Category Archives: repairs

North Manitou expedition

Artist house, Inc. / Trickster Pictures is having a company picnic and sleepover on North Manitou Island from July 26-31. You are invited. Ben Woody, Bri Mathias and Dan Kelly plan to sail Hobie 16s from Point Betsie to Crescent … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, ben woody, Hello World, latest news, real life, repairs | Leave a comment

Awash in wildflowers…

…and basking in beauty, that’s the summer of 2011. Hello World has been beached (blossomed) for a solid year following her crippling injury 30 miles north of Chicago that ended our 2010 expedition. She’s communing with the flox and vetch … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World, open source, policy, repairs, sustainable, training / practice, video chapters, vision, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Day 5 – Ready to go for real

Day 5 was the second and for real launch. June 1st was the official day of getting Hello World into the Big Lake and starting to sail but the truth was we weren’t ready. A few days of puttering around … Continue reading

Posted in 10-06-05, 10-06-06, Around Lake Michigan, food, Hello World, repairs, self education / research, video chapters, vision, vision / planning, wilderness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Day 4 – Adjustments in Arcadia

An easy afternoon on the beach making adjustments to Hello World, mostly the straps and plates that secured the waterproof rifle cases. There’s also insights about yawning. Behind the scene details were posted on June 6. 10-06-04 Adjustments in Arcadia, … Continue reading

Posted in 10-06-04, Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World, movies, repairs, self education / research, video chapters, vision | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What does it mean when this happens?

Somehow the front aluminum pylon is sinking or twisting inside the hull. It might have happened while moored in Chicago’s Monroe Harbor, perhaps from an impact by another boat. Or it could be a sign of some internal problem that … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, repairs, self education / research | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Marooned in New Buffalo

Day 28 I woke up bright and fine after a terrific rest. Having surveyed the forest last night, I knew a nitrogen drop off was doable. The rich loamy sand of the forest floor had a dense root mat. I … Continue reading

Posted in 10-06-28, Around Lake Michigan, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, repairs, self education / research, training / practice, wilderness | Leave a comment

Starting to get good

Day 5 of ALM 2010. It’s raining just north of Onekema tonight. Back from the beach about a stone’s throw, nestled in low dunes is a cozy wozy tent, glowing merrily with candlelight. Inside I’m munching my third bowl of … Continue reading

Posted in 10-06-03, 10-06-04, 10-06-05, collaborators, food, gear, Hello World, repairs, training / practice, wilderness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shakedown

Morning of Friday May 28, three weeks after the original launch date. If I can get on the water in the next few days, I’ll likely be sailing into late August early September. I’ve still got a 3 month window, … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, bliss, Hello World, repairs, training / practice, vision / planning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Soon

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs | Tagged | 3 Comments

Armor Amour – chapter 3 (bloody hell)

There’s a terrible tragedy at this end of this post, so if you’re the weepy type close your browser and check back tomorrow. How to glue pennies to the bottom of a Hobie Cat, the completion of Hello World’s armor … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, repairs, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Watching paint dry

That’s how much fun I’m having right now. Hello World’s first finish coat was applied this morning. Speaking of Malcolm X (today’s his birthday, he’d be 85) here’s an insidious bit of racial marketing I came across. The VOCs from … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, gear, Hello World, repairs, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Armor Amour – chapter 2

Here’s the back page from the vintage Hobie Cat brochure that came with Hello World. Hobie had an intriguing angle on catamarans in 1979 – camping. Perhaps being a subsidiary of the Coleman Company had something to do with it. … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs, self education / research, vision, vision / planning, wilderness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Armor Amour – chapter 1

When Hello World came down from the rafters I was dismayed to find she was still wet. Before lofting her last October I had drained the standing water from the hulls. Though I suspected her fiberglass / foam sandwich was … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, disasters and catastrophes, health / survival, Hello World, repairs, self education / research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I know the journey has started when…

