535 replies to this topic

[zeyang]

wait, you're still building this? I figured everyone would be pregnant by now.

At least she is not pregnant yet (I think) :-)





ze

[Hike, Bitches!]

haha..thanks for the update zeyang!

[zeyang]

Newsletter August 2012.


Dear Sea gypsies

Then it start to rain.... July has been the wettest last 80 years up
here. Soon we dont need a truck to move the boat. We just launch her
just behind the shed.

Due to weather the gras harvest season is a little slow, but it goes
forward. Some gypsies have also been out in the forest checking for
the berries but its still some time to go.. Hopefully a week more and
it will be a fiest of blueberries during the morning porridge.

Boatbuilding has been good last weeks, due to rain. Thankfully our
shed is rainproof. We are now working on shaping in the deckhouse so
it looks nice. Most of the deckplates are welded in. I must say our
lady without a name start to looks like a proper boat.

Ahh. forgot to mention. 2 nice chinese girls has been up here last
week, feeding us proper food. Oh, I must say i really miss that
stuff. Nothing can beat homemeade chinese food. hmmm.

Enjoy our pictures. If you want to join our seagypsy and have
cabinetmaking skills - you are especially welcome. We are getting
closer to that step...

a: Real chinese dinner. Chopsticks and everything.

b. Polish girl - still smiling after a day of heavy brushing.

c: Work on the deck house. American/French team.

d. Beijing-girl helping with deckhouse welding.

Love from
Sailing the farm - a sea gypsy tribe of tomorrow.



http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1344149640
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1344149645
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1344149651
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1344149655

Attached Files

•  2012-08-05a.jpg   51.15K   131 downloads
•  2012-08-05b.jpg   42.71K   162 downloads
•  2012-08-05c.jpg   49.93K   154 downloads
•  2012-08-05d.jpg   44.75K   123 downloads

[Hike, Bitches!]

zeyang...cute girls...now you are finally getting the picture..

Sorry it has been so wet for you...it has been super dry here in mid-Atlantic North America (38° N latitude). The driest since the 1930's! A morning summer shower for 30 minutes was welcome relief...we hadn't seen rain since June! Most corn crops here are ruined.

Keep up the good work and the good pics of the ladies!

[dent]

been following this thread and i gotta tell you, i'm seriously disappointed.

noticed there was a delay in the boat build pics but atleast you can post up some tits to help us out while there's a lull in the building...........

[Soñadora]

good stuff zeyang. Thanks for sharing, but you need to share more often!

[zeyang]

been following this thread and i gotta tell you, i'm seriously disappointed.

noticed there was a delay in the boat build pics but atleast you can post up some tits to help us out while there's a lull in the building...........

guys. you must understand - its not possible for those welding girls to work without clothes! :-)

Those pictures you guys are asking for will come when the boat is in pacific somewhere.........

ze

[Greever]

Those pictures you guys are asking for will come when the boat is in pacific somewhere.........

ze

We are going to hold you to that promise Zeyang!

[zeyang]

Newsletter Late August 2012.


Howdy Sea gypsies


August has been a good one.... The weather was much nicer than july i
must admit. even some of those wwoofers start to complain about too
much sun!

We have had quite an invasion from volunteers lately, and majority has
been from US, so now we have a distinct texas-slang around here.

Boatbuilding is going forward with the speed of light kind of... The
deck is on. The deckhouse is fixed. Even with the possibility to
remove to store big stuff inside. We are now working on
interior. Space for six bunk beds, kitchen and toilet/shower needs
some thinking...

We got some cool news lately. two volunteers (french/american) who met
less than one year ago here on farm, got married... even after
struggeling so hard to keep those girls and boys in separate barracks!
... some stuff must have been happening after dark... hmm. :-)


That was big and small news from our coolest sea gypsy tribe this
month. If you fancy joining us, please drop us a line...


Some pictures from last month.

a: happy volunteers eating lunch
b: Deckhouse is soon on.
c: two pretty mermaids taking care of the raspberry field.
d: forehatch girl cleaning up inside boat.
e: wedding picture...


http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1346596178
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1346596185
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1346596191
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1346596196
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1346596203

Love from
Sailing the farm - a sea gypsy tribe of tomorrow.

[zeyang]

Newsletter October 2012.

Our big accomplishment this month was getting the winter bathroom
constructed, insulated and piped - just in time for the first big
freeze to hit the pipes in the summer bathroom. (Just in time to wash
some dirty sea gypsies.) At the beginning of September, it was just a
dark, drafty hole in the corner of the barn, and now it's a warm and
bright room with heating, double-glazed windows, a fancy new
shower... oh, and two couches, a worktable, a bookshelf and our sewing
machine. We decided it was too big to just be a bathroom, so we made
the other half into a winter living room. (If showering in the living
room and hanging out in the bathroom sounds like a weird combination,
just think of it as practice for living on the boat.)

