about those costs...

I'll admit it... I kind of like Bernie, not so much this guy, and this nearly made my head explode...

Have you ever noticed how much good quality, lightly used, boat gear is available for sale? Or how it sells at a fraction of the cost?

I mention this because yesterday I was tempted to buy a near state-of-the-art radar with a carbon mast that was selling for less than the carbon mast alone would go for. The reason the guy was selling it is he felt he needed to upgrade from near state-of-the-art to full-blown-state-of-the-art.

I suspect the guy is a regular reader of Panbo...

But, it got me thinking about how big of a percentage of operating and maintenance costs for some folks on boats is about replacing stuff that really does not need replacing at all.

Oh yeah, I decided against the radar...

Listening to Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers

So it goes...

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Surplus to requirements...

News of note, some important political content for boaters, and in the "it's about time" department...

Over the next couple of weeks we're doing our annual purge of stuff not pulling its weight and taking up needful space aboard the good ship "So It Goes".

So, to get the ball rolling...

Anyone need a brand new but never installed AIS receiver that's taking up space in a locker?

You can read all about the unit on its NASA page. We've always had great luck with NASA gear. It can take up space in your locker for all of $125 (and that include USPS Priority  mail for those stateside). SOLD


Or maybe you have a tiller steered boat and need a used but recently refurbed stainless steel NAVIK windvane self-steering gear?

Complete and includes all needful mounting hardware for $750 (plus shipping) SOLD.

More soon come as I still have a bunch of lockers to go through...

Listening to Mel Brown

So it goes...

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an office with a view...

Looking for John Coltrane and finding Kenny G, heartbreaking on so many levels, and some seriously ass-backwards shit...

Webb Chiles and his Moore 24 safe and sound in New Zealand with maybe the best quote ever to use when comparing tiller pilots and windvane self-steering...

"I was hand steering because all four of my tiller pilots had died.  One had been repaired and died twice, so that really makes five."

I'm pretty sure I can see a trend...

Listening to Joe Bonamassa

So it goes...

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those pesky electrons on boats

A couple getting hassled for helping folks, music to drown out the hate, and sometimes it's good to be reminded there are still some good folks around...

My Kindle seems to be having some issues and for the last few nights my bedtime reading has been something of a problematic affair.

I plan to buy a new Kindle Monday...

Now, I expect, I'll be able to sort out whatever problem is causing the issue (at the moment I think it may have something to do with a demon and might require a blood sacrifice) but being that said Kindle lives on a boat and involves electricity to make it work, it's hardly surprising that it's not going to work from time to time.

Face it, anything electronic or powered by electricity on a boat is going to be a problem at some point in time. More importantly, whenever it does fail it will be at the most awkward and inopportune time possible thanks to the ever present law of perversity. Like when you're in the middle of "Heart Shaped Box" (which is a really good read) or you're dragging anchor towards a reef and you go to turn on your electric windlass...

Of course, I can always wait a day or two to read the next chapter so I can live with my Kindle taking a sorta/kinda day off once in a while. As for an electric windlass (or winches, which are just your choice of Deity telling you A. your boat is too big for you or, B. that you need to take a course with Mr Apollo) I don't have one so I don't have to worry about when it's going to fail or malfunction...

Listening to San Fermin

So it goes...

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Some needful reading...

Some good advice, not the deal of the century, and Webb Chiles keeping us up to date...

I'm really not a big fan of electronics for boats.

Not that I'm a Luddite or anything but I do feel marine electronics took something of a wrong turn somewhere along the line (I suspect about the same time most catamarans quit being boats and morphed into something else entirely) and, in most cases, have become something less than seaworthy.

I mention this because it might surprise many that a couple of my favorite blogs are devoted to marine electronics. What can I say, not liking the current state of affairs in marine electronics does not mean I don't keep abreast of what's going on with them.

Anyway... The Marine Installer's Rant has a really awesome post which has pretty much zero to do with marine electronics which everyone should read...

You still here?

Listening to Billy Bragg

So it goes...

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another case for DIY...

Big money in death, a quick look at the scorecard, and a post worth thinking about...

There is a really excellent post over at the Marine Installers Rant about building an autopilot for not a lot of money and it is really a must read if you want to save money, need a system that you could actually repair when needful, and  just generally enjoy doing the DIY/geek thang.

Oh yeah, I expect it's the sort of article that makes the folks at Garmin and Raymarine pee in their pants so there's that as well.

Imagine a world where marine electronics are more affordable, user serviceable, and no longer disposable... Kind of takes your breath away.

The word for today is A-r-d-u-i-n-o...

Listening to Jesse Winchester

So it goes...

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