A Gimbaled Astrocompass Experiment

In the spring of 2014 adapted an aircraft Astrocompass, for use at sea. https://empiricusembarks.com/2014/06/22/if-it-cannot-be-bought-it-must-be-built/ I did this by gutting an old Wood Freeman Autopilot compass, which was gimbal mounted. Then replaced the magnetic compass works, with a standard astrocompass mount. Then Samantha and I packed the works up to the Arctic, where Empiricus lay waiting […]

2 SEASONS IN THE ARCTIC WITH “STORMR” An equipment review, by the crew of Empiricus

“STORMR” Product review from a sailors perspective. By Capt. Jesse Osborn and the crew of SV Empiricus. 2012-2014 In 2012, I was preparing to sail the fabled Northwest Passage. Having the right foul weather gear was going to be important. As I discussed this with a friend, he told me about this new company called […]

Liebster award nominee!

My friends from Alaskagraphy nominated Empiricusembarks for the Leibster award. Sweet! Thanks guys! The award nomination is continually passed on to other blogs, which stirs activity and spurs new connections among readers. Cool! This award comes with a list of questions, put to the nominees, by the nominating party. So here is what Alaskagraphy asked: […]

Eastbound From Cambridge Bay, following 2 weeks of preparation.

Its 0200 hours on 08/05/2014 in Cambridge Bay. I feel thrashed. But my checklist says “Blog Post,” so here we go. Since Samantha and I got here, we have gone flat out. Fixing, repairing, cleaning and walking back and forth to town for cell service. EMPIRICUS sat just as I left her, perched perfectly on […]

A loaded boat, a leaky rudderpost and a weary bilge pump.

During the 2013 voyage, Empiricus carried a heavier load than she ever has (so far as I know, that is.) Usually her weight in the slings sits at 35000 pounds. This year, when hauling out in Cambridge Bay, the crane recorded her at 38000 pounds. That’s minus a crew of five, all their personal gear […]

Blades of the Northwest Passage

Blades of the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage is a fascinating place, to say the least. I remember reading numerous accounts of early exploration, specifically Roald Amundsen’s account of this place. He was Captain of the Gjoa. The first boat to sail through the Northwest Passage. Amunsdsen was successful in this for many reasons. I […]

Resonate on the bright side.

“Resonate” -to produce or be filled with a deep, full reverberating sound. We hear about all the ripple effects, don’t we? We hear the gossip and the drama. We as humans seem to love drama. Drama and blame. I have a theory about that. The theory goes that we tend to take the wide path […]

Running backstays, replaced just in time.

During the recent re rig process aboard Empiricus, I discovered that the running back stays were frayed badly, just at the eye. I believe this was due to, too short of a shackle being used to carry them both. Another problem with the backstays were that the leeward stay, would slide back and forth on […]

This for that. A quid pro quo of finances

I recently spoke with a local fisherman here in Kodiak for quite a spell. we were both doing laundry and loudly, visiting among the hum of, dropping coins and the rumble of circular machinery. He made a statement regarding cost analysis that I have been trying to finalize in my mind. After 25 years experience […]

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