SV Seeker

[kent_island_sailor]

That would probably be the 2nd most prudent and do-able thing for that BSO. Just two little hick-ups though: going upstream against the St.Lawrence river. Does anyone know how many knots this BSO is capable of making good? There are stretches of the St.Lawrence where the current he will be bucking will reach sustained 3 to 6 knots on the nose. That will be a whole lot of diesel and a whole lot of days before he gets up to Kingston and Lake Ontario.
The other hick-up: Dugg is a boating idiot pretending to possess knowledge.

The 1st most prudent thing is to motor back up the Mississippi , find a relatively safe and out of the way ox-bow and call it a day.

Loopers generally do the Erie Canal. NFW is that BSO even getting to the entrance of the St. Lawrence, let alone up it.

 

[Sail4beer]

“find a relatively safe and out of the way ox-bow and call it a day.”

…Call it a life…

 

[fukupananvil]

There's a Colvin Gazelle going down the river system ATM, started in the lakes. Glacier Gem. Seem reasonably competent people, he did an engine extraction/rebuild while alongside. They have a YouTube channel.

FKT

Interesting specs for comparison. Junk rigged. 2/3 L of Sicker, 1/10 weight of Sicker (although as cited not fully outfitted, al structure), slightly more than 1/2 draft, more functional space than Seekher, 1 more bulkhead. Better layout... Speed stats seem sluggish. Still floating and capable of sailing, masts can come down.

 

[Latadjust]

The reason I ask about percentage of other people's money is to get a sense of whether he's trapped into continuing the pursuit of the stated goals or free to punt and bail for ox bows unknown

 

[Flatulasmaxibus]

The reason I ask about percentage of other people's money is to get a sense of whether he's trapped into continuing the pursuit of the stated goals or free to punt and bail for ox bows unknown

Well, he still needs to eat. Oh, and the price of sailing diesel is really high right now.

 

[stepcut]

Loopers generally do the Erie Canal. NFW is that BSO even getting to the entrance of the St. Lawrence, let alone up it.

I think to get from the Erie Canal into the Great Lakes you still need to be able to clear a 21' bridge. Since those masts are welded on -- there is no possibility to unstep the masts. Though even without masts, it might still be too tall?

To get out of Lake Michigan to the inland rivers definitely requires being able to clear 19'6".

Taking the Seeker into the Great Lakes is a waste of time. We already got plenty of shipwrecks to dive. The weather on Lake Michigan and friends can turn from beautiful to nasty very quickly and unpredictable.

 

[kent_island_sailor]

I think to get from the Erie Canal into the Great Lakes you still need to be able to clear a 21' bridge. Since those masts are welded on -- there is no possibility to unstep the masts. Though even without masts, it might still be too tall?

To get out of Lake Michigan to the inland rivers definitely requires being able to clear 19'6".

Taking the Seeker into the Great Lakes is a waste of time. We already got plenty of shipwrecks to dive. The weather on Lake Michigan and friends can turn from beautiful to nasty very quickly and unpredictable.

Step A of this plan is to cut the masts off

 

[stepcut]

uhhh, I think there's a reason he finds himself alone - and pushing her out into real seas is no longer on the docket. Why not a change in plans to do what is called "the loop" - circumnavigation of the eastern US, all in nav channels or near-shore.Mississippi river delta, Intercoastal around the east coast, up the st lawrence seaway and great lakes, back to chicago, back to the mississippi.

The SV Seeker can't do the loop. To get out of Chicago to the Mississippi you have to fit under a 19'6" bridge. Those masts are welded on. Also getting from the end of the ICW to the St Lawrence seaway requires navigating some waters that require a seaworthy vessel. The Seeker is too tall to cut in through the Erie canal like most loopers do. I believe you need to be able to clear a 21' bridge.

The Great Lakes are also far to rough for the SV Seeker. It can go from nice to nasty with little warning. Loopers in seaworthy vessels still get surprised every year and take a beating. The Great Lakes does not have the best selection of free anchorages either and there is no way Doug is going to shell out for pricey transient slip fees every night.

Since, for the Seeker, the Loop is a deadend at Chicago, he'd have to then backtrack all the way to the ocean before winter.

If the Seeker did somehow make it past the 19'6" bridge, it would just be more videos of them getting stuck in the mud. It is possible to do the loop with a 6' draft -- but also very easy to get stuck.

