iphone tracking

With this handy iphone ap, yes, big brother is watching.

When enabled, my phone becomes a satilite tracking device that broadcasts my position to an internet site every 5 seconds or so.  A little creepy when one considers my cadre of stalkers, but quite helpful when out paddling in San Francisco bay solo in the winter.  I'll notify at least someone (a tweet, perhaps?) before heading out, and that way my whereabouts will be known.

They have a more sophisticated device called a SPOT tracker that not only maps your progress on a website, but allows you to check in with someone via text or email or notify emergency services. It costs about $180, and I think there's a service fee of sorts.

But this will do for now.

Still working out the kinks, and we'll see how easy it is to isolate individual tracks each time I go out.

GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com

A sailmaker's eyesplice

Two of the many items Kizmuit was in need of when I took over as caretaker were an anchor and rode.  The rode is the line and chain that connects the anchor to the boat.  These items were the first ones I purchased back in October.  However, they are useless unless they are connected to 1) each other and 2) the boat.  Afixing the anchor to the chain was simple enough, as all it required was a stainless steel shackle.  Connecting the chain to the line was another matter, as the line needed an eyesplice. 

I had been putting off figuring out how to make an eyesplice. I had done it once as a boy in Scouts, but I remember it being a much thinner rope and it didn't quite turn out right.  Jack, the crusty salt at the end of my dock, lent me a classic text on the subject of sailmaking.  In it were instructions that required the use of a fid. 

A few hours and a few blisters later, I succeeded in producing about eight inches of splice in a 5/8" line around what I think is either an eyelet or a cringle.  There are so many nautical terms to familiarize myself with.....  Some waxed twine to whip the ends will finish up the job nicely.

Cory's paddling videos in Beverly, MA

So I got an HD helmet-cam for paddling, a narcissistic contraption that glorifies everything you do and say.  It was a birthday-gift, and a wonderful one at that (Thanks Hil!), but something I've always wanted. I wore it a few times when I first got it while paddling in Beverly, MA, this past summer, during some of my last paddling sessions before I re-injured my back (I'm fully recovered as of December, or at least as fully recovered as I'll ever be). I had posted them on youtube a few months ago, and have provided a link below.

Joyeux Noel

Christmas afloat on Kizmuit. 

Wishing you a happy holidays.



kayak ergometer

So a while ago I was designing and built a kayak ergometer.  Don't ask why - a flight of fancy, perhaps.  I happened to think it was a good idea at the time.  But I took some pics, and a video which I've posted below.



The 'engine' of the thing is simply a paddle on a gear inside a bucket filled with water.  I used some bike parts ordered online.  I worked well enough, but didn't get the gearing quite right - there was too much resistance.  Needed less friction. I think a bit more patience, money, and creativity would have solived it.  Next time, I guess.

Ski-mod foot-bar.

Phew.  Been a while since I've posted.  But I've been busy.....new life back on the west coast!  Things are good. 

So I finally made some progress on my ski-footwell modification.  Since it has arrived in Berkeley, it's been sitting on Kizmuit's deck, longing to go out. Hasn't touched the water yet....mostly, because it has needed two things - a proper place to attach a leash, and a venturi drain.  I've been able to address one of the two.  Shown below are pics of the foot-bar/leg-leash addition to the footwell modification. 

So I took a section of an old paddle shaft, and pared it down to size.....

....then I scribed some notches in the gunnels of the footwell.....

.....and here's the paddle-shaft/foot-bar/leg-leash attachment positioned where I want it......

...a closeup of the slots for the paddle shaft, prepped for a solid epoxy bond.......

.....and here's the carbon fiber patch holding the bar in place......(yes, middle of the night).....

.....oh, and prior to afixing the carbon fiber cloth, I epoxied the part in place.....

....here's a pic of the final ugly fix......

....and yet another.  It's not pretty, for sure, but I think that once it is faired and painted, none will be the wiser.

Dead sea...it stings.....

So on one of my days of in Jordan I hired a car and driver to take me down to the Dead Sea.  It's about 1400 feet below sea level.  Normal sea water has a salinity of something like 4-5%; the Dead Sea is about 33%. Very little if anything lives in the Dead Sea, and its waters are so corrosive it's not even worth boating there.  I was told boats last no more than a month before they are eaten through. For centuries the Dead Sea has been a destination for those afflicted with skin disorders such as psoriasis. It's muds and salts have theraputic properties. There are signs everywhere, however, that advise bathers not to get water in their eyes.  It's a rather polite and indirect way of saying not to get it in any of the other mucus membranes of the human body.  After only a few minutes I saw children previously awe-struck by the remarkably boyant waters running screaming for the showers.

me

1400 ft. below sea level - yikes!

Floating euros

more of the same - although not shown, I am wearing the same speedo and chain as the gentleman in the foreground.

Amman, Jordan

So I'm in Amman, Jordan for work for a few weeks.  The project is a USAID funded infrastructure improvement/capacity building program.  I'm working on upgrades to two wastewater treatment plants.  Fantastic opportunity to travel.  Jordan has been a wonderfully gentle introduction to the middle east.

