Hobbies
My
Dad loved sailing, and I have been enjoying the sport since the 60's. My first
sailboat was a laser one design. My wife and I spent many a beautiful day at
Webster Lake on the laser. Next I moved to a 505, this high performance
boat was a blast to sail but my wife found it too uncomfortable, so I
moved to a 18 foot Sol Catamaran. We enjoyed the cat for several years,
and even made a roof rack/launch pad to
bring it to Maine on the roof of my little Subaru .The cat satisfied my need for
speed, but was a big deal to set up and take down so when I
saw one of the first Windsurfers at a boat show, I knew it was time for a
change. I was the first person in the
Boston area to buy a windsurfer from Can Am Sailcraft, and after 6 years I was asked to trade my original
windsurfer for a brand new one for no cost. The marina displayed the
first east coast windsurfer that they sold. Several years later I moved into
the newer higher performance boards and sails, and at 58 years old, I still
enjoy getting out there when the white caps start breaking.
Winter
in New
England brings ice. I sailed a homebuilt DN iceboat
for
years, Several years ago I decided that it was time to build the ultimate Iceboat. I fabricated an
aluminum tubular frame with enclosed cockpit. The sail is my windsurfer 7.5 sq
meter rig. The iceboat features an electric heater/defroster, electric drive
motor to get the machine out into the wind, mast tilt device to lean the sail
into or away from the wind. Planed future enhancements are adjustable crown
skates that can be adjusted while moving from the cockpit, and airfoil shaped
shrouds for the rear runner assembly.
To
stay in shape, but not waste the energy, I built an exercise
machine that generates electricity with the work that you do. The machine
uses a three stage chain and toothed belt speed
increaser to properly spin an automotive alternator. A small 4.5V pack of
Nicad batteries provides the field excitation to get the alternator started, it
then excites it's own field and recharges the batteries. The load
for the workout can be an auto headlight, small color TV, car stereo receiver,
reading lights, and 4 fans. With all the loads on, you must produce about 20
amps which is 260 watts. Most people cannot produce that power for more than
a minute or so.
Photography has been a hobby of mine since my army duty in
Hokkaido Japan. I have a nice collection of my cameras that have accompanied me
all over the world. My first camcorder was an Akai 1/4 inch portable video
system. Unfortunately the heads have failed, and their is no way I can view the
videos. I had 2 Panasonic VHS cameras one with the
first image stabilizer, a servo controlled gimbal that the lens and image
detector floats in. Next I went to Hi 8, and enjoyed
my Canon A1 digital camera and Canon Eye controlled ES5000. I started my still
camera collection with a pentax spotmatic, which I have lots of lenses
and bodies for. I also have a Mamiya Press camera with
backs and lenses.
My first digital camera was the sony mavica, and I now enjoy
my sony dsc f707. It is good enough that I am not looking at new digital
cameras, and will be satisfied (for now) with the 707.
Home
Contact me: genesis1@snet.net
My
Dad loved sailing, and I have been enjoying the sport since the 60's. My first
sailboat was a laser one design. My wife and I spent many a beautiful day at
Webster Lake on the laser. Next I moved to a 505, this high performance
boat was a blast to sail but my wife found it too uncomfortable, so I
moved to a 18 foot Sol Catamaran. We enjoyed the cat for several years,
and even made a roof rack/launch pad to
bring it to Maine on the roof of my little Subaru .The cat satisfied my need for
speed, but was a big deal to set up and take down so when I
saw one of the first Windsurfers at a boat show, I knew it was time for a
change. I was the first person in the
Boston area to buy a windsurfer from Can Am Sailcraft, and after 6 years I was asked to trade my original
windsurfer for a brand new one for no cost. The marina displayed the
first east coast windsurfer that they sold. Several years later I moved into
the newer higher performance boards and sails, and at 58 years old, I still
enjoy getting out there when the white caps start breaking.
