Todd and I landed in Whangarei yesterday morning – where we were greeted by FPB 64-7 Buffalo Nickel‘s proud new owners, Stan and Valerie Creighton. Valerie even has Buffalo Nickel earrings; the gray metal finish bears a very FPB appearance… After enjoying the traditional First Flat White, we were off to get acquainted properly with […]
Tag Archives | Dashew Offshore
Hi Ho Hi Ho – Back Down South We Go
Greetings from Los Angeles International Airport! Todd Rickard and I are ducking back under the equator to Whangarei in New Zealand. We have a hot date with FPB 64-7, Buffalo Nickel, and her proud owners. Stay tuned for lots of updates this week as adventures occur. Till then, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The only green […]
LA Story – A Silver Lining To Every Cloud
Having grown weary with and needing a break from a long and arduous design cycle, a meeting of the executive committee was called and a weekend away to clear cobwebs was deemed prudent. In olden days this would have indicated a sojourn afloat to a bucolic hideaway known to a relatively few enthusiasts, say Catalina […]
Let The Plating Begin
It is that time when the real fun begins, the execution of which separates men from boys, and where the wheeling is now in earnest. We speak of plating time. Now that the hull framing in nearly complete, the roof structure is being prepared for plating as well. A final look at the stabilizer insert […]
Easy FPB Facelift
We like the matte gray unobtrusive looks of an aluminum hull that has been exposed to sea water for a year or so. But occasionally after a season of roughing it and sharing the odd harbor rafted to commercial or government vessels, the topsides become adorned with hard to remove marks from dock/rafting vessel’s tires. […]
Singing For My Supper – Posted by Sarah
Some of you know that I’ve been swimming through the seas of the music world for quite a while. Blame my parents for bringing me up on a boat with lots of great music: Janis Joplin, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder…Today I’m proud to say I’ve just added a new album to […]
Snow Job – Maybe The Next Ice Age Is Just Around the Corner
Are you caught up in the global warming debate? There is another theory, less-talked-about, that suggests we could soon be entering an ice age. Glacial ice core samples show that the onset of cooler weather may happen quickly. Consider this alternative, starting with the photo above. And those which follow. There are winners and losers […]
Wicked Stabilizer Bosses and Other Details
The FPB 97 has enormous stabilizer mechanisms, sized for support when aground and hitting things more than hydrostatic loads. The over strength mechanism, however, is of no value, and in fact can damage the boat, if it is not properly reinforced. That is where this enormous stabilizer boss comes into play. These fin mechanisms are […]
Making Your Watermaker Happy (Insights Into Taming A Temperamental Beast)
One of the blessings that comes with the FPB program is interaction with highly experienced owners (neophytes rarely have the background to understand the tradeoffs we make in the design process). These owners often bring with them excellent firsthand knowledge, based on years of real world trial and error, that helps us improve the FPB […]
Buffalo Nickel, FPB 64-7, Is Wet
It is early, the sun still far to the east, when Buffalo Nickel slides under the travel lift for the first time. Tides and highway permits dictate the schedule. Although there is little activity at this moment, you can be assured things are humming. Systems have been checked, and then checked again at the shop. […]