In boat news, the deck is on, the deckhouse is constructed and
suspended precariously from the boatshed ceiling, and we've started on
the sub-deck and the insulation inside the hull. There's a lot of
infrastructure to go under the sub-deck - tanks for diesel and fresh
water, a greywater holding tank under the shower, and 5.5 tons of lead
ballast. Last week we cast another 600 kilograms of ballast in our
evil-looking smoky wood-fired crucible - only 1.5 tons left to go!

We've been doing a lot of farm work the last couple months - fall is
always a busy season. We harvested those crops we planted back in May
- onions, carrots, and 300 kilograms of potatoes! - plus lingonberries
from the nearby forest which we made into jam. And getting ready for
winter is a big job - cleaning up heaps of scrap wood, burning trash,
raking hay, organizing the bee stuff, putting snow chains on the farm
equipment, ghostriding the old tractor into the barn, and getting
things stowed under roofs before they get lost under the snow until
spring. We had our first big snowfall last night - about 15cm, and it
looks like it's going to stick around. The official end of summer
time on Saturday means the sun goes down around 4:30pm these days, but
that just gives us more night hours to watch for northern lights.
Tomorrow is Halloween, and we're going to celebrate by dressing up
like boatbuilding farmworkers and stealing candy from passing
children. Happy winter!



Some pictures and movie from last month.


This is our house band.




a: Beware of moose on deck!
b: Harvesting the carrot crop.
c: Making jam from local lingonberries.
d: Fishing in the local lake.
e: Fall bonfire with guitar.
f: Making Swedish pea soup for lunch.


http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1351626439
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1351626445
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1351626453
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1351626460
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1351626467
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1351626523


Love from
Sailing the farm - a sea gypsy tribe of tomorrow.

[zeyang]

been working in the bathroom. it will be a sink to port. a baby blake toilet to starboard just behind the door (this one is probably 30 years old) A holding tank under the toilet which could hold around 50-60 litre. I really would like to have this is in 5083 alloy but i wonder if it will corrode through?will it work if i prime and paint it inside? I got an eye opener when we was cooking beeframes in caustic soda in a 3 mm box we made out of alloy. In just a few days the caustic stuff had been eating through the box. I couldnt really believe it until i checked was this alcalanity stuff is doing to alloy. Urea has a high PH right?

http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1352576613
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1352577644

[kdh]

been working in the bathroom. it will be a sink to port. a baby blake toilet to starboard just behind the door (this one is probably 30 years old) A holding tank under the toilet which could hold around 50-60 litre. I really would like to have this is in 5083 alloy but i wonder if it will corrode through?will it work if i prime and paint it inside? I got an eye opener when we was cooking beeframes in caustic soda in a 3 mm box we made out of alloy. In just a few days the caustic stuff had been eating through the box. I couldnt really believe it until i checked was this alcalanity stuff is doing to alloy. Urea has a high PH right?

http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1352576613
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1352577644

Urine is ph neutral. It's the electrolytes that make it corrosive. Like salt water.

I've been told by a respected yard and others that plastic is best, but the Hinckley service yard told me they see more problems with plastic than aluminum, which is what mine's made of. 7 years no problems.

[zeyang]

Been working on the bathroom (and sauna) in the forpeak. Its got a little submarine look at the moment but will hide some of the alloy look with white painted plates.
been pretty cold lately. -28C last monday. Normal daytemp is around -25 for last week. Hope it will get a little warmer soon. its hard to weld in this cold.
all bulkheaddoors will be of that round submarine style.

ze

picture: http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1354962882

[Beau.Vrolyk]

I love this thread! THANK!! Great to see the farming/fishing/canning pics too, nice to have a change for boats once in a while, sort of like Austin's cow picks. A fella needs a few minutes a month away from boats.

[floating dutchman]

-28C and it's a little hard to weld? Fuck I didn’t even know temp's went that low. -2.8C and I don't even want to get out of bed!

[austin1972]

Did someone mention cattle?

[kimbottles]

I don't think Austin is a vegetarian.......

[austin1972]

Actually, I only eat meat a couple times per week.
I do love it though. We had kale with a little bacon and olive oil, and smashed garlic potatoes last night.

We're all terminally ill. Some just taste better than others.

[kimbottles]

We had kale with a little bacon and olive oil, and smashed garlic potatoes last night.

Yummmm!!

[floating dutchman]

been working in the bathroom. it will be a sink to port. a baby blake toilet to starboard just behind the door (this one is probably 30 years old) A holding tank under the toilet which could hold around 50-60 litre. I really would like to have this is in 5083 alloy but i wonder if it will corrode through?will it work if i prime and paint it inside? I got an eye opener when we was cooking beeframes in caustic soda in a 3 mm box we made out of alloy. In just a few days the caustic stuff had been eating through the box. I couldnt really believe it until i checked was this alcalanity stuff is doing to alloy. Urea has a high PH right?

http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1352576613
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1352577644

Urine is ph neutral. It's the electrolytes that make it corrosive. Like salt water.

