Food, fixes and notes from the casual coastal sailor.

[Howler]

Thats because it's winter now. August is in the summer.

Technically, yes.

 

[mgs]

Technically, yes.

Kind of depends on where one is though. Granted, the photo is in Maine, but the statement that august is the summer is relative

 

[Kris Cringle]

Some exhibits from the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland, today. All Maine-based artists.

I think this is a dock flotation billet. Gave me a feeling of being in two places at once.

This artist is fascinated with end-of-life material or stuff that is worn to the point of only being strong enough to hold the shape together. He's true and proves it, the stuff still has life in his art.

I like the spoof feel of the high-end lawn furniture plaque. I've seen that crap fall apart after a few years outdoors.

No, you can't sit in it (don't be rude).

If a runner painted a watercolor of his/her run, each day, for a couple of hundred days, they would need a long wall.

I'm struck by how much time and effort go into this work.

 

[accnick]

Some exhibits from the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland, today. All Maine-based artists.

I think this is a dock flotation billet. Gave me a feeling of being in two places at once.

View attachment 572812
I'm struck by how much time and effort go into this work.

That one is really tricky! Almost Magritte-like.

I assume the float block is painted on two sides.

Do you get both pieces if you buy the work? One without the other doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

[kdh]

At least that's real wood, even though it does say 'I'm a glutton for punishment."

I don't consider a slightly larger check each year for the varnish work "punishment."

Actually, the transom is relatively easy to keep as it doesn't get direct sun.

 

[Israel Hands]

I don't consider a slightly larger check each year for the varnish work "punishment."

Actually, the transom is relatively easy to keep as it doesn't get direct sun.

Hey, we can all agree - it's beautiful

 

[Kris Cringle]

At least that's real wood, even though it does say 'I'm a glutton for punishment."

"I don't consider a slightly larger check each year for the varnish work "punishment.""

One man's punishment is another man's joy.

 

[accnick]

"I don't consider a slightly larger check each year for the varnish work "punishment.""

One man's punishment is another man's joy.

View attachment 573165

I like varnishing, but don't enjoy it as a way of life. I've owned a number of varnish farms, two of which were, in addition, substantial wooden boats.

I even built a boat that was a varnish farm inside and out, which we maintained to a high standard through 40,000 miles of continual cruising, including several years in the tropics. When other people were off touring, we were often on the boat, varnishing.

We have covers for much of the exterior varnish on our current boat, but that defeats the purpose of having varnish if you cover it up when you're actually on the boat. If the boat sat at a dock or mooring with us not on board, we would put the covers on

I've tried having our boatyard do much of the varnish, but those results have been both disappointing and expensive, since we run our current boat on a budget.

If my boat lived right down the street from my house, so that it was not problem to spend a few hours on it every weekend varnishing, I would be OK with that. When we kept our boats in our backyard in Newport, it was relatively easy to go out and work on it, but now we live 1,500 miles away from the boat, so it ain't so easy.

I've paid my dues when it comes to varnishing, and don't want to be "owned" by it anymore.

Thus endeth the rant.

 

[Kris Cringle]

I've paid my dues when it comes to varnishing, and don't want to be "owned" by it anymore.

Thus endeth the rant.

Anytime I post the words varnish and pleasure together on a sailing forum, I expect a rant!

I'm amazed at how many people I've angered on forums of largely DIY-owned fiberglass boats, just by typing varnish!

You never hear varnish rants on docks of well-maintained wooden boats. You never hear it from professional varnishers, either. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard a varnish rant from one of the hands-off owners of those gleaming wooden boats.

I don't think we give the 'carte blanche owners enough credit: They know (from experience), they will save money by paying to keep a high level of maintenance.

They also know, they don't have the necessary skills of a professional varnisher (how could you get those without the same level of experience?).

I sure know I don't have those time-earned skills either. But I keep improving with experience(and I ask them for advice and watch them like a hawk).

I've been living alongside a classic wooden boat harbor for so long,...I've been affected.

I guess, their varnishing 'mell' has worn off on me.

 

[Israel Hands]

Anytime I post the words varnish and pleasure together on a sailing forum, I expect a rant!

I'm amazed at how many people I've angered on forums of largely DIY-owned fiberglass boats, just by typing varnish!

