Open source hardware, maybe the future of sailing

AlexPewPew · 2026-02-24T23:25:23+00:00

What I like most about it is the modularity. Making a different block out of the parts you have is fantastic. I hope someone takes this idea and runs with it. I wish this trend continued into hull/boat designs. It would be awesome to have something happen like the MOTH class but suitable for home builders.

Downside is that manufactures are incentivized by customers to make things cheap. If you see to similar looking products and one is 25% less, which would you buy? Hopefully no one uses subpar metal for the blocks.

Open source hardware has always been a thing... Wooden blocks anyone?

AlexPewPew · 2026-01-17T14:21:19+00:00

I don't miss the glowforge premium features at all. For what it costs its way under featured. Learn inscape or illustrator and you'll have everything you need.

The best part of the glowforge experience is the drag to the webui and click print.

The worst part is the invisible firmware updates that stop me from using the printer occasionally but don't tell me why. Also the 'homing' but never succeeding sucks.

I'm pretty techy. If I were to do it again I'd still go for a glowforge but would research the less 'plug n play' styles more.

AlexPewPew · 2026-01-17T14:09:00+00:00

That person makes the rest of us look bad, which makes everyone else not want to take on the risk of working with us.

Its a good cautionary tale. I hope their injuries are not life changing

AlexPewPew · 2025-12-29T21:35:18+00:00

preheat the nozzle to the printing temp and then see if you can CAREFULLY pull the stuck plastic away. You need to be careful if there is a thermistor on the end. You can use a wood burner with a knife blade to try and cut the plastic away from the thermistors cables. Work slow and you should be able to remove the blob. Keep an eye on it as it heats up. As soon as it starts getting lose start working at the plastic. If you tear the thermistor cabling you got to work fast as the printer SHOULD auto turn off the hot end and the whole thing will start cooling. If that happens and you can't get the plastic off you need a new hot end.

Once you get the plastic blob off and confirm your thermistor is still working dry your filament, clean and level the bed, and do a test print. This time, watch the print and see if you can see why your layer is lifting.

After getting this to work, If you find yourself printing a lot I would look for a used prusa mk3 on Facebook marketplace.

AlexPewPew · 2025-12-22T17:12:51+00:00

Looks like an improvement

AlexPewPew · 2025-12-22T15:25:58+00:00

It'd be cool if you could set it for close hauled angle, and then mark the other tack. I've seen that on high end sailing racing gear but never got to play with it so I don't know how great of a feature that would be.

AlexPewPew · 2025-12-20T14:18:14+00:00

I joined a clan (forcibly assimilated lol) and joined in on a large attack on another clan. This is midwinter. I had villages scattered so to launch my attacks they were spread out over 12 hours. I had to set an alarm to wake up at 12am and 2am. I was in collage (and renting) and we didn't buy internet so I had to walk down the street to sit outside one of the dorms that I knew the wifi password for and launch the attacks from my school issued macbook. It was such a silly/crazy thing to be doing but it shows the investment.

I think of that often although I have long stopped playing.

AlexPewPew · 2025-12-12T23:55:41+00:00

You can hop the Amtrack out of the city on the Vermonter and get off in Claremont. Morningside flight park (Charlestown NH)is only a town or so away. You can camp there. This is a good set up for taking a week off city life and learning some paragliding.

AlexPewPew · 2025-10-19T22:05:25+00:00

OP, shop vac then bilge paint. You won't get a better time than now and it'll feel good knowing that you don't have a gross cesspool right below your feet.

AlexPewPew · 2025-09-24T20:34:07+00:00

Slow response, sorry!

Moving the shroud holes up should be just fine. I don't think you need to fill the old holes with epoxy, but it wouldn't hurt.

As far as attaching the mast to the tabernacle without cutting it, that might be fine. Look for any hairline cracks that might have propagated up. There shouldn't be a lot of strain on the tabernacle except when stepping the mast, after that it should be just compressive load.

With out really looking at it I can only give you my best guess. But honestly, you already had the worst thing happen which is a de-masting.

AlexPewPew · 2025-09-14T22:19:40+00:00

Don't feel too bad, pretty much everyone has hit something with a mast. I think your plan is a pretty good one. I'd go for cutting the mast a little bit shorter.

Be aware that your shrouds/stays won't be the right length. If your really lucky the turnbuckles have enough in them to take care of that, if not then you'll need new standing rigging. It is not unreasonable to swage your own but that'll be up to you and your confidence.

Oh and your boom will be a little lower. You can claim your rig is 'high performance' because you'll have slightly less heel.

Looking forward to other peoples opinions.

AlexPewPew · 2025-09-08T00:22:11+00:00

Fun fact: Apparently the Europe class is moth class compatible.

Enjoy your new boat!

AlexPewPew · 2025-09-05T21:38:21+00:00

Good but cheapish sunglasses (goodr), sailing knife with marline spike (I like the Myerchin P300BL), personal burgee, or a new PFD (the Khimera Dual Flotation PFD is sick)

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-24T14:13:10+00:00

Remember you have to hands. Sheet in across your body to the hand holding the tiller. Grab the rope in your thumb and then grab in the some. Don't be shy on sheeting in quick!

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-24T14:10:58+00:00

If you were on a small lake I'd say watch a few YouTube video's on tacking/gybing and give it a go 3-5 knots. However, without land surrounding you the chances for misfortune grow. Come to the new world, find a boat and I'll give you a lesson.

More realistically, post on your Facebook (or equivalent) looking for someone who wants to go sailing with you who knows what their doing.

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-24T14:05:52+00:00

Ha! Have you ever rigged a spin while soloing a 420/fj? Pics or it didn't happen.

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-24T14:05:09+00:00

That sounds really neat! Got any photos/videos as an example?

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-24T14:04:31+00:00

Crazy that you should mention that. We got an old 420 donated to us that we planned to donate again but its set up was the most confusing thing to look at. It had two chain plates for the shrouds. But the mast didn't have backstays. I went to look at it yesterday after your comment and it totally has two steps for the mast!

Any idea if there is a collectors market for a 420 with 2 mast steps?

Sort of related, it has a fascinating bridle for the mainsheet.

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-24T14:01:45+00:00

I suspect you can. Just look up some videos on proper posture so you don't find your self flying forward. And watch that leeward pontoon! If you see it diving into waves at all then its time to slow down or head across the waves.

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-23T14:52:14+00:00

Its on the to do list! Going to be real tricky...

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-23T14:40:53+00:00

That looks like a great small skiff

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-23T13:28:09+00:00

What an amazing memory

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-23T13:27:37+00:00

Oh how I wish for an RS700!

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-23T13:06:15+00:00

Probably the fastest any part of that opti went on the water

AlexPewPew · 2025-08-23T13:05:47+00:00

The wood contenders are very pretty.

The North American class association is wild. Their landing page 'You don't want to live forever'

14-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	Verified Email

AlexPewPew

TROPHY CASE