Sea Biscuit Position Report

oded kishony · August 21, 2006, 04:38:01 PM

Greetings:

Those of you who are interested in following the adventures of Sea Biscuit, an 8 foot home built sailboat see here:

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/06/outings/track/index.htm

You may recall; 'Harley' will attempt to circumnavigate by way of the capes, non-stop. :o

oded kishony

Captain Smollett · August 21, 2006, 05:54:45 PM

I was reading some of the comments, and liked this one:

Quote
It's either an insurance scam or a murder cover-up.

Couple of others were pretty funny, too. I hope he makes it (I don't wish ill on anyone), but I don't think he will. Some of the naysayers, as he calls them, have some pretty good points this time.

Zen · August 21, 2006, 06:44:21 PM

I heard he is off and floating...er ah... in the boat. ;)

Zen · August 23, 2006, 12:12:16 PM

There is a problem already...
It appears some of the bolts used on the "rudder" are leaking ...

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/06/outings/track/index.htm

AdriftAtSea · August 23, 2006, 12:23:21 PM

For some reason, his website: http://www.captainhumphreys.com reminds me of the Adoryable blog, and I just don't think his is a serious attempt at circumnavigation.

oded kishony · August 23, 2006, 02:47:53 PM

>>There is a problem already...
>>It appears some of the bolts used on the "rudder" are leaking ...<

I don't know if you noticed, his rudder is attached with common brass door hinges! They are completely inadequate. I have a hard time imagining a good end to this. I think the possibility of his succeeding in his quest is about the same as me winning the Megabuks' lottery. Of course all I lose is a dollar and not my life!

I sure do wish him the best of luck...which may actually be a small dissaster that causes him to abandon this half baked quest sooner rather than later.

oded kishony

AdriftAtSea · August 23, 2006, 03:09:32 PM

If the hinges are common brass....corrosion will get them in short order...

oded kishony · August 23, 2006, 04:58:10 PM

Harley's reply to criticism about his construction methods have been that most boats are designed to last a long time, whereas he just wants it to last for the duration of the voayge. Seems like very spurious thinking to me.

oded kishony

AdriftAtSea · August 23, 2006, 05:48:48 PM

At the rate he is going...it won't even last that long...

Captain Smollett · August 23, 2006, 06:12:45 PM

Quote from: oded kishony on August 23, 2006, 04:58:10 PM
most boats are designed to last a long time, whereas he just wants it to last for the duration of the voayge.

I'll have to disagree with Harley on this point. Sure, we'd like things to last a long time on a boat, but more important is that they last "long enough." When I hear something is engineered for the 'marine environment,' I don't think "wow, it will last forever" so much as I think "wow, it MAY last once in an incredibly stressful and corrosive environment."

Using soft metal door hinges for something as crucial and heavily stressed as the rudder is idiotic.

One thing he can certainly be criticized for is his lack of trials. If he's "right" about all the things he is asserting, he can prove it with some well-designed sea trials. Instead, he is attempting to use a circumnavigation as a sea trial. NONE of his systems and (half baked, imo) theories have been tested, much less in concert as a unified system.

This is akin to NASA attempting the Apollo 11 moon shot as their first attempt at (1) keeping a human alive in space, (2) getting something INTO space, (3) getting something back safely FROM space and (4) launching off the pad without it exploding. All of this, with NO TESTING and most people would cry "that's just nuts."

Just like they are doing about Harley.

Harley, I know you ain't reading this, but do some trials. If you are right, it'd be the quickest way to shut up the naysayers. Right now, it looks like the score is Naysayers 1, Harley 0 with these stupid door hinges as rudder attachments.

oded kishony · August 25, 2006, 08:22:21 AM

Harley has abandoned his voyage. See below~oded

Harley is back at the float & has decided "To pack it in " & "go back home " .. IF he can get his help to come back & get him ... He appears to be short of money ( he said that ).. He ask me if the berth (dock fee's) run's out if he could put the 'Seabiscuit " on beach in front of my property until help arrives .. Getting around the world is tough enough but without any money would be twice as bad in my opinion ...

He said he's going get the "Lead" on the bottom of the keel, Its simply too "tippy" & the "window of the season" is getting late .. I told him he had you guys cheering for him (showed him your letter from last nite) I suggested he could do these test's in a lake down there ,, I wonder if sleeping in that craft may have got to him a bit also ,,

Ken

AdriftAtSea · August 25, 2006, 10:35:47 AM

Yes, it remains to be seen if he decides to try again or just fades into the woodwork.

s/v Faith · August 25, 2006, 11:34:22 AM

Sea Biscuit is a different 'project' then 'the Captain Humphreys project' that Adrift posted. Captain Humpries is an 11.5' boat.

Adrift,

Thanks man.... thanks to you I spent most of my day reading the first FIFTY episodes of the "Captain Humpries Show".... ;D

I don't believe that he has any intention of actually going to sea, but that is some funny stuff. ;D ;D ;D

http://www.captainhumphreys.com/archive/archive.html

Captain Smollett · August 25, 2006, 11:37:03 AM

Quote from: s/v Faith on August 25, 2006, 11:34:22 AM
Sea Biscuit is a different 'project' then 'the Captain Humphreys project' that Adrift posted.

I noticed that, too, but wondered if maybe Harley was Captain Nemesis on the Humphries site. Anyone got any idea if this is so?

AdriftAtSea · August 25, 2006, 02:11:56 PM

Quote from: s/v Faith on August 25, 2006, 11:34:22 AM
Sea Biscuit is a different 'project' then 'the Captain Humphreys project' that Adrift posted. Captain Humpries is an 11.5' boat.

Adrift,

Thanks man.... thanks to you I spent most of my day reading the first FIFTY episodes of the "Captain Humpries Show".... ;D

I don't believe that he has any intention of actually going to sea, but that is some funny stuff. ;D ;D ;D

http://www.captainhumphreys.com/archive/archive.html

Really unintentionall... didn't mean for that to happen...really... ;) funny stuff there on Cap'n Humphrey's site... and yes, I just realized they are in fact different projects...but both fairly insane IMHO.

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Sea Biscuit Position Report