Are you hunkering down?

Well today the WA Governor said he is very likely going to extend the ;lock down, (officially a "Stay Home- Stay Healthy" order), and we are just a month off from what I set as a drop dead date for the FH-CBGT decision. Still watching the numbers and the curve. So far only promising to probably have the resulting decision mostly made by the officiating agencies.

Our neighborhood has a Monday and Wednesday neighborhood wave going on. At 4PM, everyone that is home comes out front on the porch or driveway and waves, chats across the street, or next door for a few minutes. We share some Covid stories and jokes, and go back inside. It felt kind of good to be doing something together, yet apart. Tomorrow, I go back to the food bank where we are working on keeping the designated space and pack 3-400 family meal packs.

You all stay safe, healthy and distant for now.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP1872.thumb.jpg
 
Good to see a lot of you actively trying to help. I too was in the medical field for a short time and was shocked to learn millennials (as a generation) were not taught how to use bar soap to the point they now consider it unsanitary. May have something to do with the run on liquid. At any rate - if you do have some training and can help teach people, I hope you will do so. I made a video on bar soap and am sure some of you can do better (and if so do so!). There is something we can all do positive. Be well, be safe, and the very best of luck from The Mattson Family!

Bar Soap Safety: How It Protects

https://youtu.be/mImAW2ijSzI
 
Re the prior comment made about GM making ventilators.

I listened to an NPR Planet Money podcast, "The Race to Make Ventilators". It described a local (to me in Seattle) company called Ventec who manufactures ventilators and the difficulties of ramping up their manufacturing capacity.

Long before Trump finally initiated the Defense Production Act to "supposedly" compel GM to "manufacture" ventilators, GM had contacted and started partnering with Ventec to increase their production rate.

As others on this forum can probably describe better than I can, a ventilator is a very complicated piece of equipment. It requires well over 200 parts. If one is delayed, the whole process is delayed.

Ventec discovered that GM is essentially a huge worldwide supply chain. One example is that Ventec was having difficulties procuring a part that was manufactured in India. That factory was shutdown. GM dispatched their personnel who arrived at that factory the next morning and got the factory reopened. Another is a small piston that needed to be fabricated to very precise dimensions. GM/Ventec was able to quickly search out other suppliers.

Another advantage that GM provides to Ventec is access to money. Expecting a small company like Ventec to finance this extreme increase in manufacturing capacity is unfair and in fact should be a risk borne by the government.

GM/Ventec, and I'm sure others, should be given the credit for stepping up during this crisis. Unfortunately Trump is trying, thru his bully pulpit, to take credit for "forcing" GM to act by finally using the Defense Production Act, something he should have done weeks ago.
 
Gene and Mary, Thanks for the word on the Ventec/GM ventilator production. Those Ventec units are really top of the line, cutting edge units: Size and power requirements and power input variability make them highly desirable. There are so many places that a good vent can make life so much easier and sustainable, 12VDC in the back of an ambulance, 24 VDC in a helo or fixed wing aircraft, 90 to 240 VAC in foreign country power systems, 50 to 60 Hz AC in some mobile applications. AND they are small and light making them portable. WOW, I remember using ventilators that were the size of the bottom half of a phone booth -- Oh, whats that, for some, 3ft square foot print and 4 ft high.

[My first oximeter was desk mounted, about the size of a large microwave, and we brought the patients to it. -- It came over the Oregon trail on an ox cart :P :roll: :twisted: Oh, that was yesterday --April 1, 2020] Now, I can put 10 oximeters into my jeans pocket, and I'm less than 80 and just over 70 years old.

And yesterday was the first day I heard "Respiratory Therapist" on any news mention, our Governor Jay Inslee mentioned "us" in his news conference, and of course shortly after that on of our local news channels had 2 RT's on an interview.

Just home from a morning at the Food bank. Our usual routine has had to be adjusted to shifts of 10 people, and attempts to keep socially distant which is hard to do in a bucket brigade formation to unload a ton of milk gallon packages in 15 minutes. But it was fun to get together, get meal packs for 350 and encourage each other for a cool morning activity.

Stay safe.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

9_Sept_Seq_2019_Cal.thumb.jpg
 
Harvey- Unfortunately ramping up the production of ventilators is only a part of the problem. There will be a shortage of qualified medical professionals to operate the ventilators.

