I’ve been hard at work upgrading my Montgomery 15 sailboat to enable comfortable inland cruising year round. I never liked the look of the stainless (passive) mushroom vent the previous owner installed on the cabin. If the boat capsized, this hole could be a big problem. I decided to remove this vent and patch the hole. The finished repair is […]
Transforming a 15 Foot Sailboat Into a Comfortable Cruiser
Wheels
I’ve been upgrading this Bianchi cyclocross bike for well over a decade. I’ve added: A wheel hub that can generate electricity as you ride; A powerful LED Light connected to this hub; A battery-powered rear LED light; Hand stitched leather handle wraps; A leather seat; Upgraded shifters and components; A heavy duty rear rack; A Velo Orange handlebar bag (great […]
A Real Computer in Your Pocket
This HP 200LX is one of my favorite pieces of tech. It has instant on (right back where you left it) and I only charge the batteries a few times a year. It runs any CGA compatible DOS software. There is nothing today that is more reliable and useful for distraction free or off-the-grid pocket computing. Over the years, I’ve […]
Adding Backup Heating for the Winter
Our house is primarily heated by a temperamental oil furnace. I’ve gotten pretty good at keeping it running (at least I have a better record than the grumpy service tech we used to call). For example, I greatly reduced clogging by adding a canister filter after the primary filter and learned how to quickly service the main components when they […]
Improving Our Home Workspace
When I was working from home after our offices shut down, I was frustrated by my workspace in the dim basement. I wanted my wife to have a more comfortable space, and promised to help her improve her setup in our guest bedroom. We decided a larger desk was in order. We limited this project to a single Sunday so […]
Off to a Good Start
Our first week together was a non-stop adventure. As expected, I found it much easier to parent outside of the house. We maybe pushed a little too hard and were both completely exhausted at the end of each day. Day 1 I wanted to start our time together with a bang and decided to visit one of the most majestic […]
A Better Child Boat Seat
While the weather is still warm, we want to spend as much time on the water as possible. Neither of my boats are particularly toddler-friendly. Our Hobie Tandem Island is close though. It is simple to set up and launch (especially when using the kayak part alone). I can even avoid using a boat ramp by using a plug-in set […]
Sailing with the Family
Sailing is a favorite pastime of mine. Also, if you want a constant supply of projects (as I do), consider buying a boat. If you want to finish these projects, buy a small boat.
A Better Baby Gate
The humble baby gate will be part of your life for many years… much longer than most baby items. It is not an item you will want to cut corners with, especially if it protects a high traffic area. I built this example over 2 years ago and it has stood up to daily use. If I recall, this was […]
Trunk Boy
Ever since I bought my brother’s old Game Boy as a kid, I’ve loved portable gaming systems. Today, I hardly ever have time to play them, but I still love, repair, and collect these retro systems. Several years ago, my side hustle was buying and improving beat up systems. I would mod these with updated tech and sell for a […]