The Cape Dory Board

Hi Jim, Back last decade (2006) I got a new main from FX for FeNIX my CD28. It lasted pretty well over a 3 year circumnavigation. It was very tired by the time I returned. Generally I was happy with the sail. In 2009 I ordered an new main from them for my current boat SunShine. Seemed to me that the...

Hi all, It has been more than two years since I last posted. Here's an update on happenings with me and SunShine. After the motor mount saga we were off again to Brunei. SunShine still had to battle head winds of various strengths and the diesel fuel was going away as if it were evaporating. For saf...

Hi Richard, If you are at all handy and would rather not fork out $1,000~$6,000 for a used\new commercial wind vane go here and contact Walt Murray He will send you detailed drawings and design info for a DIY wind vane that can be made for a few hundred dollars and that's if you go overboard on mate...

and a full moon in Virgo. Hi all, And what does that mean, exactly. For SunShine it meant a lot. We left Johor Bahru, Malaysia heading for Brunei on Sunday, March 9th. The next morning we got underway again after anchoring just outside of Raffles Marina after a fuel stop at Puterie Marina in Malaysi...

Hi Richard, Winter cruising off shore in the north Atlantic. I hope you mean in the tropics. I think a windlass of any size on a 25D is over kill, unless you are even older and more beat up than I. I'm 65 and single hand my 36 pretty well but 200' of 8mm chain and a 45lb plow would be a bit tough to...

Hi all, Good questions here and lots of answers. For me it all depends on wind strength and apparent wind angle. Very light upwind almost always a hank on drifter. Basically the only thing that will hold a breeze especially in choppy conditions. The same is true downwind. I find I sail mainless far ...

Hi all, I know that this can be a very tedious task BUT I can not stress the importance of knowing whether you are an odd or even. All evens one step forward...Please. With drill motor in hand and a new, sharp and shiny bit properly inserted in said device, depress the trigger a few times to get the...

Hi all, To relate some personal history. I started to work in the f/g boat building industry in the late 70's. Let me assure you that most knew the potential problems of balsa coring by that time. James Baldwin who owned and sailed Atom, a Pearson Triton built in 1968 if memory serves, spent much ti...

Hi all,

New year, new page:

http://www.sbastro.com/SunShine/Journey2014.html

BTW reaching Phuket is a half circumnavigation. Phuket being just about half way round from Florida's east coast.

Take care,
Fred

Hi Russell, When I first bought Sunshine I made the trip from east coast FL to west coast FL. I stopped for one night at 25*43.7N X 80*13.8W. That is just outside of a marina near Coconut Grove. You must enter the area through a channel that runs NW/SE, it is easy enough. BTW my log book says that i...

Hi all, My two favorites... "Don't sail where the birds are walking." "Always hit the softest, least expensive thing you can find." Jim. ----------------- s/v Momentum Sarasota, FL A corallery to the first is "Do not sail on the brown part of the chart. it's the sh**." ...

Hi all, Here it is the New Year! After much work on Sunshine and much work on updating the website it is all ready for you to see. Here's a brief view of what's on the site. I checked the weather before leaving. The forecast was for light winds from the east through the north for our two day 200 mil...

Hi all, After a somewhat long and arduous trip we arrived in Phuket, Sunday at about 11AM. All's well with us but had few boat problems that must be resolved b4 we head south again. It is now XMas eve and we will soon go to one of the local retaurants for a buffet supper and celebrations. We are anc...

Hi all,

Have reached Singapore...finally!!

On the way to Phuket on Monday.

More later.

Take care,
Fred

Hi all, I thought it would be helpful and interesting to start this idea and offer two starters. The idea being for those of you so inclined to add a tip, any tip the can be expressed in one line. Crazy glue is right next to my duct tape as a boat gotta have aboard. Make your dingy painter with poly...