You available?
 
Gene&Mary":25uodosw said:
Re the prior comment made about GM making ventilators.

I listened to an NPR Planet Money podcast, "The Race to Make Ventilators". It described a local (to me in Seattle) company called Ventec who manufactures ventilators and the difficulties of ramping up their manufacturing capacity.

Long before Trump finally initiated the Defense Production Act to "supposedly" compel GM to "manufacture" ventilators, GM had contacted and started partnering with Ventec to increase their production rate.

As others on this forum can probably describe better than I can, a ventilator is a very complicated piece of equipment. It requires well over 200 parts. If one is delayed, the whole process is delayed.

Ventec discovered that GM is essentially a huge worldwide supply chain. One example is that Ventec was having difficulties procuring a part that was manufactured in India. That factory was shutdown. GM dispatched their personnel who arrived at that factory the next morning and got the factory reopened. Another is a small piston that needed to be fabricated to very precise dimensions. GM/Ventec was able to quickly search out other suppliers.

Another advantage that GM provides to Ventec is access to money. Expecting a small company like Ventec to finance this extreme increase in manufacturing capacity is unfair and in fact should be a risk borne by the government.

GM/Ventec, and I'm sure others, should be given the credit for stepping up during this crisis. Unfortunately Trump is trying, thru his bully pulpit, to take credit for "forcing" GM to act by finally using the Defense Production Act, something he should have done weeks ago.
Click to expand...

First off we need to understand why DPA was used to “force” GM.
The virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course.
GM had lowered the number of ventilators they had promised to deliver from 40,000 to 6,000 and had wanted "top dollar" - $1bn to be paid for by the tax payer!
Sounds like GM was the “bully” in this case but nevertheless they are producing them at their original promising.
 
Teufelshunde":29t3sofl said:
Gene&Mary":29t3sofl said:
Re the prior comment made about GM making ventilators.

I listened to an NPR Planet Money podcast, "The Race to Make Ventilators". It described a local (to me in Seattle) company called Ventec who manufactures ventilators and the difficulties of ramping up their manufacturing capacity.

Long before Trump finally initiated the Defense Production Act to "supposedly" compel GM to "manufacture" ventilators, GM had contacted and started partnering with Ventec to increase their production rate.

As others on this forum can probably describe better than I can, a ventilator is a very complicated piece of equipment. It requires well over 200 parts. If one is delayed, the whole process is delayed.

Ventec discovered that GM is essentially a huge worldwide supply chain. One example is that Ventec was having difficulties procuring a part that was manufactured in India. That factory was shutdown. GM dispatched their personnel who arrived at that factory the next morning and got the factory reopened. Another is a small piston that needed to be fabricated to very precise dimensions. GM/Ventec was able to quickly search out other suppliers.

Another advantage that GM provides to Ventec is access to money. Expecting a small company like Ventec to finance this extreme increase in manufacturing capacity is unfair and in fact should be a risk borne by the government.

GM/Ventec, and I'm sure others, should be given the credit for stepping up during this crisis. Unfortunately Trump is trying, thru his bully pulpit, to take credit for "forcing" GM to act by finally using the Defense Production Act, something he should have done weeks ago.
Click to expand...

First off we need to understand why DPA was used to “force” GM.
The virus is too urgent to allow the give-and-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course.
GM had lowered the number of ventilators they had promised to deliver from 40,000 to 6,000 and had wanted "top dollar" - $1bn to be paid for by the tax payer!
Sounds like GM was the “bully” in this case but nevertheless they are producing them at their original promising.
Click to expand...

1B divided by, 40,000 = 25,000
1B divided by 6,000 = 166,666.

The price of a ventilator. 25K, not surprising. At $166.6K it is Fraud. They wouldn't get away with that on eBay right now.

Hmmmmm, That looks like GM wanted to build Cadillac vents OR somebody was going to make some big bucks on a "government" contract. Anybody remember the $5,000 crescent wrench for space?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP1601.thumb.jpg
 
hardee":pxxp62nf said:
...

Hmmmmm, That looks like GM wanted to build Cadillac vents OR somebody was going to make some big bucks on a "government" contract. Anybody remember the $5,000 crescent wrench for space?

...
Click to expand...

Or the $1600 the Air Force was paying for a 1/16" allen wrench. Then there are the toilet seats....
 
