Puget Sound winds during the 'boating season', mid-May through early September, are usually light and fairly consistent in their strength. The wind direction is consistent in that the direction is dictated by channels - the Sound being a large fjord. Over the past few weeks the winds have become more erratic in direction and gusty. … Continue reading Winter wind
Off and on for many years I've listened to a podcast by Dan Mattson called Hooked On Wooden Boats, "The world's only podcast fully dedicated to celebrating the Art, Craft, History, and Tradition of wooden boats!" I went back to listen recently and was disappointed to find he has discontinued the podcast ☹️. Over 200 … Continue reading Hooked on Wooden Boats
SWALLOW'S new Origo alcohol galley stove is working well. I'm learning how to cook again as it has a much cooler flame than butane and propane. My backpacking pans work just fine with the cooler alcohol flame. With propane and butane a diffuser is needed to keep from scorching and burning. So far the only … Continue reading Galley stove update
The cold and dry temps are now breaking into a wet and slightly more seasonal, 'chilly', normal temperatures. This pattern usually means a couple of days of wind, usually southerly, and rain followed by a day of calmer conditions. I spent one night on a buoy at Blake Island State Park. The next day at … Continue reading Weather timing
Damn it is cold for this time of year! A year ago I was doing touch-up paint and varnish on SWALLOW. This year it has been overcast, chilly-to-cold, and rainy. This unseasonably chilly and wet pattern starting in the late spring and really never changed. Yes it was warmer in August but not the usual … Continue reading Bundled up
I'm a member of a fair number of Facebook groups and Internet forums for liveaboards. These gatherings of folks are made up predominantly of non-liveaboards so it makes for some interesting perspectives on what living on a boat is like. Most liveaboards I personally know are 'mostly' on the boat 'most of the year'. I … Continue reading Liveaboard test
I've used a butane cook stove on boats since 2007. They are easy to use, fairly foolproof and inexpensive. The butane fuel is easy to find. Their limiting issue is the gas is heavier than air and a hazard to use on a boat as butane sinks into the bilge becoming an explosion hazard. SWALLOW … Continue reading Galley upgrade
