Old BCC Cruise Pics

BCC Forum
1

I borrowed a film scanner and posted a few of the hundreds of slides
from my 1994-1996 cruise aboard BCC #4 here:

http://www.wefurnish.com/bcc

Maybe someone will find them interesting. I may add some of the
better ones later. This was your basic, no-frills singlehanded
cruiser. Most here would be shocked by the simplicity. I could
never afford to do it again at the level of today’s players.
Probably get laughed out of the harbor. Even my windvane was self-
built out of scrap metal.

Shadow the dinghy, at around 6’, was so small that most people
thought it was a kid paddling madly around the anchorage. One pic
shows my good friend Ray’s boat Amon-Re, the (at the time) smallest
cat to circumnavigate singlehanded.

I want to thank the group for the memories, and to thank George H. -
without his help, I never would have left the harbor.

Respectfully,

Todd Chocholaty
Dallas, Texas

2
Todd:
 
I just took a quick look at your website - wow, very cool and thank you for sharing such an adventure.
 
It has only been within the last 15 years that the 40 plus foot has become the common sized cruising boat.  Besides size, the systems have become more complex and the electronic gadgets more numerous.  The simpler the boat and the simpler the systems the less problems.  I wonder how many of the complex big boat cruisers are having such as wonderful time as you did on your BCC.  The important aspect of your cruise, no matter how simple or frugal, is you did it while most boats and sailor rot at the docks.
 
Again thanks for sharing your adventure.
 
Happy New Year,
 
Rod
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 11:59 AM
Subject: [bcc] Old BCC Cruise Pics


I borrowed a film scanner and posted a few of the hundreds of slides
from my 1994-1996 cruise aboard BCC #4 here:

www.wefurnish.com/bcc

Maybe someone will find them interesting.  I may add some of the
better ones later.  This was your basic, no-frills singlehanded
cruiser.  Most here would be shocked by the simplicity.  I could
never afford to do it again at the level of today's players.
Probably get laughed out of the harbor.  Even my windvane was self-
built out of scrap metal. 

Shadow the dinghy, at around 6', was so small that most people
thought it was a kid paddling madly around the anchorage.  One pic
shows my good friend Ray's boat Amon-Re, the (at the time) smallest
cat to circumnavigate singlehanded.

I want to thank the group for the memories, and to thank George H. -
without his help, I never would have left the harbor.

Respectfully,

Todd Chocholaty
Dallas, Texas

3
Hi Todd,
Thanks for the pictures.  I cruised Dilkara, hull #14, for eight years in the Carribbean.  We were as simple as it could get.  We had no starter motor, 13 hp Sabb hand crank, no refrigeration or icebox, gaff rig, no oil pump or fuel pump, (both were gravity feed), hand pump for fresh water, foot pump for salt water and kerosene lanterns and running lights.  Eventually we added a few electric lights including a tricolor at the masthead. Our speed log was towed and our depth sounder was mounted inside the hull so we had only three thru hulls, one for engine intake, drain for the sink and outlet for the head.  After repairing the head once too many times we switched to a bucket.  Needless to say, we never spent a single day waiting for parts or repairs.  Because Dilkara was always the most beautiful boat in the harbor we never lacked for invitations and made many, many long lasting friends simply because we met people of like minds who appreciated a beautiful boat.  I was inspired by the Pardeys "go simple, go now" philosphy and spent a fabulous eight years aboard.  Because of the gaff rig we needed only jib winches and staysail winches.  Our Fatty Knees (8') mounted on the cabin top, propane was on deck just aft of the mast with a shut off valve immediately as it came through the overhead and instead of cockpit lockers we had voluminous storage aft.  We had no forward scuttle so didn't have standing headroom in the forward cabin but never really minded.  I'm now looking at a 49 foot custom boat very similar in construction and equipment to Dilkara.  I would never want to be too dependent on all the systems that are considered necessary now.  I'm attaching a photo of Dilkara at the dock shortly before we sold her.
Ray Walton
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 8:59 AM
Subject: [bcc] Old BCC Cruise Pics


I borrowed a film scanner and posted a few of the hundreds of slides
from my 1994-1996 cruise aboard BCC #4 here:

www.wefurnish.com/bcc

Maybe someone will find them interesting.  I may add some of the
better ones later.  This was your basic, no-frills singlehanded
cruiser.  Most here would be shocked by the simplicity.  I could
never afford to do it again at the level of today's players.
Probably get laughed out of the harbor.  Even my windvane was self-
built out of scrap metal. 

Shadow the dinghy, at around 6', was so small that most people
thought it was a kid paddling madly around the anchorage.  One pic
shows my good friend Ray's boat Amon-Re, the (at the time) smallest
cat to circumnavigate singlehanded.

I want to thank the group for the memories, and to thank George H. -
without his help, I never would have left the harbor.

Respectfully,

Todd Chocholaty
Dallas, Texas






4
I am definitely looking forward to seeing those pics in the New Year, Todd - thanks for passing them along. 
 
We sailed Calypso (#6) for 3 years in the Caribbean, and then helped friends cross the Atlantic on their Sundeer 60.  We spent more time on maintenance during 2 months aboard that big boat than we did in 3 years on Calypso.  The electronics, the sails, the watermaker . . ;. you name it, Jeremy fixed it.  It certainly made harbor time less enjoyable.  And now that we are doing the decks and paint on our boat, I can tell you I am very glad we don't have a 40 footer!
 
