Here, here!! Many years ago (1966-1970) I lived aboard a Danish Double ender….ALL wood…26’…Marina Del Rey ….basic compass, VHF, charts….love/ hate…I have NOT owned a bigger or all wood boat since!!…they have all been smaller, glass over wood, or plastic!!!…I’m now 80 yo and down to a couple of kayaks + an old “Project P14” (1966)…needs lots of TLC like me… No stink’n electronics!!…just lapping waters & a breeze.
I once followed all three of these YouTube content creators regularly, but I have lost interest in the first two, as they discover that their ultra-expensive new boats have not brought them the joy they were looking for. Arabella's recent struggles have been hard to watch too. If you are looking for great storytelling by a sailing couple who's a bit more down to earth, and has never had a commercial sponsor, I would enthusiastically recommend Sailing Magic Carpet. Their Cape George 36 may not qualify as a "small craft", but they truly appreciate the small things in life.
Michael and I went to shoal draft small boats directly after doing the 40’ deep draft thing for a year, and never looked back. Beachcruising and coastal camping became a lifetime passion.
Yesterday I was sailing with 3 other women on a Picnic Cat here in Cedar Key and all day we reveled in the sounds of lap lap lap while gliding past mangroves full of egret gurgles and pelican chatter.
One small pin came loose on a fitting that we quickly replaced and that was that.
The worst case I’ve seen of the u tube project creep is poor Leo… can’t even watch it anymore. When I noticed they started to make his hair look scraggly on purpose I gave up. Plot, lost.
Good article with an important point. Over the years, we managed to resist the peer pressure to aspire to larger and larger boats. We watched sailing club friends trade their trailerable boats for “marina queens”, and saw their stress levels increase while their time on the water decreased. We might find ourselves in West Marine together; I would spend maybe $50 on Stray Cat, and my friend would spend $1,200. Most of the larger boats really never go anywhere. I guess it’s ok to have a big boat somebody’s idea of sailing is hanging out in marinas, but I try to avoid them when I can. We’ve hung on to our trusty Sea Pearl with absolutely no regrets. Having a light, shoal-draft boat has allowed us to sail a vast array of waters all over the Southeastern US. We probably sail more miles per year than several of the big boats combined.
Thank you for these comments. I've enjoyed following at least one of these, only to feel dismayed that the income from their ad sales led to ever more shopping, and episodes touting their new gear. Then each segment became a lament over their problems, with an afterthought of how wonderful it all is. [Thank you "my people" for paying for it with likes]. A wise person shares their joys, and holds their complaints. I once got a tour of one of Dick Newick's trimarans with him, recently purchased, and he pointed to the submerged waterline stripe, and then pointed to microwave, mini washer/dryer, etc. 'nough said.
It always warms my heart to see Dick Newick referred to. His understanding of life on the water places his legacy among the greatest designers of all time. He and Iain Oughtred may be chatting now.
Very well said! Excellent article. I miss my bigger b oat, sold two years ago, but I don't miss the time and hassles that its maintenance required. Small and simplicity are the best pathway to on-the-water happiness and satisfaction.
I agree with everything you wrote an exception for those who work virtual jobs while living aboard full time. Starlink has let many of us start cruising well before the average retirement age.
I appreciate that. I guess my issue arises when the sailing experience itself is severely diminished by monetizing it, morphing the activity into an entirely different kettle of fish. I think all of us place our time on the water substantially above a mere pastime. Bernard Moitessier achieved his hero status for his understanding of the true nature of life afloat.
Thoreau said it best "simplify". Like so many of us I've owned power boats , sailing boats and paddling boats, the paddling boats are always ready to go and with no moving parts except for me.
