It’s been a while since we had a new entry in the Notably Nutty arena but I found a good one.  Meet Mr. George Kourounis.  George is a videographer/ photographer who is part of OLN’s (Outdoor Life Network) feature series “Angry Planet“.  He seems to have an innate curiosity that drives him just a little further than most.  Here we see George paddling out on a lake of sulfuric acid with a PH of 0.5 (about that of a typical car battery’s acid)

that’s right, it’s a volcanic lake….of….acid.  Here!, watch it eat an aluminum can!

George suffers from his own nuttiness and the acid from his paddle drips on his pants and burns his skin….he had to cut them off.

In all reality, George probably belongs less in the notably nutty category than most that have been placed here.  He is an admirable person that has talent and goes many places…but still, paddling on an acid lake?  Seriously?  See more about George and his adventures on his website www.Stormchaser.ca

I’m sitting on my couch with a sinus infection that’s attempting to push my eyeballs out of my head so I recognize the fact that I may not be approaching this with all of my faculties intact. Does this belong in “Noteably Nutty” or should we create a new category for “What in the hell?”. This was found over at the Sail Away Ladies blog

Could this be Seabiscuit 2!? I found this recently dated image on a website about Kristopher J. Harley but it didn’t mention anything about it. I think our friend has not given up on his intentions to sail a 10′ boat around the world. It does look like he’s reconsidered his previous, ummm, design (link to previous Team Seacats blogs).

Kristofer J. Harley speaks out about what really happened during his failed launch of Sea Biscuit. Personally, I think that planning a three day departure window from the North West US/Canada in order to clear the “Mexican Hurricane Season” is a little short sighted for such a vessel. Click the image and read on.

An excerpt from Duckworks Magazine:

“Before I could dry her out, the tide was already rising again. It was now that I made the decision to take her home on the trailer. It would allow proper repairs with more cloth and epoxy and wouldn’t use up underwater epoxy intended for emergency repairs at sea, but I had now lost my window. The Mexican hurricane season was already starting, and I had already wasted too much time. I called my Wife, Chuck at Duckworks Magazine, and David of The Captain Humphreys Project and told them the sad news. We had lost our chance at a 2006 departure.”

Duckworks Magazine

One more post on our buddy Kristofer J. Harley. The folks over at Duckworks magazine have setup some sort of fund for Harley to help him get his boat back home and, I suppose, prepare for round two. It seems that they’ve already raised over $1000 US dollars. I think there are certain admirable qualities about Harley and his ambitions – especially in the environment of so many nay-sayers. However, I’m not sure that further supporting his round the marble trip is such a great idea for his own well being. Make up your own mind and contribute if you care too over at the Duckworks Site. After all of this, I have taken away at least one golden nugget that I’m sure to use in the future; “aaawww shoot…a little goo will do!”.

From the Duckworks site:

Location of SV Sea Biscuit – Kristofer J. “Harley” Harlson, Capt

Here is the latest news on Harley:

I talked to Harley on the phone this evening (Friday, the 25th of August) and he was in good spirits. I was able to tell him that through the generosity of family and friends, we had deposited almost a thousand dollars into his account. He seemed genuinely humbled and thankful.

Harley told me that he had been in touch with his former employer and was able to get his job back. In addition, he fully intends to maintain his dream and will make another attempt next year.

-Chuck-

More on Kristopher J. Harley again from EVK4. Seems Harley has wisely rethunk his master plan and is going to evoke a mulligan.

From EVK4 Bloglet

Last bit of Seabiscuit News for a Year
Harley is holding off for another year. Prudence took hold of him apparently. The boat is going back to the drawing board for some lead in the keel and hopefully some sea trials beforehand. Don’t know why, but I think I’m rooting for him more now than ever.