I've been told by a respected yard and others that plastic is best, but the Hinckley service yard told me they see more problems with plastic than aluminum, which is what mine's made of. 7 years no problems.

I work around sewage with work a little bit, The sewage environment is more corrosive than the marine. even stainless steal that's not 316 doesn't last. No way would I consider an alloy black water tank.
The National park close to here has alloy tanks for public toilets, all are fibreglass lined. They are built that way so they can be installed with a helicopter.

[Estar]

No way would I consider an alloy black water tank.
The National park close to here has alloy tanks for public toilets, all are fibreglass lined.

I agree bare aluminum would not be optimal.

But an aluminum box with a fiberglass liner would have some advantages in a self-built aluminum boat.

On Hawk I put in a 3/8" wall polyethylene tank sitting in aluminum chocks. You can get them in a very wide variety of shapes to fit almost any corner of a hull.

Our fresh water tanks are aluminum, coated with FDA approved epoxy paint. That 'might' work for black water, but I would be happier with a fiberglass liner.

I wonder if Hinkley painted or anodized their tanks?

[Ishmael]

No way would I consider an alloy black water tank.
The National park close to here has alloy tanks for public toilets, all are fibreglass lined.

I agree bare aluminum would not be optimal.

But an aluminum box with a fiberglass liner would have some advantages in a self-built aluminum boat.

On Hawk I put in a 3/8" wall polyethylene tank sitting in aluminum chocks. You can get them in a very wide variety of shapes to fit almost any corner of a hull.

Our fresh water tanks are aluminum, coated with FDA approved epoxy paint. That 'might' work for black water, but I would be happier with a fiberglass liner.

I wonder if Hinkley painted or anodized their tanks?

Gold plated, with mother-of-pearl dip tubes and platinum nipples.

[zeyang]

Newsletter December 2012.

Dear All,

First of all, Mucho Gracias for all contribution this year - This
doesent goes just for those of you who have been flying, driving,
peddaling, walking and swimming up here to lend a hand on the farm and
the shipbuilding - but it goes also to you who have send support
mails, commented on forums, asked to help sponsoring the project and
mailed us. Without your support, we would never have come this far.

We are now going into the last year of building the Seagypsy Boat #1
and hopefully start sailing. Yes, i know some of you think she will
sail only backwards, or even upside down, but sail she will.. .. :-)

Together we have come a long way taking into consideration that most
of volunteers coming up here have never done any metalwork or even
farmwork before, but they all share the same dream...

To sum up for 2012. We have used more than 2 metric tonns of aluminium
this year, welded hundreds and hundreds of meters of welding, consumed
a few hundred kg of Argon gas, melted 5 tonns lead. Not to mention
breathing way too much welding fumes and aluminium dust...

On the farm, we have had lots and lots of volunteers who has been in
charge of growing potatoes, sugar pees, carrots, berries and lots of
other stuff. They have got new friends and met old ones from prior
years.

They have shared and learned, maybe eating too much porridge and
waffles, laughed, cried, made love (tough I really worked hard here to
keep those sneaky wwoffers in separate girls/guys barracks!!) :-) Some
have even taken step to marry! So in sum I think 2012 has been quite a
good year.

As we are nearing the end of this year (and not end of the world i
hope!) I wish you all a peaceful 2013 with much joy and happiness for
the coming year and we up on the farm really look forward to meet new
and old volunteers both here and out on the seven seas.

Fair winds and smooth sailing from

Sailing the farm - A Sea gypsy tribe of tomorrow.
Ze


picture: Boatshed in winter night.

http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1356891300

[Bob Perry]

Nice gig you have their Zee. Lots of free labor while you build your boat. Well done.
I will have some meat for dinner.

[zeyang]

Newsletter March 2013. .

Dear Sea Gypsies,

Spring is slowly coming our way, Its been maybe the coldest winter for
as long as people can remember up here. Minus -30 for weeks out and
weeks for january and february and even in march we have -20 degrees
for many days. But we dont complain (at least loudly!) the shed was
filled to the brink with firewood and during evening and weekends time
have been spent reading about small pacific islands where the sun
always shine... Guess where to boat is sailing!

Last two months have been spent doing foundry work (melting
aluminium). We are now making our own portholes and all small bits and
pieces out of the all the scrap alloy we have floating around. Next
would be to make a few dolphins for decoration :-)

Anyway, enjoy the early spring folks! .. and if you want to join our
tribe please contact us!

