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23' mini-trawler
by Schucker

Janice aboard Seaweed,
living the good life afloat...

Trawler cruising on $14 per day is possible.
I'm doing it and you can too.

Janice Marois, nautical journalist.
Accredited member of Boat Writers International.

Here, I share my views on living aboard a small boat with very limited resources. Hopefully my successes will help others achieve the life. And yes, I'll share the things I did wrong too -- though not everything 'cause a girl's got to have her secrets!

        

Last month your purchases via my Amazon links netted me
$12.54. Using costs you nothing and is appreciated!!!
Date: 1 October 2018. Pilothouse Window Opener Sought.

© janice142

Aboard Seaweed I have a problem. The pilothouse has a wonderful opening window in the center. It is fabulous because it facilitates good cross-ventilation. The problem is that I am petite. I cannot reach the knobs to open and close the window. Can you help?!?
 

Here is what I have:
There are notches on the aluminum brackets that
the knobs are attached to. When the knobs are tightened
 on those notches, they lock the window in place.


To reach the knob on the port side is nearly impossible for me. I can climb up over the helm however that is becoming more difficult. The knobs also tighten the window securely closed in the event of a storm. They are adjustable too, so I can open the window a little or a lot.
 

Unfortunately I cannot reach the knob on the port side easily. This has bothered me since I bought Seaweed in 2008. When I first owned the boat I would climb to reach the knob. Lately however I find that climbing is something I avoid for the most part.
 

Please note that I am not getting
any younger. It is imperative
that I come up with a solution
or give up using the window.


Fortunately I did spot a possible answer to my problem:

I saw this cool gizmo ↑ that opens and closes the window on the yacht Irish Charmer. I want one! This photo was one I saved to my computer so long ago I don't remember where it came from. Argh.
 

The first problem is that finances are tight. I doubt if I could afford something like this unless I can find it used. Used is better anyway, as I rather prefer items like me: with a bit of wear on 'em.


The other issue I have is that I have no idea what to call that bar gizmo thingy. So I turn to you, my readers. Do you know what it is? It does look like a genius could make one. I'm guessing that the base is stainless or possibly brass bar stock, with a tube that slides and a knob that tightens down onto the bar stock. Maybe.


This thing is cool. I want one for my Seaweed. Any assistance/clues or advice would be welcome. If you prefer to answer via email, mine is janice@janice142.com


Thanks for any assistance you may be able to provide! And thank you for reading.

 
Comments welcome and encouraged on the Pilothouse Window Opener Sought page.

Categories: Boats, Gear, Vignettes,

 

Announcement: Folks who want to be notified when I post are welcome to become subscribers. I email readers every time a new article goes up. That's usually once or twice per week. If you'd like to be included via BCC* simply drop me a line to janice@janice142.com and I'll add you. It's free.

*BCC - Blind Carbon Copy. Basically no one but me will have your email address and the list of subscribers is not available.

Now this is not fancy. Basically I copy off the top three items in my Archive file. That way you can catch up if life gets in the way of your reading fun.

Secret: If you want to know what's what, start in the Archive. It offers you the title, first paragraph and topics (Categories) covered in each article published on my website.

Something a new reader might not realize: Almost every picture on this website can be clicked. The photo will get larger when clicked. Do that a second time and the picture should be full size. Enjoy...

My Cruising Kitty earns money each time you buy on Amazon through my links. It costs you nothing and helps supplement my cruising funds.

Thanks for your support, and heck, just for being here. I appreciate that more than you can imagine.

  

Pet of the Week: Murphy
moving aboard M/V AndyMac

Submit your pet's photo.
Please email pictures of your crew!

More canine, feline and feathered crew members can be found on the The First Mate Gallery page.

Archive

The Archive holds a chronological list of every item published on my website. It includes a brief synopsis (not just the title) along with the topics covered in each article.

Click on the title and voila: you're there. Enjoy!



Skipper, First Mate extraordinaire


Of course every boat needs a Deck Swabbie. Mine, born in 2008, is a papillon mix. She weighs in at five pounds.

Coming soon ...

 

Topics of Interest:
You can achieve a simple satisfying life



Oh, a wondrous bird is the pelican!
His bill holds more than his belican.
He can take in his beak enough food for a week.
But I'm darned if I know how the helican.
(Poem by Dixon Lanier Merritt, 1879-1972.)

Aphorisms

For years I've been collecting short pithy statements otherwise known as aphorisms. If you're like me and enjoy the weird, go ahead and CLICK!

These are previously posted at the bottom of each article -- for new, you'll have to come visit again.



Seaweed is in St. Pete right now.
 

The above chart (#411) can be a wish book of sorts as you look over your domain and wonder where to go next. And yes, I do have the originals (sans red arrow) as jpeg's for download should you desire your own for closer perusal. Enjoy!

The Writer's Block

It's my belief that other folks who boat are some of the most interesting in the world. Inside every boater is a story. Let yours out! I'd love to post short stories, vignettes, or even longer articles that focus on some aspect of our life on or near the water. Suggested topics include:

1. I Remember When...
2. My First Boat
3. Who inspired you to be a boater?
4. Fishing Trips or Tricks
5. Or another subject of your choosing

For the novice, here's how to write: Simply pretend you're sending a letter to a friend. Tell about an event or a memory from years ago that you still recall.

Life has changed so much on the water since I was born aboard. Personally I'd love to hear your memories of life when you were younger. Boats were smaller, narrower, and much slower. Kids were kids and our families often shaped the adult we have become. Here are my two aboard the tow boat my dad ran for a time:
 


Your pictures would be wonderful too. I posted one of Boot Key Harbor taken in 2001 that has gotten quite a few downloads and really, that's not so terribly long ago... Do you have any photos to share? Email me.
 

Do you want to help out?
 

Often an article for the website will be completely written yet lack photographs. I like pictures and am looking for some for up-coming pieces:

  • Pets afloat (include pet and boat name please)

  • Any picture of boats underway or at anchor

  • Photos of people enjoying life in or on the water

Size: a minimum of 1000 pixels across please. If that doesn't make sense think bigger versus resized for emailing. I prefer the full-size version. Also, the name you'd like me to use when I add the copyright stuff to your picture. And thanks bunches!

My email address is janice@janice142.com


23' Schucker mini-trawler, circa 1983.

Thanks for visiting. If you happen to see my boat along the
waterways, give a call on Channel 16. I'm always listening.


click picture to enlarge

My home is not fancy by any means, however you cannot imagine how wonderful it is to come back to her after an expedition on shore.

If I can live this life, why not you too?


Skipper, First Mate
extraordinaire

Aphorism Alert: Begin doing what you want to now. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand, and melting like a snowflake. Marie Beyon Ray.

Contributions to my Cruising Kitty
via
are always appreciated.

Every gift helps.

The Cruising Kitty is what boaters refer to as spending money. There's never enough aboard Seaweed!

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