Might need to rethink our Zodiac or inflatable RIB?

| November 19, 2017

It looks like at least some sharks enjoy the taste of  rubberized, synthetic fabrics like Hypalon, PVC or Polyurethane used in inflatable tenders and RIBs! (8 second video snippet below)

Archiving a couple Encore aft deck photos for future updates

| February 7, 2017

It is hard to remember exactly where each rail, cleat and fitting is on the aft deck of Encore, so this post is to archive a couple photos as a way to remember. It probalby won’t help much as it is still hare to tell where there is space and where there is not. In […]

Does our Zodiac inflatable really look like a manatee?

| April 28, 2015

A friendly manatee visiting Encore and our Zodiac inflatable. 🙂

Learning about Dinghy-Tow – an option to towing or davits

| September 17, 2014

A small Canadian company called Davron Marine Products has an innovative stainless steel, block and line option for half lifting and half towing an inflatable dinghy for boating. Their Dinghy-Tow system looks simple and do-able. I’ve been pondering adding davits that would work with our Cape Horn self-steering gear for Encore since 2012. What ever […]

Archive: Cape Horn Self Steering gear advertising

| February 16, 2014

One of the longer term projects that I continue to ponder and seek opinions on is how to handle the Zodiac while keeping one of Encore’s expensive options, the Cape Horn Self-Steering gear. It has been a quandary for a while now and I’ve gone back and forth. A recent ad in Cruising World classified […]

Re-looking at dinghy davits for Encore

| August 22, 2013

I’ve come full circle in researching the best way to keep the price down and our Zodiac inflatable easily available when sailing Encore (or eventual a new lightweight RIB – AB or Walker Bay). The best davit option was to have a custom welded stainless steel (or aluminum) system made in order to hold not […]

Even thinking about sailboat projects is getting costly

| February 19, 2012

After trying a few do-it-yourself repairs on our old Zodiac, I gave up last week and took it to Gator at Lifeline Marine. He did the same soap check and visual inspection with me there, but couldn’t find the air leak either … although he did comment on the aging fabric, sun damage and many […]

Home chores and a swim on a quite evening

| July 27, 2011

After an evening mowing the backyard grass on Tuesday night, a cooling dip in the pool was in order. The 90 degree water was a bit warm, but still felt refreshing. Besides cooling off, I “launched” (chuckle, chuckle) our hard dinghy we call Trinka and “moored” it in the pool. It is out of place, […]

Researching a replacement inflatable for our old Zodiac

| July 19, 2011

Clipping and archiving to the blog. I could have just marked it private but figured I’d share just in case someone has an opinion. Length 9′ 10" Beam 5′ 1" Weight 114 Lbs Capacity: 4 Persons or 992 Lbs Maximum Motor 10 hp (Maximum motor weight 99 Lbs) Manufacturer recommends 8 hp (15" shaft) Tube […]

Inflating the Zodiac inflatable dinghy for the first time

| March 4, 2011

I spent the day working on boat projects … and enjoying the sunny 70 degree temperature of Florida. The winds have been blowing and gusting and making the forecast less than attractive for sailing as my son is coming down over his spring college break (the reason I’m here). Still, there is plenty of work […]

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog