Peppy Square

Marine Knots Secrets – Do You Know the One Time to Use a Square Knot on a Small Sailboat?

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:00:54 +0000

The square knot has a reputation as the “black sheep” of knots. But did you know that it has a rightful place on any small cruising or racing sailboat? Read on to learn the secret of when you would use this famous marine knot.

If you’ve banned the square knot from you on-board “must know” list of best knots, hold on! Add this variation the next time you need to reef your mainsail. Learn to tie the slippery reef knot. It’s nothing more than a square knot finished with a slip knot.

This useful nautical knot has been used for hundreds of years on sailing ships and small sailboats to hold the excess sailcloth of a reefed mainsail. On the modern mainsail, the sailmaker places reef tie-points across the sail between the luff and leech for this purpose.

Each reef point consists of a small round, square, or diamond-shaped patch with a grommet punched into the center. A piece of line about 18″ to 24″ long is threaded through each grommet and knotted on both sides next to the grommet.

These sail ties allow you to tie up the extra sailcloth that bunches up at the foot when you reef the mainsail. Use these five simple steps to lower the mainsail for reefing and tie up the extra cloth along the foot of the boat boom:

1. Lower the mainsail and set the tack reef grommet. Take up tension on the halyard so that the luff takes most of the load. This helps prevent tears at the leech and along the foot. Next, set the clew reef grommet.

2. Pull the boat boom close to the center-line. Do this before you attempt to tie up the excess cloth. This keeps the boat boom over the cockpit for safety and provides a handhold for the reefing crew as they tie up the foot.

3. Gather the extra cloth and roll it up toward the boom. Take care to keep the sail battens parallel to the foot cloth as you roll. Stop rolling when you get to the reef point sail ties.

4. Tie slippery reef knots around the boom if your mainsail has a bolt-rope, slugs, or slides along the foot. If you have a loose-footed mainsail, tie these knots beneath the foot of the sail. Follow these steps:

* Grab one end of each tie. Concentrate on the end in your dominant hand
* Pass it over and under the end in your non-dominant hand
* Pass the same end over and under the end in your dominant hand
* Make a loop in the bitter end before the final pass.
* Pull the knot tight.

5. Check again that each sail tie allows a few inches of slack all along the boom. Do you see tension on any reef tie? If you do, re-tie the reef point to remove all tension. Prevent tears and rips with this all important final step!

Now you know the secret of how to turn the lowly square knot into a prince-of-knots! Use the slippery reef knot the next time you need a reliable marine knot for reefing your mainsail.

Estimating Square Foot Building Costs the Wrong Way

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:00:52 +0000

When building a new house, whether you are contracting it yourself or having it built, most people want to know the “square foot building costs.”? The question?always makes me cringe. In reality, it’s almost impossible to provide a standard cost per square foot to build a house.? The problem stems from the definition of standard.? Homes, even of identical size,?have many, many variables that factor into the costs.??Thus, the overall cost per square foot?will vary, sometimes dramatically.??For example, when someone says it costs an average of $100 per square foot to build a home these days, does that mean a home with a basement and an attached?garage? Or does it mean the finished square feet only???

There are?many other variables besides?the obvious noted above. Consider the following:?

The foundation.? You may wonder?how much it costs to build your home with a?basement foundation rather than a concrete slab. Many factors come into play here.? Is the basement going to be poured concrete walls or concrete block? How much of the basement walls will need to be concrete and how much frame?? Is extra grading required for the basement???Since land is inherently unique, the?amount of grading for a basement will vary, so there’s no standard cost?you can assume here.?

The framing materials and techniques.? What type framing is planned? Is the structure pre-fabricated or stick-built??Does the plan call for floor trusses or floor joists?? Does the house have an elaborate roof system with many dormers and gables? Differences in construction methods, material costs, and contractor fees all add up to differences in price per square foot to build the home.?

Kitchens and bathrooms. ?These areas can vary wildly in costs depending on the finishes and fixtures used and?the number of baths in the home.? A 2,500 square foot home, for example, might have only two baths or up to four.? This difference alone can drastically effect the cost per square foot.? Further, does each bath have only a shower or a tub/shower combination? Is there an elaborate spa bath included?? The list goes on and on.