GM had lowered the number of ventilators they had promised to deliver from 40,000 to 6,000 and had wanted "top dollar" - $1bn to be paid for by the tax payer!
Click to expand...

Wonder the accuracy of that statement.

As for who's bullying who, here's two articles you can read and make up your own mind!

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/business/gm-ventilators-coronavirus-trump.html

https://fortune.com/2020/03/30/gm-ventilator-plan-trump-praise-doghouse-coronavirus/

The bottom line is, I believe those ventilators are going to be made.
 
Just wondering. Did anyone load up their boat with provisions and head off to remote, peace and quiet? Or is that now outlawed with the 'stay at home' directive?

Martin.
 
Martin, We had the provisions bought & ready to load, but the border closures came a bit to early & dashed the cruising dreams this year. We will do what we have to for now & hope for the best next year.

Jay
 
I’ve been tempted! Wish I would have just stayed on the boat in Florida after the gathering but the wife had a nurse job to get back to!

There are still plenty of live-aboards so I have to imagine it would be acceptable. Assuming you cross no borders...
 
I wish we had stayed on the St. John's River. We had enough human food aboard for 2 more weeks, but our prescription dog food ran out, and Angel's health is important.

Perhaps more importantly Marie might not have developed the infection in her hand. She is now hospitalized and on a constant infusion of antibiotics for at least the next 4 days. We worry about the increased risk of COVID 19 being in the Hospital. Unfortunately no visitors are allowed--no exception for MD's, who are not seeing their own patients.

Our interaction with the ER yesterday was entirely different than on Monday. We got to the ER about the same time of day. There were 2 patients in front of us, but Marie was in an ER room within 10 minutes. I left when she was taken to the floor at about 4PM. Then all 35 ER rooms were occupied, and about 40 patients were in the waiting area. The ER doc said they were sending almost all of the COVID 19, home, unless the PO2 was below 92% or a bad pneumonia. There were 2 armed guards at the ER entrance.

Boating seems to be normal here, despite the "lock down". A bass boat, which was obviously trailered, was in the bayou behind our home at 8 AM fishing. A neighbor was headed offshore in his Jupiter 31 cuddy for fishing today. Local marinas seem to be open.

Be safe!
 
I was close to being gone, but my new trawler has a leak in the coolant system. I think that I located it, got new hose, and was ready to fix it and then bring the boat around from the marina to anchor in front of my house. That would have allowed me to provision for the FH get together and beyond. Doesn't look like cruising will be happening this year, at least not any lengthy cross-boarder stuff. Re-reading the northern BC cruising atlas and re-computing tides and currents doesn't sound entertaining.

I could launch the Limpet from the beach right in front of the house. Not sure where I would go. Go in circles until I'd used up the gas?

I've also got an aluminum kicker with an electric motor. This year's boating experience might be local bird watching. I should be rowing the boat. Sitting at home means that I never miss a meal.

Mark
 
bridma":felc1au0 said:
Just wondering. Did anyone load up their boat with provisions and head off to remote, peace and quiet? Or is that now outlawed with the 'stay at home' directive?
Click to expand...

Related to my question:

I've been on Dream Catcher, in her slip in Poulsbo, for more than a month now. Meant to spend a couple of weeks doing chores, then head back home to Utah and get ready to point the boat toward Alaska in May. Covid, border closings, and stay at home changed my plans.

Sure could enjoy taking a break from hunkering to do some wandering around, maybe exploring South Sound for the first time, or maybe San Juans. I understand some state parks are closed, along with some docks, and recreational fishing. I'd just as soon anchor anyway. Does anyone really know if cruising within WA waters is considered OK?
 
NewMoon":3fetvtwm said:
I understand some state parks are closed, along with some docks, and recreational fishing. I'd just as soon anchor anyway. Does anyone really know if cruising within WA waters is considered OK?
Click to expand...

My understanding is that all WA state parks are currently closed. I've *heard* that while they can close facilities like parking lots and bathrooms, the state cannot legally prevent you from accessing public land. I like the spirit of that claim, but would not personally want to test it.

