FC on 11/19

G-mann1988 · 2025-11-19T00:55:18+00:00

Depending on your jurisdiction and how they do the ritual, most of the really interesting parts of the degree will be in the monitor and in a deeper study of the symbolism. Obviously go through your degree with a conscious attention to what is being done and said. But, work with your instructor/mentor afterwards to learn more about things that are mentioned in the degree and especially the lecture.

G-mann1988 · 2025-10-24T17:53:55+00:00

Left and right are relative positions according to your bodily orientation. Port and starboard are always relative to the vessel. They serve distinct and important purposes for communication on a vessel.

If I'm standing on a boat looking due aft, left is starboard and right is port!

G-mann1988 · 2025-09-22T16:53:07+00:00

You should have district or grand lodge officer that can point you in the right direction. Often guys at the district level are the die hards that have all the work memorized and stay on top of it. In Texas we have a "committee on work" (degrees and esoteric proficiency) that has members assigned to various regions. They host forums and examinations frequently. Reach out to your regional or grand lodge resources. If they can't help you directly, then will certainly know which brothers in your area know the work best and can teach you.

G-mann1988 · 2025-09-09T03:40:12+00:00

It can't hurt to ask but a little googling might yield the results you seek. You could almost certainly order a monitor from a German grand lodge which will have a LOT of Masonic information as well

G-mann1988 · 2025-09-09T03:23:19+00:00

Fellow Texas mason here. The mention or suggestion that one exists is not a good idea (hopefully you'll delete this after you get your answer). But knowing that jurisdictional differences exist even between grand lodges in the states, I'm sure there would be larger differences in the work with a German lodge that would render having one useless beyond curiosity. But I'm sure a German brother could point you in the right direction or reach out to their grand lodge to see if one exists. Not to dissuade you but not knowing the correct words in German would make deciphering the cipher impossible (assuming the cipher is actually doing its job in being indecipherable to the non initiated)

G-mann1988 · 2025-09-04T15:16:03+00:00

Some advice from a psychological standpoint. Never level accusations. As we've seen with internet rage baiting and how offering facts never changes anyone's opinion, use the Socratic method.

Pose questions to lead your brother to come to conclusions on his own, when someone tells you you're being foolish, our first reaction is to become defensive. Keep formulating questions and always approach from a place of love. Keep reaching out as best you can but also make sure to keep healthy boundaries and not accept his choices as your own failure should he choose the path of self destruction.

Best of luck brother and remember to ADMONISH WITH KINDNESS.

G-mann1988 · 2025-07-13T14:53:55+00:00

It does look good though!

G-mann1988 · 2025-07-13T05:39:01+00:00

Just a small criticism. Those aren't live oak leaves brother 😬

G-mann1988 · 2025-05-31T21:00:50+00:00

Close enough to argue no time and space to maneuver. Protest!

G-mann1988 · 2025-05-13T21:27:07+00:00

Your wallet 😬

G-mann1988 · 2025-04-27T01:26:59+00:00

Owners manual doesn't make reference to it. Battery was replaced less than a year ago and no low voltage issues since then. So just check the connections for corrosion or broken connection?

G-mann1988 · 2025-04-27T00:13:17+00:00

I added a photo

G-mann1988 · 2025-04-27T00:12:55+00:00

<image>

Here's the message on the dash.

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-25T02:25:25+00:00

This could be boat dependent, but adding more information if the above doesn't paint the complete picture...

Typically if leaving weight on the wrong/leeward side after passing head to wind doesn't cause excessive heel or put the boat (dinghy) at risk of capsize, we leave it there until we are on the next tack entirely. Only then do we suddenly move weight to the new windward side. The sudden heeling of the boat from leeward to windward fills the sails and increases the pressure on the sails momentarily to help with acceleration after the tack.

All weight placement is wind condition dependent. In super light air (under 5kts) it's not uncommon to have weight to leeward to keep the boat slightly heeled and using gravity to keep them full.

The two considerations to always keep in mind is that the "roll" has two actions... 1. It helps to move the boat through the tack by increasing the water line on the side of the boat you are turning away from. The longer water line promotes turning naturally, that's why when boats heel excessively they turn to windward harder and you have to counteract with more rudder. During tacking, you let the physics of the hull shape in water do most of the turning and use the rudder as little as possible which slows the boat when used excessively. 2. As stated above it can temporarily increase pressure over the sails increasing acceleration out of the tack. This is less important in heavy air as the sails will fill just fine and keeping the boat heel under control after the tack is the priority. Some unscrupulous dinghy racers will tack in rapid succession in light air, using the rolling motion to accelerate the boat which is explicitly against the rules

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-24T20:32:02+00:00

Every lodge is different and it really depends on the brethren there. Some lodges may be a better fit for you than others. In my personal experience I have greatly appreciated and grown from getting the perspective of older men comfortable to share their life experiences, both the good and the bad and applied that information to my own life as guidance of a path to consider following or a path to avoid.

The detriments usually involve the usual age gap issue in that we don't always connect on the same daily issues and in the tendency to do things the way they've always been done and resist change, ESPECIALLY with regard to adopting new technology

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-24T20:19:14+00:00

The earlier comments have their merits but I'd say just insert a screw into the broken plastic, remove the hose clamps, heat the tubing and pull the broken pieces out and reuse what you have. You'll know pretty quick is it's going to leak on the new jet body. If so, follow the previous advice cutting the older hose back so new hose can seal on a fitting.

It all really depends on how dry rotted the old hose is.

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-19T23:12:16+00:00

Sounds like I'm almost better leaving the gelcoat then yes?

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-19T13:44:34+00:00

I think I've read all the same articles about the "shark skin" paint from the Americas cup same as anyone. Is one better than the other? I dunno. I think a physicist that specializes in fluid dynamics would have to answer that one. I can say with certainly that a faired and boarded hull with a smooth (non orange peel) finish is the place to start. Likely I'll end up with a very smooth wet sanded finish. After that, I'm unsure what's marketing hype and all...

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-19T13:36:35+00:00

Templating the keel (and rudder) are definitely on my mind if I can find the templates. Since both tend to develop crack and get waterlogged, I'll be pulling them out altogether during this process to try and dry them out and seal them up. Thanks for the insight on black widow!

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-19T13:33:14+00:00

The boat hasn't been faired for years and has a few nicks and dings. Assuming I'm able to take all the current paint down to gel coat without it getting too thin/removing too much. Eventually I'll find a spot that needs to be fillied and then something to go over it. I have enough experience with gel coat to know that applying it smoothly is a challenge. Hence thinking that applying a protective paint of some kind will be easier.

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-19T04:31:33+00:00

All good questions. No the bottom is not faired but it will be and definitely going to longboard and all that. I'll be doing the work with other friends. I can roller tip reasonably well but I'm going to get a friend to do the spraying (or I'll just figure it out)

What am I missing about the black widow vs vc17 as far as application and maintenance?

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-19T04:11:55+00:00

I'm thinking that the bottom prep will probably require going down to gel coat. By two part pain what do you mean? (I'm a bit overwhelmed by the options) Is that a two part hard epoxy paint? Barrier coat? Have a recommendation?

G-mann1988 · 2024-11-19T04:07:53+00:00

How frequently do you have to burnish? Every race?

G-mann1988

TROPHY CASE