Dr. Neil Persadsingh sailing "Viva" in beautiful Jamaica. Here you can see his bimini and extending boarding ladder hinged up on the transom. Thanks Neil, for the photos.

"Viva" is also equipped with roller furling/reefing as well as lazy-jacks for easy handling of the mainsail and the jib.

It's always great to hear from Dr. Neil...ala Capt. Tuna..Chicken of the Sea. Sail on, my friend. -Dave

Get that silly "I'm happy because I'm sailing and you have snow" grin off your face.

Always wear something like this when solo.

Incredibly smooth out on the Pacific.

Sometimes I drag the single-burner out in the cockpit for some serious eating.

John from Lompoc, California, who owns a Columbia 23T, inquired about Mini's fireplace.  I've been reluctant to show pictures or write about this marvelous piece of equipment because it is a do-it-yourself, very easily made, fireplace which probably violates every city, county and maritime law ever written. :-) Be sure to check your local laws.

Please, please, please don't burn your boat down to the waterline and sue me.  On the "Radical Sabbatical" DVD you will see me eating an apple by the blazing fireplace while a gale is blowing outside crossing the Pacific.  I've used this set up for 20 years and it works.  It is very inexpensive to build.  It is made from an old stainless steel soda fire extinguisher which you can purchase at most thrift stores. 

There is a long carriage bolt which is fitted through a 1/4 " hole in the center of the bottom of the fireplace.  The bolt goes straight down through the center of four 2"x2" bricks which are held together by a masonite and trim framed tray.  A wing nut on the bolt extending under the conter top holds the fireplace firmly in place.  The great thing about this set up is that you can turn the fireplace in any direction.  Forward to the V berth or straight aft toward the settee.   In this position the fuel will not spill out when your sailboat is heeled over.

A 3" galvanized flu pipe (cheap vent pipe) fits beautifully to the top of the fireplace.   Of course it is more safe to have a SS 3" pipe.  As you can see, it is time to replace my chimney.  The fireplace lasts about five years before it burns through the wall.  Except for the bluewater cruisers, very few yachts have a fireplace on board here in southern California.  I actually use mine year around.  It gets rid of the dampness and the chill of the morning even in the summer.  I really enjoy it.  A must have.

From the top of the fire extinguisher mark a line around the housing 12" from the top.  Use a hacksaw with a fine tooth quality blade and saw the extinguisher evenly in half.  Do this again, except this time, 3" up from the bottom.  Cut out the fireplace opening which will end up 4" square, once the top half of the fireplace is bent outward slightly to overlap the base.  This is riveted with SS rivets or small screws and nuts.  The discarded center section of the extinguisher can be fashioned quite effectively into a wrap around cover for the opening.  This greatly adds to the safety of the fireplace. 

Other websites can help with how you safely get the chimney through your cabin roof.  I used galvanized trim on the inside of the cabin as well as the top of the cabin to firmly hold the chimney away from the cabin top core.  I can't remember, but I think there is a 3/4" gap between the chimney and the cabin top.  Sorry for being so nondiscript, but you can understand. :-)

If you have the money, pick up a"Pet" or "Tiny Tot" from
Fatsco Stoves, or a "Sardine" from Navigator Stove Works.  These are quality true marine stoves.  They also have great parts to suppliment the do-it-yourself approach.  Be sure to test your creation with a strong hot burn for hours and hours while on your trailer with your backyard garden hose near by.  Don't lose your boat or your life to fire.  

Mini (20' Yawl Vivacity) and Dawn Treader (15' Gaff Sloop Pepper Class)  sailing together.  My young son, Ben, who is now a Coast Guard Officer, is at the helm on the Pepper.  Eva and I have owned these two sailboats for quite a few years.  They have been a blessing to us.  Through the years I've owned too many sailboats.   It was good to finally make definitive choices. 

 I've used my V20 in my youth sailing club: Christian Youth Sailing Society.  We have had up to 11 skippers of trailer-sailors help us in a given season.  We sail four cruises a year with the kids as well as a dinghy building program.  CYSS started in 1984.  Within the next two years, we hope to offer this youth ministry to interested churches.  CYSS has been very meaningful to myself, the skippers as well as the cadets who have gone through the program.

Here you can see the skeg in front of the rudder.  This really helps the Vivacity track in the front of steep seas.  This modification has been a true asset when it comes to bluewater sailing.  Neil, from Jamaica,  believes we could make the skeg further aft, so an outboard rudder could attach.  This would make maintenance and repair much easier.  I put mine inboard so my self-steering vane could attach easier.  A skeg mounted rudder does add wetted surface area.