Also, if he enters the Great Lakes, the coast guard will definitely board his vessel and inspect the sanitation system. Our drinking water comes from the lakes.

 

[woodtick]

Music can provide some useful mnemonics though. If you listen to a particular album each time you study a subject, then running through lyrics in your head can prompt recall. (similar to studying different subjects in different places).
Neuro anatomy and Nevermind will forever be associated for me - When Wernicke's aphasia takes over completely, I'll just be muttering "Stupid and Contagious" at dumb people. Luckily a girlfriend was into Sinead Oconnor when I was studying object orientated programming, so I never have to think about it .

Astute girlfriend.

 

[epoxypete]

Following up on FKT's previous link to a couple coming down the Mississippi, it is revealing to watch one of their shake down cruises and to notice how nonchalantly Nick simply hoists his fore sail and later, just as nonchalantly, puts in two reefs. No winch,no winching,no hydraulics, no lecturing, no sweat. Just as easy-peasy as you can imagine. I suppose this is what Dugg thought it would be like on his BSO while he was day-dreaming up in Tulsa.

 

[Rasputin22]

I watched that vid and looked and looked for golf ball parrels! Not a one in sight, how can that be?

 

[Fah Kiew Tu]

Following up on FKT's previous link to a couple coming down the Mississippi, it is revealing to watch one of their shake down cruises and to notice how nonchalantly Nick simply hoists his fore sail and later, just as nonchalantly, puts in two reefs. No winch,no winching,no hydraulics, no lecturing, no sweat. Just as easy-peasy as you can imagine. I suppose this is what Dugg thought it would be like on his BSO while he was day-dreaming up in Tulsa.

It's a Colvin design rig. Same as I have except mine is smaller. Tom's rigs work, he knew exactly what he was doing. Comes from having actually designed & built boats for his own use, then sailed them.

I love my foresail, it's dead easy to handle and dead easy to reef. My 5' GF can raise & lower it totally unassisted. I did fit a winch though just so I could have a 1:1 halyard and minimise the rope tail.

We often reef up which is a bit of a party trick but very fast and simple to do. Just take up on the lazy jacks, improves sight lines, keeps the rest of the sail high and you don't have to trim the sheets at all.

FKT

 

[epoxypete]

I watched that vid and looked and looked for golf ball parrels! Not a one in sight, how can that be?

We'll never really know what it is like to inhabit Duggs' big brain. This is a good thing too, for it is what keeps us sane and grounded in reality.

 

[billsreef]

I watched that vid and looked and looked for golf ball parrels! Not a one in sight, how can that be?

No metal pipe battens either.

 

[Voiled]

We'll never really know what it is like to inhabit Duggs' big brain. This is a good thing too, for it is what keeps us sane and grounded in reality.

In reality Doug is an expert in getting grounded.

 

[Fah Kiew Tu]

No metal pipe battens either.

Yeah but they do get used. Aluminium isn't a problem weight-wise but if you have an uncontrolled jibe you risk buckling them and that's a PITA - some people carry short lengths of dowel to fix that problem. Cut & splice the batten at the buckled point.

I used Alaskan yellow cedar with unidirectional f/g in epoxy. So far I haven't broken one. It's going to happen sooner or later I guess though we're quite chicken in stronger winds and the double-sheeting arrangement gives you more control in a jibe. Typically I crank in the leeward sheet to pull the sail in and minimise its swing then jibe. The sail can never get to & slam against the standing rigging this way. In lighter airs I don't bother, I just put the wheel over.

FKT

 

[billsreef]

I used Alaskan yellow cedar with unidirectional f/g in epoxy.

That makes sense. Lightweight, decent flexibility, and reasonable strength.

 

[George Graves]

Quote from Doug "There are many people who have no place to be at sea....I use to be one of them."
And this was before he even took an offshore trip and learned he would get sea sick.,.....Rally bad.
Then he goes on to list a "crew requirement" for "seeker" that he can't even match.
Comic gold (both k/comedy and the bad kid of karma???) here folks!!!!

 

[Sail4beer]

That makes sense. Lightweight, decent flexibility, and reasonable strength.

My cutter is planked with Alaskan yellow cedar. All of the above points appear to be valid after 73 years

 

[opcn]

The reason I ask about percentage of other people's money is to get a sense of whether he's trapped into continuing the pursuit of the stated goals or free to punt and bail for ox bows unknown

There is research to be done in ox bow lakes too