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We've moved and will no longer be adding new content here on Blogger. For the time being this will remain up but only God knows for how long and she's not saying.
Showing posts with label Blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogs. Show all posts
Friday, March 24, 2023
We're out of here...
Sunday, March 12, 2023
on the subject of a small boat of note...
Over at Sailing With Josh (always a good read) Josh has put up an interesting article on the Flicka design that you might want to check out.
Sunday, September 11, 2022
a needful read...
Maybe the best article I've come across on why it makes environment sense to live on a boat over on S/V Violet Hour.
Just sayin'.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
a good read...
Peter from WindPilot has an excellent post on pocket cruisers and self-steering that you might want to check out.
Friday, July 20, 2018
On the subject of how most people think about cruising...
Over at one of my favorite blogs there's an excellent post on the cost of living aboard and cruising that everyone should take the time to read and digest.
Especially if you're considering the whole VolksCruiser thing.
More on the subject and my thoughts in the not-too-distant future.
You're still here?
Especially if you're considering the whole VolksCruiser thing.
More on the subject and my thoughts in the not-too-distant future.
You're still here?
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Thursday, March 10, 2016
a good read...
Attainable Adventure Cruising has a must read article up and you might want to check it out before it dissappears behind the paywall.
You still here?
You still here?
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Simplicity vs comfort or something like it...
Over at Two at Sea they're talking about simplicity...
Well, actually they're not as it happens. What they are talking about really has nothing to do with simplicity and everything to do with defending the status quo of consumerist yachting. That said, you should really make sure to read it because anyone thinking about VolksCruising is going to hear this argument a lot.
First of all, I really need to go on record that I have Two at Sea on my RSS feed because it is one of the better cruising blogs around, I agree with about 97% of what I read there, and they are a great resource you might want to have bookmarked.
Secondly, I don't have any issues with folks cruising at higher budgets in general, having all the toys that they can cram into their boat, or otherwise cruise differently than I do. Well, unless they bitch and moan about how expensive it is in the process. Go ahead, and by all means buy the $5K virgin latex mattress or the $25K integrated instrument system if you want to but, if you do, you don't get to bitch and moan about how much it costs.
What I do have problems with is bogus arguments like the comfort vs simplicity one when the real argument should be complication vs simplicity as comfort really has nothing to do with it.
The idea that someone with a simplicity-oriented boat can't have things like hot water, a watermaker, showers, electric lights, and refrigeration is really something of a disingenuous argument. It's also a disingenuous argument with a lot of traction and the whole idea that simplifying your cruising life is akin to Neanderthal camping sans even the most basic comforts is easily the most popular misconception regarding cruising.
From where I sit, comfort, both as a concept and a reality, is actually quite simple and neither problematic or expensive to provide. So well within the realm of VolksCruisers on a budget.
Fact of the matter is, if there's one great single factor for me that gets in the way of comfort and me being a happy camper it's needless complication, bad systems, and things that break down.
Sadly, these days, most are so brainwashed that comfort, satisfaction, happiness, and value is all about stuff, how much stuff we have, and the cost of our stuff in comparison to other people's stuff that we no longer even know what real comfort or value is anymore.
One of the first things I ask myself every time I do a need/want breakdown on boat stuff is whether getting something will make my life aboard better and comfort is always a prime consideration as it should be. Life, in my opinion, being way too frelling short to be uncomfortable when you don't have to be. Being comfortable is very much in the need category and if you're not factoring that into the formula you're not going to be a very happy camper.
Need I really mention that being a happy camper is really the prime directive?
Well, actually they're not as it happens. What they are talking about really has nothing to do with simplicity and everything to do with defending the status quo of consumerist yachting. That said, you should really make sure to read it because anyone thinking about VolksCruising is going to hear this argument a lot.
First of all, I really need to go on record that I have Two at Sea on my RSS feed because it is one of the better cruising blogs around, I agree with about 97% of what I read there, and they are a great resource you might want to have bookmarked.
Secondly, I don't have any issues with folks cruising at higher budgets in general, having all the toys that they can cram into their boat, or otherwise cruise differently than I do. Well, unless they bitch and moan about how expensive it is in the process. Go ahead, and by all means buy the $5K virgin latex mattress or the $25K integrated instrument system if you want to but, if you do, you don't get to bitch and moan about how much it costs.
What I do have problems with is bogus arguments like the comfort vs simplicity one when the real argument should be complication vs simplicity as comfort really has nothing to do with it.