I would guess most people on this list have a copy of (or have heard of) "Sensible Cruising, the Thoreau Approach" by Don Casey.  Great book, great ideas, great philosophy (much along Pardey lines).  If you don't have one, go get one!
 
We love our oil anchor lamp and manual windlass (but we also love the ham radio and the electric cabin lights) - our son (5) loves that we start our engine (a 10 hp Sabb) by taking apart the galley counter (to access the hand crank) but also likes his cold milk in the morning . . . compromise, compromise.  To be out there cruising - this might just have to be a resolution!
 
Cheers, and happy New Year to everyone.
 
Nica (and Jeremy, Julian, Madeleine, Sadie and Belle the beagles, and Cat)
Calypso, BCC #6
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: [bcc] Old BCC Cruise Pics

Todd:
 
I just took a quick look at your website - wow, very cool and thank you for sharing such an adventure.
 
It has only been within the last 15 years that the 40 plus foot has become the common sized cruising boat.  Besides size, the systems have become more complex and the electronic gadgets more numerous.  The simpler the boat and the simpler the systems the less problems.  I wonder how many of the complex big boat cruisers are having such as wonderful time as you did on your BCC.  The important aspect of your cruise, no matter how simple or frugal, is you did it while most boats and sailor rot at the docks.
 
Again thanks for sharing your adventure.
 
Happy New Year,
 
Rod
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 11:59 AM
Subject: [bcc] Old BCC Cruise Pics


I borrowed a film scanner and posted a few of the hundreds of slides
from my 1994-1996 cruise aboard BCC #4 here:

www.wefurnish.com/bcc

Maybe someone will find them interesting.  I may add some of the
better ones later.  This was your basic, no-frills singlehanded
cruiser.  Most here would be shocked by the simplicity.  I could
never afford to do it again at the level of today's players.
Probably get laughed out of the harbor.  Even my windvane was self-
built out of scrap metal. 

Shadow the dinghy, at around 6', was so small that most people
thought it was a kid paddling madly around the anchorage.  One pic
shows my good friend Ray's boat Amon-Re, the (at the time) smallest
cat to circumnavigate singlehanded.

I want to thank the group for the memories, and to thank George H. -
without his help, I never would have left the harbor.

Respectfully,

Todd Chocholaty
Dallas, Texas




5

Jeremy, what process are you going to use on the
decks?

We painted our hull again this year and it turned out
very fine. Used the roll and tip method with
Brightsides one-part poly.

Next we want to do the decks. They are original
gel-coat and are getting hairline cracks here and
there. I know there are various systems being used to
re-do them including some rather extreme and labor
intensive ones.

I’m wondering how you plan on doing youres?

Stan (Waxwing)

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6

We certainly enjoyed your pictures and think of you
frequently. Now we can think of your good times in
Mexico. As you know we renamed #4 after a mark of
the San Francisco YRA racing course, Anita Rock. (Our
Mother is Anita, no further comment.)
We’ve made some changes interior wise, new sails,
furlers on both headsails, hard vang, placed the
Propane tank between the boomkin and added a Cape
Horn. Added 4 gel cells and wired 12v
lighting/recepticles. New stove and trying to
convert heater to diesel. Moved dink up to the
foredeck and added Forest Green Dodger. Good Luck and
when your in SF lets go sailing.
Nate

====nathaniel berkowitz, sausalito california
tel: 415 331 3314 fax: 415 331 1854
email:nathanielsf@yahoo.com

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7

Nate,

Good to hear from you - hope all is well. The new name is good - a
very proud name. Happy to know she is still sailing and well cared
for. That old wood-fired heater was a joke - worst thing aboard.
Ever try to light a fire while slamming to windward? Once, on the
way up the coast, it got really cold, and it was impossible to light
a fire in that rotten wood stove. Everything was wet from weeks of
fog. Pounding into waves, soggy matches and charcoal bouncing all
over the cabin. Saved myself from hypothermia by cramming into the
engine box and wrapping myself around the warm diesel. It was a bad
night.

Wow - real electrical systems, good batteries, modern sails, and a
dodger. Big changes from when I first pushed her out into the bay -
no engine, nothing electrical. I wonder if she was the last
engineless BCC. There’s probably one more out there somewhere.

I often think of you guys and the boat - particularly when I run
across some old part in my junk box, or catch a whiff of a kerosene
lamp.

Haven’t been back to the west coast since I finished the 49-pac for
Ka’iulani - almost 7 years - but if the chance ever comes up, I’d
love to go for a sail.

Todd Chocholaty
Dallas, Texas

— In bcc@yahoogroups.com , Nathaniel Berkowitz <nathanielsf@y…>
wrote:

We certainly enjoyed your pictures and think of you
frequently. Now we can think of your good times in
Mexico. As you know we renamed #4 after a mark of
the San Francisco YRA racing course, Anita Rock. (Our
Mother is Anita, no further comment.)
We’ve made some changes interior wise, new sails,
furlers on both headsails, hard vang, placed the
Propane tank between the boomkin and added a Cape
Horn. Added 4 gel cells and wired 12v
lighting/recepticles. New stove and trying to
convert heater to diesel. Moved dink up to the
foredeck and added Forest Green Dodger. Good Luck and
when your in SF lets go sailing.
Nate

====> nathaniel berkowitz, sausalito california
tel: 415 331 3314 fax: 415 331 1854
email:nathanielsf@y…

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All your favorites on one personal page – Try My Yahoo!
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