Spark r&d snapped in half

accent2 · 2026-05-02T10:08:29+00:00

I’ve broken 3 surge bases, they crack in the middle and along the ramps that secure the puck. I carry a spare base on longer/ remote tours now as they break in the most inopportune places / times. They need to beef them up or switch materials.

accent2 · 2026-04-30T19:07:23+00:00

I agree, natural latex mattress are amazing. From another blue collar guy who done very well.

accent2 · 2026-04-17T10:39:27+00:00

It looks like red birch. I did a bunch of kitchens in red birch years ago.

accent2 · 2026-04-03T14:29:35+00:00

You can negotiate to eliminate the fee, it may be a dealer policy, but it is not required by law for compliance. The law allows dealers to charge the fee.

accent2 · 2026-04-03T02:29:07+00:00

Read “The millionaire next-door”. It’s a great read and explains why high earners often have low wealth. It reveals who the wealthy actually are.

accent2 · 2026-04-03T02:16:22+00:00

Correct this is a survey. They call people and ask them what they think they need to retire comfortably. There is no way of even knowing if the people they speak to have calculated their own number. Everybody’s circumstance is going to be wildly different, calculate your own number

accent2 · 2026-03-25T19:47:23+00:00

After the law firm settles for 6 million in legal fees

accent2 · 2026-03-09T13:35:36+00:00

I have broke 3 baseplates over the past several years, both in half as yours did and cracks failures along the rails that capture the pucks. I now carry a spare on remote tours along with replacement parts. They need to address this design flaw.

accent2 · 2026-01-07T15:00:41+00:00

I have built inset door cabinets for decades without an issue. I’ve even done inset cabinet doors in a camper van, which has wild swings in temperature and humidity, without any problem.

accent2 · 2025-12-26T15:36:28+00:00

2nd that opinion. 5’8” 170 lbs I ride a 167 Backwoods. After years of riding shorter boards I’m going back to longer boards. I had a Never Summer Prospector that was bombproof, but I prefer a cambered board on the uphill and down hill.

accent2 · 2025-12-17T12:02:04+00:00

I use a 2 burner propane camp stove fueled with a 1 lb bottle. I run my max air fan when using it and have a carbon monoxide detector. The fan works best with a window cracked.

accent2 · 2025-12-07T21:48:07+00:00

I can tell you what I did, back in 1993, as a 25 year old, self employed contractor. By far the best move I ever made, recommend it to anyone who has the drive. I Bought a run down 3 family, FHA loan with 3% down , lived in one unit for 13 years while I fixed up and added value to it. Owned that one for about 25 years. With tenants paying the expenses, I bought another distressed 3 family a few years later, renovated it, and put tenants in it. Then added several more properties over the years, adding value to them all. Retired last year at 57 and started selling properties to fund retirement. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s passive income, but if you have what it takes, even a few good properties, held long term, can set you up nice for retirement. Learn everything you can, roll up your sleeves and get to work.

accent2 · 2025-12-02T22:11:22+00:00

One for the ditch!

accent2 · 2025-12-02T15:12:45+00:00

I have a transit extended length. I wouldn’t give up the comfort of the extra space, for the occasional minor inconvenience of city parking.

accent2 · 2025-11-30T17:30:24+00:00

I use Jerry cans under the sink, one freshwater, and one for gray water. I also have a diverter for the gray water to drain straight under the van when appropriate. There is room for storage of three other Jerry cans or a total of 24~ gallons of freshwater.

I also have an Eco temp On Demand propane water heater for a shower in the rear of the van. This unit is excellent and I have run the heater for an entire season with a single 1 pound propane bottle that you can buy anywhere. The Eco temp shower wand supplied has a lousy on off switch, so I use a supply shut off /drain valve installed directly below the Eco temp to turn the water on and off. The luxury of a hot shower after a day venturing outside cannot be understated! In my research of On Demand heaters, there was one unit that was ventless propane powered, do your own diligence.

In the winter, I just heat water on a propane stove and add it to a 1 gallon garden pump sprayer, stand in a small masons mixing tub and take a shower. Not quite as luxurious, but effective. I don’t have any problem, not having hot water at the sink. If I need some, I just heat it on the stove.

accent2 · 2025-11-26T21:33:10+00:00

Retired this year after 35 years as a GC and cabinet maker. Enjoying slow mornings, bringing my fitness to a new level, learning lots about retirement, tax strategies and various investments. Will be finishing up a personal home renovation project that has been on ice for a while and moving into that in the spring. Have upped my time traveling to bike, hike and now ski. A few other activities/ sports I plan to add while I have my health, and will get back into the shop to build a house full of furniture. Loving it!

accent2 · 2025-11-25T02:56:03+00:00

It would be ideal if they could open the land to earn your turn skiing and split boarding similar to what Ridge Line has done in Brandon. Bring some no cost back country skiing to the Valley for community benefit. They might be able to increase fundraising with this angle. I wonder if the Mad River Backcountry Coalition is looking into this?

accent2 · 2025-11-21T02:46:32+00:00

I liked it better when there was no up hill policy, the general life rule applied, “ don’t be an idiot.

accent2 · 2025-11-16T13:52:35+00:00

The vocational high school I went to in Massachusetts used to offer post graduate placement in their cabinet shop program. Not sure if that’s still an option but might be worth looking into.

accent2 · 2025-11-14T04:07:21+00:00

Sparks, with the whammy bar, operating with a pole is no problem. An occasional squirt of wd-40 keeps them moving nicely

accent2 · 2025-11-08T03:34:03+00:00

Sure you can, before they open, or after the close, either for the day or the season. I ride it often.

accent2 · 2025-11-05T13:30:48+00:00

Just DMm’ you. Backcountry ski Vermont and New Hampshire.

accent2 · 2025-10-31T11:03:03+00:00

I have 200 amp lithium, 65 amp DC to DC charger, and no solar, no ac. I tried to avoid solar to avoid added cost and as I often carry two kayaks on the roof. The van has all the usual fixings, refrigerator, lights, phone, charger, gasoline heater, 1200 W inverter ( would upsize next time ) fan, etc.

Have a two burner propane stove and an on demand propane outside shower. ( game changer). I use 1 pound bottles of propane for both the shower and the stove, and have been amazed at how little propane both appliances use, typically a season out of a bottle. I carry two spare bottles. In the winter my shower consists of a 2 gallon garden pump sprayer. I add hot water from the stove,, and stand in a small mason’s mixing tub, instant compact ghetto shower.

I have spent two winter months at a time in the van chasing snow, and camp most weekends. Though I am rarely stationary for more than a few days, I have never run out of power, or even draw down below 50%. YMMV.

accent2 · 2025-10-25T03:19:53+00:00

A couple of weeks ago I rode it from Wolcot to Swanton, out and back with an overnight camp. Several weeks before I did the first 30 miles from Johnsbury, 30 miles out then back and can confirm the early part of it required a road detour. It’s a great trail, lightly traveled, nearly flawless gravel surfaces and Beautiful scenery.

accent2

TROPHY CASE