If you need a workout, try #PumpSurfing
RichC | August 6, 2019
One can only imagine (unless you have tried it), the kind of workout it would be to race past a sailing vessel on a surfboard with a pump-foil attachment? Impressive.
Kitchen Ideas when you would rather be on a boat
RichC | August 3, 2019
A filler photo tidbit for today’s post, but this creative kitchen island idea from one of my sailing groups caught my eye. It “would” have worked in our kitchen … I’m just not sure I could have pulled it off without adding a mast! 🙂
Music Monday: Cheeseburger in Paradise – Jimmy Buffett
RichC | July 22, 2019
What would summer be without Jimmy Buffett music and cheeseburgers? How about remembering summer fun with Jimmy Buffett‘s Cheeseburger in Paradise song from back in 1978 with a relatively new personal connection twist? Besides me being a nearly life long listener, this past year or so I have another connection to Buffett as mentioned before. […]
Remembering the Lake Erie Islands with our family #TBT
RichC | June 20, 2019
Although the Throwback Thursday #TBT memory of celebrating my late parent’s 50th wedding anniversary in 2007 leaves me bittersweet, I’m so thankful we had our time together (photo above and below the break is with them on Kelley’s Island in 2007). I’m not sure where the time disappeared … but I honestly thought that both […]
Another year, another project … and another bathroom update
RichC | May 10, 2019
Last year’s Condo1718 update to the kitchen and guest bathroom was a bit more ambitious than this year, but so far it doesn’t seem like it. Mentally I had my timetable worked out and figured the demolition wouldn’t take all that much. Well really it didn’t, but after finding a few things not where I […]
A rainy March day in Florida beats a rainy March day in Ohio
RichC | April 2, 2019
After a weekend trip to Encore in Florida, one would think that I would be totally rejuvenated? Unfortunately I’m feel further behind and less rested than when I left? Perhaps it is age or maybe just the long drive, but I’m tired and worn out. On the bright side, it was at least good to […]
Wasting time fixing a cheap quartz clock to put back on Encore
RichC | March 19, 2019
Nothing like getting bogged down in wasting a weekend trying to repair a quartz clock that should just be replaced! I had the best of intentions on Saturday morning as I was up early and had my weekend project list ready to start. Initially I started to organize my workbench after ordering new bearings and […]
Have a “leaping” great weekend! (testing a new blog tweak)
RichC | March 8, 2019
Animated GIF of Dolphin pod jumping and leaping
When all is well, life is good, even if it is not always as planned
RichC | March 2, 2019
There are still exciting adventures ahead … but as someone who always has a plan, and dreams ambitiously, I’m detecting my life plans are changing … again. Dreams are good for the soul IMHO, so as long as ones asperations can be modified when life changes. A reality check needs to trigger flexibility in the […]
Photog unknown, but a beautiful beach/surfer filler photo #TBT
RichC | February 28, 2019
I enjoyed this photo enough to use it as my “too lazy to blog” filler photo for the day … and just to make it a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT … how about a photo with my buddy Mark Jones from 2014 looking down from up on Encore’s mast? 🙂
Music Monday: A recycled Beatles song and something from 1969
RichC | February 11, 2019
There is probably a name for them, although I’m not sure what it is … but my nephew Aaron always seemed to me to be that guy who missed his era, particularly in music taste? Last week he commented that my “taxing wireless plans” blog post deserved Taxman by the Beatles to be included on Music […]
Enjoyed a few days of Florida sunshine aboard Encore last week
RichC | February 10, 2019
I enjoyed the warm sunshine and working on a few project on Encore this past week. It was a delayed trip due to a flight cancelation, but thankful my schedule is pretty flexible. It would have been nice to stay longer and to have had Brenda with me, but "ya got to do what you […]
A great photo makes for the perfect filler blog post
RichC | February 9, 2019
Although I’m not fond of birds that mess up the topsides of our boat, this Osprey made for a great photo from Aruba. Above is an Osprey is catching a blue reef fish.
