Virtual Ship's Log from Captain Hammer

'Cause I don't have enough to do already

Thursday, July 29, 2010

HMS Investigator Found


Parks Canada went looking for one of the famous ships of Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin this summer- and found it, 150 years old. One down, two to go. You should also check out the links to descriptions of the voyage on the website:

Monday, July 26, 2010

BOAT BIKE

The Boat Bike concept was one of those wild hairs that crop up when you're staring down a Texas Summer that will need plenty of excuses to be in the water, and waiting for UT football to start. I had seen one before while canoeing Town Lake a few years ago- a craft made out of a modified bicycle with pontoons attached, just paddling through the water. The idea of having the thing be able to ride from land into the water was my friend Bryan's. He likes to think big, and he was enthusiastic about the idea (but unfortunately is in New York for the summer). So I thought up some plans, sold an old laptop at Rex's garage sale for $18, bought a bike on craigslist, and recruited some friends to help assemble. Flip had some leftover plywood, I have a million screws and lag bolts from previous projects, Emily brought the beverages, and Brandon & Marie had the perfect place to build (and a lot of good ideas about the construction). 8 hours of labor and a little time on the water with friends was a great way to spend the weekend. Maybe next year we'll think bigger (a boat-bike race, perhaps?). Watch the vid. Also, see the craft pass the "Blanton Test".

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Austin Yacht Club


Sounds pretentious, doesn't it? It was far from it.

I responded to an ad on craigslist for free sailing lessons, and although I was expecting them to try to sell me something after the supposed lesson, I went for it anyways. I showed up at Austin Yacht Club a half hour early, having left my house in plenty of time not to miss any action. It was almost 100 degrees, and wind was a mere 5 knots at best; I was armed with sunscreen and Dale's Pale Ale (have I mentioned I love Dale's Pale?). I took a look around the docks and trailers at some beautiful boats before the class and was getting excited.

It finally came time for the class, and there turned out to be quite a few people in attendance (maybe 15). The first part of the lecture: "We aren't selling anything- we just like to sail!". I was relieved. I spent the next hour listening about parts of the boat, how to use the wind- all the basics I already know but have to go through to get to the next level. Yep. They have levels. I can go every month, learn more and more, and crew in a race on a J-24 (or some other boat) for free! Man, I am loving this. To race, these boats need 5 people. So the owners/skippers are looking for good folks to hang with and be good sailors. Sign me up!

The gentleman with whom I sailed after the lecture part of the class had a trimaran, or as he called it, a "cat-and-a-half". The wind picked up a little, I got in some good time on the tiller, and shared some beer. Of course: the owner/captain turned out to be a home brewer. Like I needed another sign that I had reached Nirvana.

The larger boat was fast and exciting- and expensive. I'll put it this way: the main sail was about 10x the cost of my entire Sunfish and trailer. The hulls on the outside folded up easily so it could be put on a trailer, and it had a daggerboard (like a retractable keel) to make it even simpler.

Well, my hat is off to the Yacht Club and the nice people I met. I will be back every chance I get.

Attached cellphone pics: trailer lot, trimaran ready for boarding, main sheet (view from the back moving at about 7 knots)


Friday, July 16, 2010

BP Caps Well (Well, Maybe)

Whew- glad THAT'S over.
Can we have our gulf back now, please?

Thursday, July 15, 2010

200 Year Old Ship Found at Ground Zero

Whaaaat? Yep. Check out the link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/15/world-trade-centre-hull-ship

Wonder whose it was. Maybe there will be some buried treasure on board. What would you do with a million doubloons...

Buy some of these (big beers, I mean), clearly, but then what?

Monday, July 12, 2010

Mark Twain, Dead for a Century

Check out news on his autobiography coming out: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/10/books/10twain.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
I am going to start starting off entries with some Mark Twain quotes. Here are a few favorites for now (and I only got through the 'F's!):
"Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often."
"All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure."
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
"Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities."
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first."
"Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable."
"Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."

Sunday, July 11, 2010

More Diversion

Well, another day off to work on projects, and still no work on the canoe. I think I'll wait until end of summer to keep going.

But I did get some things started: a trailer hitch bike rack almost done (those things are expensive! Even on craigslist they're $75. I bought $18 worth of steel and fasteners, welded one joint at my folks', and used some scrap wood- voila! Ghetto rack!), and almost done with a cheese press for hard cheeses (this is another item that is ridiculously over-priced, even on ebay. PVC, cutting board, springs/bolts and a little elbow grease: under $12. Enjoying homemade aged cheddar: priceless). Attached are cell phone pics of each of these projects at their current stage. Will post for-real pics when they're done.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

A Quick Thought

Maybe some of you linguists or anthropologists can help me out. I'm thinking that if words that represent positive ideals, attributes, etc. were easier to say than negative ones, we may be a happier people- a kind of extension of the "it takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown" type thing. "Smile" and "laugh" can stay. Words like "hate" and "fear" would be changed to "hopplefluffengraas" and "farkleschtuumpf". Any ideas?
p.s. All the negatives don't have to be German/Swedish hybrids.

Thursday, July 1, 2010