Been following you and Seeker since she was just a bunch of steel sheets in your yard. I'm amazed by everything you've accomplished and how far you've come. I was compelled to write this comment because this video was truly inspirational, all of them are in many ways, but this one is a special one for me. Thanks for taking us with you, Doug
I think when people go offshore for the first time that they can certainly get the feeling you described. Being able to see the open expanse stretch out around you in every direction, the way the clouds hang so high above you in a way you never experience on land, surrounded by horizon, seeing isolated rain off in the distance, I recall feeling a sense of awe from it the first time I experienced it so many years ago.
Saint Augustine native and long time subscriber, welcome to my backyard Doug. Are you planning on sailing by the fort? Waters there have such a historical feel to it and would love to see Seeker take a photo op where sailing vessels have journeyed for 500 yrs.
Hi Doug, good to see you and all your hard work out on the water at last. Paul and I visited you back in 2018 during our R66 road trip as I had followed your build of S V Seekers for years before that. Glad to see you enjoying your fruits of the your labour. Cheers Ian New Zealand
This brought back wonderful memories of serving on a Frigate in the ‘60s. One thing you learn very quickly during heavy seas, and that is waiting for the ship’s movement when going up a deck or lower one. Get it wrong and the ship fights you big time, BUT get it right and it’s like a roller coaster🫡😅 I loved every second I served even during the days when seas where so high the upper decks where OOB as too dangerous. Never sea sick thank goodness. Found out the first time ashore, what the old saying of ‘Sailors gait’ meant, after first week on patrol.
I remember a comment awhile ago "yeah just wait till you get it in open water that thing won't survive" or some S... well... seems to be doin purdy good to me. pretty skookum to see ya all putting miles behind you under sail.
Doug first time commenter i’ve been watching your videos since the very beginning and I hear you talk about being on the water and listening to the sounds of the boat and the quiet of your mind. Reminds me of when I was a kid and I used to go sailing with my grandpa and we would sell fromCalifornia to Ensenada Mexico at night and once you’ve been out on the water long enough, you make peace with your thoughts and just be part of the boat. It’s been too long. I need to get a boat.
Amazing accomplishment, building that boat. Night vision goggles would be cool in those situations where you want the peace of mind of knowing whats around at night.
Hey Doug, you know, you describe sailing in a way that reminds me of how a friend once described playing the trombone to me. He said it was like an extension of the body, like he could feel and experience the sound and the air in the instrument like a finger that he could move and tense and feel with.
A full ocean journey! You talked about listening to the boat and all it's sounds. Every vehicle(/machine) talks to you if you know how to listen. From a very young age I found that I listened to my old junker cars as a teen, I knew their normal sounds and when any new vibration was felt through to the seat and/or was audible through my ears the song had changed and I needed to find out why. Usually it meant an imminent drive train failure of some kind. Fast forward a few decades, I was helping design on a huge machine of about 30tons, with a number of electric motors. At any particular RPM the machine resonated in new and interesting ways. After a while, I could tell the speeds of any motor by audible sounds(resonant harmonic vibrations), without looking at the instruments. SV Seeker's sounds with particular waves would be very interesting to learn. This might sound silly at first, but if you bought a cheap stethoscope off amazon and put that against the hull while sailing you could a whole new of have SV Seeker song, along with audible ocean sounds resonating on the hull. I'm guessing that steel would resonate quite well. The stethoscope can also help you find any odd motor or misc other sounds you wonder about, just be careful if you are anyplace that might make a loud sounds that could hurt your hearing.
Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall You've seen it all, you've seen it all A Pirate Looks at Forty Jimmy Buffett Great video 👍
That is supremely cool. I felt like I was sailing along with you guys. Really hope you continue to do more like this for us oceanically challenged peeps out here stuck on terra firma . 'May the sea take you away' to new adventures and peaceful vistas of course P.S. maybe a few hours of live stream from the deck 3 times a week. especially during full moons. the midnight cruise series. I am still waiting for you to teach the classes on using a sextant, using rope to gauge speed, knotcraft, sailing basics, catch to cooking tips. all of the cool basic fisherman knowledge you are carrying around in that captain's noggin of yours. thank you for letting us tag along. Pirates Lives Matt-ARRRRRRR
There's a difference between subjective and objective assessments of weather. If what you consider a "storm" varies depending on the size of your boat, you cannot usefully make sense of information and experience from others. To get around this, sailors and marine weather info sources for the last few centuries have used a standard naming system based on the Beaufort scale. When the maximum true wind speed is in the mid to high thirties, and the average is around 30 knots, this is classed as force 7 (high wind). Force 8 and 9 are gales, force 10 and 11 are storms. (Tagged as "strong" for 9, and "violent" for 11) A useful approximation to convert mean TWS to Force is divide by 5 and add 1. Force 6 is sometimes called a "yachtsman's gale" as a semi-ironic nod to subjective assessments.
@@SVSeeker Lots of sailors get this wrong too. Because today's sailors are yesterdays non sailors... In the '98 Sydney Hobart, competitors blamed the forecasters for luring them out into survival conditions, saying "They said it would be storm force. We thought "That's OK, we're good to go if that's as bad as it gets, because they're not saying anything about gales" ! ! !
Your ship looks quite capable at sea. Now you are in the Atlantic, you should aim for Bermuda. That was my first offshore passage. Congratulations on making it all work.
One thing I've learned, if you say it do it , its that first thought that works, 99%of the time, never hesitate! when you do, its allways hits the deck. Code Red Out!
Have you ever looked into a gear vendor overdrive unit instead of a transfer case? They’re designed to be used full time unlike a transfer case. I’m not sure if it’s offered as a reduction or could be mounted in backwards.
@@SVSeeker Nice! Maybe I’ll get lucky! Safe travels! I’ve been watching for a long time! It’s so awesome to see y’all( you and Seeker) out in the ocean sailing!🤘🏼
I live on the Space Coast. 3 nights ago around 2200, there was a lightning storm offshore like I've never seen. Almost continuous lightning for over an hour. Sure hope y'all weren't out in that.
Thank you for sharing your journey, Doug! Just curious about your tender on deck. Do you periodically start the motor or can you, or do you do even need to? Don't know about a water hose and "earmuffs" to be able to do that. It was in most of the shots in this video so it peaked my curiosity if that tender needs any kind of routine maintenance to ensure it is ready if needed.
Spoken like a true landlubber. The dangerous nuisance items are not the sails, but all the protruding gubbins the sheets keep wrapping around. If that had been an actual storm (which means up to twice the windspeed and four times the wind pressure) things would immediately have gotten extremely ugly and unsafe.
@gottenhimfella221 I love land, I cannot lie but I've done my time Ocean sailing, owned my own 42 ft racer and currently own 2 flying dutchman. I maintain, those sails and all that rigging will be a huge problem for small crew if weather turns as it does.
That's not the way it works. You have to get the offshore experience before you can upgrade. And you don't need a license to sail a boat. You only need the desire.
Would you be allowed to have red flood lights on the deck? To help the eyes to see in the dark when looking away from the sail. Really poetic and pleasant monologues there. Thank you!
No you really should not have red on deck. But consider this. It's overcast, pouring rain, no moon, and about a quarter mile of visibility for lights, and you have radar and AIS. What are you saving your night vision for? If there is another boat out there I hope they turn their deck light on too.
@@SVSeeker touché. I haven't sailed, but as an armchair observant I would like all senses I can have if something goes wrong. But maybe you have those things called "flashlights". ;)
Seasick for 3 days ? Ouch. Fight off the urge to puke at all costs - ending up with dry heaves is the worst. Do whatever makes you feel better - go below, lay down, sleep if you can. Or stay on your feet and keep busy. There are no absolutes. I've had good luck with ginger capsules, have used the 'scope patches on long trips. Big swells don't bother me, 4-5' closely spaced stomach-flippers do.
Hi 👋 I was watching your video, and noticed your cannon on deck. How about printing a cover for it? Doesn't it collect rainwater in the barrel? All the best from Greenland 🇬🇱
There is a down haul on the forward sail. I need to strengthen that and I also want to redo the parrels on the forward sail too. Those are the lines the hold it to the mast. I don't think I want them much tighter as I do not want the battens slapping the mast when the boat rolls, and right now they are not doing that at all.