You never hear varnish rants on docks of well-maintained wooden boats. You never hear it from professional varnishers, either. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard a varnish rant from one of the hands-off owners of those gleaming wooden boats.

I don't think we give the 'carte blanche owners enough credit: They know (from experience), they will save money by paying to keep a high level of maintenance.

They also know, they don't have the necessary skills of a professional varnisher (how could you get those without the same level of experience?).

I sure know I don't have those time-earned skills either. But I keep improving with experience(and I ask them for advice and watch them like a hawk).

I've been living alongside a classic wooden boat harbor for so long,...I've been affected.

I guess, their varnishing 'mell' has worn off on me.


View attachment 573228

Dang! That's all just scuffed, right? Not taken down to bare wood...?

 

[mgs]

Anytime I post the words varnish and pleasure together on a sailing forum, I expect a rant!

I'm amazed at how many people I've angered on forums of largely DIY-owned fiberglass boats, just by typing varnish!

You never hear varnish rants on docks of well-maintained wooden boats. You never hear it from professional varnishers, either. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard a varnish rant from one of the hands-off owners of those gleaming wooden boats.

I don't think we give the 'carte blanche owners enough credit: They know (from experience), they will save money by paying to keep a high level of maintenance.

They also know, they don't have the necessary skills of a professional varnisher (how could you get those without the same level of experience?).

I sure know I don't have those time-earned skills either. But I keep improving with experience(and I ask them for advice and watch them like a hawk).

I've been living alongside a classic wooden boat harbor for so long,...I've been affected.

I guess, their varnishing 'mell' has worn off on me.


View attachment 573228

How’d that grey shirt get in that harbor

 

[Kris Cringle]

Dang! That's all just scuffed, right? Not taken down to bare wood...?

I think that was just a maintenance coat. Sometimes they sit for days waiting for the right weather, outdoors. Often they will hit this with 3 brushes early and be finished by 8am or so.

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

Anytime I post the words varnish and pleasure together on a sailing forum, I expect a rant!

I'm amazed at how many people I've angered on forums of largely DIY-owned fiberglass boats, just by typing varnish!

You never hear varnish rants on docks of well-maintained wooden boats. You never hear it from professional varnishers, either. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard a varnish rant from one of the hands-off owners of those gleaming wooden boats.

I don't think we give the 'carte blanche owners enough credit: They know (from experience), they will save money by paying to keep a high level of maintenance.

They also know, they don't have the necessary skills of a professional varnisher (how could you get those without the same level of experience?).

I sure know I don't have those time-earned skills either. But I keep improving with experience(and I ask them for advice and watch them like a hawk).

I've been living alongside a classic wooden boat harbor for so long,...I've been affected.

I guess, their varnishing 'mell' has worn off on me.


View attachment 573228

Nothing has changed.

Medieval peasants working on the lord’s castle and lands. (Varnish and recreational sailboats had not been invented yet. )

 

[Kris Cringle]

Nothing has changed.

Medieval peasants working on the lord’s castle and lands. (Varnish and recreational sailboats had not been invented yet. )

View attachment 573277

I know your post is tongue in-cheek, and I agree with the peasant of the past doing slave labor.

But nothing could be farther from the truth today for skilled workers, especially around here.

Skilled worker? Name your ticket: Your hourly, choose your work, and learn to say, "Sorry, I'm not available".

I see many boatyards in my area looking for people skilled in coatings. Here's a new ad for a "Brush Finisher/Varnisher" in town.

Benefits Include:​

• Fun, friendly, and professional work environment • Excellent project management​

• State of the art tools and facility • Consistent and rewarding projects​

• Flexible family friendly work schedule • Excellent pay, holidays, and vacation​

• Health insurance and retirement plan​

• 2-week summer break!​

Contact us today to arrange a confidential interview​

Applicants must have at least two years professional experience.
Click to email resume, portfolio, and references.​

 

[accnick]

I know your post is tongue in-cheek, and I agree with the peasant of the past doing slave labor.

But nothing could be farther from the truth today for skilled workers, especially around here.

Skilled worker? Name your ticket: Your hourly, choose your work, and learn to say, "Sorry, I'm not available".

I see many boatyards in my area looking for people skilled in coatings. Here's a new ad for a "Brush Finisher/Varnisher" in town.