Generally, a “track” builder (a building company who buys the land, develops the streets and lots, and then builds the same?model homes over and over) can often precisely pin point building costs per square foot since they have control?of all the variables.??This doesn’t mean, however,?that you or another builder will be able to build the same home for the same cost per square foot.? Why??Since?these companies build?more homes than a standard custom builder, they often employ or have exclusive subcontractors working only for them. Many times, these subcontractors will?work for less than what other contractors charge because they are being provided steady work from the large builder. Further, these companies can negotiate lower prices for materials because of the volume they purchase.

So when you are attempting to determine your own costs per square foot to build a home, don’t try to depend on the square foot prices that a track builder provides. While they may be completely accurate for the homes they are building and selling, you don’t have the same buying and hiring power?they do.

What’s most important to realize is that applying a cost per square foot formula to your own building project is not an accurate way to determine costs. To get an accurate estimate of building costs, you will need to complete a cost estimate for each category of the building project. This is not as daunting a task as it may seem.? And there are ways to get help along the path.? Our book, The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Own Home: Save 30% to 40% on the Cost of Your New Home tells how.???

Best San Francisco Hotels

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:00:19 +0000

San Francisco is visited by many throughout the year. Some may be senior citizens on a holiday. Others may be enjoying a holiday with their families. Still others may be honeymooners. There are also those who go there on business trips. Each might have their own budget and will be able to reserve a hotel according to their needs. The place should provide all the comfort needed and should be a home away from home. Many of the hotels offer seasonal discounts that can be availed.

The main attractions in San Francisco are the Golden Gate Bridge, the Fisherman’s Wharf, China Town, the cable cars, the Alcatraz islands, Theater District, the Financial District etc. Most of the luxury hotels are located within easy reach of these places. Some of them are on the Union Square, some on Nob Hill, some close to the Financial center for business travelers, and some near the Fisherman’s Wharf.

There are many luxury, five star rated hotels in San Francisco. Some of them are going to be discussed here. The ‘New Intercontinental’ is next to the Moscone Convention Center. It is a thirty-two storied glass tower high rise building with 530 rooms and is a luxury hotel. It opened only on 28th February 2008. ‘Four Seasons’ is a very expensive hotel. It is also a five star hotel with 277 rooms. ‘Ritz Carlton’ is also a very sought after hotel and it has 336 rooms. The “Mandarin Oriental’ is a five star hotel which has 158 rooms.

The Union Square has many of the city’s best hotels. There is the ‘Chancellor Hotel’. It is close to the cable cars. It has 137 rooms. “Handlery Union Square Hotel’ is a luxury hotel that has been in existence for the past eighty years and is being run by the fourth generation of the Handlery family. ‘Renaissance Parc 55 ‘Union Square is one of the biggest hotels. They offer the best of services and it is very modern. ‘Grand Hyatt’ is also a hotel with a great view. ‘Prescot’ is a hotel that is famous for its historic architecture.

Hotel Nikko’ and ‘Miyako Hotel’ are ideally suited for those who like the eastern style of life. They have an Asian charm about them. The hotels on Fisherman’s Wharf are good for family holidays, since they are close to all the main sightseeing areas. The best hotel here is the ‘Hilton San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf’.

Nob Hill is a small district in San Francisco. South of Nob Hill is Union Street, East is China Town and Financial District. To the north is Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf. The hotels on Nob Hill are posh hotels located at the intersection of California and Powell streets. The most famous ones are, “Fairmont’, ‘Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel’ which has 382 Guest rooms and 33 suites, ‘ Huntington Hotel’, ‘The Stanford Court’ and ‘Nob Hill Hilton’.

Hotels in the Financial District that are the best are ‘Hyatt Residency’. It is good place for businessman. ‘Le Meridien’ is also there. ‘Hotel Vitale’ is near the Financial District and the ferry building. Other important hotels are ‘Palace Hotel’, ‘Campton Hotel’, ‘St. Regis Hotel’ and ‘Hotel Palomar’.

All these hotels have a scenic view and cater to the tourists of San Francisco. They have rules about check in and check out timings, they have their own restaurants and fitness centers, swimming pools and spas. Some allow pets while others don’t. Check out the best hotel that suits your needs.