My little piece of peace

That is a "Ramphos" made in Italy and powered by a Mercedes diesel from the "smart car" series 75 hp and very fuel efficient... and certified for use in Australia as a recreational aircraft...

 

everyone knows that Mas should purchase a flying hovercraft

http://www.breitbart.tv/new-zealand-inventor-offers-flying-boat-for-14k/

 

Except mas, who cannot think of a useful application at this point in time.......... ?

If anything I am thinking of selling CNO and downsizing to something like this http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/cheapcat.html ?

 

hmmmm....you would end up with a lot of spare cash. not a bad idea for your retirement.

 

Wot spare cash?, - just less overheads & outgoings...

 

I gotta admit I really like the way those cat hulls go together, I'd change it to a power cat but still it looks like a quick and dirty to build. Has its place specially when my truck is still in pieces taking up all my shop space.

I don't think you could live aboard that thing tho Mass at least not in the style and comfort your going in now

 

Hi Boston,
The build certainly is "quick to build", for the basic elements - the hulls, joined to form the basic catamaran... The fit-out, - the detail and determining where and how the people fit within the structure is what makes every boat, and in that they are the same, but different... I found living in and on my cat quite a comfortable, pleasant, enjoyable and with lots of use-able space... My build was designed for the tropics, with plenty of 'aeration', shelter and accommodation space that is both open, yet with many private areas...

Your dream build seems eminently suited for the colder regions, I would imagine one would encounter in the northern parts or USA and Canadian coastal waters...

I am afraid I left my "run" too late and feel I am too old for solo voyaging... My love and dream boat is sadly up for sale... The price reflects fitting the mast and sails in the true "Hitch-hiker" rig as developed and refined by John Hitch in 'X-IT' and the installation of the 60litre/hour RO watermaker...

 

well half the fun is in the building so your well on the way to having twice as much starting another one.

I"m just trying to get my truck out of the shop space ASAP so I can get cracking on my own build.

great to have you back by the way
B

 

The boat is set up for operation away from marinas and other cruising niceties to be found in many regional centres where regular cruising boats are to be found...

1) ... The fuel and water are able to be carried in & to the boat in 20litre containers some 40 at present as well as 22 x 25litre containers for fuel only... This makes it easier to identify contaminants such as water and stray solids in the fuel...
2) ... Water is also supplied by a 60litre/hour RO water-maker using 240V AC mains power...
3) ... Mains power (240V AC) is provided from a 4000W inverter drawing from a 200AH 24V bank of batteries charged from a 1400W PV array and a petrol powered battery charger...
4) ... The rig (not yet installed) uses dual genoa, configured in "Hitch-Hiker" rig as developed by John Hitch and refined on his most recent build "X-IT"... The mast is about 8 feet further aft of the original position for the Oram 39C...
5) ... This new mast position was developed by Bob Oram for my boat, in conjunction with the bridge-deck saloon style/open-plan layout - for tropical waters living... The sail rig allows windward work whilst recognising that most sailing will be a broad reach/downwind...
6) ... Motoring at a comfortable 5 to 7 knots giving fuel efficiencies up to 2 miles per litre of fuel... On engines alone this efficiency facilitates a cruising range of some 2700 N miles using 1350 litres of diesel fuel...
7) ... The galley is all electric, relying on the capacity in the 4000w inverter to operate 2 x 180 litre freezers and an array of 'domestic' electrical appliances...
8) ... Water is pressurised, supplying the washing machine, shower and galley, and draws from 200 litres in tanks... - A hot water system is not added as yet...
9) ... A domestic 240V AC mains washing machine is installed... The toilet has a 24V electric macerator and a 118 litre holding tank for the protection of sensitive areas...
10) ... A computer running Linux Mint has some 75 movies and 3500 songs and the capacity to store images and video from digital cameras...

CNO is my home and a "work-boat" and should have the ability to carry additional "cargo", as, when I was cruise ready with food, fuel, 'trading-goods', I still had ample capacity to carry more stuff as I had 2inches or more aft and 10inches at the bow... How much the mast, rigging and wet sails will take is not known as yet...