Music Monday: Starting with a change for 2019 – Kenny Chesney
RichC | January 7, 2019
After years of posting what I suspect are now considered “oldies” for Music Monday posts, I’ll at least start 2019 with a change. The Christmas season was a chance to listen to holiday music performed by a variety of different artists, and as I have in the past, enjoyed songs by almost all contemporary country […]
Thinking about and planning another sewing project for 2019
RichC | December 8, 2018
Read up a little bit more on upholstery last weekend while in Florida while thinking about a couple possible projects. I’m not sure about tackling something as big as a couch and loveseat (slideshow below), but perhaps a couple chair pillows and condo dining room chair cushions are do-able? My projects in the past have […]
Archive: Just a little condo rental prep and Encore upkeep
RichC | December 3, 2018
Only one little piggy had a bad day down in Florida. It was unusual for me, but decided to wear the Sperry watershoes rather than leather boat shoes while working on Encore … basically just cleaning and getting her back to pre-hurricane prep form. Unfortunately we have not been sailing enough to justify even owning […]
Tinkerbelle – An inspirational book and story when I was a boy
RichC | August 6, 2018
I was reminded in a tweet last week (below) of an inspirational book and story I read as a young boy growing up in Ohio. The book and story was that of the transatlantic voyage of Tinkerbelle (book of the same name) was made by Robert Manry back in 1965. He was a copywriter at the Cleveland […]
A new pair of Sperry flip-flops and kitchen knife sharpening
RichC | July 24, 2018
Having owned a several pairs of different branded sandals and flip-flops over the years (decades), I’ve settled on my boatshoe brand of choice, the Sperry brand, as the flip-flops I prefer. Some of the more inexpensive brands wear out too quick, others, like the ones I really like from Eddie Bauer, are slick when the […]
Looking back at to our early years of sailing Brenich #TBT
RichC | July 12, 2018
While adding a photo to a post about Katelyn, Drew and Annalyn on Put In Bay earlier this week, I had a few more from our pre-kid days that might make for a good Throwback Thursday #TBT post. So here are a couple more sailing on Lake Erie from 1985 aboard Brenich our Baba 30. […]
Déjà vu for me, as my kids enjoyed the Lake Erie islands
RichC | July 10, 2018
Now that Katelyn, Drew and Annalyn are in Perrysburg and not Wayzata, they are enjoying some of what Lake Erie’s western basin has to offer. Katelyn’s pediatrician partner has a cottage up on Put In Bay and she has entertained her med school girlfriends there a couple weekends ago and just return from a weekend […]
A great idea: Who hasn’t lost a part when working over water?
RichC | June 23, 2018
I think I’ll archive that idea as a reminder since I always have an umbrella in the back of my Van, 300D or BMW X5 35d … one of those cars is generally at the marina with me! This might be the perfect post to archive my Father’s Day gifts from my kids! A new […]
An Encore dodger repair with Tear Mender and Sunbrella patches
RichC | June 2, 2018
Although it rained constantly over the Memorial Day weekend and practically the entire time I was in Florida working on the kitchen update, I did squeeze in a couple of minor hurricane prep items aboard Encore. The canvas (spray dodger and bimini) is starting to show signs of wear, but a little tear maintenance will […]
Will motion exercises on land aid in preventing seasickness?
RichC | June 1, 2018
Tom Hoskins wrote an interesting article on "Overcoming Seasickness by Habituation On Land" and although parts of it seems humorous (lamp shade and swings), the testing of motion sickness on land makes a good deal of sense … especially the testing the meds one might try when going sailing. Better to know in advance how […]
Sailing Archive: A knot from Captain John’s Skipper Tips
RichC | May 27, 2018
There is always a need for "another knot" when sailing. Here’s one for joining lines together with a few pointers from Captain John’s Skipper Tips. Anytime you join one line to another, you want a knot that will hold under a shock load. Think of any line like a rubber-band. Boat wakes, tidal rise and […]
Inching toward hurricane season – excellent CAT 5 map
RichC | May 9, 2018
A great map was shared by CSU meteorologist Philip Klotzbach this week highlighting location where all on record Atlantic Cat. 5 (>= 157 mph) hurricanes first reached Cat 5 intensity (click above image for larger). Definitely random.
