Black Panther

Hi David Great to hear from you and thanks for your interest. As you rightly say in one of your posts, there is no proper alternative. What other means of emergency steering does the other forum member mean? Drogues slow the boat down and the forces of the water would eventually break the drogue rope or wear it where attached to the stern. The drogue won't steer the boat as such, it would just point the yacht into a better direction and the yacht would then go sideways. A drogue will not replace a rudder or skeg. That's the point of Oceansteer. We have tested it on a yacht wit

I have enjoyed the fact that the bilges collect dust (when the tanks don't leak - don't ask). Interestingly we had quite a work list three years ago, but I wouldn't start till we had finished paying for her, now we are there, and having spent three years sailing her, I have wiped most items off the list having realized that what the designer put there works just fine. Tip: sail the boat for a while before spending money/changing stuff.

Apparently that's why he was heading to Fiji

Whilst trying to shack up with his new girlfriend. We should be giving him a medal!

Why is the council objecting?

And yes , kudos to the skipper of the Navy vessel, he dealt with the situation perfectly. Well done.

Thank you - couldn't agree more!!!!! Our current thinking is a shakedown to Fiji or similar next year, do anything we can think of that needs doing when we get back, then paint.

You run the engine to take a dump?????

see if this fits

Sounds OK to me, he tried to resolve the issue without outside assistance, when he ran out of food he asked for help, got it, then carried on. Good on him.

I'm hoping to get up there next week and return it to black. Just some minor repairs. However we are talking about painting the whole boat white in a year or two. the black looks very sexy but we'll make the decision after next years trip north (All going well). Tough decision. I just can't imagine living on a black boat in the tropics.

I have sent an email to them, see if we can get an answer.

I'm guessing the two horizontal blades keep it in the water and pushed up against the transom??? Willow, what are your options? What I like with this is that it requires no hardware or installation, works on any boat, stows easily.

Looks promising, pretty sure i could make one http://www.oceansteer.co.uk/gallery

For just a tiny bit more money you could have bought this hahahahahahahahaah http://www.fostersshipchandlery.co.nz/afawcs0160483/CATID=370/ID=5778/SID=133016763/X-LIGHT-12V-SINGLE-SYSTEM-TECMA.html

Come on now, Captain Ron is a classic

Good choice Digger, I have sailed over 40,000 miles with a hydrovane and no real problems.

Though it may just be one of the worst movies ever made https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5EjFFUkKkE

Can't afford that, those things are expensive.

I want one

Stop asking difficult questions

Agreed, I thought if the wave sequence was that bad .........but the rest wasn't that bad. I always thought (after reading the book which is still here on my shelf) he had a good boat and was experienced and he was probably hugely responsible for all of them getting through it. Do we know who finally bought the upside down Crowther?

I may have to employ you when it is time to paint the Panther!!!

I don't think the marine reserves means small boats can't go there, just no taking of marine life - am I right on that?? My very slightly informed impression is that the existing reserves have been a giant success, including benefits for local communities??

I have to ask, what is it specifically about that proposal that you don't want to see?