While I obviously cannot go sailing right now, I am using my furlough to finish up my long suffering CLC Expedition Wherry. As I chose to strip plank the deck, I needed an easy to use and small miter box to do 45 degree cuts in the cedar strips so I could glow them together into one long strip. 

The box itself is great, just the right size and shape to use (and lose) easily. The only problem I have is that I am used to Japanese Pull saws as opposed to the western style push saw that came with it. Thankfully my small "woodpecker" saw fits the slots perfectly. I am sure most people would have no problems with the blade that came with it.

This can be a good sign or this can be a bad one. Obviously it means I can move on to newer and better projects.. or I can finish up the CLC Expedition Wherry. I would bet on that.

The five gallon bucket is ubiquitous, you can find them most everywhere. Even the big box hardware stores use them as "baskets" (That you then have to buy) when getting a bunch of small items. They have a million and a one uses, and they are sturdy. The only issue is that you can't reseal them once you break the tabs that hold the lids on.

Now you can. I found this at Lowes the other day, the Gamma Seal lid. It is a two part lid. The first part snaps securely onto the bucket and is very hard to remove. The second part screws into the first to act as a sealable lid to keep things fresh inside or things outside dry. I personally have mine loaded up with my camp stove, pot, a bag of fire pellets, and everything I need to make a couple days worth of meals.

And it will all stay dry aboard my boat or all together in the back of my truck. They also make a smaller one for the lessor seen 3 gallon bucket. Perfect for storing food at home, on the road, or on the water.

Yes, I know it is an obsolete camera, the D90 being a MUCH better camera than the older D80. Having said that, I have never owned a DSLR camera and I got a great deal on mine (probably because nobody wanted it) and it came with a full warranty.

This makes two Nikons I own, the other being a point and shoot underwater camera that I got for my birthday a couple of days ago. While a great camera, being able to actually focus makes the DSLR a much better tool for many things I may photograph. The smaller Nikon is better in many ways due to it's smaller size and being more rugged.

The only thing I do not like about the Coolpix AW130, the position of the lens. It's been decades since I got a finger in a shot, with the placement of the lens on the AS130, I have done it several times and have to make a concerted effort to keep my fingers from photo bombing whatever I am pointing it at

I first saw these lights at West Marine, but they have since popped up all over. The Luci inflatable Solar Lantern is just what the name says it is. A small, solar charged, light that inflates. Made of clear vinyl, it is tough, lightweight, and compact when deflated. You can hang it from your backpack, place it on the dashboard, or leave it anywhere it will get sunlight.

Fully charged, it can last up to 12 hours depending on the setting. At it's brightest can illuminate up to 15 square feet. The Luci inflatable Solar Lantern originates in New Zealand and it shows in it's quality and simple sophistication. We keep a couple on hand and charged up for use around the house just in case the mains go. Nobody likes to sit around in the dark.

The Silky BigBoy 2000 is a folding Japanese Pull saw made for professional landscapers. It's compact when folded shut, sharp, and lightweight. It is perfect for stowing in a corner of a boat or truck or just stashed in a backpack for those times you need a saw.

Locking open with a reassuring and precision click, the blade is insanely sharp for a saw. A brief brush against it's teeth will draw blood and I am certain that it could inflect major damage to the unwary or careless. Being a pull saw, the blade seems thin to western eyes because it does not need the mass and strength to stay straight when cutting on the more tradiational "push". This makes the BigBoy lighter and able to cut with more precision. Perfect for procuring small cuttings for the garden or taking a log down to a smaller size for burning.

Behind the house we had a branch that overhung the yard. A good 8 inches or more in diameter, it was a danger to the house and anybody below it due to electrical company prunings on the opposite side of the tree. Rather than taking an axe or a chainsaw to it, I cut it down to smaller "bite sized" pieces with the BigBoy. It was a job that did not take long and produced little excess "waste" in the process.

I am sure the tree appreciated a clean cut over a hack job too, we will see come spring when the sap flows again.