Atom's Shakedown 2016

[@atomvoyager]

Thanks everyone for your greetings and comments. James

[@kenmorgan9528]

It's so nice that you had a beautiful day to scatter your mom's ashes....very nice thing to do and I hope her spirit is at rest. My mom's ashes were scattered by small airplane in the Indian River near Titusville, Florida in 1979. Very fitting because she learned to swim in that river back in the 1930s. Much better than simply having the remains sit on a shelf or mantle. Thanks for this video James.

[@ffaubert1]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours James. As usual, a video fine enough to taste the salt in the air. You did good for your mom. Life is made of meetings and passings and we are all the better for them. They shape us. Hopefully Ian feels better now that he's back on terra firma. As always, I look forward to your next video. You have given me so many ideas for my humble little Columbia 26 that I really don't know where to start. Again, happy holidays.

[@brucekratky7993]

I can't imagine the satisfaction of sailing Atom born again after all the years you have had it. Your modifications worked, at least it seemed, as you had predicted. It is a wonderful vessel. The Pope approved cremation for the first time but said ashes had to be buried in cemeteries, places that are sacred. I can think of few places as sacred as the ocean, especially for you. Sorry for your loss as I too have suffered so. I've purchased both of your books on Kindle and am enjoying them very much. Thank you for your time regarding the Tripp. Oh, how I wish. Simple, clean, efficient is so beautiful. Atom is inspiring as are you. Interesting your crew motorcycled as did I. 450cc got me there back in the day;)

[@georgebetar923]

Merry Christmas James. I hope you have a safe and successful 2017. Thanks for all the great videos and free how-to info. You are definitely influencing cruising in a positive, environmentally responsible and thoughtful way. Regrets on your mother's passing, may she be at peace.

[@Kurlman5150]

Very cool to see you and Atom out on the water again... Thanks for sharing! Matt

[@TheRickpfarr]

Your tutorials are awesome. I have learned so much. But this shakedown voyage was what its all about, Thanks you so much! You are a true inspiration. Good Sailing and Fair Winds

[@svZia-Switch51]

Nicely done, boat performed beautifully!

[@SailBeforeSunset]

God bless, and Merry Christmas. We did the same in the Gulf of Mexico with my dad's ashes. Sad, but a nice thing to do.

[@crunch4472]

Looks like Atom is ready for another run to Banton Island.

[@RoryL83]

2:47-3:03 I'm looking forward to this the most. Well said! Never thought I'd laugh so much in a video in which someone pours out their mother's ashes. Your videos are the best sailing resources on the internet. Brilliant stuff James!

[@wilsnich02]

looks like Atom really performed well as did all your systems and upgrades plus keeping everything dry inside. It must have been a nice moment for you to get back out on the ocean in your boat.

[@naturalfizzsailingvideos]

Happy New Year Everyone...=)! Its great to see this video, so now our community knows that a documentary about James is in the making. Im going through footage and starting the first steps to creating it. I hope it turns out good and we can all enjoy it. Cheers, Ian-

[@theislandpackrat]

Great video! but I'd find a way to stop that squeak! It was driving me crazy also.

[@Krisgross1974]

How much was the dodger I have a Alberg30 also

[@atomvoyager]

A dodger like on Atom costs from $2-3,000 if done by a professional marine canvas shop. The bimini and side enclosures about the same. Sailrite has a less expensive kit for do-it-yourself. I have a tubing bender and a friend who can make them with me at a discount.

[@Krisgross1974]

Thanks for the info when I'm ready to have one made I'll get in touch I'm not that far just down in Jacksonville fl also didn't you go engineless on your other boat and did you find that difficult

[@kultbagusa]

yes, I have one too. Bought her two years ago and just can not find any time to sail her. I live in the keys and my dream is to sail my boat into hawks channel, like 5 miles out that is. I think I just go and quit my damn job before it is to late.

[@SuperBullyone]

that had to be difficult, putting your mom's ashes over the side.

[@donjvalley]

I'm thinking about cutting 1-inch off the mast bottom, adding a delrin spacer w/custom fabricated ss hinge and 4-ea 1/2"ss counter-sunk bolts into the deck, w/ss backing plate on both sides of the beam, inside the cabin. Quick dis-connectors used for electrics, too. The idea seems to work for Cruising Lealea (vid#11) on their Albin 27, so I assume it will suffice for an A30 but the whole mast raising/lowering gig is definitely more fun w/3-4 people, if available, right? All your sailing expertise + project work puts you in the same class w/Ives Jelinas and, like everyone else, I appreciate your willingness to share.

