Agape Model & Details

It is almost universally recommended that one build a model of the boat one is going to build - so I did. The basic idea behind this is that one familiarizes oneself with the plans and gets practice with the skills useful in building a boat. For example, one gets practice in following the axiom: "Measure twice - cut once." - and I did.

The purpose of this post is to present the photos of the model I built so that others can (1) have a better idea of what Agape will look like, (2) see and discuss the changes made to the pilothouse, and (3) discuss my plans for the boat.

Here are the photos (more text after the photos):

Starting at the stern - the cockpit is six feet long and can be used to sleep 2 people. The pilothouse was reduced in height by 6 inches and lengthened forward by one foot to three and a half feet (more on these changes below). Forward of the pilothouse is a 3 1/2 foot long "Birdwatcher" slot. Forward of this is a 2 1/2 foot foredeck (foc's'le) and forward of that is an anchor/ bow exit well.

This layout provides a cockpit and pilothouse with their obvious advantages and disadvantages. The Birdwatcher slot permits one to stand and walk forward of the pilothouse. I have plans for readily closing / securing the openings when desired because of weather conditions.

Regarding the pilothouse - I have purchased a very comfortable chair and plan to use the dimensions to make two seats similar to those used for bleachers in a stadium. These seats can be used in the pilothouse, the cockpit, or on the foc's'le. I will make a small table for use as a desk in the pilothouse.  Lengthening the pilothouse makes for easy entry into the two seven foot long berths.

Lowering the pilothouse roof allows the person steering the boat to see over it. I intend to make a small platform for use by those shorter than me. I plan to make a small awning to cover the companionway hatch - sort of like a dodger. This will keep out rain and sun, etc.  For use at anchor or at the dock I intend to make awnings (tents) for the cockpit and the forward (of the pilothouse) section.

I continue to work out construction, trailering and "camping" details and will present those when final decisions are made.

Green Turtles: Strategy & Tactics

I recently took an unplanned detour to Playa del Carmen, Mexico and am about back on course. I was visiting my daughter who lives and works there. I did maintain my focus on spirituality and boats/boating and would like to report on what I did and an adventure and its relevance to my focuses.

I spent the mornings and evenings with my daughter but since she had to work I was on my own during the day. I used that time to move my projects ahead. I learned Spanish, explored Ignatian spirituality, and spent time studying the plans for Agape and the techniques to build and use her. I had prepared for this work by carrying the resources to do it. In addition, I had the internet as a tool.

Every book about boat building I have read maintains that one should spend a lot of time studying the plans so this trip provided me with an opportunity to do that. Also, I tend to be both a strategic and tactical thinker so I had lots of opportunities to do this for my three projects.

The major "tourist" part of the trip provided what I believe was a chance-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do a Green Turtle ecotour. The main thrust of this blog is on my thoughts about this ecotour.

Almost two decades ago my daughter and I just missed seeing the sea turtles in action when we spent almost a week on the Canal de Tortugero in Costa Rica. We were there just after the season. Here are a couple of links to this area:
Canal de Tortugero Aerial Photo
Tortugero Information

But this time we traveled to Centro Ecologico Akumal where we got to see three major Green Turtle events. The Green Turtles are endangered.

I am reading a book "At Sea with God" by Margaret Silf that uses boats, boating, and voyaging on the sea as a metaphor for our life's journey. Reading this book influenced my interpretation of the turtle events.

First,we got to see the "launching' of some 30 or so two to three day old turtles. It is humans who have destroyed much of God's creation for our own greed and I believe that it is our responsibility as stewards to ensure that we don't completely destroy it. Hatching the turtles and releasing them at night helps to insure that they will survive.

Many of the turtles headed off in the wrong direction (away from the water) and had to be rescued. The lesson: No matter how hard you work if you are headed in the wrong direction you won't make it and will need some help. So we have to spend time making sure that we have the right strategy - that we are headed in the right direction. This applies to one's spiritual life, boat building, and voyaging in that boat. I am grateful for those who have helped me along on my journey and plan on being grateful for those who will help on the rest of the journey.

Here is a YouTube Video of a couple of Green Turtle hatchlings.

Second, we saw the birth (or didn't make it) of some 40 or so turtles. Their incubation place (called an egg chamber) is from 0.5 to 1.0 meters under the surface of the sand. In order to insure the survival of the turtles the marine biologist and his assistant hand dug out the hatchlings, took the data, and then launched them towards the water. The little hatchlings were working their flippers like crazy and often the sand would cave in on them and then they would either be rescued or emerge and then be pointed to the water. I see the hatchlings working hard to get out as the tactics we must employ in our projects (more specifically - my three referenced here) to make them a success. We must be vigilant and hardworking.

Despite our and their best efforts (as was the case for many of the turtles - including the one in the video) some don't make it. If we/they do make it - there will be hardships and setbacks.

Lastly, it was really a situation of serendipity or Providence that we got to see a mother turtle laying her eggs. The earlier wiki article describes how this happens and it was really an incredible experience to watch. Here is a YouTube Video of a Green Turtle Laying Eggs.


I did have the sense that we were violating the privacy of this turtle as we watched her depositing her eggs. The lesson for me in this is that often in life we will be doing our thing and there may or may not be others around just watching. Some may be helpers - others who might want to do us in. This happens at birth and at death and at the points in between. That is the way it is.

Earlier in the evening we had learned that Green Turtles can live to be 80 years old. As I watched the eggs plopping out of the mother into the nest I thought about that when I am long gone some of those turtles will possibly be still swimming around in the Caribbean Sea. That is, assuming that there are adequate people who are working to help them along.

Revised Dream Emerging

Ever since I was a teenager - many decades ago - I have wanted to spend time building and cruising/sailing on a sailboat. I can recall spending hours perusing the plans for "Gypsy" in the magazine "Science and Mechanics" - dreaming of building and sailing this boat. Well, over the years I have done some building and sailing on many boats but I want to do more. Recently I have been working on the latest version of my dream and have made some decisions how I plan to follow through on these decisions.

The purpose of this blog post is to present the executive summary of the details of the emerging revised dream. But before I begin with the description of the revised dream - I collect sayings, poems, and readings. I have thousands of them. Almost every one has special meanings for me. It is reasonable to expect that you will see many of those if you read this blog. Here is one I thought of that is relevant to this post:

"DREAMS"
by Langston Hughes

Hold onto dreams
For if dreams die
Life is like a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

On to the newest iteration of the dream:

I selected a design by Jim Michalak. He calls it Jukebox 3. I won't go into all the reasons why I chose this designer and this plan. That will come later. I will say that he is one of, if not the, foremost designer of this type of simple homebuilt design. Here is the profile of the boat:

I have been communicating with the designer regarding changes I would like to make in the design. Here is a link to more information about the boat design:
More Agape Information

and here is a link to many other Michalak designs:
More Michalak Designs

For towing the boat and for serving as a shore base I am looking for a 15 or so years old Ford F150 4 wheel drive truck. The plan is to refurbish the mechanical systems.

Now comes the part that is still being planned:

My life has been centered around the east coast of the United States - from Texas to Maine and points in between. I would like to sail from Mexico to Canada along the coast. The idea for doing this comes from knowing that some people hike the Appalachian Trail - from Maine to Georgia and do it in segments. I am exploring sailing from Mexico to Canada is relatively short sails.

Stay tuned.

Agape

Just yesterday I made the decision to start building my new boat - named Agape.  The plans for this blog are to document the build and use of the boat.  In addition, I plan to put my spiritual journey - hence, the Agape name - here also.  So, the plan is to document the intertwined boat building and sailing as well as the spiritual journey.