As far as just being out on your boat, all I can offer is an anecdotal experience: I went out Thursday for several hours, launched at Port Orchard ramp, cruised out to Alki and back, hung out for a bit up near the head of Sinclair inlet. No one said a word. There weren't many recreational boats out, but then it was a breezy and lumpy day, which was why I was out - wanted to see how my new-to-me 22 handled those conditions. I was pretty pleased. But there were several sailboats out near both Bainbridge and Elliott bay, having fun. I monitored 16 and 13/14 when near the VTS, wondering if anyone would squawk about pleasure boats. Nope. I'll note also that the PO ramp is right across the street from the police dept., so there's no way no one saw my vehicle there, if they wanted to conduct enforcement or even outreach. My plan if confronted was to play dumb, but it wouldn't really be playing as I *am* dumb about this - like many of us I guess, I don't really know what is and is not within the letter of the law. In the end, I figured that I wouldn't have any contact or proximity with another person, nor would I touch anything another person would touch, so I was well within the spirit of any guidance, anyway.

TL;DR: no one seems to know what's technically allowable. It seems very unlikely you will be hassled for simply being out on your boat, but there's probably not many places you can actually visit. Look up the thread with the Salish Pilots guide; they have compiled a guide to what marinas and services are open.
 
Stearmandriver2":cztcg0ph said:
NewMoon":cztcg0ph said:
I understand some state parks are closed, along with some docks, and recreational fishing. I'd just as soon anchor anyway. Does anyone really know if cruising within WA waters is considered OK?
Click to expand...

My understanding is that all WA state parks are currently closed. I've *heard* that while they can close facilities like parking lots and bathrooms, the state cannot legally prevent you from accessing public land. I like the spirit of that claim, but would not personally want to test it.

As far as just being out on your boat, all I can offer is an anecdotal experience: I went out Thursday for several hours, launched at Port Orchard ramp, cruised out to Alki and back, hung out for a bit up near the head of Sinclair inlet. No one said a word. There weren't many recreational boats out, but then it was a breezy and lumpy day, which was why I was out - wanted to see how my new-to-me 22 handled those conditions. I was pretty pleased. But there were several sailboats out near both Bainbridge and Elliott bay, having fun. I monitored 16 and 13/14 when near the VTS, wondering if anyone would squawk about pleasure boats. Nope. I'll note also that the PO ramp is right across the street from the police dept., so there's no way no one saw my vehicle there, if they wanted to conduct enforcement or even outreach. My plan if confronted was to play dumb, but it wouldn't really be playing as I *am* dumb about this - like many of us I guess, I don't really know what is and is not within the letter of the law. In the end, I figured that I wouldn't have any contact or proximity with another person, nor would I touch anything another person would touch, so I was well within the spirit of any guidance, anyway.

TL;DR: no one seems to know what's technically allowable. It seems very unlikely you will be hassled for simply being out on your boat, but there's probably not many places you can actually visit. Look up the thread with the Salish Pilots guide; they have compiled a guide to what marinas and services are open.
Click to expand...

If your State has a "stay (shelter) at home" order, except for essentials ('essential'
is another topic), then stay at home. Home, IMHO, is where you pay property taxes,
have utility services and receive your USPS mail. Behind the wheel of your
car 'sight seeing' didn't qualify in PA:

"States are increasingly calling out the National Guard to assist state police in
enforcing shelter-at-home orders. In Pennsylvania, a motorist taking a scenic
car ride was stopped by police and given a $200 ticket for violating stay-at
home orders in that state."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/nletter/ ... 944992001/

So what's so different about boating; is it 'essential' for you?

Be careful out there...

Aye.
 
On the social distancing scale we have kept ourselves about 10 points stricter than the governor's call. When we go to the grocer's if there are more than a dozen or so cars out front we don't stop. Yesterday I returned at 7am, and most of the time in the store I could not see another shopper.

When I do my runs I choose side streets, and typically see other persons less than 20% of the time, and cross the street or (safely) run in the road as I go by them.

Once or twice a week we do go for a drive. Tomorrow it will be a boat ride.

My biggest vulnerable activity this month will be going to the Seattle VA medical center for a dermatology exam I decided I cannot put off. Normally I take the ferry and a bus, but this time I will drive.
 
Foggy":aev9tv4q said:
So what's so different about boating; is it 'essential' for you?

Be careful out there...

Aye.
Click to expand...

Maybe? That's certainly a matter of individual philosophy, not really answerable. I can tell you that being outside is certainly essential for me. When it comes to boating, like driving, the important thing is that it's SAFE.
 
Back
Top