NUTS & BOATS

 The twice monthly newsletter for to-be and already-are cruisers

Issue #7 - October 1, 2003
Publisher: Trish Lambert
www.takehersailing.com
(C) P. Lambert 2003

Welcome to new subscribers who have  signed up through www.takehersailing.com!

IN THIS ISSUE
We have two guest writers for this issue,  Hermy Vogt, my long-time cruising friend,and Skip, my long-time husband.

• A First Mate's Triumph

• The Onboard Work-out

 THIS ISSUE'S COOL CRUISING QUOTE

I don't know who named them swells. There's nothing swell about them.
They should have named them awfuls.

  Hugo Vihlen

Thanks to Bruce for this quote!
Send me your cool cruising quotes and I will include them in future issues!

Please forward this newsletter to anyone who is interested in the cruising lifestyle.

If you are receiving this issue as a forward,  and would like to get your own free subscription, send an email. 

OUR PRIVACY POLICY

BASIC MAINTENANCE EBOOKLET SERIES 

Paul Esterle's initial ebooklet series, Basic Maintenance, is launched. These booklets are prerequisites for his future series and cover the basic skill areas used most frequently on boats. The series consists of five booklets:

• Using Epoxy

• Tools & Techniques

• Patterns & Templates

• Sealing Holes, and

• Materials

Buy one, two or all five!

A CRUISER'S EYE VIEW
A First Mate's Triumph                                                          By Hermy Vogt

Note from Trish: I have known Hermy and Jack Vogt for well over ten years now, ever since the day I bought a storm jib from them at a marine swap meet in Chula Vista, California. They did me the great favor of introducing me to Skip, and we have kept in touch while we ply waters in different parts of the world. They are currently cruising Baja on IWA, their Tayana 37, and recently rode out the wrath of Hurricanes Ignacio and Marty in Puerto Don Juan. In this article, Hermy gives us a humorous "slice of the cruising life" view of achieving victory over a piece of the mechanical stuff we deal with every day.

Recently I went to visit my friend Elizabeth on "Cambria." I got ready to leave and tried to start the dinghy engine and it wouldn't start! ARRGH!

I tried everything and nothing worked.  I figured it had to be that darned jet on the carburetor that keeps clogging up ever since Jack dumped the motor in the saltwater in Tenecatita. It has been happening more and more lately, so a couple of days before this I had Jack give me a lesson on how to do it just in case I was out by myself. I had even taken my little notebook out there in the dinghy and had it all written out step by step on how to do this.

But my notebook was back on the boat. Of course.

I decided to wing it, having seen Jack do it several times before. Elizabeth asked her husband to give me a tow back to IWA, but I was determined. I looked at both of them and said, "No, this is my chance to see if I can take that carburetor apart and clean it out!"

I took my trusty little tool kit out and proceeded to take the cover off and get right to it. Mike watched me closely, and I am sure he was thinking, "Yeah right she is going to fix this!"

It took me a little bit longer than it takes Jack, and with the wind it was very bouncy, making the dinghy move around like a bucking bronco. Still, I managed to take the carburetor apart to find the jet clogged just like I thought it would be. I got it fixed and put back together without any missing parts!

Meanwhile, Darrell on "Overheated" came over. He had seen me from his boat with the top of the engine off and looking at it, and he figured that I was a damsel in distress and needed his assistance. He came up along side the dinghy and asked if I needed a tow. Elizabeth yelled, "No, she has it all under control, she just gave Mike and I a lesson on how to remove and clean the carburetor out!"

I put the cover back on and crossed my fingers. It took 3 pulls before I got it to start. I was so excited that I yelled a loud "Yahoo!  I really did it! And no notes needed!"

Mike, Darrell, and Elizabeth were very impressed! When I got home I told Jack what happened he too was very proud of me!

GUINEA PIGS NEEDED FOR NEW OFFER

I am in the process of perfecting a new offer: one-on-one teleconsultation to answer your questions about cruising to help you plan right!

I will be sending a separate e-mail to you next week with more details about this new offer, but I wanted to let you know that I will be inviting you to try this offer out for free!

I am looking for two people willing to be my guinea pigs. I will provide the same service that I will be offering in the paid version; the only payment I ask is that you provide feedback.

Keep an eye out for an email next week that is specifically about this new service!

CRUISING STRATEGY
The Onboard Workout                                                                    By Skip Randall

One of the things I let go of when I cut the cord to go cruising was my membership in a fitness center.  And it was a nice one, with every type of machine imaginable, free weights, sauna, pool, jacuzzi, you name it.  With this mobile lifestyle I now lead, it isn't practical to seek out a gym in every port.  So what to do?

I rejected the notion to just let myself get fat, soft and unfit. No can do.  So I set about devising ways to get a reasonable workout in on board.  For a while I kept a set of dumbbells aboard, but stowage and weight issues were problems.  You don't want a bunch of 10 pound iron weights getting loose and rolling around your vessel in choppy seas.  So I gave them away and looked around for other options.  I wound up with a set of elastic exercise cords with handles specifically made for resistance workouts.  I got the stoutest ones, and doubled up two sets to get the right resistance for me.  They stow in a small stuff sack and are easily stored and deployed.

I use the cords for three basic exercises.  First is biceps curls.  I stand on the cords and do curls with both hands.  Second is triceps extensions, done with the cords looped around a post between the galley and saloon in my boat, me facing away from the post.  I start with the handles just overhead, arms flexed, and extend them fully out in front.  The third is "butterflies", again with the cords looped around the post, facing away, but with my arms out to the sides at shoulder height, slightly flexed.  Then I bring both hands together in front, still at shoulder height.

These three exercises work the biceps, triceps, pectorals and shoulders.  For the rest of my strength workout I use body resistance.  I do pushups.  For pullups I use the coaming on the open butterfly hatch as my handhold.  These two work the pectorals, shoulders and lats.  For the lower body I do squats and calf raises.  I use the pole mentioned above for balance if we're underway or bouncing around at anchor.  For those pesky abs I do abdominal curls supine in the bunk.  These are done by simultaneously raising the head up and flexing the knees up.  Great fun.

So what about some aerobic stuff?  On my boat I do stair-steppers using the companionway steps; three steps up, three steps down, etc., etc.  I use the hand-holds for balance.  Also great fun.  It helps to have some loud music going (I like Stevie Ray Vaughn).

Everything I've outlined so far can be done entirely on the boat, even underway.  The keys are simplicity and innovation.  When in port I like to get out and about, so I go walking (briskly), bicycle riding, or paddle my kayak.  Other cruisers I've known like to row a skiff, and that's great for an aerobic workout as well as upper body muscle tone.

In summary, you don't need a fitness club membership, an expensive machine, or a set of chrome dumb bells to get a workout while living on a boat.  Be innovative.  Look around your boat for overhead handholds, a place to loop the elastic cords (if you go that route), and some steps for your built-in stair stepper.  And, as they say, "JFDI" (just f--g do it!). 

Feel free to address any questions you have about specific exercises or use of the elastic cords to me, Skip, through Trish (trish@takehersailing.com).

THERE'S MORE TO COME!

Above, I mentioned the consulting offer that I  will be offering. There are other cool things in the works:

• I will soon be offering audio versions of  my ebooklets, so you can listen to me anywhere!

• My third booklet in the Take Her Sailing Cruising Series will be available for purchase later this month. This one is about equipment and fitting out for cruising.

• I am working on adding both a real-time chat room and a bulletin board to the site. As always, you will be the FIRST to know when they are ready to roll!

I am very excited about these additions to the site and to my products and services! And the most exciting part is that they are a result of your input! Thanks to all of you who have contacted me with questions and suggestions! With your help, I will keep adding and modifying the site to meet your cruising needs!

See you next issue! And please drop me a line any time!