Pictures.

a. making a sand-cast for a small porthole.
b. Out enjoy the skiing in cold winter weather.
c. a cake? Nope. Its called cores and used for foundry work! Its a
miks of sand and linseed oil. Taste awful, but works good.
d. welding small boxes and stuff together.
e. Porthole production.

http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1363531570
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1363531577
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1363531582
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1363531588

[Salazar]

zeyang,

There is no photo posted for this one - e. Porthole production.

casting I'm interested to see the castig process.

[zeyang]

[chippin' away]

Very cool video!

Thanks Zeyang!

[Salazar]

Not bad for your first try is right! This build project is a bit like the Frances Lee (Sliver), slow but steady. Good work!

[blackjenner]

been working in the bathroom. it will be a sink to port. a baby blake toilet to starboard just behind the door (this one is probably 30 years old) A holding tank under the toilet which could hold around 50-60 litre. I really would like to have this is in 5083 alloy but i wonder if it will corrode through?will it work if i prime and paint it inside? I got an eye opener when we was cooking beeframes in caustic soda in a 3 mm box we made out of alloy. In just a few days the caustic stuff had been eating through the box. I couldnt really believe it until i checked was this alcalanity stuff is doing to alloy. Urea has a high PH right?

http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1352576613
http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1352577644

Urine is ph neutral. It's the electrolytes that make it corrosive. Like salt water.

I've been told by a respected yard and others that plastic is best, but the Hinckley service yard told me they see more problems with plastic than aluminum, which is what mine's made of. 7 years no problems.

Consider a composting head? No holding tank.

[Goober]

Wow.....

Just Wow.

This is the best thread I have ever read. I spend a few hours reading this and re-reading it. Do you have any advice for someone who would like to build their own boat someday? I realize you are not quite finished yet but, looking back is there anything you would change? There is enough material here for a best-seller if there ever was one, but then you would be stuck writing instead of sailing!

[zeyang]

Wow.....

Just Wow.

This is the best thread I have ever read. I spend a few hours reading this and re-reading it. Do you have any advice for someone who would like to build their own boat someday? I realize you are not quite finished yet but, looking back is there anything you would change? There is enough material here for a best-seller if there ever was one, but then you would be stuck writing instead of sailing!

thanks, dont think i would write a boatbuilding book. when the boat is finished. Better to sail!
anyway, since the boat is not finished yet, its hard to say what to do different.
Time is one thing. spending years building a boat is no problem.
Here is two tips:

- do not work alone. I learned that after a year or so. Get plenty of volunteers. Even having some girls with no welding experience on the farm helps a lot on the morale.
- Do not have a few pretty volunteers and then invite french guys with some skills.. Those french guys get too easily distracted by those pretty volunteers and no work done.

Thats todays building tips.

:-)

-

[Occams Razor]

HAHA!

how many babies can be traced back to the boat project?

[zeyang]

those 3 girls arrived last week. (french/irish/czech). so now we are back to proper food again.
also finished the first porthole. It got a little big though.

ze

 2013-04-18b.jpg   156.49K   38 downloads

 2013-04-18a.jpg   140.89K   40 downloads

 2013-04-18c.jpg   162.5K   65 downloads

 2013-04-18d.jpg   135.46K   78 downloads

 

 

[zeyang]

Newsletter April 2013.

Dear Sea Gypsies,

The potatoes are planted just a few days ago. Thats even earlier than
last year. It a little risky since its still frostnights up here but
they are protected under a bed of soil so hopefully they wont freeze.

Summer is coming very slowly. Still no leafs on the trees, but the
small yellow flowers - coltsfoot (tussilago farfara) are starting to
show up along the roads. They are important pollen plants for the bees
this early in season (together with salix)

Sailing the farm have 3 nice girls now (irish,zchech,french). 2 guys
(swedish/english) who have been here the first part of april.

We have mostly been working on casting portholes for the boat which is
pretty timeconsuming. It means making molds, melting aluminium and
then shape the half-finished product in the lathe. The result looks
really good i must say.

Even if not even close to being foundrymen/girls or machinists we
manage to get quite a professional result after some weeks of trial
and error.

Thats enough for now, If you fancy joining the seagypsy tribe - just
drop us a line.

Love from
Sailing the farm


Pictures.

a. irish girl making sand-castles (sort of)
b. inspecting the casting results.
c. swedish sand-crab.
d. unfinished and finished result. (with the help of a lathe)
e. turning soil.


a: http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1367131663
b: http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1367131670
c: http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1367131675
d: http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1367131679
e: http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1367131684
 

[austin1972]

http://weldingweb.co...=1&d=1367131684

 

That looks just like my farm 2 weeks ago, minus the ladies!

 

I did have a 13yo kid out here today who stole my atv then threatened to call the cops when I pushed him off it.

He was lucky I pushed him. My fists wanted a job.