"Small Craft." If we can't tow it with our Subaru Outback XT or Ford Edge ST then it is not a small craft. We feel we are living a life of luxury having a 3500 pound tow capacity when the most we need is 1200 pounds for Skipper's Drascombe Lugger and trailer. Simplicity is being able to launch and retrieve our own boat, step our masts and tow everything home so we can see them every day. We don't need a sponsor to buy new sails. One example of sheer decadence though, our 1959 Sorg Runabout has a USB port under the dash. Skipper's 42 year old Lugger has a choice garage spot while the tow vehicles get the driveway and associated pine sap. Skipper draws the line though, at staying afloat long enough to need one of LFH's cedar bucket :)
I have some similar thoughts re simplicity. However, in all fairness these sailing couples are intent on crossing oceans safely. Some navigation equipment has been invented that can be powered up by the sun shining on solar panels. Many have made the boat their home and so want to do long open stretches with the comforts of home. Because various kinds of cameras, computers, sky links and video cameras are now available they can share with our computer screens the beauty of countries they visit as well as the sailing experience. I enjoy watching a number of those channels and am a patron for Sailing Magic Carpet (no advertising promos.)
However, two aspects bother me: 1. essential electronic equipment subjected to moist environments and the amount of pounding and vibration that the gear has to take from wave and wind action on a sailboat, and 2. the size of the boats that are being sailed by couples with electrically powered sail handling equipment that could fail and leave the sailors with bad situations that are more than their muscle power can handle.
Well said...I hadn't been following the Wynns since they began to think about at building a boat...Their "commissioning" and check out episode on sorting things out seemed right on par. And to anyone who has built a boat with an inboard engine, figuring out the right prop is normal...I'm impressed by their process to go solar and sail in comfort. And if you don't want A/C -- or Starlink -- that's OK, too. I'll probably never have a boat that I can't trailer, so watching them figure things out and go places has always been a good substitute.
Here, here!! Many years ago (1966-1970) I lived aboard a Danish Double ender….ALL wood…26’…Marina Del Rey ….basic compass, VHF, charts….love/ hate…I have NOT owned a bigger or all wood boat since!!…they have all been smaller, glass over wood, or plastic!!!…I’m now 80 yo and down to a couple of kayaks + an old “Project P14” (1966)…needs lots of TLC like me… No stink’n electronics!!…just lapping waters & a breeze.
I once followed all three of these YouTube content creators regularly, but I have lost interest in the first two, as they discover that their ultra-expensive new boats have not brought them the joy they were looking for. Arabella's recent struggles have been hard to watch too. If you are looking for great storytelling by a sailing couple who's a bit more down to earth, and has never had a commercial sponsor, I would enthusiastically recommend Sailing Magic Carpet. Their Cape George 36 may not qualify as a "small craft", but they truly appreciate the small things in life.
Well written.
Yet another choir member here as well.
Michael and I went to shoal draft small boats directly after doing the 40’ deep draft thing for a year, and never looked back. Beachcruising and coastal camping became a lifetime passion.
Yesterday I was sailing with 3 other women on a Picnic Cat here in Cedar Key and all day we reveled in the sounds of lap lap lap while gliding past mangroves full of egret gurgles and pelican chatter.
One small pin came loose on a fitting that we quickly replaced and that was that.
Living therapy.
Excellent story. I may pick it up where you left off.
Extremely well said!
Preaching to the choir here…
The worst case I’ve seen of the u tube project creep is poor Leo… can’t even watch it anymore. When I noticed they started to make his hair look scraggly on purpose I gave up. Plot, lost.
I thought we ran away to sea to leave the shoreside complications behind. Go simple - go now and less is really more!
Good article with an important point. Over the years, we managed to resist the peer pressure to aspire to larger and larger boats. We watched sailing club friends trade their trailerable boats for “marina queens”, and saw their stress levels increase while their time on the water decreased. We might find ourselves in West Marine together; I would spend maybe $50 on Stray Cat, and my friend would spend $1,200. Most of the larger boats really never go anywhere. I guess it’s ok to have a big boat somebody’s idea of sailing is hanging out in marinas, but I try to avoid them when I can. We’ve hung on to our trusty Sea Pearl with absolutely no regrets. Having a light, shoal-draft boat has allowed us to sail a vast array of waters all over the Southeastern US. We probably sail more miles per year than several of the big boats combined.
