Sailing & Boat Life
Aharr! It be International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sat, 09/19/2009 - 12:28 — rpuckett
Arr, it be that merry time again. The salty spray is in the air, and the ship bounces joyfully in its mooring. Even the bilge rats are cheerful, or as they're called nowadays, accountants. For today it be International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Its the Christmas for pirates, pirate admirers, and people who have seen Treasure Island a wee too much to be healthy.
Re-E-Power Epod Motor History
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 16:22 — lachat-adminWe were very excited to buy and install our e-pod electric motors from Re-e-power, however there have been a lot of nagging issues, many of which are related to manufacturing quality. Currently the port motor is not working, as it appears that somehow the motor has let saltwater into its casing. In light of this development, I have posted a summary of our history with the electric motors. We've been big proponents of the Re-e-power electric motors. For months we even had an advertisement hanging on our boat advertising the motors. But perhaps our enthusiasm was premature? Time will tell as we await for the manufacturer to make things right.
22. Watts up doc?
Sun, 05/31/2009 - 11:32 — rpuckett
With a casual, "Oh, isn't that the slip with the wires pulled out?" James had informed us that our current slip, which we'd fought hard to keep, didn't have power. For the love of... pasta. When we inquired when they would be fixing that, he told us that it wasn't scheduled till the time that they replaced the docks there. As there had already been 5 years since those docks were condemned, I wasn't going to hold my breath. "What if hypothetically, someone bought the parts and repaired it themselves?" I asked. Giving the expected response, James replied that the state wouldn't look kindly on that.
21. Slipping the Slippy Slip
Sun, 05/31/2009 - 10:14 — rpuckett
With all due trepidation, we returned to the harbormaster's office the next day to see about getting a permit for Tempo to stay in her slip. We brought our list of the 63 vacant slips with us as an arguing point. Justifying our dread, we found Meghan Statts, the district manager of DOBOR, behind the counter chatting with Ken Chee. To add to our tummy rumbles, she had been apprised of our unpermitted occupancy of slip #783. "I don't know if you know who I am..." she began her tired refrain of asserting dominance over her audience.
Beware Trojans Bearing Gifts
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 15:48 — lachat-admin
Of course, the parking fiasco isn't the only problem threatening our harbors. The DLNR has recently proposed legislation that would allow for private management of the Ala Wai and Keehi state harbors. Apparently, the DLNR gutted a seemingly innocuous bill HB1766 that had been on the table for some time and replaced the contents at the last minute with something far more odious. Their 'revision' also broke the long-standing rule that prevents commercial boats from mooring in the Ala Wai and Keehi state harbors. The bill passed on the first reading with amendments. The legislation isn't law yet, but it looks like the DLNR will get most, if not all of what they are demanding.
A Parking Problem
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 15:46 — lachat-admin
As the tow truck driver flipped me the 'You're #1' middle finger, he drove off along with my guest's truck despite said guest standing next to the truck. The introduction of Diamond Parking for the harbor's parking lot management has brought about a lot of changes. Sure, there's less cars in the lot, but there's more disgruntled car owners. The last free parking in Waikiki had died. Offering free parking is not profitable. No corporation can directly benefit their shareholder's bank account from offering free parking. If you can't afford to pay a premium for parking, then you have no business operating a car. However, the parking fiasco is merely indicative of a greater corruption harming the public's best interest.
From Parking to Private Marinas - Treachery in the DLNR
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 11:51 — lachat-admin
Hawaii is a tropical paradise with no doubt the best year-round weather in the United States. Being an island, you'd think that Hawaii would have recreational boating facilities that far surpassed all others. We Americans like to promote ourselves as having the greatest nation in the world. And so, it should come to no surprise that Hawaii, America's gateway to Asia, should be the crowning gem in the nation's nautical manifest. But its not.Instead hundreds of slips are condemned, crumbling into the ocean. Instead of departing their boat onto a finger pier, visitors must perform advanced gymnastics to leap off their boat. That's a fine 'Welcome to Hawaii' for you. Frankly the quality of our harbors is an embarrassment for our state and our nation.
Finding Your Tempo
Fri, 02/20/2009 - 02:33 — lachat-adminI'd read the tired line on online forums, and I knew that sooner or later, some one would say it to me. "You know, they say a boat is a hole in the water into which your throw money." I had hoped that I'd be the first sailor in many years to avoid hearing that curse. Upon entering the world of boating you're bound to hear tales of what the boating life has cost the owner. It ascends to a crescendo of bragging for about how much each person has spent on their boat. "I spent $1500 on my windlass." "Hell, it took that much just to paint the port side of my hull!" "I never leave a haul-out without spending at least $10,000." "Move aside lads, I just installed a $20,000 engine." My good friend Jerry helpfully pointed out that boat is an acronym for "bring on another thousand."
B.O.A.T. - Bring on Another Thousand
Thu, 02/19/2009 - 18:46 — rpuckettI'm told that the second happiest day in your life is closing the sale on the purchase of a new boat. The most happiest day in your life is selling it. Through a trial by sea, running the catalina boat aground proved that I was still a sailor. After going through such an event you either jump back on the boat, or never want to see a boat again for the rest of your life. Many a marriages have split up over a little rough weather on the high seas. Fortunately, both Eric and myself are made of sterner stuff. Though you'll love your boat with a passion, everyone's eyes wander from time to time. I'm also told that the day you purchase your new boat is the day you start looking for your next one. Here's the story of our finding that next one, a diamond in the rough.
The Demise of Manukai
Sun, 02/01/2009 - 18:26 — rpuckett
On December 10, 2008, a storm ravaged the island of Oahu, nearly marking the anniversary of a strikingly similar storm the previous year. Gusts of 50mph winds strained the mooring that held the boats from being dashed upon the rocks. Beyond the breakwater, the waves broke hard on the jagged and unforgiving rocks along the shore. One boat was unlucky enough to be at anchor when the store peaked. Apparently, six anchors were not enough to save the boat. That boat dashed upon the shores of magic island. People tell me he had no insurance. Over the next few days, I could watch from the stern of Tempo, past the Dorcas sailboat, out at magic island where the owner had his damaged boat chainsawed apart and hauled away. Three days later, the storm had died down somewhat, but a small craft advisory was still in effect. The harbormaster of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor thought this would be a good time to schedule sea trials. Enter the Manukai, one of the first, but not the last, victims of the state's new policy that required an annual buoy run. Who could have predicted that something bad might happen? Anyone.