Yes I saw it.... I kept telling my wife all the things he did wrong. It is too bad he had no idea how to use fiberglass......
The movie about the American girl who wanted to sail solo around the world was not much better as far as production. I think it was called Shoe?

Haven't seen it yet, read a couple of reviews from people on Sailblogs and after reading those I am pretty sure it's not going to be bear much resemblance to reality. I gather you are best to forget whatever you know about sailing. I have a low BS tolerance so it's not looking good. Probably best saved for a rainy day on the boat when there's little else to do.

I thought it was pretty lame. Robert Redford, directed and acted - solo.
Low budget, lots of really poor mistakes in regards to sailing and boats IMHO...

I'm going to watch the movie with my wife (both fairly inexperienced sailors) when we get some spare time. Anybody care to elaborate so we can watch for it? Thanks--JS

Biggest waste of time. So unrealistic and STUPID. Coast Guard should be screaming. Redford never wears a life jacket throughout the entire movie, and moves like a turtle when his boat is sinking. Enjoy!

I'm going to buck the trend here. The movie is not about exemplary seamanship as much as it's about "a bad stretch of boating". Loved the West System patch kit he tried to lather on from the outside of the hull, flushing his radio with fresh water, being tied to the manual bilge pump, grabbing the "Celestial Navigation for Dummies" book when all his electronics were fried, having trouble getting into the life raft, etc. The wheels were coming off the bus and how he coped with them alone. I could see myself doing all that he did in the same situation.

For much of the movie I though that bringing my wife was a mistake, even though we have blue-water experience. Kinda like Jaws, you knew it was a rubber shark, but somehow body surfing right after seeing it in the summer of 1975 was not without some extra looks around the surf line.

There's almost no dialog, so it's like the "Old Man and the Sea" without narration. Not a movie you'd see twice, but I could certainly feel, smell, and taste some of the situations he was in.

Some skipper on crusiersforum seemed to say it best: "It is not an instructional video about sailing." :cool:

[QUOTE=newguy;21977]...Kinda like Jaws, you knew it was a rubber shark, but somehow body surfing right after seeing it in the summer of 1975 was not without some extra looks around the surf line.

...I could certainly feel, smell, and taste some of the situations he was in.[/QUOTE]

I agree.

Like Stu implies, it's a movie for entertainment, so it would naturally emphasize feeling over fact. I was entertained...and it will probably remind me, at some subconscious level, to be careful out on the ocean.

The fact that he knew how to make a solar still to make water impressed me. Tying his life raft to a sinking ship and then going to sleep......not so much.

Mike

He shouldda stayed with the container. Obviously more seaworthy. At least he wouldnt have run out of tennis shoes. B

"If all is not lost, then where the heck is it?" - old codger joke

I loved the movie but my wife was embarrassed because I was laughing out loud.  It would not have made a very good story if he had used good seamanship or knew his boat well enough to patch her up.  It would not have made a good story if he an epirb or some common sense not to sail blindly at night while asleep.

Instead of Celestial Navigation for Dummies he should have been reading Adrift by Steven Callahan.  A great read if you have never read it - 76 days in a life raft in the Atlantic after his Yacht sank.
  http://books.google.com.np/books/about/Adrift.html?id=3nmIoSY6AZ4C&redir...

But I read some blogs and there are some folks out there in real life buying run down boats and a case of duck tape and setting off to 'live the dream'.  One guy on the east coast keeps buying old 26 footers for a dollar and living on anchor until they sink. Complains about the price of beer, lack of employment prospects and harassment from the Coast Guard about his port a potty (which he likely dumps over the side at night).

Seems like derelict boats can become a real problem for some marinas.  Boat sits until the slip or mooring fees go unpaid.  Someone has to pump the water out of them to haul them off.

Well, my wife and I watched it, and it did spark some good conversation.
Thought the movie had an element of Jack London's To Build A Fire in it.
He was certainly very casual about the whole ordeal.
I can promise you this: If I woke up from my mid-morning nap with 18" of water in the cabin, I wouldn't be sauntering up topside like I was taking a stroll through West Marine's shoe department.

First point, have not watched it.  Second based on every review I've heard dockside, not likely to watch it.  Question, does anyone have a great sailing movies to recommend.  12 year old loves "White Squall", and "Master and Commander" (young history buff), and yes "Cap't Ron".   Last movie listed was questionable parental judgment, PG is not the same as it used to be. 

Anyway, what good movies are out there?  Thanks for helping.  Cheers!