Category Archives: Uncategorized

As the building of the Greta T progresses, I have had some observations that I’d like to share with you. This project started in the winter of 2020-21 and many, many batches of mixed epoxy later I would like to extol the benefits of eating lots of yoghurt:  yoghurt tubs (the three-pack size from Costco)Continue reading “Must Like Yoghurt; Strange Shapes; Holding strange shapes; Learning from one’s mistakes and Why is building this boat so darned hard?”

A lot of details have been worked upon since my last post, so I thought I’d provide everyone with an update of the progress in the building of the Greta T. Of course, Spring, a new sailing season at both clubs to which I belong and volunteer (Water Rats in Toronto and Hamilton Bay SailingContinue reading “Keeping my nose to the grindstone…”

You could be forgiven for thinking that the “Old Man in a Boat Tour” has faded away uncompleted – but… we’re back in action! … after a rather unproductive Fall and Winter.  As I write this I am looking back at a blog post that I had written (but never published) in October (2021).  IContinue reading “The Old man is back…”

After steady hard work over the summer, the Greta T is now back in Grimsby to be finished. The pandemic lockdowns and increased summer rates for motel rooms have put a real dent in the building budget for the project and reluctantly I decided that our final two weeks of work would have to focusContinue reading “The end of a chapter, but the saga continues”

There’s an old saying: the devil’s in the details and we have been truly be-deviled in building the Greta T. As a completely new boat with many unique features, Skip Izon (the builder) and I have had to do a lot of problem solving. There are no blueprints to guide us other than Skip’s linesContinue reading “Details, Details, Details”

The Old Man in a Boat Tour would not have gotten off the ground without the support and encouragement of my wife June, and daughter Maya. They have helped keep my feet on the ground with timely advice and suggestions throughout this project.  June has put up with my absences while building the boat withContinue reading “My team, and others who have my sincere thanks”

The latest updates on the building of the Greta T (as of July 12): My apologies for the dearth of updates but I have had my head down and have been working hard (with Skip Izon, the builder and designer) to get the boat finished and ready for the journey. Now that the restrictions areContinue reading “The continued adventures of Sandy…”

A few years ago, when I was planning the “Old Man in a Boat Tour” as trip on European waterways, I went down to the US to test out the EZ Row system.  I particularly wanted a forward rowing system since I can’t turn my head very well due to a neck injury and IContinue reading “Rowing made EZ”

What about safety?  This is such a necessary part of any planned trip on the water I want to reassure anyone who is following this tour or supporting it, that I take safety seriously and will be thoroughly prepared before I set out. I want the Old Man in a Boat Tour to be rememberedContinue reading “What about safety?”

I must admit that when I first began planning this project I did not take the time to properly consider the lands through which I would be travelling. On the encouragement of those close to me I have begun to educate myself, and although I am still only at the beginning of this process IContinue reading “A Territorial acknowledgement and an apology”