Frigging around with the Rigging

Yep... thing is though an EPIRB is not much help in a Pan type situation where assistance is highly desirable but your not ready to pull out the national guard to save you. Its always good to be able to have a long distance chat about the prospects of a deteriorating situation.

I remember doing a Hobart race where an old timber entrant started to come apart at the seams. They raised the Navy who where close (enough) and for the next couple of hours we listen to hammering in the background of their radio calls as the Navy boys thumped caulking into her. They never got to a Mayday call because they could talk to someone on the HF.... mebe we should all have sat phones these days? I dunno, mebe HF is a thing of the past... but long range talkies is good IMO

 

Beans,
down under we use ssb, a lot,Aussies call it hf, Brits side band or ssb, many of the long range free services went years ago
But the hamnets are strong GDSM, was designed to relay along the coast, line of site does not seems to be a rule, vhf can sometimes really reach out there
in NZ Cat one applys to all cruising yachts clearing out foreign, they tried to have foreign cruisers comply, but there was big scream from the foreign visitors, naturally so,

 

Yeah, SSB is what I mean when I say HF (sorry for confusion, thats what I am accustom to if not technically correct)... I know that VHF can skip quite distance IF the conditions are right but do you want to rely on that? I can see that in Europe and in more densely populated cruising areas SSB/HF would be of less practical use but what of crossing the pond to NZ from Oz, you'd want more than VHF.... no?

 

ssb, is bloody wonderful, in my early sailing days I had crystal set, only 6 crystals BUT with my first steel yacht easily was able talk to Whitebread fleet from NZ as they rounded horn on 4 megs steel , alloy, earth see?
Someone posted abt SEA, a wonderful radio, best in world, but NOT type approved here, I fitted one, and then had to pull it out, clearing into Au, noone gave a darn, could have left it in,
But thewse modern ssbs, crums need degree to work em, what they will not do!! plus they have gdsm, weather fax the whole bit
some you can go to AM interrupt the news:)
great fun
there are better things than sugar, just buy the powder, off shelf mix in the paint and brush on,

 

I must have a look at the new fangled devices... ignored all that stuff for a lonnnng time.

How far off topic are we? Oh yeah... I can see it way over there...

Should be werkin CYA.... 4 now.

 

In HF/ssb, the hams on boats run "the Pacific & Islands Net", as HF is still widely used as inter-island communications as radio or "HF phones" (after the style of "flying doctor services" here in remote OZ) and 27meg vhf works well in north/south skip but lost its popularity now...

Satellite connection at around $1000/month for BLOODY FAST unlimited down/upload is relatively reasonable for N of tropic of Capricorn and west Pacific via some of the older geo-stationary satellites waiting to fall down/die..... sort of OK from a sheltered berth and easy to set up, but the more sophisticated mobile use tracking gear is heavy & expensive....

 

Yeah seems about right Mas, I was a wee bit surprised when it was announced that world wide GMDS would be the new thing (mind you that WAS last century!) Another of worlds wonders that don't quite add up!

And Don't worry about the 'Stu Pid' thing, at a guess that's old Lazey shooting his moronic gob off again, he's on my ignoe list...........sad a little argument can get so personal, but...................

 

so promised mas wud not respond, judge fer yourselves., back to bizz

 

Ahhhh, grow up - - both of you - - No, stay as you are.... Surely it would be better if you all lighten up? - - - Who cares? I saw an advertisement for "Wang computers" that said "WANG-CARES" till they were reminded that a "******" is OZ slang for one who masterbates... I do not imply that anyone is it is just that things drifted th - **** - now I cant remember what I was going to pontificate about...

"...Oh - - - well done everybody... keep up the good work..." (quote from Mr Grace in "are you being served"?)

 

so, whats wrong with meow cat rigged?

i'm just sayin that's all...

 

I don't like mainsails (sort of like having 3 nuts - - see drivel thread)

 

You mean its so comple'cat'ed it screws you up, Mas?

 

Complication is a non issue but........

 

OK, now on a slightly different tack - when the wind stops (doldrums, that is) and one needs to use other propulsion systems - the African Cats come in at around AU$30k for each motor & controller (not including charging system and or batteries) or did they send me a "we are not interested quote?)

Has anyone used the Sonic Cat - Drives as on the Stillette - PM me with your thaughts and experiences - my research phase is near concluded and must start on the build asap and several things need to be sorted yet - so Please help

If you are not registered please do so - you need to only give your email address and the rest is free and your info is secure and not sold - that is why I feel comfortable here so support your fellow sailors in their quest to return or go to sea enrol and contribute....

 

sounds like someone is desperate to get on the water,,,hehe,,,?