Another idea I had (although it is a little more out there) would be to design a ROV on the cheap. Hook up some kind of camera to a remote control submarine model and send that down to inspect.
I think this would fail the cost effectiveness test for individual owners, but might be something worth offering as a service to boat owners. Who knows, maybe I can rig something and use it to save up for a Commander?
Thanks Pete. Lucky Dawg makes an elegant screen saver for my desktop.
Started to post this in Che's thread, but I didn't want to highjack...
Comparatively (re his sailing description http://pearsonariel.org/discussion/s...1&postcount=90), I tried to sail Lucky Dawg to her winter storage in Grand Haven 12 miles south on Lake Michigan yesterday - and 8-10 footers (marine forecast was for 4-7) with 22 knots of wind chased me back. I only got 50 yards past the pier head - gunning the engine at full speed into the westerly winds to get into the lake. Drove out and checked conditions for today - presently nice but a gale warning has been posted since earlier when I went to check - the waves are supposed to build big. (See http://www.surfgrandhaven.com for 4 rotating live views) I stopped in at the Muskegon Coast Guard Station to see if they had better prospective wave height information - seeking a window for the trip down the shore this afternoon. In speaking to the post commander, I said I had tried to sail out yesterday and he said "WAS THAT YOU!?! Man, I want to shake your hand." I think it was a friendly way of calling me an idiot. LD never dipped her bow or stern under any waves and I felt secure with her under me, but the seas were abeam and pretty steep. (Must admit I felt a little scared *after* the fact...) I surfed at 10.2 knots on a broad reach coming back into the channel! Re sailing today, the commander said "I'm not going to tell you what to do, but we sent our 49 footer up the river this morning..." Will try again on Monday.
Yesterday, I took Stephan's comment re C-257's bridge deck into account and bungied two hatch boards in place to ward off any cockpit-invading waves flooding my cabin.
I want to take a heavy weather sailing class somewhere... LD is much more competent in these conditions than I am.
If you sign up for Netflix, they have a number of sailing DVDs. There is a 5 disc set of the Annapolis Book of Seamanship. One disc is on heavy weather.
There is another disc called "Sailing in Heavy Weather" that was pretty good.
I've watched all of the boating videos on Netflix. Most of them are really bad, truly awful. But, it's something to do over the Winter
Thanks Man. I appreciate the encouragement. Great idea re the videos. I'll need a fix... or twelve over the winter on the hard.
Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased that LD is more competent than I. Just want to do her proud - sinking her would not do so! It might be something about my psyche and limits in general - I felt compelled to run several Half Iron Man races in college - mostly out of curiosity. Was just curious about what my limits were (I discovered them.) I seem to need to know ranges to get a good feel for things. Monday of this week being one of them... 8-10s will be a limit at/above which I'll defer to the little lake for a while!
On a related note, reading Treacherous Waters - Tom Lochhaas, ed. http://mhprofessional.com/product.ph...at=&promocode= Before I buy the farm, I may need to sail the Screaming 50's - with a learned companion...
Last edited by Lucky Dawg; 10-31-2007 at 06:53 PM.
Tried again today to sail LD south to Grand Haven for storage. Terrific sail, but big waves from WSW made for an exhilarating sail into and away from them, but notsomuch headed south with biggun's from abeam. Bagged the 12 miles southward for another day. I must say, she's a great little surfer! 37* sailing is better than no sailing.
Upon my return to Torresen's, by chance, I'm lined up with a couple kissin' cousins, I think. The first is an O'Day Tempest - hump on the lazarette being the give-away. I think the second is a Rhodes, but I'm not sure of the make, and LD is next. A couple nice old gals in a row. Not sure how their genes intermingle, but they certainly seem related.
Lucky Dawg is one of 4 boats left in the water. If she can't make it south this weekend, after what will be the 5th attempt, I'm taking the hint and keeping her where she is.
http://pearsonariel.org/discussion/s...1&postcount=90), I tried to sail Lucky Dawg to her winter storage in Grand Haven 12 miles south on Lake Michigan yesterday - and 8-10 footers (marine forecast was for 4-7) with 22 knots of wind chased me back. I only got 50 yards past the pier head - gunning the engine at full speed into the westerly winds to get into the lake. Drove out and checked conditions for today - presently nice but a gale warning has been posted since earlier when I went to check - the waves are supposed to build big. (See http://www.surfgrandhaven.com for 4 rotating live views) I stopped in at the Muskegon Coast Guard Station to see if they had better prospective wave height information - seeking a window for the trip down the shore this afternoon. In speaking to the post commander, I said I had tried to sail out yesterday and he said "WAS THAT YOU!?! Man, I want to shake your hand." I think it was a friendly way of calling me an idiot. LD never dipped her bow or stern under any waves and I felt secure with her under me, but the seas were abeam and pretty steep. (Must admit I felt a little scared *after* the fact...) I surfed at 10.2 knots on a broad reach coming back into the channel! Re sailing today, the commander said "I'm not going to tell you what to do, but we sent our 49 footer up the river this morning..." Will try again on Monday.
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