Sail it, Stow it, or Sell it?
Today's contestant is designer, John Welsford
Here’s a game we like to call: Sail it, Stow it, or Sell it
We’ll list various boat-related gear. You tell us whether you would Sail it (meaning you like it or would keep it close at hand always) Stow it (maybe keep it somewhere around the boat or shop) or Sell it (don’t like or not needed).
Today’s contestant is boat designer and builder, John Welsford
OK, here go….feel free to place your own votes to Sail, Stow or Sell in the comment section below. —Eds
Mechanical pencil
“Sail it! I use one a lot when drawing. I'm drawing on mylar so use a 0.25mm pencil with 4H lead, then trace over with a Rotring 0.25 Rapidograph pen to ink them.
I much prefer to draw manually, the software on CAD annoys me and doesn’t have the same feel as splines and a pen, and I'm at a stage of life where if its not fun, I'm not interested.”
Fisherman style anchor
“Stow it. They're a very good anchor for small craft for short term anchoring on a short scope, but I don’t like to leave the boat on one overnight or to leave the boat unattended.”
Yawl rig
“Sail it! For a cruising dinghy they offer a lot of options when shortening sail, so much so that as the designer I can add more area when drawing the rig so the boat will be quicker in the light winds. There are also tricks that a yawl can do, such as heaving to head to wind, or jogging along under jib and mizzen which are helpful.
Hawaiian shirt
“Um, nooooooo! Sell it! Maybe on a pitch dark night, with a heavy sweater over it. I like my Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival ‘Faculty’ tee shirt much better.”
Powdered milk
“Stow it. We have here 250ml cartons of UHT milk, and I find that if I keep them in a cool place and open one a day that’s enough for my breakfast cereal and my cups of tea, but I carry powdered milk for long voyages and its fine.”
Shinto saw rasp.
“Sail it! All the time! Very useful tool. I find that I use it quite a lot when woodturning as well as just generally when boatbuilding.” •SCA•
The Mechanical Pencil was invented by George Parker, an Upper Iowa University graduate (my Alma Mater) and started a small pen company: the Parker Pen Company. He was also instrumental in inventing the ball point pen! UIU: a great school with a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a Pulitzer Prize winner, a professional footballer who played in 3 Super Bowls, and ME!!!
Hawaiian Shirts:
There are Aloha shirts, and there are “Aloha” shirts. Those of us who grew up in that place know that there are certain unspoken design rules, and there are patterns that no self respecting local person would ever wear - but would gladly sell to tourists. If looking for a shirt in Hawaii, observe the local business class. They are addicted to the “Reyn’s Spooner” or perhaps “Kahala” brands. While bright and flowery, these shirts are also tasteful, and even serve in place of a mainland business suit for a “power look” - it’s too hot for a suit anyway.