the picture, I have a modified pontoon boat that
is
docked in a marina. I sell seafood from the boat. That means I'm
working
when I'm on the boat. I also get to walk the marina when I'm not busy.
It's on a bay in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mikek

-----------------------

What's that "work" thing that you mention? :-)

On 4/28/13 6:55 PM, Eisboch wrote:


"John H" wrote in message
news

The problem gets to be 'weight'. The one I've got saw very little use
simply because it's heavy and
bulky. That one is much worse. Would probably be great for a sporting
event, where a tri- or monopod
can be used. But, traipsing through the woods with it would be a bear -
even for a bear.

---------------------------------

Yeah, the weight becomes an issue even with the lenses he has now, but
he's young, strong and uses a monopod most of the time. Obviously the
one True North linked to is WAY too big, although I thought it was a
very interesting story as to how and why it was developed.

He has mentioned that he'd like to get a "longer" lens than the 70 to
200mm he is using now, especially for the birds and owls he likes to
find. His birthday is coming up and I'd like to get him something but I
am an idiot when it comes to cameras and photography.

I was just looking at a Sigma 150-500mm lens that goes for about $1k.
The Nikon version of it is over $8K. I just don't know enough about
the different manufacturers in terms of quality, etc. The Sigma seems
to have good reviews, it's autofocusing (although I don't even know if
he uses that feature) and has some form of image stabilization in it.



I can't speak to the Sigma 150-500 you wrote about, but I do have a
Sigma 30mm f1:1.4 I use on my Canon DSLR. I haven't noticed any
differences in build/mechanical/optical quality compared to the higher
priced Canon lenses, which a local dealer let me mess around with at his
shop. My DSLR's "multiplier" lenses is 1.6, so the 30 mm gives me the
equivalent of a pretty fast 48 mm "normal" lens, but I really bought it
for its low-light abilities.

True North wrote:
On Sunday, 28 April 2013 18:11:10 UTC-3, Eisboch wrote:
"John H" wrote in message

...



On Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:16:39 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:



I was in error. The camera he "acquired" from my wife is her Nikon
D300 ... not a D200.


Check with him and see if he's interested in this:



http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/70200vr.htm



Mine has been used very little, and I'd part with it for $1000.



-------------------------



He has one. I originally bought it for Mrs. E. for Christmas or

something when she had the camera. I remember I had to order it and

it took about 3 or 4 months for the camera shop to get one.



He's actually looking for something even bigger or whatever having

more telescopic power is called. I don't know much about

photography.

I suppose something like this will be on his Christmas list this year...
http://www.nikon.com/about/feelnikon...ections/r16_e/
That costs more than your house, Don.