The way that sea state is/was the water depth wasn’t that deep to so to speak with the water boiling like that. Coming at you at all directions. You’re not plowing into it or riding a following sea. Seeker will be a good sailer, pick your weather, make sure all the hatches are closed if you get into some bad swells with green running down the deck. You are right once you know your ship and its creaks and groans the oh shit what was that goes away. Shouldn’t you be heading south in to the Bahamas for the winter then head north up the coast in the summer 😂
LOL Thank you. It started out that it was never going to make it out of my front yard. The losers that remain are getting the varsity jackets this year. They are now Varsity Losers. : )
@@SVSeeker yeah I figured so my experience with the night vision I watching the ones that navy warships have… and thay are probably the most expensive every
Been following you and Seeker since she was just a bunch of steel sheets in your yard. I'm amazed by everything you've accomplished and how far you've come. I was compelled to write this comment because this video was truly inspirational, all of them are in many ways, but this one is a special one for me. Thanks for taking us with you, Doug
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It has done nothing but changed my life for the better.
I think when people go offshore for the first time that they can certainly get the feeling you described. Being able to see the open expanse stretch out around you in every direction, the way the clouds hang so high above you in a way you never experience on land, surrounded by horizon, seeing isolated rain off in the distance, I recall feeling a sense of awe from it the first time I experienced it so many years ago.
It's not my first time and I do hope it never gets old. : )
There is nothing like staring into the sea as the sun rises. The shades of blue are just mesmerizing as they chase away the shadows of the night.
10 years of waiting for this video. Nice!! It is great to see this accomplishment.
So very happy for you, Doug and Seeker, living your dream!
SV SOUGHT, And FOUND !! Congratulations Doug.
Thanks
You never realize how small you are until your in the open sea... good job Doug in explaining sailing and anxiety, fear, joy and piece of mind
Doug - Really good to see you sailing, It is part of the human psyche "did I weld the keel properly" - break a leg!
Good to see your having fun. Thanks for sharing....
Saint Augustine native and long time subscriber, welcome to my backyard Doug.
Are you planning on sailing by the fort? Waters there have such a historical feel to it and would love to see Seeker take a photo op where sailing vessels have journeyed for 500 yrs.
Hi Doug, good to see you and all your hard work out on the water at last. Paul and I visited you back in 2018 during our R66 road trip as I had followed your build of S V Seekers for years before that. Glad to see you enjoying your fruits of the your labour. Cheers Ian New Zealand
Thank you!
What a great video, fantastic commentary. Well done Seeker!
Thank you
i am glad all went well and your safe on anchor. take care and have a wonderful weekend
Thanks
This brought back wonderful memories of serving on a Frigate in the ‘60s.
One thing you learn very quickly during heavy seas, and that is waiting for the ship’s movement when going up a deck or lower one. Get it wrong and the ship fights you big time, BUT get it right and it’s like a roller coaster🫡😅
I loved every second I served even during the days when seas where so high the upper decks where OOB as too dangerous.
Never sea sick thank goodness.
Found out the first time ashore, what the old saying of ‘Sailors gait’ meant, after first week on patrol.
Thank you my friend
Always welcome
Outstanding video and love to see you all out in the ocean enjoying the fruit of your labor!
Thank you. I love being there.
Steering with your feet, been there and done that. So many happy memories.❤
I remember a comment awhile ago "yeah just wait till you get it in open water that thing won't survive" or some S... well... seems to be doin purdy good to me. pretty skookum to see ya all putting miles behind you under sail.
Yeah, those losers said it would never leave my front yard too. For those still around it's time to promote them to Varsity Losers. : )
Doug first time commenter i’ve been watching your videos since the very beginning and I hear you talk about being on the water and listening to the sounds of the boat and the quiet of your mind. Reminds me of when I was a kid and I used to go sailing with my grandpa and we would sell fromCalifornia to Ensenada Mexico at night and once you’ve been out on the water long enough, you make peace with your thoughts and just be part of the boat. It’s been too long. I need to get a boat.
Ah yes, sailing! Not building, not fixing, not planning, just sailing. Im sure the boat is more at home going there than being there.