Here’s a note from a very kind man up in Tofino who has been giving me and Duckworks Magazine some updates:

Thanks for the new site .. Its interesting to see what people think ( concern’s ) Harley is back
at the float & has decided “To pack it in ” & “go back home ” .. IF he can get his help to come back & get him … he appears to be short of money ( he said that ).. He ask me if the berth (dock fee’s ) run’s out if he could put the ‘Seabiscuit ” on beach in front of my propertyuntil help arrives .. Getting around the world is tough enough but without any money would be twice as bad in my opinion … He said he’s going get the “Lead ” on the bottom of the keel, Its simply too “tippy” & the “window of the season ” is getting late .. I told him he had you guys cheering for him ( showed him your letter from last nite ) I suggested he could do these test’s in a lake down there ,, I wonder if sleeping in that craft may have got to him a bit also ,,”

I found something over at the EVK4 Blog where the blogger did some real sleuthing and contacted the gentleman that emailed the information to the DuckWorks Magazine site. It looks like ‘ol Kristofer J. Harley is planning for the maiden voyage to be the big one! Any guesses? Think he’ll actually go? I’ld also like to take a moment and point out that I am not a particularly superstitious person…but when it comes to the sea and little opportunity for a second chance I figure “why push it?”. Mr. Harley prepaid for 13 days of slip fees. The local had this to say:

From the EVK4 Bloglet:

Here’s an email from a gentleman who has seen him:
“Yes !! I think quite a few people are concerned .. So far he launched the boat Saturday(19). The two helpers left soon after .(with the trailer I believe) .. He got a tow around to a spot in the boat harbour .. after stowing more supply’s…The next day most of his stuff was out on the float He has a bad leak where the rudder bolted on .. Each AM he tediously mop’s & bail’s –what appears to be several gallons of water from the bilge. The balance of each day is spent talking to fishermen -tourist & any -body that wanders- bye.. & smokes one cigarette after another..( which may be difficult at sea ) I went down to the waterfront at 130pm to-day,, & he’s movedto the sand flats at the east end (waiting for the tide to fall ) ,,,,,,, I went down again to-night at 730 & he was out on the sand taking photo’s . The tide will very low to-morrow AM at 8-02,,I don’t know he move’s it as he doesn’t appear to have a oar.. I understand he paid for 13 days,,,So I guess this calm weather isn’t rushing him .. Winter SE winds are not far away .. It wouldn’t surprise me if he doesn’t end up in the “Charlottes” or ” Alaska ” I’m 71 years old -born here-The materials that drift on to our beaches all come north from south California-Oregon & Wash ,” Never buck the tide ” or mother nature. the way I see it he’s doing both .”

Isn’t modern communication technology fabulous?

A ponderance has been occasionally drifting through mind since I found the news on the Duckworks Magazine site about Kristofer J. Harley yesterday. I couldn’t sort out why that truck had to back so far into the water and why the guy had to go out on the tongue of the trailer to (apparently) push that tiny boat off that trailer. I just realized that it’s the position of the hull support cradle that wouldn’t clear the bow – but then again, I guess it’s not intended to be a trailer-sailor type of … er … “boat”. No news yet but I’m searching…

Remember our buddy from the Notably Nutty department; Kristofer J. Harley? I’m not sure if it was a sea trial or his actual around-the-world mission, but apparently he was very near to departure when, shortly after launching, he discovered the rudder bolts were leaking. Not that much of it was left…but this doesn’t help his credibility. His response to a concerned on-looker was “a little goo will do”. He was (is) expecting to leave from a secret departure site because he’s concerned that the Coast Guard might try to stop him (I suspect he’s more concerned about having an unruly crowd on hand). I do wonder how effective those lifelines are going to be….Stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted!

DuckWorks Magazine

Another late breaking bulletin from our Notably Nutty department. Kristofer J. “Harley” Harlson is going to sail non-stop around the world in a self built 8′ boat. I’m not making this up. On one hand you have to admire the ambition. His statement “I do not wish for anyone to risk his or her lives trying to save me from my own folly” is certainly admirable. If you follow the first link, I think you will agree that he looks pretty sane. On the other hand though, you have to wonder if galvanized hinges for rudder pintles, fire hose screwed in place to hinge a rudder trim tab, or galvanized steel mesh used in the hull construction are indicative of great planning. For that matter…can you store enough food for a 1.5 knot voyage around the globe inside such a thing? Click ‘em if you got ‘em

Kristofer J. “Harley” Harlson — Sea Biscuit Around the World 2006-2007

An interview at Duckworks Magazine

Some Construction Photos