Manie's Microcruiser

Manie,

On commersial vessels I can understand the interest in following a ship's movement, but on small private boats and yachts it is more a matter of making money out of you and big brother watching you. Besides, no big boat is going to swerve out for you or give you right of way, so it is rather senseless just to be seen. Get a mirror instead

Be very carefull that you don't excahange the few little freedoms and rights we still have for these so called services. They wanted to make those transmitters compulsory. Get a SATphone instead for the same price... at least it is usefull.

 

Fanie the point is YOU CAN SEE THEM COMING AT YOU
this gives you time to get out of the way

I fully agree that a sat phone is fantastic BUT give it another 2 years and your iPhone will do that as well !!!

 

You can already see them coming at you on your Iphone (If you're not asleep).
I almost doubt that Iphone will do Satphone... the cellular service providers isn't going to like it.

 

Actually there are some big reasons for them too, no more towers to build or infrastructure....

 

I am absolutely in favour of sat phones - at least it will not be controlled by our phone company(s) who is ripping us at about x7 what the tarrif should be...

 

The Future Is Here

Here is a nice picture of the future

A small device at a good price that links to iPhone or iPad
in this case an iAIS receiver
next up will be a similar device to link to SAT phone systems

and then Apple will have everything for the private/amateur boat sailor

 

Where's the sunglasses with the see-through screens that are mind operated Manie ?

 

Am I in the right thread, about micro cruisers?

 

Just what I was thinking dude

 

I have flagged it as spam for the moderator
hopefully it will be removed

 

To think some idjot actually sat down and wrote that crap just to annoy others

Yes, but only small micro cruisers

 

Thanks Jeff for removing the spam so quickly.
I mean really - to post crap on some chinese flowers and what not.

 

Hey Manie, wasn't that chinese flower going to be your crew...

 

Here are the pics of my electrical installation.
Everything works really well, the meters (volts and amps) are temporary and will come out at a later stage
Obviously still a lot to be done but I can start enjoying the weekends on the water.
The 2 x 105 amp batteries are just great to have, the plastic flooring is easy to clean, the whale pump in the galley is nice for the fresh water in 10 liter bottles.
And the "lock" is reasonably strong so that you cant just "walk" in and steal.

in the next post my weekend from hell

 

So I took Thursday and Friday off to have my own long weekend at the Vaaldam. Four days of bliss - or so I thought. Hectic storms that the Freestate can dish out.

Picture no1

Well sport, they say every picture tells a story, the real truth is that it takes an expert that has "been there" and "got the T-shirt" to understand the terror behind the pics.

This is Thursday afternoon, all good, on the way down, looking forward to a weekend of bliss, solitude and beautiful surroundings.
Specially stopped for a "cute" afternoon photo shoot, halfway down to Oranjeville.
Blissfully unaware of what will transpire.

Picture no2

Ag, all lekker man, passing under the bridge, this is the life!

Picture no3

Okay okay, what the hell is this coming my way. It was dark within 30 minutes, rain and hail,and serious winds.
This is the big mamma that hit me and dragged me to the opposite shore where "Herberg Hotel" is.

Picture no4

During the night I was on deck trying to save my boat, life jacket on, and constantly thinking of the fishermen that have drowned over the years.
This is where I was washed up on shore and finally beached in the middle of the night - more or less in line with the old church tower, across the river.
Obviously very little sleep during the night, but rather glad to be in one piece.

Picture no5

Then it cleared and I thought that I better push on and find a nice little protected harbor.
And this is my beautiful little paradise. Had nice lunch, short sleep, and a magnificent walk on the beach.

Picture no6

Then came this sand storm, Friday afternoon, it covered the boat in sand.
This is when I realised that I am going to get another hiding.
Little did I know that I was going to **** of more than the previous night.

Picture no7

Then came the storm from the South - with one new twist to the tale - bitterly cold.
During the night I thought that the boat was going to break-up, and at one stage I was preparing myself to get out of an upside down boat.
I was convinced that the wind was going to blow me over.
This storm lasted the whole night, and it just got colder and colder.

Picture no8

Here you can see the following morning, which is Saturday morning, that it was still blowing like crazy and freezing cold.
But it was calming down and I decide to head back.

Picture no9