Absolutely fantastic video, memories you will have forever, thankyou for taking us with you mate ❤
Wow, it’s so nice to see the boat in Saint Augustine
Amazing accomplishment, building that boat. Night vision goggles would be cool in those situations where you want the peace of mind of knowing whats around at night.
FLIR thermal imaging cameras are now affordable, input on the main display looks amazing.
Yes, but that is expensive stuff. The radar I think actually does a better job.
Awesome attention to detail!!
Thanks
Hey Doug, you know, you describe sailing in a way that reminds me of how a friend once described playing the trombone to me. He said it was like an extension of the body, like he could feel and experience the sound and the air in the instrument like a finger that he could move and tense and feel with.
We all have to find our thing. And when we do, it's special.
A full ocean journey!
You talked about listening to the boat and all it's sounds. Every vehicle(/machine) talks to you if you know how to listen. From a very young age I found that I listened to my old junker cars as a teen, I knew their normal sounds and when any new vibration was felt through to the seat and/or was audible through my ears the song had changed and I needed to find out why. Usually it meant an imminent drive train failure of some kind.
Fast forward a few decades, I was helping design on a huge machine of about 30tons, with a number of electric motors. At any particular RPM the machine resonated in new and interesting ways. After a while, I could tell the speeds of any motor by audible sounds(resonant harmonic vibrations), without looking at the instruments.
SV Seeker's sounds with particular waves would be very interesting to learn. This might sound silly at first, but if you bought a cheap stethoscope off amazon and put that against the hull while sailing you could a whole new of have SV Seeker song, along with audible ocean sounds resonating on the hull. I'm guessing that steel would resonate quite well.
The stethoscope can also help you find any odd motor or misc other sounds you wonder about, just be careful if you are anyplace that might make a loud sounds that could hurt your hearing.
a underwater mic would be cool so we could hear the sea life
I know what you mean. My first car was a trunk about 6 years older than me. I just turned up the radio because it was telling me all shorts of things.
Wow, it’s so nice to see the boat in Saint Augustine I hope you went downtown and enjoyed yourself at all the nice restaurants and bars
Not yet. Been busy installing the new torque converter eliminator. But we will....
Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You've seen it all, you've seen it all
A Pirate Looks at Forty Jimmy Buffett
Great video
👍
Sail on Captain Doug
Love it 🤩
Nice work Doug!! Great video!!
Thanks 👍
Hope you are able to check out the town of St Augustine and the Fountain of Youth 😊
yay Gulf Stream time- it’s a force & full of tasty fish - why not be trolling?
a nice shiny mylar lure for mahi or occasional wahoo
Rig one of those flying fish with the wings open, then troll the same as a bird.
Welcome to the bug of open water, or Blue water traveling, especially when sailing. It humbles you! And it never really leaves you
Well said!
There is nothing like dry land to cure sea sickness immediately!
Cool video! Keep em coming!
Hello from Siesta Key Florida
You will like St Augustine.
That is supremely cool. I felt like I was sailing along with you guys.
Really hope you continue to do more like this for us oceanically challenged peeps out here stuck on terra firma .
'May the sea take you away' to new adventures and peaceful vistas of course
P.S. maybe a few hours of live stream from the deck 3 times a week. especially during full moons. the midnight cruise series.
I am still waiting for you to teach the classes on using a sextant, using rope to gauge speed, knotcraft, sailing basics, catch to cooking tips.
all of the cool basic fisherman knowledge you are carrying around in that captain's noggin of yours.
thank you for letting us tag along.
Pirates Lives Matt-ARRRRRRR
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
over the ocean blue!
There's a difference between subjective and objective assessments of weather. If what you consider a "storm" varies depending on the size of your boat, you cannot usefully make sense of information and experience from others.
To get around this, sailors and marine weather info sources for the last few centuries have used a standard naming system based on the Beaufort scale. When the maximum true wind speed is in the mid to high thirties, and the average is around 30 knots, this is classed as force 7 (high wind). Force 8 and 9 are gales, force 10 and 11 are storms. (Tagged as "strong" for 9, and "violent" for 11)
A useful approximation to convert mean TWS to Force is divide by 5 and add 1.
