To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.

Team Red Cruising

  • Maiden Voyage

    Mon 28 June 2010

    Finally.

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  • Head Sails

    Sun 20 June 2010

    Getting Red Ranger ready seems like a long, uphill slog. The reality is that it hasn't been all that bad. But it seems painful by comparison with other pursuits. For example, after you close on a house or buy a car, you can use it more-or-less immediately. Clearly, a new …

  • Mizzen Blocks

    Fri 11 June 2010

    The look like pulleys, but sailors call them blocks. The one in the middle looks okay in this picture. But it is actually broken, also.

    They're part of the mizzen mast. One helps put some purchase on the mizzen sheet. The other two help put some purchase on the running …

  • Infernal Mysteries

    Sun 06 June 2010

    Boats have bilges: it's where water inside the boat collects to be pumped out. Modern "fin keel" boats barely have any bilge. Classic designs -- like Red Ranger -- have deep bilges.

    We have a Manifold of Bilge Pumps to manage the bilge.

    What's important is to try to keep the bilge …

  • Galley Foot Pump

    Sat 05 June 2010

    Part of the Red Ranger Mission Statement is "Using the smallest carbon footprint we can" which -- when you think about it -- is too narrow.

    In the Red Ranger song, we sing (in 6/8 with a rolling feel)

               C           C           F            F
And She'll see just as much of …

  • Fear Factor: Winch Rebuilds

    Thu 20 May 2010

    One golden rule of boat safety is "never lift anything heavy". One version of this rule is "never lift what you can drag, never drag what you can roll, never roll what you can leave". See Jan Adkins' Moving Heavy Things for classical advice on avoiding heavy lifting.

    On a …

  • Details, Details

    Sun 28 February 2010

    Yes, that's the Ranger in the shed.

    A boat on the hard -- up on stands -- still has a tremendous majesty. A dismasted boat on the hard, well, she looks like she's wearing the silly front-only hospital gown, prepped for surgery. Vulnerable.

    A boat in the shed... well, she's stretched out …

  • Old-School Shopping

    Mon 21 December 2009

    The interesting part of an older boat is older parts.

    That's my knotmeter paddlewheel. Normally, this is the kind of thing that hangs just below the hull, not readily visible.

    It's out of the boat because some of the little paddles are bent.

    The company that made this has a …

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