The idea that someone with a simplicity-oriented boat can't have things like hot water, a watermaker, showers, electric lights, and refrigeration is really something of a disingenuous argument. It's also a disingenuous argument with a lot of traction and the whole idea that simplifying your cruising life is akin to Neanderthal camping sans even the most basic comforts is easily the most popular misconception regarding cruising.
From where I sit, comfort, both as a concept and a reality, is actually quite simple and neither problematic or expensive to provide. So well within the realm of VolksCruisers on a budget.
Fact of the matter is, if there's one great single factor for me that gets in the way of comfort and me being a happy camper it's needless complication, bad systems, and things that break down.
Sadly, these days, most are so brainwashed that comfort, satisfaction, happiness, and value is all about stuff, how much stuff we have, and the cost of our stuff in comparison to other people's stuff that we no longer even know what real comfort or value is anymore.
One of the first things I ask myself every time I do a need/want breakdown on boat stuff is whether getting something will make my life aboard better and comfort is always a prime consideration as it should be. Life, in my opinion, being way too frelling short to be uncomfortable when you don't have to be. Being comfortable is very much in the need category and if you're not factoring that into the formula you're not going to be a very happy camper.
Need I really mention that being a happy camper is really the prime directive?
Friday, December 4, 2015
On how three-months do not a budget make...
This morning a reader sent me a link to a website he said proves that the $500 a month budget is impossible. It's actually a pretty good blog so you might actually want to check it out and bookmark it.
Anyway, the short story is that in their first few months of cruising they've spent more than they cared to (an average of $2930.33) but they're aware their spending is more than they'd like and are putting the brakes on. Which, considering they have a reasonable sized boat (31-feet), should not be all that problematic as long as they can get out of "vacation-mode".
The thing about budgets is that they work on averaging and in the fullness of time things do average out. Everybody spends money like a drunken sailor their first year of cruising, it's just a normal part of the learning process. It takes time to sort out just what works for you, find that groove where you have all your shit in order, and your need/want radar is fully operational.
I'd say the folks on SV Smitty are way ahead of the curve and, I expect, that a year from now their budget will reflect something they are a lot more comfortable with.
Anyway, the short story is that in their first few months of cruising they've spent more than they cared to (an average of $2930.33) but they're aware their spending is more than they'd like and are putting the brakes on. Which, considering they have a reasonable sized boat (31-feet), should not be all that problematic as long as they can get out of "vacation-mode".
The thing about budgets is that they work on averaging and in the fullness of time things do average out. Everybody spends money like a drunken sailor their first year of cruising, it's just a normal part of the learning process. It takes time to sort out just what works for you, find that groove where you have all your shit in order, and your need/want radar is fully operational.
I'd say the folks on SV Smitty are way ahead of the curve and, I expect, that a year from now their budget will reflect something they are a lot more comfortable with.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Some needful reading...
Over at Comet Camper there's a must read on the subject of your 5/10/15 year plan you should check out.
Really...
Really...
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
A couple of links you'll want to check out...
Geared towards tiny house folk the post "Building Your Nest Egg" makes all kinds of sense for VolksCruiser and wannabe VolksCruisers.
Dave Z, over on Triloboats, covers the same ground on the boat side.
You're still here?
Dave Z, over on Triloboats, covers the same ground on the boat side.
You're still here?
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Something you might want to check out
There's a really excellent post over at The World Encompassed which you might want to read...
Sunday, January 18, 2015
a blog you might want to bookmark...
I get quite a few letters of the "But-it's-no-longer-possible-to-cruise-old-school" sort so here's a link to Speedwell of Hong Kong which shows it's not only possible but being done in some style.
Nuff said.
Nuff said.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Just why exactly are you here?
OK, I have to admit that VolksCruiser services a certain, shall we say, niche group of folks somewhat outside what passes for the sailing and cruising mainstream...
But, who are you really?
More importantly, what would you like to see more of on VolksCruiser and why?
As they say comments are open...
But, who are you really?
More importantly, what would you like to see more of on VolksCruiser and why?
As they say comments are open...
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Some good advice...
Five, count them, five good reasons you need to be reading Comet Camper.
Got to love the attitude...
Got to love the attitude...
Monday, November 10, 2014
An article you really need to read...
Over at Comet Camper there's a great post that anyone considering the whole cheap-seats VolksCruiser thing should should read and take to heart...
Just saying.
Just saying.
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