A few Marlinspike knot tying terms from BoatSafe.com
RichC | May 8, 2018
Bitter end: the free end of a line Standing part: the longer part of a line which is fixed during the tying of a knot Bight: The part of the rope between the end and the standing part. A loop formed by folding the rope back on itself Turn: a loop formed around a post, […]
Dreams are possible when you devote your life to them
RichC | April 19, 2018
Throwback Thursday #TBT: A lot of my free time in high school and college was spent dreaming about sailing living on a sailboat. I read and reread stories, the monthly magazines and bookshelves of accumulated nautical books about cruising, seamanship and maintaining a sailboat — I was focused on “would be possible for me to […]
Remotes, remodeling and a day leftover for Encore
RichC | April 14, 2018
This past week has been a busy one for me. I was off to Florida for a few days to check on the condo in Delray Beach after our winter renter and to start the demolition of the kitchen. It is a project that is way past due and I’m not sure I know exactly […]
Dolphins, sharks and whales visit sailboats, but polar bears?
RichC | March 22, 2018
An interesting photo as this is not something you see everyday when on anchor watch! (from Sailing Yacht TV Facebook page)
It looks like SV Encore will be switching boat slips again
RichC | March 8, 2018
Encore lost her slip last year at Harbortown Marina when I haul for some TLC during hurricane season in 2017 and I was glad Daniel our dockmaster made room for us last month when we relaunched. It’s great to have Encore is back in the water, but I miss the quieter dock we had previously. […]
A mellow Music Monday: Some David Gates and a marina sunrise
RichC | February 19, 2018
Although I’m no longer enjoying the warm weather and beautiful sunrises (from Encore‘s cockpit on photo left), last week’s trip was a positive one as I accomplished what I indented to get done; a successful splash and back in the water, as well as checking on the Delray Condo renters and a visit with old […]
To salvage or not to salvage? An epoxy LED light repair.
RichC | February 18, 2018
Too many times in life I find myself fiddling to repairs something that really just needs to be thrown away. Case in point (see interesting idiom explanation below) … I brought home an LED fixture that replaced a higher wattage halogen bulb that works well in Encore‘s cabin, but for some reason the pin/plugs must have […]
Already missing my morning view
RichC | February 17, 2018
The irritation of “the week that was” has given way to the positive memories like waking up to this kind of sunrise view … even if it was in a marina. I’m thankful to have the out of water maintenance headaches behind me and can now look forward to “escaping” to our little corner of […]
The week that was – Encore is back in the water
RichC | February 17, 2018
To the non-boat owner, having a sailboat sitting out of the water "on the hard" might seem like an inexpensive way to "park" a boat for a while? Well let me tell you that is not even close to being true, at least at a working yard. Several months ago I had such grand plans […]
What do you get when you add an outboard motor to your SUP?
RichC | February 16, 2018
This might be one of the greatest SUP, Longboard, Kayak, Dinghy "mashup" ideas around … I could see myself working on this kind of project! (thanks Dane)
Try Vinegar instead of Acetone to Clean Hands
RichC | February 15, 2018
Using acetone to clean up after nasty messy projects such as epoxy or sealant? There’s something that works better, is cheaper AND is less toxic! … Vinegar.
Drones on boats, a good idea?
RichC | January 29, 2018
My friend Jeff is planning on ordering a DJI Mavic Pro this weekend. I sent him a recent article that has him pondering models. Jokingly I sent him this ani.gif suggesting he let me borrow it when I head to the boat … to which he replied, “Sure, if you put down a $1000 deposit. […]
An old wooden ladder and memories good and bad
RichC | January 14, 2018
As my son Taylor said, “ladders will be our family’s downfall.” So true … The old wooden ladder I inherited from the late Harry McKee when we bought our first sailboat Brenich in the early 1980s is still in active service. It is no longer chained to the old boat cradle we kept in Huron, […]
Encore has a new dock space in February if she is ready?
RichC | January 13, 2018
Google Maps view of the space D-8 that will be Encore’s new dock After hauling Encore last year for some much needed out-of-water bottom work, I’m hoping to relaunch and have her back in the water in February for the improving weather this upcoming spring. But with such few trips and infrequent sailing, I’m torn […]
Once in a while I can still find a super cheap flight on Southwest
RichC | January 3, 2018
Before sending another check to the guy I have doing some bottom work on Encore, I really need to inspect the work. I don’t want him to stop working, but I don’t want bottom paint slapped on the new epoxy fiberglass repair before double checking the layers, fairing and keel work and epoxy barrier coats […]
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