Force 6 is sometimes called a "yachtsman's gale" as a semi-ironic nod to subjective assessments.
True that. And the vast majority of my audience are not sailors. : )
@@SVSeeker Lots of sailors get this wrong too. Because today's sailors are yesterdays non sailors... In the '98 Sydney Hobart, competitors blamed the forecasters for luring them out into survival conditions, saying "They said it would be storm force. We thought "That's OK, we're good to go if that's as bad as it gets, because they're not saying anything about gales" ! ! !
Your ship looks quite capable at sea. Now you are in the Atlantic, you should aim for Bermuda. That was my first offshore passage. Congratulations on making it all work.
a few of my ancestors used bermuda as a base for their ocean business about 300 plus years ago. always wanted to check it out
Thank you. And that my be are course. We shall see.
One thing I've learned, if you say it do it , its that first thought that works, 99%of the time, never hesitate! when you do, its allways hits the deck. Code Red Out!
My experience has been different. I like to slow the problem if possible, access the options, and then act. : )
yus! finally sailing !
I loved watching this sail! Just was glad I wasn't in the boat !🤢
Good job sailor
And there you are Dug out in the sea in a home made boat amazing
I have to pinch myself. : )
I wish we could see the waves better. Great episode.
You have to be in them to appreciate them. : )
This must have been last week because I live just south of St. Augustine and all it did last week was rain all day and all night!!
Yup. We came in on the tail end of that. And my water tanks are full. : )
Have you ever looked into a gear vendor overdrive unit instead of a transfer case? They’re designed to be used full time unlike a transfer case. I’m not sure if it’s offered as a reduction or could be mounted in backwards.
Yes and we did not see a good fit. And there are plenty of folks besides me that run a T-case full time.
I’d love to snag a pic of SV Seeker! I don’t live far, how long will y’all be in the area?
We'll be here for a least a couple of weeks.
@@SVSeeker Nice! Maybe I’ll get lucky! Safe travels! I’ve been watching for a long time! It’s so awesome to see y’all( you and Seeker) out in the ocean sailing!🤘🏼
I live on the Space Coast. 3 nights ago around 2200, there was a lightning storm offshore like I've never seen. Almost continuous lightning for over an hour. Sure hope y'all weren't out in that.
Missed that.
Any plans heading up to Jacksonville/St.Johns river?
Not at this time. But should a hurricane come this way...
Thank you for sharing your journey, Doug! Just curious about your tender on deck. Do you periodically start the motor or can you, or do you do even need to? Don't know about a water hose and "earmuffs" to be able to do that. It was in most of the shots in this video so it peaked my curiosity if that tender needs any kind of routine maintenance to ensure it is ready if needed.
Not often. We started it up a few months ago and it started and ran like a champ so we then drained it dry for storage again.
Well done on your offshore shake up 🎉. Those sails are a dangerous nuisance imo. Feelnunsafe watching them in offshore winds.
Spoken like a true landlubber. The dangerous nuisance items are not the sails, but all the protruding gubbins the sheets keep wrapping around. If that had been an actual storm (which means up to twice the windspeed and four times the wind pressure) things would immediately have gotten extremely ugly and unsafe.
@gottenhimfella221 I love land, I cannot lie but I've done my time Ocean sailing, owned my own 42 ft racer and currently own 2 flying dutchman. I maintain, those sails and all that rigging will be a huge problem for small crew if weather turns as it does.
Sorry. Love those sails and love them pulling Seeker along. Don't fear what you do not yet know. Life is too short for that.
Captain Doug, have you got your upgraded Captain's License, to go out over 100 miles from shore yet?
That's not the way it works. You have to get the offshore experience before you can upgrade. And you don't need a license to sail a boat. You only need the desire.
@@SVSeeker OK let us know, I have been waiting 4 months since you got your Captain's License to here the rest of the story!
Would you be allowed to have red flood lights on the deck? To help the eyes to see in the dark when looking away from the sail.
Really poetic and pleasant monologues there. Thank you!
No you really should not have red on deck. But consider this. It's overcast, pouring rain, no moon, and about a quarter mile of visibility for lights, and you have radar and AIS. What are you saving your night vision for? If there is another boat out there I hope they turn their deck light on too.
