Comments for Lifestyle Sailing Blog http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com researching live-aboard sailing yachts Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:31:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 Comment on Why does safety take practice? by John http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/why-does-safety-take-practice/#comment-538 John Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:18:44 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/why-does-safety-take-practice/#comment-538 Thank you Darce for your questions. Te read more of my sailing adventures, you can visit this link; http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/johns-bio/ Regarding boat heaters, the first question I have is how much time will you spend on the boat? If it it is only weekends then you can do what most people do and that is not go sailing in the winter except on sunny days. However if you plan to spend extended time on the boat, then you will find you appreciate the heater for many months of the year, as it is always cool on the water (except in the tropics). When I sailed into BC, Canada from the tropics in early October, the first thing I did was find a $50 tiny woodburner stove and installed it into the boat. It only lasted about a year, but I used it every day. I then replaced it with one I built with the help of a friend with a welder, which lasted much longer. You can often survive sailing without a heater (put on more clothes), but the delight of coming below into a warm boat when it is cold outside is one of sailing greatest pleasures, especially as it also means a dry boat to boot. If you have a diesel engine, then a diesel heater is the most practical way to go and you can probably buy a good one second hand. Diesel heaters last. Wood fired heaters are an option, but you do have to always collect pine cones, drift wood (which is tough on the fire box as the salt eats the steel) or coal. While collecting can be fun, storage of sacks of firewood is an issue. But it worked for me. Because propane makes water, as you said, you need to have a flue. In fact what ever heating system you use, you need a chimney to take the water out of the boat. My chimney also could be removed and replaced with a very good bung for sailing across oceans. Electricity is nice when in a marina, but that is all it is good for. Keep me posted how you get on. Fair winds John To answer your questions about heaters; the best solution is a diesel heater assuming you have a diesel engine and already have diesel onboard. Thank you Darce for your questions. Te read more of my sailing adventures, you can visit this link; http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/johns-bio/

Regarding boat heaters, the first question I have is how much time will you spend on the boat?
If it it is only weekends then you can do what most people do and that is not go sailing in the winter except on sunny days. However if you plan to spend extended time on the boat, then you will find you appreciate the heater for many months of the year, as it is always cool on the water (except in the tropics).
When I sailed into BC, Canada from the tropics in early October, the first thing I did was find a $50 tiny woodburner stove and installed it into the boat. It only lasted about a year, but I used it every day. I then replaced it with one I built with the help of a friend with a welder, which lasted much longer.
You can often survive sailing without a heater (put on more clothes), but the delight of coming below into a warm boat when it is cold outside is one of sailing greatest pleasures, especially as it also means a dry boat to boot.

If you have a diesel engine, then a diesel heater is the most practical way to go and you can probably buy a good one second hand. Diesel heaters last.
Wood fired heaters are an option, but you do have to always collect pine cones, drift wood (which is tough on the fire box as the salt eats the steel) or coal. While collecting can be fun, storage of sacks of firewood is an issue. But it worked for me.
Because propane makes water, as you said, you need to have a flue. In fact what ever heating system you use, you need a chimney to take the water out of the boat. My chimney also could be removed and replaced with a very good bung for sailing across oceans.
Electricity is nice when in a marina, but that is all it is good for.

Keep me posted how you get on.
Fair winds John

To answer your questions about heaters; the best solution is a diesel heater assuming you have a diesel engine and already have diesel onboard.

]]> Comment on Why does safety take practice? by darce http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/why-does-safety-take-practice/#comment-537 darce Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:18:19 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/why-does-safety-take-practice/#comment-537 We've been looking at heaters, but don't want to spend a whole lot on something we're only going to use for a couple weeks. But since we can't support an electric heater, the only logical option is propane - and burning propane leads to more condensation. So yeah, we've got some puzzles to figure out. Any ideas? Can you tell me a little about your sailing experience? I've never really sailed before, and this boat just sort of dropped into Kyle's lap, which is how we hatched the plan for this trip (by which I mean I have very little experience). We’ve been looking at heaters, but don’t want to spend a whole lot on something we’re only going to use for a couple weeks. But since we can’t support an electric heater, the only logical option is propane - and burning propane leads to more condensation. So yeah, we’ve got some puzzles to figure out. Any ideas?

