[Rhodes22-list] Has anyone seen this terrific new book!!!

[Bill Effros]

Herb,

I can see the installation's a piece of cake.  It's the 45 minutes I haven't been able to grab.  Right now there's a lull in the action while I get things lined up elsewhere--and the rain's going to come down in sheets before I can get to the boat.  So I'll just have to content myself for now with a little sailing email.

In my dreams I have connected the auto-tiller to my laptop and I'm motoring down to the East River with not a thought in my head in the least possible time because I'm not wandering all over the place, and I've figured out the headings in advance...

Luckily I can set all of that up this winter, and I may have to.

I, too, used to work with computers for a living.  (You can't earn a living as an author unless you have a lotto winner mentality.)  I kept everything electronic off my boat until I was sure I could do everything using the tools handed down over the centuries.  Since then I have been slowly allowing electronics on board, but never to perform critical functions.

The most important instrument has been a GPS programmed to tell me how long it will take to get from where I am back to my dinner table.  This has eliminated a constant source of friction in my household, and allowed me to sail more, more at ease.

I am using a T-Mobile 750 Aircard in my laptop, which is slow as dirt, but solid as a rock, widely available wherever I go, costs $30 a month, and can be turned on and off monthly.  I use it much more than I ever thought I would.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Bill Effros


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Herb Parsons 
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list 
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:00 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Has anyone seen this terrific new book!!!


I know how that goes, I've got about a half dozen small project stuff waiting for my boat too. But (even though my boat's not a Rhodes), I think you'll find the auto tiller installation pretty easy. I assume you got something similar to my ST2000. It consisted of me doing the wiring (the longest part, about 30 minutes), drilling a hole to mount it, and two holes for the tiller bracket. All told, about 45 minutes to install. In winds over about 15 knots, we don't even try to use it if we have two sails up. But, in light winds, or if we drop the main or jib (our boat is an O'Day 25, a bit larger than my brother's Rhodes 22 and more sail area) in higher winds, it gives us the freedom to do other things on long straight runs.

Also, when we're on trips, I use a Treo 600 cell phone/PDA. It has built in internet access, and I use that to connect my laptop if I feel the need. I work with computers for a living, so I try to avoid them onboard.

>>> Bill Effros<bill at effros.com> 7/27/2004 6:21:20 AM >>>
Herb,

You're going to make me cry.  I did get an auto tiller because I saw this problem coming, but I've been so busy I haven't even had the chance to install it.  It is sitting on the boat in it's box, waiting.

I also developed a waterproof laptop computer system that I can take to and from my boat, with a power supply that works off my boat batteries, plus another back up battery system...just in case, and a cell phone always-on link to the internet--all checked out and never used.

And still the book wasn't ready by my birthday--and I haven't sailed even once this year.  (Normally I get out at least 75 times a year.)  But, you pays yer money, and you takes yer cherse.  This year I took the choice of writing the book instead of sailing the boat.

Maybe I'll tow it down to the Keys this winter to make up for lost time.  I've been talking about doing that for a long time.  Then I can write and sail at the same time when I'm not on a tight deadline.

Bill

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