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Subject - I've preloaded "SJ23 Question" in the subject line so I can recognize your email as "friendly fire." Please add your question after it. Remember to include the Tech Tip number, if applicable, as it sure beats guessing! Don't be afraid to add a photo because a lot of us use different terms for that "framas bracket." |
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Skype
- WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM?
Often speech
or live text is more convenient than
email. If you would like to talk via Skype,
then search for me in the SKYPE DIRECTORY and send me an invitation.
(It would help to support your invitation with an email from this page so I can
recognize you as "friendly fire"). After I accept you as a Skype contact we can talk. Please keep in mind that I live in the "northern
end" of the Mountain Time zone and there are 5 time zones across this
bit of "dirt" we call North America, not to mention the time zones for
the guys "down under" and the one fellow in Saudi Arabia.
Wow that's a hot place.
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WANT TO SUBMIT AN IDEA for a NEW TECH TIP? - Images, drawings or photographs are encouraged because like the expression goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. However, if you don't have them, don't let it hold you back. Send me the idea anyway. Between us we'll make it work so everybody benefits. That's what this is all about.
REPORT AN ERROR ON THE WEB SITE - While I like to keep my technical writing skills sharp by publishing these Tech Tips, every once in a while a "mistake" slips through the cracks. Technical writing must be objective and sometimes it is difficult to explain a concept without wordiness. It is also difficult to eliminate colloquialism. It creeps into a language to give it colour which presents its own set of problems. Aside from that, other words are sometimes substituted for the sake of flow or to eliminate repetition. Then there are spelling differences in the various versions of the English language. Do you see how difficult it can be to achieve clarity and understanding in a technical document, on a global scale? In the absence of my buddy who used to proof read my documents, I appreciate receiving the occasional nudge to correct a mistake. So please don't hesitate to ask for clarification or if you find an error in a Tech Tip. Bob Schimmel.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR - A
lot of people have asked how I acquired my skills. Well shortly after
our family moved to Canada I helped
my uncle build three different ski boats. Each one lighter, stronger and
faster than the previous, speed being the primary motivator! He showed an
11 year old kid techniques that
would last a life time. The tools in his garage were phenomenal.
Then in 1973 I returned to Holland for a visit and got hooked on sailing when I
boarded my uncle's 10M steel sloop. It was floating in the canal just outside his
house in Amsterdam. How cool is that. But I was itching to get
on the water so my cousin borrowed a club dinghy and showed me how it worked
as we tacked up a canal joining two bodies of Slotermeer, a group of small
connected lakes
south of Amsterdam. I was fascinated
by the fact that you could actually sail to your destination. This is also when I learned
about the long sailing lineage in our family, so maybe my interest was inevitable. At about
this time I worked in the Canadian arctic at various isolated micro-wave sites,
then installed
telecommunications networks with minimal
contact to the outside world. Out there on the tundra I was left to my own
devices to complete the job. If
something didn't work, I had to fabricate a makeshift "solution" till I could
install the permanent device later. Boy did I learn a thing or two about
helicopters, navigation, engines, generators, oil rigs, mechanics,
survival in extreme cold, insulation, chemicals, adhesives, scrounging for
parts and oh yes, scotch. My friends could not
understand why
Regardless of what it was, sailing is unlike any other sport because it demands the person to have the most complete range of skills. If you are a solo sailor you must be a helmsman, be sensitive to the wind for good sail trim and be strong enough to change the sails to match wind strength. You must also be a meteorologist to read the local weather and waves and compare them with the forecast. Plus you have to be both a navigator and a tactician to use forecast changes in the weather to your advantage. You must also be a cook to maintain your soul and inner machinery. Most importantly, you must be able to fix anything on board when it breaks. These jobs require huge skill, knowledge and experience. For this reason solo sailing represents the ultimate test for many and the satisfaction of reaching a port is the achievement. Then there is the Internet, communications and navigation. Ah, an endless stream of technologies to play with and I'm always curious! The Tech Tips in this web site should help you with the fixing part. They document repairs and upgrades for a SJ23 sailboat that most anybody with opposing thumbs should be able to handle. The concepts of the Tech Tips are applicable to other San Juans and similar class boats. I've performed most of them and those in the " idea stage" are posted as food for thought. Panache is hull #109 and at this vintage she is an excellent example of things to come. Since I sail her solo most of the time, I strive to create labour and time saving devices by storing things close to where they are used. In general, things used outside are stored in the cockpit and things used inside are stored in the cabin. The only exception to this rule are my jibs stored on the forward berth which I manage through the hatch. It's quick and easy and one less thing to drag over a pitching deck, along with a damned good chance of loosing it overboard. Besides, sail bags are very comfortable to sleep between. I hate rolling around on a berth and the bags do a great job of wedging me in. When you consider which fasteners to use, choose simple ones because exotic tools are not available out on the water. Be consistent with screws so you don't have to change drive tips all the time. All measurements are in Imperial units to match the original design. However, this shouldn't prevent you from using a metric ruler to do your repairs. Working with a base 10 number system is so much simpler than working with a base 6 system. Remember to measure twice and cut once. You only get one chance to screw it up! Never underestimate the havoc that can be wreaked with power tools in the hands of those without a plan. And lastly, if you make a mistake, at least make it look intentional! And that's enough. I hope you find the information in these Tech Tips useful. Enjoy. Bob
Schimmel
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