Benefits Include:​

• Fun, friendly, and professional work environment • Excellent project management​

• State of the art tools and facility • Consistent and rewarding projects​

• Flexible family friendly work schedule • Excellent pay, holidays, and vacation​

• Health insurance and retirement plan​

• 2-week summer break!​

Contact us today to arrange a confidential interview​

Applicants must have at least two years professional experience.​

Click to email resume, portfolio, and references.​

Unfortunately, the result of this has been soaring service rates in boatyards, including for varnishing. I don't object to anyone making a good living, but it means I have to re-focus how and where I spend money on my boat.

First World problems...

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

I know your post is tongue in-cheek, and I agree with the peasant of the past doing slave labor.

But nothing could be farther from the truth today for skilled workers, especially around here.

Skilled worker? Name your ticket: Your hourly, choose your work, and learn to say, "Sorry, I'm not available".

I see many boatyards in my area looking for people skilled in coatings. Here's a new ad for a "Brush Finisher/Varnisher" in town.

Benefits Include:​

• Fun, friendly, and professional work environment • Excellent project management​

• State of the art tools and facility • Consistent and rewarding projects​

• Flexible family friendly work schedule • Excellent pay, holidays, and vacation​

• Health insurance and retirement plan​

• 2-week summer break!​

Contact us today to arrange a confidential interview​

Applicants must have at least two years professional experience.​

Click to email resume, portfolio, and references.​

Hey Tom - Totally agree that those who do this well know their stuff. My post was also tongue-in-cheek as a reply to yours about varnish posts angering people on sailing forums, I.e., those who do it are engaged in a form of self-imposed boat slavery . (I have my own, assuredly.)

 

[Fah Kiew Tu]

Hey Tom - Totally agree that those who do this well know their stuff. My post was also tongue-in-cheek as a reply to yours about varnish posts angering people on sailing forums, I.e., those who do it are engaged in a form of self-imposed boat slavery . (I have my own, assuredly.)

Yeah well, I'm off to the wooden boat show tomorrow to admire other peoples' efforts on their varnish and other things.

Personally, I paint everything exposed to the UV, without exception. I even painted the wooden handles of my belaying pins.

FKT

 

[Kris Cringle]

Winter escape to the Maine woods.

After leaving Greenville Maine on the shores of Moosehead Lake, you take the most wonderful hour long drive along a logging road to Medawisla Lodge, a X-Country skiing center way off the 'beaten path' deep inside Maine.

You leave your car in the parking lot and sled your gear to your cabin. Stay on the snowcat-packed trails(unless you're wearing snowshoes)!

It's an effortless escape. It's like enjoying one of those hairy arctic ice stories in total, pain-free comfort (exertion is readily available if you're game).

You're in the soul of winter up here. Snow is assured. How deep is it? Who knows.

The trees don't tell. Buried trunks, they seem well suited to the weather.

What I love about this escape is the lack of pollution; light, noise, cars, and sirens, there is none of it here.

There is a lovely dinner (lunch, breakfast, snacks) at the main lodge included, but you can get take-away as well(bring your own light), and take it back to your cabin.

There is no internet or cell signal, you leave those just outside Greenville.

Wood heat, no running water in winter (there is a nice bath house just steps away). Bring a book.

 

[Kris Cringle]

With two aged (and way too short-legged) charges in tow, we took turns doing a little XC skiing.

Having wrestled with the lack of snow at home this winter, the conditions were bliss!

This being Friday, there was only one set of tracks in front of me as I crossed this bridge.

Those tracks turned out to be my wife from just an hour ago. I saw where she turned around. This is on the Hinckley trail (you can't get away from Hinckley in Maine).

Soon, I was making the only tracks in the freshly groomed trail. I still use my old skating skis I've had for 30 years. Yeah, I got a few long glides in. With a little work,....

But mostly, I went slowly and paused often along the way. Less than 1/2 mile from our cabin, I was amazed by the remoteness of this place.

It was warmish, above 32F with a low ceiling overhead.

During a pause, I listened to a curious sound. A light freezing rain was falling. I can't remember the last time I heard that sound. Can you hear it in this 30-second vid?

 

[Kris Cringle]

Winter brook