Keeping it simple!
After posting the video Twenty Eight Feet, I was tempted to follow up yesterday with a post on the point of simplicity. The subject of that movie spoke in detail about the lack of complex systems on his boat. For example, he had no watermaker, no refrigeration, and no complex electronics (they showed him using an iPad for charting). He showered in salt water, and admitted to eating a lot of canned food. To some, that may have lit a candle of inspiration. For others, it is far too much like camping to be enjoyed long term. Simplicity comes in many forms though.
Just yesterday the folks at Attainable Adventure Cruising posted an article entitled A Simpler Modern Boat. I found it extremely interesting to read about their equipment choices, including the things that they have chosen to forego. Make no mistake, the Boreal 47, one of my present dream boats, is a far cry from the wooden 28 footer in the video. It was interesting to me though that the two boats were operating with several similar systems, although it seems to me that these choices were made by conscious design and not for financial reasons.
See the trick to enjoying life on a simple sailboat is have a background in camping. My lovely wife and I love camping. Actually compared to backpacking, a simple sailboat is luxury indeed.
Did you read the part about us living in a closet for four months before we bought ZTC? You want to talk about a step up in luxury???
Have had a camper type boat for a while now. I am ready for a boat that feels like a (vacation) home, and that requires hot running water for a shower and plenty of electric power for all sorts of devices and lights while we are out, at the least. An autopilot to take the tiller is also a minimum necessity and roller furling so we dont have to take those trips up to the bow when its rough. I feel that if we are going to pay thousands of dollars for docking,storage and maintenance, not to mention the large commitment of time, we should have some amenities. I love the Tenty Eight Feet documentary but I understand he traded up to a larger and more complex boat.
The guys on the Boreal 47 aren’t camping!!!!
This summer, a company merger resulted in me semi-retiring on less money than I intended. And so far, I’m liking it! Yes, this has forced things to be simpler, and that’s OK.
This is a good lesson for everyone… we are ALL self-employed, even if you are selling your services to a single company.
It’s an interesting topic today, as there is a lot in the news from Ralph Nadar on the 50th anniversary of his book ‘unsafe at any speed’. He feels that new automobiles have forgotten a basic principal of engineering, and that is to Keep it Simple. Now with all the sensors to detect and avoid collisions, he feels cars are LESS safe.
Truth.
A driver-side texting detector might be of value….
For cars, boats or both? 😉