[@atomvoyager]

See my answer below and email me thru atomvoyages.com if you have more questions. James

[@brucekratky7993]

Getting one's sea legs is a concern, a mystery for me. I'd appreciate a comment from someone as experienced as you. I seem to do fine on the water as long as I sense at least some forward motion. I am convinced, when and if I do my hoped for blue water sailing, that I too will become ill. I am just wondering if being in the cabin on a bunk is a good idea. Perhaps one has no choice in the matter, but it would seem to me that being on deck and fighting through it would be a better solution and sea legs gained sooner. Can you offer some insight?

[@atomvoyager]

Most people who are going to be seasick are affected for the first 1-3 days and then recover partly or fully. Or you might only feel sick during heavy weather. Everyone reacts differently - some need some time in their bunk with eyes closed to feel better and some do better on deck watching the horizon, hand-steering, or some other task to keep the mind occupied. I think it's more common for crew to be sick or lethargic than the captain, maybe something to do with having the responsibility of running the boat makes a difference. In any case, you just need to take it step by step with longer passages and see how you do. If you find a seasick medication that works for you then you may only need it the first couple days and do well without after that. And keep in mind that even if you're sick, it isn't lethal and doesn't last forever so psych yourself up to just get on with the passage regardless. It's rare when someone is totally incapacitated for more than a few hours.

[@brucekratky7993]

atomvoyager Thank you so much for your very complete answer. I have been to sea and gotten sick before and ironically it was while stationary on a commercial fishing boat, on a hot day, with ever so gently rolling seas. Interestingly, the smell of diesel fuel burning, wafting over the transom had much to do with my condition. I wanted to die. As soon as the boat began to move again (six hours later) I was absolutely fine. I have a trophy from that fishing trip entitled, "The Golden Bucket Award." I have sailed numerous other times in much heavier seas and as long as there was linear movement I pretty much held my own. Again, thank you.

[@Anmeteor9663]

Everyone is different. I know many who are never affected but other seaman of 50years who still need to take meds for 1-3 days before symptoms do not reappear. I am one of them. Various meds available you may have to try a selection before finding a solution that suits you. Time on the water is always best though but suffer needlessly.

[@slimsalmon]

I've assumed/hoped that sailing in rough/semi-rough seas, I could rely on seasickness meds to carry through. I've not been on open ocean waters much so I don't have much experience. I do start to get motion sick on buses or watching handheld camera work. Are seasickness meds not effective past a certain degree of motion? I live inland so have mainly sailed on lakes so far, but hope to get on some more exotic waters soon.

[@atomvoyager]

I've never been seasick but what I've observed watching occasionally seasick crew over many years is that it is a temporary discomfort lasting only a couple days at most and it is not so debilitating that you cannot stand watch and perform necessary tasks. Those who ignore their seasickness as much as possible seem to get by better. Don't give it more power over your emotions than it deserves. Consider it a mild temporary annoyance like you would if you caught a cold. Take your chosen medication before you begin a passage, get your head in the right spot, and by the second or third day you probably won't need any more meds.

[@wingerj1125]

original bow sprit. love that boat.

[@seanrhone5306]

Where did you get the gambled stove at? I've been looking for one like it.

[@atomvoyager]

I used to build the stove kits from a basic camp stove manufactured in India. More info here: www.atomvoyages.com/cys/atomstove.html You can buy the stove itself and spares at the link below and find someone to help you build a gimbaled potholder using my instructions or make a simpler desig by bolting or welding some legs to a pot and cutting a hole in the center for the burner flame: stpaulmercantile.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=216

[@nicholasfernandes2217]

Sr. I have a question. Is this outboard 9 hp or 6hp?...I'm wondering to replace my 22hp from my 30 feet boat to a 6.5hp from my dinghy. What you think? Could that be a good choice?

[@atomvoyager]

My motor is a 6hp extra-long shaft. It's just right for my needs. The more experienced sailor you are the less motor you need. If unsure, you should probably use a 9.8.

[@nicholasfernandes2217]

Thank you Sr. That was a great news...My 22hp needs a revamp, so using an outboard is much better.

[@cordboyette3804]

Are you currently in Brunswick or St. Simons?

[@atomvoyager]

Our house and boatsheds are on the mainland a few miles north of Brunswick.

[@rubennavegante3491]

Very nice thanks for you videos

[@donjvalley]

Great video and your boat looks so clean, organized and professional. The Alberg 30 will fit on a trailer, as you've shown on deliveries to/from the marina. My question is about a tabernacle mast configuration for Single-Handed Mast Raising/Lowering. I noticed how this is done via "jblumhorst" and her YT video. She has 16k views and many questions but NO replies, so I wonder if you have worked this out for an A30? Also, who makes good A30 trailers? I'm retired and saving for a purchase of both boat and trailer.