Yesterday (Friday, the holy day) I visited what is arguably the most well preserved Roman city in the world-Jerash.  I was hoping to get down to Petra in the south today, but I've only been here three days and I needed a break. It would have been a long, expensive, and tourist-filled adventure. Instead I'll be heading to the Dead Sea this afternoon for a 27% salt-water soak.  I even purchased a little euro-skivvy, one of those religion-revealing bathing suits that seem to be all the rage.  It even came with a gold chain.

Roman Ruins of Jerash



Hadrain's Gate

Main thoroughfare

2,000 year old manhole cover

fountain drain

1st century Starbucks (left) and CVS (right)

Theater

it's official....

So I haven't updated this in a while, so where do I start....

I arrived in the Bay Area at the beginning of October.  Since then, my ski arrived and is nestled snugly next to Kizmuit's boom ('Kiz' for short); final payment has been made on Kiz; the title of ownership has been transferred; she's been insured; and she's officially been granted a slip under my name in the Berkeley marina following a sea-trial and measurement by the marina office.  Still awaiting live-aboard status.  I'm currently living in north Oakland until things go through. 

The so-called sea-trial simply involved motering her over to the marina office under her own power; as the whole boating thing is fairly new to me, I hired some professionals to help.  We had some minor problems, but she's still afloat (long story) and I have to admit I couldn't stop smiling after having her underway for the first time.

An interesting bit on boating safety -



Via: Boat Insurance

2010 US surfski championships

So I'm moving to the SF bay area.  Berkeley Marina, specifically.  See previous posts.  I enjoy racing surfski.  Here's  a great video of the preeminent surfski race in the US, the US surfski championships, which takes place in and outside of San Francisco Bay and finishes in Berkeley Marina.  This video is from 2010, this past August.




US Surfski Champs 2010 from Ocean Sports Media on Vimeo.

The Kizmuit

Upgrading a classic surfski - converting a double footwell to a single footwell

I know you've thought about modifying a double footwell to a single footwell ski, but cringed at the idea of Dremmel-ing into your three-thousand toy. You've probably thought you needed to be either crazy or have someone give you a free ski to butcher. I'm writing this post to say you need both.

I had been paddling a leaky, glass, 45 lb Fenn Millennium. A friend had a similar model Fenn. His was a carbon ski, but had a mystery leak, and he couldn't quite figure out how to patch it. He had just bought a new Epic V12, so he offered the Mil to me, free of charge. Aside from the leak, the footwells were about 4 1/2 inches too long for my freakishly short legs (despite the our height difference of only an inch).







So with Sharpie, a tape measure, a Dremmel, and a few beers, I started down this path of reconstructive surgery. I was able to use my old Mil as a reference for sizing, as it actually fit me.

I wanted to flange the single part with the existing gunnels and deck. A flat plane exists between the foredeck and under where one's knees go. I was able to use this plane to work from in developing a mold for the part.






I used 2" pink foam insulation in layers for the mold. I used the existing single footwell as a reference, and shaped the foam to match. I also used the foam for the base from which to build from. The base was the plane I was mentioning earlier.






I then took bondo (autobody filler) and gave the foam a hard shell. I also was able to narrow the width of the mold where the heels go, so I could drop the footwell about 3/4 of an inch. I figured that would give me a little more leverage while paddling, without sacrificing too much stability.









After countless coats of autobody filler and reams of sandpaper, I was finally satisfied enough to paint the mold. I used a spray appliance enamel. I then waxed it with 5 coats of mirror wax, and brushed it with film release (a fine spray would have been better). In hindsight, I should have covered the model with glass first, and used epoxy so the mold was really hard and could be used multiple times. Using only bondo made the mold rather fragile. But I was only planning on using it once.....












After a first layer of carbon had been cut, laid onto the mold, and wet-out, a layer of core material was applied.



















After a second layer of carbon was applied and wet-out, the part was then layered with release fabric, breather material, and vacuum bag film. The vacuum bag film was taped to the hard back with double sided tape. A tube from the vacuum was sealed around the tape through a sponge to help keep the bag from clogging the tube. A air compressor was used with a venturi vacuum generator.













The part after the cure.



















After applying 'gentle' pressure to release the part from the mold.....


















....epoxying the part into the boat....



















.....fairing the lip of the flange with autobody filler......













....and three coats of single-part monothane with a disposable spray can. While I was at it, I re-finished the entire boat, sanding with 120 grit then 240 grit paper. The monothane is thick enough so as not to require any finer sanding. Oh, and I found the mystery leak around the rudder post by filling up the hull with water and seeing where the water came out.














Here's the finished single footwell. I had put two layers of carbon-core-carbon near where the foot pedals would attach (with stainless steel screws). The cables were replaced. The ski still needs a single veturi (working on a design) and a toe strap. I'm thinking of a bar made from a cut down paddle shaft. I'd recommend not using a new paddle.















...and here's the finished ski. I used marine detailing tape for the black seam. The ski is currently in transit to Berkeley Marina, where, when not screaming downwind from Fort Baker, it will live on top of my 33', 1962 teak-hulled motor sailor, the 'Kizmuit'. More on THAT in my next post.....