Anyway, mini-Steve is already helping reality-check the section of the model that is complete, and will become more and more useful as decks and the main cockpit area are completed. He's currently perched on the afterdeck with his feet in the crew seat, jauntily watching the world drift by...
Good telcon today with GeoQuery (I'm a beta site for 4.0). I put them in touch with ComGrafix in Florida (Mac charting software), and the intent is to have them jointly develop a completely integrated charting and geographic database management system, linked to GPS data and various maritime resource lists in addition to my own people files. They are receptive to supporting a student project, so this may become a major top-level Mac application.
Off tomorrow to look at a trimaran for sale, browse Seabreeze books, and possibly visit Corsair Marine. I'm also preparing to buy a sextant and learn celestial navigation.
As an aid to physical design of the boat, I thought it might be useful to list the functions that must be supported. As I play with the models, I'll try to put them through all these paces and make sure there are no major gotchas. I did this with the bike, too, but it was relatively trivial since most physical tasks involved only the land-based use of on-bike facilities. This is different, since there will not necessarily be places to stand other than those designed into the boat. In no particular order (and not necessarily all at sea), the actions are:
- Writing, email, and other computer work - Use of navigation charts (in addition to on-screen work) - Cooking and food consumption - Sleeping under deck - Sleeping in tent mode (atop solar panels) - Laundry - Head use, pump-out, and manual cleaning - Showering and personal hygiene - Electronics maintenance - Beaching - Safely deploying kayaks while at sea or at anchor - Swim platform - Access to all stowed gear - Close personal interaction with companion - Ham radio, including any special antenna deployment - Anchoring - Sunbathing and relaxation - Heavy-weather survival - Hull access for fiberglass repair - Securing system for unattended storage or mooring - Slip and dock access - Sailing - JATO mode (emergency electric thrust) - Voluntary dismasting for clearance - Conversion to narrow-beam mode while underway - Pedaling (both crew) - Bike deployment for land use - Changing clothes - Fishing - "Feeding the fish" - Watch changes (crew to main helm; SKR to cabin) - Going forward safely - Accommodating guests - Calling for help - Stowing all lines and loose gear - Trailering - Cold weather survival - Hot weather ventilation
Doubtless there are more, but as I get lost in the details of cardboard models, it's useful to force a series of what-ifs based on the above list.
LITERATURE RECEIVED:
Electric Boat Association May/June 93 newsletter and membership info
Ray Electric Outboard motor information
Tidefinder tide/current computer literature
Polhemus 3D position sensor literature
Everfair catalog, primarily Fourwinds wind generator systems, other marine electronics
MetaFormal Systems literature on MacNavigator, very thorough HyperCard nav softare for Mac
Moonlight Products -- more night vision scopes
Celestaire -- detailed catalog of sextants and celestial navigation tools... including Astra IIIB for $395
Video: Corsair F-27 trimaran, one hour
System Three epoxy starter kit with accompanying how-to literature