[@atomvoyager]

I have been thinking about adding a hinged mast step system to my Pearson Triton as well as for the Alberg 30s I work on. It can be done solo I know because I watched my friend hoist up his mast alone on his Triton at the local marina. The other Tritons I've seen videos or photos of that did this, lowered the mast forward but I wouldn't do that. I would use a modified but similar system to the F-24 or F-27 trimarans of which I've owned both. The step will have brackets that bolt on to the mast. They extend aft of the mast equal to the aft lower shroud chain plates and bolt to deck brackets there with quick release pins or bolts. You can use a rigid bimini frame to lower the mast to and then slide it forward for storage. I'd use the anchor windlass for hoisting. You can videos of F-boats mast raising online. I buy my trailers from sail-trailers in Georgia. If you have more questions, email me thru atomvoyages.com. James

[@gnomonty3908]

merry Christmas and happy new year James love to sale with you someday

[@liasxtube]

Do you have plans for the Micro Dingy??

[@atomvoyager]

Here's a link to the Atom 6.5: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKWvqpSuq5ybb7s Here's the article with building instructions: atomvoyages.com/articles/improvement-projects/356-build-the-atom-6-5-dinghy.html Full size paper patterns for the 6.5 are available thru atomvoyages.com. My own dinghy is the 6.0 which is built by removing 6" from the center of the 6.5 patterns.

[@d3891]

trust in the Lord and you will live forever

[@rcpmac]

In some cultures “may you live forever“ is the most serious curse to be put on a person.

[@JoelWelter]

It seems like Atom doesn't have much freeboard for large seas (I'm a rookie, so don't take my comments seriously). My little coastal cruiser (Islander 28) seems a bit better, but has a fault of having too low of a cockpit/companion way entrance. In your book, you mentioned taking waves aft, into the cockpit, but never into the main cabin. Did you keep your boards in most of the time?

[@atomvoyager]

It's true Atom has low freeboard, heels easy, and sails wet. But she rarely takes more than spray into the cockpit. Only a few times in storms has she taken up to a foot of water into the cockpit footwell and never above the bridgedeck. In moderate or worse conditions I normally have the drop boards in place to keep the spray out but also in case a rogue wave dumped on us. If going on an offshore passage beyond the window of say a good 48 hour weather forecast, then you might want to have a way to secure the lower drop board in place and seal with temporary caulking for example that you could cut and remove when in port.

[@dmzflightmedic]

Love it!

[@skipperandy8081]

Hi, you have beautiful videos, I'm picking up lots of ideas from you. I'm restoring my baby, a Coronado 41, so I like many of your ideas that I am incorporating into my work. I keep her on Lake Michigan and sail her every season and do my work over the winters. I was going to ask about Eon's videos but I found your answer below as someone else already asked that question. Going to go back and watch lots of your videos again. Thank you, and I'm starting to put together my story for You Tube to post later. Thank you for the inspiration,...Skipper Andy

[@biblestudytoday]

Very nice

[@CBDav]

HaHaHa! Reminds me of my daughter saying make it stop daddy. :)

[@talderson1]

You sold atom? That must have been hard. I just finished watching your trip to Hong Kong. Looks like it was a blast. I was wondering if I could ask your opinion on Tritons. I have an opportunity to get either a 59 or 63 triton. The 59 seems in slightly better shape and has furling on both sails. I like the slightly newer 63 for no other reason than it's newer. Are there any issues that you know of between the years that makes one better than the other? Thanks for all your sharing of sailing lore.

[@atomvoyager]

No, Atom has not been sold or for sale. I'm not looking forward to that day either. I don't know exactly what year all the small changes were made during production. The changes that come to mind between early to late model east coast built Pearson Tritons include, later models had better top access cockpit hatches rather than side access and boats after hull number 382 had internal encapsulated ballast rather than keel bolts. West coast built Aeromarine Tritons had non-cored decks and fiberglass rather than wood cockpit coamings and masthead rig rather than the more troublesome fractional rig. Potential weak points to inspect on many Tritons would be the wood rudders and attachments, and sagging mast beam. EC Tritons may have rotted deck core. It's all repairable of course, but best to select a boat in the best possible condition.

[@talderson1]

Oh, good. Not sure why that makes me happy, but it does. I wasn't even really too attached to my hughes 38 and I found that hard to sell. It kept me safe through some pretty rough storms so maybe it's the human nature to love the things that keep us safe? Anyway, thanks for that information. I figure I will be replacing the core on either but I have the time so it's not to big a deal... which is what I always say before wishing I had never started a project. The mast beam and rudder; I'll look into that. Thanks so much..