I know the journey has started when I don’t know when it’s going to start. The moment when the handcrafted Hello World slides into surf cannot be predicted. I’ve been back in the water since the year flipped. I’ve shared … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World, nonviolent communication, open source, repairs, self education / research, synchronicity / fortunate accidents, training / practice, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

-5 days – fly true

Despite precautions, when I crawl into bed I feel the prickle of tiny glass fibers on my naked skin.  I mingle with Hello World, we become one flesh. Hello World is more than my production platform, transport and home. The … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs, self education / research, sustainable, training / practice, vision / planning, visualization (magic) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

-4 days – child’s questions

A cup of ginger tea before donning the yellow hazmat suit and starting the day’s fiberglass fun. The Brunton inverter is whirring away somewhat creakily as it charges this iPhone. Most of the gear has already been checked for solid … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, health / survival, Hello World, policy, repairs, self education / research, sustainable, training / practice, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2 days – pushback

Are we ready? Not quite yet. Fiberglass repairs will take another few days. An ordering snafu has delayed the arrival of some gear. Chuck is fabricating cargo plates that need to be tested. This weekend’s weather forecast is not beach … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World, maker, music, repairs, vision / planning | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

4 days

Driving in to Traverse City for another round of errands. Fiberglass repairs are in process. Could wrap primary hull repairs this evening, with fairing and paint by Wednesday (2 days). That’s when I’ll decide whether to launch as planned or … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, food, Hello World, repairs, vision / planning | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

8 days – drydock

Yesterday Hello World had a soft landing and went into drydock. Movie! 10-04-28 Hello World soft landing and drydock variable / full screen 10-04-28 Hello World soft landing and drydock fixed size

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, repairs, synchronicity / fortunate accidents | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

9 days – Love!

Notice how calm I appear? Tomorrow gear should start arriving via ground shipping including the voice of Hello World, Winslow’s Torus. I’m a Taurus too! Hello World has yet to go into the shop for fiberglass patching, but I think … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, bliss, collaborators, Hello World, repairs, self education / research, visualization (magic) | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10 days – errands

A day driving around and hooking up with experts. I dropped in to see Chuck of Northern Welding Specialties first, but he wasn’t there. He told me via cell that he was teaching at the college and perhaps we could … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World, maker, repairs, self education / research | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

12 days – details

Much ordering, inspections and organization. I’m driving up to Traverse City tomorrow or Tuesday for a shopping day. Fiberglass work has not started, I expect to prep the garage for Hello World today and maybe even get her in there. … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, maker, repairs, self education / research, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Master Checklist ALM 2010

revised 10-05-19 This is based on the 09-08-31 Master Checklist, posted only 5 days before the September launch. We’re posting this 18 days before launch – that’s progress. revised 10-05-31 Launching 23 days late and this will be the final … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, food, Hello World, repairs, self education / research, training / practice, video chapters, vision, vision / planning, wilderness | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inherent artifact

44 days until the scheduled launch. In 3 weeks I’ll look back wistfully and think, “I remember back when there was plenty of time.” The logistics of sailing and camping for three months are significant. There’s the boat itself which … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs, self education / research, simplify, sustainable, vision / planning, wilderness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bye bye Beaver

Seemed like I’d stayed for days and days, but it was only four days. Easy to get in the groove on Beaver with so many friendly folks around.  I’m off to pack the boat and launch. With luck, Naubenway today. … Continue reading

Posted in 09-09-23, Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yin and Yang

Even a sailboat has an environmental cost. Rebuilding Hello World was intended as a low impact project, not a sustainable project as I defined it a few days ago. Not only was electricity and petroleum poured into the tools, lights … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, policy, repairs, self education / research, sustainable, vision | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Checklist Master

That it should come to this. The dreaded pre-travel checklist, lifted from a post a few days back, except this one gets updated right up until launch. Underline items need attention. Last updated 08/30/09 Vision Search for sustainable civilization design … Continue reading

Posted in gear, Hello World, latest news, repairs | Leave a comment

Shakedown Version 2.0

Reassembly complete and who needs the fancy thread fixing tool when Patrick’s around? Give him a triangular file and 30 minutes – viola! Working threads. Here’s the last geeky maker shot – a whazit I invented to keep the threads … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, latest news, repairs | Leave a comment

Striker bar Sunday

I’m into this WordPress for the iPhone thang. Now outhouse reports can go directly to the big screen. It’s not polite to talk poop in public, unless you’ve been liberated by Joseph Jenkin’s Humanure Handbook, a fantastic tome that’s now … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, latest news, repairs | Leave a comment

Who needs Twitter?