Can you tell me a little about your sailing experience? I’ve never really sailed before, and this boat just sort of dropped into Kyle’s lap, which is how we hatched the plan for this trip (by which I mean I have very little experience).

]]> Comment on Why does safety take practice? by John http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/why-does-safety-take-practice/#comment-535 John Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:58:06 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/why-does-safety-take-practice/#comment-535 Hi Darce and Kyle, I read your post '<a href="http://ofwindsandwater.blogspot.com/2010/02/tales-of-woe.html" rel="nofollow">Tales of Woe</a>' and loved to hear what you learned. Darce, you may doubt that you will ever take your yacht sailing on your own, but with that magic ingredient 'practice' you will amaze yourself how your confidence and ability will grow. Even on that one aborted voyage, I can tell you learned so much. Good on you for going sailing in the middle of winter, though in your lattitude, i'm sure you will agree a heater is a must. I also realized that having a fiberglass boat that supposedly does not leak, does not mean that your books don't get soaking wet and that there is condensation every where. Again, you immediately got to see 'what is so' with sailing, which is often very different from what you are being told ashore by well meaning 'experts'. Personal experience is the best by far learning place when it comes to sailing. Best wishes with your next adventures. John Hi Darce and Kyle, I read your post ‘Tales of Woe‘ and loved to hear what you learned. Darce, you may doubt that you will ever take your yacht sailing on your own, but with that magic ingredient ‘practice’ you will amaze yourself how your confidence and ability will grow. Even on that one aborted voyage, I can tell you learned so much. Good on you for going sailing in the middle of winter, though in your lattitude, i’m sure you will agree a heater is a must.
I also realized that having a fiberglass boat that supposedly does not leak, does not mean that your books don’t get soaking wet and that there is condensation every where. Again, you immediately got to see ‘what is so’ with sailing, which is often very different from what you are being told ashore by well meaning ‘experts’.
Personal experience is the best by far learning place when it comes to sailing.
Best wishes with your next adventures.
John

]]> Comment on Why does safety take practice? by darce http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/why-does-safety-take-practice/#comment-534 darce Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:07:36 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/why-does-safety-take-practice/#comment-534 I agree - right now I'm trying to absorb all the sailing info I can get, and I've been pretty wary of rough waters. But always sailing in ideal weather isn't going to prepare me for an unexpected storm. I don't know if I'll ever get to the point where I'm comfortable to take the boat out on my own, but it's a really good goal to have. I agree - right now I’m trying to absorb all the sailing info I can get, and I’ve been pretty wary of rough waters. But always sailing in ideal weather isn’t going to prepare me for an unexpected storm.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get to the point where I’m comfortable to take the boat out on my own, but it’s a really good goal to have.

]]> Comment on The three rules of sailing by darce http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/3-rules-of-sailing/#comment-533 darce Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:03:59 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/3-rules-of-sailing/#comment-533 As someone who is just starting out as a sailor (and on a big trip, too), I find it relieving to hear that it can be broken down into simple stuff. I know I've got some serious challenges ahead of me, but it's good advice to focus on what is really important. Although, having just endured four days stranded in an anchorage in the wind and snow with no heat, I've just had a huge reminder about how important the basics are when faced with the challenges of cruising :) As someone who is just starting out as a sailor (and on a big trip, too), I find it relieving to hear that it can be broken down into simple stuff. I know I’ve got some serious challenges ahead of me, but it’s good advice to focus on what is really important.

Although, having just endured four days stranded in an anchorage in the wind and snow with no heat, I’ve just had a huge reminder about how important the basics are when faced with the challenges of cruising :)

]]> Comment on What do sailboats hit? by John http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/what-boats-hit/#comment-532 John Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:27:33 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/what-boats-hit/#comment-532 Yes Chris, Whales in the ocean are amazing experiences. One such experience I had in the North Pacific was a whale following us along, swimming at our speed, he stayed for quite a while, just checking us out. Yes Chris, Whales in the ocean are amazing experiences. One such experience I had in the North Pacific was a whale following us along, swimming at our speed, he stayed for quite a while, just checking us out.

