What can’t be improved with electronics? Hence the battery going up the hind end of the Sevenstrand Electronic Acoustic Lure above. The idea is to attract billfish by simulating the sound (wailing?) of distressed bait fish. And I’m pretty darn sure it works because Greg Stotesbury told me so…
If it’s beautiful in Maine, nothing is truly pressing, and you discover a $65/night motel with a dock and launching ramp…is there really a choice? Have a great weekend.
I’m off to Las Vegas so early tomorrow morning I want to weep. But I’m looking forward to being one of the BWI writer/judges for the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) Innovation Awards. There were sixty products entered, and while I can’t reveal names, I can tell you that lots of them are electronical, and even some of those I’d never heard of before I got the judging packets. Here’s the exhibitor list; and here’s some info on the big ICAST fishing show going on in an adjoining hall. If you see something I should be checking out at either venue, speak up! I’ll try to post from Vegas, but no guarantees. The last, and only other time, I visited was in 1969, and I saw very little besides the holding cell of the city jail (long story). I’d rather be a judge.
If a man must be obsessed by something, I suppose a boat is as good as anything, perhaps a bit better than most. — E. B. White
Some days I could be content just checking out the activities and links sent in by various Panbo readers. Who I like to call Panbots, somewhat in the spirit of Steve Roberts, the inimitable gizmologist with a knack for names. Yesterday Steve emailed notes on installing a Simrad AP20 (SimNet/N2K) autopilot he’s already dubbed “Tina” (as in Turner!). It went aboard his 44’ steel motor-sailor, the S/V Nomadness, which will have quite the systems when done. Steve’s blog has all the gory details, including a run down on the temporary electronics set up above (and the fuller White quote). You see he’s one of those frustrated folks waiting for a Furuno NavNet 3D delivery. {Meanwhile, a few of the Hull Truth posters who aren’t liking NN3D charts have gone around the bend into crazy conspiracy territory, even misinterpreting my entry on the subject; oy!, and more tomorrow.}
Bet you never saw a rig like this “buck-a-cup” beverage launching ramp!
Check out the sensor array outside the lab. That’s not today—though it’s snowing just north of me now, raining cold and mean here—but it was taken recently, and the gear was similarly abused often during this most memorable Maine winter. Tactick, Maretron, Airmar, and ACR all get credit for standing up to harsh elements, even working OK in conditions like this. And note the exposed NMEA 2000 tees, terminator, and drop cables—they did fine too, and I’ll have much more on N2K in the weeks to come. But the real subject today is that MaineBoats.com sticker proudly shown on my truck.
Damn the Doane! Due to Charlie, my head’s stuck in maybe the funniest, and best written, cruising blog I’ve ever fallen into. That would be Clark Beek’s Adventures of the Vessel Condesa, and the post that got Charlie’s particular attention is Beek’s latest…a tale of failed charting computers, a quartet of “Bond girls”, and a hostage situation on Columbia’s remote Pacific coast. Make yourself a little reading time before you click here.
I guess we can thank poor Bo Bai for reminding us to never, ever bury our heads completely into navigational gadgetry. Bai was headed to the Saw Mill River Parkway in Bedford Hills, NY, but according to a railroad spokesman, “As the car is driving over the tracks, the GPS system tells him to turn right, and he turns right onto the railroad tracks,” adding “he tried to stop the train by waving his arms, which apparently was not totally effective.”
Big Gizmo? Gizmo the Large? Maybe just plain Gizmo, and add a “Li’l”—you know, in small letters on a diagonal—to the original (especially easy as I haven’t yet repainted the li’l darlin’ since the thief bastards scrapped the decals off). So, yeah, I’m sitting here fussing about boat names when, in fact, I may have completely lost my mind. That strange, yet oh-so-slippery hull above is a prototype for the Maine Cat P45 about to go into production down the road in Bremen, and P45 #4 now has my name, and deposit check, on it. (Hence my encouragement toward any boat nut who treats himself well.)
Here’s a post-Christmas guest entry from Dan Corcoran (b393capt), who wishes all a great holiday, as do I.
At the end of my last rant here on Panbo, I was resigned to spending my Christmas opening tie's (see above) and eating fruitcake. The picture above is in fact me opening my first present of the evening, which as fate would have it, was a blue tie. (Thanks Mom! It really is an exquisite tie, with impressive but subtle inlaid sailboat images that will compliment my best business suit.) But there was nothing to be sad about. Breeze Pleeze did pretty well tonight.
