October 6, 2002

Edgar Dutton our original comptroller passed away early this September which will have an effect on the future of this E-Zine. For now this only increases my commitment to promoting Cruising in Canada and its waterways.

We began in New York City in 1995 as Imgdesign and assumed its present persona in August of 1997 when we were been joined by Edger Dutton. Cruising Canada and my sailing logs began in 1984 when I turned Prism One south.

Robin's career has been largely corporate communications. In the 70's and 80's Robin was responsible for production of hundreds of programs a year, using traditional animation cameras, live shoot film, slide, and video. Creating a variety of commercial presentations ranging from point of purchase to national sales meetings and entertainment extravaganzas. Prior to retiring and sailing south in 1985 Robin was awarded the " Lifetime Achievement Award " by AI for significant contributions to the industry to add to a Master of Photography in 1971.

Edger Dutton, our comptroller, comes with a distinguished background of Engineering and pubic service with the Department of National Defense Canada. Graduating in England as an Electrical Engineer, Edgar's first position was with the British Colonial Engineering service, building power transmission lines through the jungles of Malaysia. He retired from Department of National Defense as the Chief Construction Engineer for Mobile Command. Edgar fell in love with the open sea at an early age and has spent many months on a variety of commercial vessels both in wartime and peace. His over-riding passion was always the sea time.

During the early 1970's Europe and ex-fishing fleet vessels were the magnet of Robin's attention, entering joint ventures with several others to rebuild and sail these craft. Balancing the time between freelance film making in Los Angeles and Esberg in Denmark resulted in many experiences with real boats.

Returning to Canada in 1977 Robin worked in multi-image as a photographer then succeeded in the development and partnership of a post-production lab. This financed a small wooden cutter, then in 1979 Belle Argo a 32' plywood hulled Dickerson which was pretty much rebuilt from the frame's out using epoxys and current technology.

As the post production lab became famous and money flowed in, the desire to a get away and own outright a cruising boat returned. Prism One 1983 to 1987 was the dream boat during the film lab years though my driving passion was to sail south forever. Prism was a Sampson C-Quence ketch built of Ferro cement with stainless steel frames. Her dimensions were LOA 41', LOD, 37', Beam of 13', draft 6'2", displacement 15 Tons.

The long voyage from Canada began with the first move to NY while establishing another lab location. Rather than rent expensive shore side digs, living aboard was the obvious choice. This was the first baptism of life aboard wintering at City Island in the worst winter of the decade seeing many weaker boats sink in the ice. In this marina you had to be entirely self sufficient with a vessel capable of retaining livable facilities in the dead of winter.

Spring finally came and cruising the surrounding waters of Long Island Sound and north to Boston forever endeared me to the eastern seaboard.

The NYC job completed, it was time to move on. Many of the stories of the voyage south and in the Caribbean are extracted from Robin's logs. The entire voyage is still a subject to be completed.

The voyages carried me south to the windwards and throughout the Caribbean. Unlike some cruisers the well beaten track and beautiful beaches soon became too tame.

Now cruising is NOT totally safe. Above the weather and normal requirements of voyaging there is always the risk of pirates, or sneaky boat boys trying to rip you off, or outright kill you for your boat. I met many interesting people who were part of different cultures living in the ghettos and mountains.

Visit Centaur 1988 to 1991 & life aboard

1929 John Hanna designed motor sailer or as described in her papers a motor vessel built in Feraninda Beach Florida. Her Dimensions were 65' LOD, 16'Beam, draft 6' Displacement 65 Tons. Primary propulsion GMC 871 Diesel.

1999 - 2002 MV Naughty-Lass

Complete site including rebuild logs here.

Naughty-Lass is an older 33' LOA traditional wooden motor yacht with a trawler hull & and twin diesel's, custom designed in 1976 for use on the Trent Severn Waterway. Because of her draft and our advancing age it was time to consider an easy to handle vessel with shoal draft to fully explore Ontario's waterways.