@@SVSeeker touché. I haven't sailed, but as an armchair observant I would like all senses I can have if something goes wrong. But maybe you have those things called "flashlights". ;)
Seasick for 3 days ? Ouch. Fight off the urge to puke at all costs - ending up with dry heaves is the worst. Do whatever makes you feel better - go below, lay down, sleep if you can. Or stay on your feet and keep busy. There are no absolutes. I've had good luck with ginger capsules, have used the 'scope patches on long trips. Big swells don't bother me, 4-5' closely spaced stomach-flippers do.
I was sick for 21 days to Antigua. You can get over it. I always recommend a trip to an ENT first.
LEFT and RIGHT hand sides of the boat!?!?!?! That's what landlubbers say!!! :-) I never noticed, do you have radar, Doug?
And depending on the audience those are the right words to use. : ) And yes we have an awesome radar.
@@SVSeeker Good point. I keep forgetting that most people live on land.
wait why does your autopilot need gps? Why doesn't it work from the magnetic or gyro compass?
I know right! And the dam thing acts like it's working. ...but it is not! Good times. : )
You looked great out there even with sails flapping. Do you have any plans you’re ready to share?
Yes. I going to finish installing the torque converter elementor tomorrow.
Hey Doug, Can Highly Recommend a book called Empire of ice and stone, i think you will enjoy it.
know how you feel,took my com pac 16 out the other day
Hi 👋 I was watching your video, and noticed your cannon on deck. How about printing a cover for it? Doesn't it collect rainwater in the barrel?
All the best from Greenland 🇬🇱
Actually we are planning on printing a dragon to cover it. : )
Is there a way to tie the batons down on your sail like you would reef a Bermuda sail on a regular monohaul? That way, it would flatten out some.
There is a down haul on the forward sail. I need to strengthen that and I also want to redo the parrels on the forward sail too. Those are the lines the hold it to the mast. I don't think I want them much tighter as I do not want the battens slapping the mast when the boat rolls, and right now they are not doing that at all.
now we know why you put the lead in
Yup. : )
Just a question!! Who is Carol to anybody or just a shipmate?
Carol is an angel sent to rescue sailors for boredom at sea.
Oh damn, I was just in St. Augustine! Are you still there?
Yup
The way that sea state is/was the water depth wasn’t that deep to so to speak with the water boiling like that. Coming at you at all directions. You’re not plowing into it or riding a following sea. Seeker will be a good sailer, pick your weather, make sure all the hatches are closed if you get into some bad swells with green running down the deck. You are right once you know your ship and its creaks and groans the oh shit what was that goes away. Shouldn’t you be heading south in to the Bahamas for the winter then head north up the coast in the summer 😂
We'll go somewhere. Today we finished installing the new torque converter eliminator. Life is good.
@@SVSeeker That will make a difference for shock load. Might even see a little reduction in driveline vibraton.
"back right hand" should be "starboard quarter" in sea-speak.
Not when you consider my audience. Communicate first. : )
How efficient are the sails vs traditional sails?
They are real efficient down wind. Good on a reach too.
That is it. And they look really cool. : )
When are you coming south to the Bahamas ?
Maybe
Day in the life
OHHH MY GOD, the boat is going to fall apart in that kind of weather! Doug do yourself a favor and sell the boat for scrap and buy a couch. Lol
LOL Thank you. It started out that it was never going to make it out of my front yard. The losers that remain are getting the varsity jackets this year. They are now Varsity Losers. : )
Can you get 7 knots . With 20 wind
Yes. And 9 knots with 40 mph of wind on a reefed foresail and mizzen.
what happened to Betsy?
Nothing. She's doing great.
2:02 I’m not sure if it would be effective but a night vision scope would mebe nice to have in hand during a night watch
They might be nice for close quarters but dam those things are pricy.
@@SVSeeker yeah I figured so my experience with the night vision I watching the ones that navy warships have… and thay are probably the most expensive every
and big infa red spotlight and a regular camera could work. specially for reefs and docking having a camera on the front mast will be neat.
@@cpt.mirones5109 I was also thinking that too!!
an underwater mic and camera to catch the sea life would be cool