The boat, launched in May 2011, is powered by a pair of Nanni sail-drives delivering 20hp each... With a pair of mini-keels, can rest on her own bottom in water less than 1.3M deep...

Electronics include Raymarine suite, including gps (with gold series charts of Queensland and Melanesia/Japan) chart-plotter, 24 mile radar, St6000 series autopilot with a fluxgate compass and wind instruments... GME vhf and 27Mhz radios, magnetic steering compass, paper charts nav & anchor lights, a hand-held spotlight, hydraulic steering and a small depth-sounder...

 

Some more pictures...

 

Mas, I don't think you should put your dream up for sale so quickly. If you don't feel up to voyaging solo, don't!

Australia has to be arse-deep in experienced people who would kill to crew with you -- and pay their own keep. Alternatively: if you think you can handle the drama, most ports have nubile young women stranded ashore, who are willing to give warm companionship and stand watches in return for a ride to the next port....

 

==============
Masalai, I'm so sorry to hear that! Are you really sure?

 

Hi Mas

I think it takes someone of a similar age to appreciate your feelings on the fate of your boat.

On a much smaller scale, I have experienced how the 'ultimate dream' gets bogged down in 'real life' -
you may have family needs to consider,
you may find that health issues weigh you down,
you may find the sheer worry about having to be alert every second you are on the boat (sailing or at anchor, the weather, other boats, shoals etc),
the sheer rigour of operating everything from multiple cans of fuel and water, to anchors and fender positioning.
.. the constant screaming of the gulls at night, the 'weather ear' out for that unexpected wind shift or forecast front.
Lets not forget the stress of navigating strange waters, the financial worry of damage - hell the financial damage you have incurred over the last few years.

Then there is the next 'phase' of arranging rigging after all the angst about fitting out, the big cost and bother of fitting , arranging erecting the big rig.

After following Manie's build avidly, and all his high expectations of 'life on the wave', he is already talking about the 'next' boat.

The truth is, us guys are 'make it happen', and 'bend our mind to a challenge' especially when we are older and a bit more able to make it our personal dream.

My personal recommendation is to find some (multiple) fit, amazonian women who prefer getting around naked to run the boat, make you cold beverages and pay the bills.

Failing that .... you could always sell and build another one, between long rests.

Certainly, the time to sell is at the 'all wrinkles ironed out, and everything shipshape' stage, if you are going to. I'd buy it if I had the money and youth.

 

Mas sorry to hear this
but on a lighter note this was good

 

Doug,
It is a "mentalist" thing, forgetting to remember things that could lead to a disaster... Sometimes referred to as dementia, or some form of an 'ageing-disease' resulting in loss of mental acuity... An inherited blessing of forgetfulness...

Troy,
I desperately tried your method, but so many "thanks but no thanks" and funny looks reserved for 'dirty-old-men' and I know I could thrill and rise to the occasion if asked... :

Never-the-less, if the opportunity arose, I would happily go wandering north to the top of Cape York and thence into the Gulf of Carpentaria to the west or NE to wander about Melanesia where 'I speak the language'...

Hi RW,
1 - On a much smaller scale, I have experienced how the 'ultimate dream' gets bogged down in 'real life' -
2 - you may have family needs to consider,
3 - you may find that health issues weigh you down,
4 - you may find the sheer worry about having to be alert every second you are on the boat (sailing or at anchor, the weather, other boats, shoals etc),
5 - the sheer rigour of operating everything from multiple cans of fuel and water, to anchors and fender positioning.
6 - .. the constant screaming of the gulls at night, the 'weather ear' out for that unexpected wind shift or forecast front.
7 - Lets not forget the stress of navigating strange waters, the financial worry of damage - hell the financial damage you have incurred over the last few years.

3 - yes, the rest I can cope with (see above.....)

Hi Manie - I would love that option but may get my dick cut off if caught - as Lovely lady is still very lovely.... and from southern India where that educational message was carved in stone (the Karma-Sutra)