Thank you for these comments. I've enjoyed following at least one of these, only to feel dismayed that the income from their ad sales led to ever more shopping, and episodes touting their new gear. Then each segment became a lament over their problems, with an afterthought of how wonderful it all is. [Thank you "my people" for paying for it with likes]. A wise person shares their joys, and holds their complaints. I once got a tour of one of Dick Newick's trimarans with him, recently purchased, and he pointed to the submerged waterline stripe, and then pointed to microwave, mini washer/dryer, etc. 'nough said.
It always warms my heart to see Dick Newick referred to. His understanding of life on the water places his legacy among the greatest designers of all time. He and Iain Oughtred may be chatting now.
Very well said! Excellent article. I miss my bigger b oat, sold two years ago, but I don't miss the time and hassles that its maintenance required. Small and simplicity are the best pathway to on-the-water happiness and satisfaction.
I agree with everything you wrote an exception for those who work virtual jobs while living aboard full time. Starlink has let many of us start cruising well before the average retirement age.
I appreciate that. I guess my issue arises when the sailing experience itself is severely diminished by monetizing it, morphing the activity into an entirely different kettle of fish. I think all of us place our time on the water substantially above a mere pastime. Bernard Moitessier achieved his hero status for his understanding of the true nature of life afloat.
I cherish it every day. I just wish I caught more fish.
Heh. That's why they call it fishin' instead of catchin'.
Thoreau said it best "simplify". Like so many of us I've owned power boats , sailing boats and paddling boats, the paddling boats are always ready to go and with no moving parts except for me.
"Small Craft." If we can't tow it with our Subaru Outback XT or Ford Edge ST then it is not a small craft. We feel we are living a life of luxury having a 3500 pound tow capacity when the most we need is 1200 pounds for Skipper's Drascombe Lugger and trailer. Simplicity is being able to launch and retrieve our own boat, step our masts and tow everything home so we can see them every day. We don't need a sponsor to buy new sails. One example of sheer decadence though, our 1959 Sorg Runabout has a USB port under the dash. Skipper's 42 year old Lugger has a choice garage spot while the tow vehicles get the driveway and associated pine sap. Skipper draws the line though, at staying afloat long enough to need one of LFH's cedar bucket :)
I have some similar thoughts re simplicity. However, in all fairness these sailing couples are intent on crossing oceans safely. Some navigation equipment has been invented that can be powered up by the sun shining on solar panels. Many have made the boat their home and so want to do long open stretches with the comforts of home. Because various kinds of cameras, computers, sky links and video cameras are now available they can share with our computer screens the beauty of countries they visit as well as the sailing experience. I enjoy watching a number of those channels and am a patron for Sailing Magic Carpet (no advertising promos.)
However, two aspects bother me: 1. essential electronic equipment subjected to moist environments and the amount of pounding and vibration that the gear has to take from wave and wind action on a sailboat, and 2. the size of the boats that are being sailed by couples with electrically powered sail handling equipment that could fail and leave the sailors with bad situations that are more than their muscle power can handle.
Well said...I hadn't been following the Wynns since they began to think about at building a boat...Their "commissioning" and check out episode on sorting things out seemed right on par. And to anyone who has built a boat with an inboard engine, figuring out the right prop is normal...I'm impressed by their process to go solar and sail in comfort. And if you don't want A/C -- or Starlink -- that's OK, too. I'll probably never have a boat that I can't trailer, so watching them figure things out and go places has always been a good substitute.
Good sleuthing! (re the Better health findings), and I like that boat picture.
And so say all of us....SO TRUE. Buy or Build yje smallest vessel that meets your needs to be happy.