]]> Comment on Is the Ocean a dangerous place? by John http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/is-the-ocean-a-dangerous-place/#comment-531 John Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:49:26 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/is-the-ocean-a-dangerous-place/#comment-531 Hi Chris, I agree with modern weather forecasting, avoiding bad weather is very achievable. However I'd also add that you should seek out some bad weather opportunities, maybe on someone elses yacht who you have confidence in, as the best thing for getting relaxed about bad weather is to experience some in a situation where you are not emotionally stretched. The most important attribute to develop as an ocean sailor is to be relaxed no matter what happens. Best wishes with buying your first boat. Regards John PS the problems that are caused by bad weather are hugely magnified by close proximity to land. Shallow waters, strong tidal currents do wicked things to seas close to land that don't occur on the ocean. So going sailing on a stormy day close to land can give you more real bad weather challenges than the open ocean. Hi Chris,
I agree with modern weather forecasting, avoiding bad weather is very achievable. However I’d also add that you should seek out some bad weather opportunities, maybe on someone elses yacht who you have confidence in, as the best thing for getting relaxed about bad weather is to experience some in a situation where you are not emotionally stretched.
The most important attribute to develop as an ocean sailor is to be relaxed no matter what happens.
Best wishes with buying your first boat.
Regards John

PS the problems that are caused by bad weather are hugely magnified by close proximity to land. Shallow waters, strong tidal currents do wicked things to seas close to land that don’t occur on the ocean. So going sailing on a stormy day close to land can give you more real bad weather challenges than the open ocean.

]]> Comment on What do sailboats hit? by Chris Ramsey http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/what-boats-hit/#comment-529 Chris Ramsey Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:53:04 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/what-boats-hit/#comment-529 I read about someone hitting a whale yesterday - and I thought it was just the coolest thing in the world. Not so much the hitting part, but being able to see magnificent animals like that while out on the sea. I have always been a huge animal lover, and things like that just make me go "WOW". I can't wait to get out on the water :) I read about someone hitting a whale yesterday - and I thought it was just the coolest thing in the world. Not so much the hitting part, but being able to see magnificent animals like that while out on the sea. I have always been a huge animal lover, and things like that just make me go “WOW”.

I can’t wait to get out on the water :)

]]> Comment on Is the Ocean a dangerous place? by Chris Ramsey http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/is-the-ocean-a-dangerous-place/#comment-528 Chris Ramsey Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:46:22 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/is-the-ocean-a-dangerous-place/#comment-528 Thanks John! I'm looking into buying my first boat with my lovely lady, and this is one of her biggest concerns. We've talked with another sailor we've just met, and he explained that with a bit of planning and weather watching, nearly all bad weather can be missed. It makes me glad to know that those "bad days" are rare, even on the open seas. Thanks again! Thanks John!

I’m looking into buying my first boat with my lovely lady, and this is one of her biggest concerns. We’ve talked with another sailor we’ve just met, and he explained that with a bit of planning and weather watching, nearly all bad weather can be missed. It makes me glad to know that those “bad days” are rare, even on the open seas.

Thanks again!

]]> Comment on What is the secret to safe sailing in heavy weather? by John http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/heavy-weather-sailing/#comment-526 John Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:40:47 +0000 http://www.lifestylesailingblog.com/safety/heavy-weather-sailing/#comment-526 @ George Thanks for your insightful comment and further explaining the issues. I agree that there is no silver bullet and endorse your suggestion that every situation has to be assessed on its merits. I love your closing comment to "remain calm". Challenging as that may seem when wind and water are screaming all around, staying calm by far makes the best sense for surviving heavy weather. I'm sure you would agree that in most cases, the weak link in an extreme situation is not the vessel but the crew. @ George
Thanks for your insightful comment and further explaining the issues.
I agree that there is no silver bullet and endorse your suggestion that every situation has to be assessed on its merits. I love your closing comment to “remain calm”. Challenging as that may seem when wind and water are screaming all around, staying calm by far makes the best sense for surviving heavy weather. I’m sure you would agree that in most cases, the weak link in an extreme situation is not the vessel but the crew.

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