Just activated WordPress for the iPhone, and that’s where I’m posting from. Who needs Twitter? A set back today in the reassembly of Hello World. I bunged the starter threads on both sides of the dolphin striker, so I’ve got … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, document / journal, Hello World, latest news, repairs, simplify | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rainy preparations

This morning I pop riveted the stern/port trampoline casting that Chuck welded yesterday. I’ve got more riveting to do after I apply some adhesive to the mast base, but it’s wet out there – raining. I’ll go into town to … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Hello World, latest news, repairs, self education / research, sustainable | Leave a comment

She floats

Hello World hit the water Tuesday evening after a month of renovations. Wednesday saw her across Crystal Lake, ready to fly. The ALM expedition is on track for a September launch. Curious collaborator – “Hey DK, I thought you were … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs | Leave a comment

Integrity exhibit B

It’s the day before launch, or at least the day before the launch party. Putting a final coart of paint on the hulls today and perhaps a second injection on the decks. There’s a slew of parts arriving via UPS, … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs | Leave a comment

Integrity exhibit A

Breaches in the Hobie hulls are sealed, structural damage is remediated. At 10:00 pm UTC – 4, August 12, I completed the injections of the decks. Only cosmetic and finishing work remains. I know y’all have been starving for pictures, … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, maker, policy, repairs, sustainable | Leave a comment

Deep holes

Patrick and I patched up the sides of the hulls pretty nearly now – all that’s left is sanding, fairing and painting. There’s also epoxy injections needed for both decks a couple of feet forward of the front pylons. It’s … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, repairs | Leave a comment

Budgets

A $400 Hobie Cat, eh? That’s what I bought it for in May, with a trailer! A week later, (after a full inventory), it turned out there were no blocks for the main and jib. The seller, Alan Vigland, had … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs, self education / research, sustainable | Leave a comment

Progress

There was a bon voyage party for me last night that I missed because I was scatter brained over these repairs and couldn’t remember where Gretchen said it was. I almost sprained my ass riding 11 miles at top speed … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs | Leave a comment

Foam schmoam

Though I had thought the grinding was completely finished at 2:00 pm today, it wasn’t. I was prep sanding on the port hull’s bow when I broke through to a big void under the glass. That meant more grinding and … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs | Leave a comment

Things of beauty

Even laid up in the intensive care unit, the hobie hulls are still things of beauty. Touching them you can almost feel the physics, they are hydro dynamic sonnets. They long for the water, they sing to me with their … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs | Leave a comment

Daily grind

Another day of prepping the hulls for repair. Here’s the latest pix. Why document the mundane and tedious? Unless I struggle, you just won’t care what I want. Five days until launch and there are big holes in my boat. … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, Hello World, repairs | Leave a comment

Hobie disassemble and inspection

Future Sailors of America (Dan, Patrick and Jonathan) met this week for disassembly and inpection of our pre owned Hobie 16. We removed the hulls, washed off surface oxidation and crayoned the problem areas. Here is the most problematic problem… … Continue reading

Posted in Around Lake Michigan, collaborators, Desire project preparation, disasters and catastrophes, Hello World, maker, repairs, self education / research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sweet moon

Another week in full tilt at the water temple. The Hobie renovation support team arrives in about 3 hours. For the moment, sweet silence and the moon. Been doing a little strategic shoving of local allies, helping to deploy web … Continue reading

Posted in bliss, Desire project preparation, gear, Hello World, repairs, sustainable, vision / planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment