"Uglyboat Admiration Society Hang Out",

Today I stumbled across the sailing anarchy forum where my attention was caught by a thread titled "Uglyboat Admiration Society Hang Out", and sure enough; the Grampian 26 was included in the group.

The thread was stared by bljones...
Posted 18 November 2012 - 12:40 AM
"... ..I'm okay with ugly boats. It appears many of you are as well.
Now, let's get this shit straight, there is a difference between UGLYboats and FUGLY boats.
Ugly boats are boats with their heart in the right place, with skippers who sail the damn things. Fugly boats are just straight up WTF were they thinking? Either the owners, builders or NAs who drew them- take your pick.
So, no fugly boats here- just your favourite uglyboats..."

Jump ahead to page 2, scroll about midpage to post # 174, and zedboy posted a picture of a Grampian 26 with the following comment..
Posted 26 November 2012 - 04:42 PM 

'Nuff said.
I think everything McGruer drew was an uglyboat.

To which bjones soon after replies in post #196:
"...If you are determined to design 6' headroom, a private head, at least four 76" berths and a 6' cockpit into a hull under 26' in length, the boat is definitely gonna fall into the "stubby and tubby" category."

While bjones makes a valid observation, his reference of a 6 foot cockpit was incorrect, as it's actually an at least 8 foot cockpit   Or rather, since I haven't measured it, I estimate about 8 foot,...  Hmmm.. an extra 2 foot for the cabin might have been nice!

But the whole point of my adding this to my blog here was only to again highlight the apparent public census (which I still tend to disagree with) that the Grampian 26 is an ugly boat.
Maybe it is. My eyesight ain't what it used to be.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out the "In The Eye of the Beholder" page.

By the way, of note, but besides the point; elsewhere on the site, mention is made that a J24 sail will fit a Grampian 26.. It's just something good to know (if accurate).

Blog formating change

OK.. I got kinda tired of the white text on a black background I was using here, so changed the blog format to a more traditional black text on white..

Seems easier on the eyes, but I notice the change caused a few incompatibilities on some of the past post.. Hopefully they have now been all remedied unless I missed something.

Also tried to make the "Front Pages" more predominate, as you see to the right, where it says "START HERE:" -- That's where all the goodies are!

Automated Radio Check

www.seatow.com

Just found out there's a such thing as a automated radio check.. Which isn't surprising, but I didn't know.

What I'm talking about is the coastal-wide free service brought to you by SeaTow, who provide marine services like 'catastrophe response, environmental clean-up, vessel recovery, salvage, and on-water services'.

Anyway, if you go to www.seatow.com and by ticing "Automated Radio Check" option, it shows stations in your area on a map, then just click a station to find your channel.
Around here it's channel 26..

This 83 second video shows you how it works:



Visit seatow.com and check out the member services, the Automated Radio Check is free, but their other services require membership, which involves a reasonably priced yearly fee.

Grampian Marine Limited Edition .. Wha?

I found this persons cabin decor of a G26 inspirational. But there's a couple things in the description which I find curious..
First it's described "Grampian Marine Limited Edition" and "GML" - never heard of such a thing. It also says "According to the national Survey Program Grampian is best of it's class ever build' - don't know where that comes from either..

Nevertheless, looks like a real nice 26, and a great job decorating. He's asking $5.300

1972 GML Grampian/ 26402 sailboat for sale in Florida

1972 26' GML Grampian/ 26402 sailboat for sale in Stuart Florida

sailboatlistings.com

 

Some screen grabs: