When one of us posts a picture of ourself, invariably someone else mentions that they appreciate attaching a face to a name. This can be a useful procedure for making friends before we physically meet! Maybe we'll recognize each other on a boat! So, at the risk of feeling like John Belushi in Animal House, leading a "charge" that no-one joined, well, here goes.

My birth name is Paul, but friends mostly call me "Planet". In graduate school, at the giant grad student parties, I used to have fun with strangers by playing with their intellect. My friends would stand outside of a room I entered and make bets concerning how long it would take for me to empty the room. Once too often a stranger slipped out of the room and asked my friends: "man, what planet is that guy from?" That is when my nick name first happened, and it stuck. Hope the cropped photo I attach works (the original file was >2 MegaBytes).

IM LOUIE RABADI A.K.A DODOMAN. IM WANTED IN 14 STATES, CLIMBED THE HIMALIAHS, CROSSED THE EVERGLADES, BEEN CHASED BY THE F.B.I.S , OH WELL THEY ALREADY HAVE A PICTURE OF ME , HERES ANOTHER ONE OR TWO.

THAT ONE DID NOT COME OUT RIGHT, HERE IS A BETTER LOOKING FELLOW

OOH, IF ANY ONE EVER RUN INTO ME AT SEA, CAN YOU BUY ME A BEER PLEASE.

LOL!! Oh man, I'll gladly buy you a beer, bro. I'm guessing you'd only make funnier jokes! :-)

OK, I know one isn't supposed to rock the boat. What about rocket the boat? This is my 1/2-scale Nike Smoke, ready to go to the launch pad.

And here's the lift-off. The FAA waiver at this field, 2 miles squae, was only 10,000 feet above ground level (AGL)--planes in our airspace have to stay above 10K AGL. So, this was a chip-shot to 8K AGL, and a maximum speed of 650 MPH. I designed a series of useful rockets, one of which lays long lines to a specific GPS coordinate. Was designed to save boats fuel, and to speed up the fishing on short-period seasons (like for halibut). Rather than spend all their time steaming, boats can say where they want the line, and can be there waiting--two minutes after launch, it's set. Bait the hooks one day, turn around and pick the fish, and no need to cut the line and let thousands of fish rot.

MARK the Chark. This isn't exactly what I had in mind. What about a "members only" section of the board, where we can post our little pics and bios, so we can find one other on the high seas?

If that is a stupid idea, well, sorry... Wish I lived out there (as Iggy suggested).

Wow, Keta!

Those are some n-i-c-e YFT!

All my fish photos are >2 Mbyte and I am a computer plebe, I can't figure this stuff out...

Rats...

daaaaaanng keta , those gotta be over 2 plus. like the way the rod is wrapped. wish me luck on mines this year.



p/s you the man keta.

Got lucky and was on a good boat. My first 200+ came after 3 days of nothing and watching all but 2 others catch many cows. The largest fish caught on the first trip was over 300lbs (Howard)with another just shy of 300lb (Richard/Mike).

All 3 here were 200+ with the big boy at 258lbs. I can't find any pictures of my other two 200lb + YFT. On the January '06 15 day there were so many cows caught I didn't even know I had 3 until we got back to San Diego.

I hope the cows cooperate for you louie and on the Jan '08 15 day Hoggem and me are planning.


Nice rocket Planet! What did you use for fuel?

Thanks, Keta! The Smoke's motor was burning aluminum: the motor operated at 3500 degrees, 600 PSI, and it had a mach 6 exhaust plume. My current motors burn plastic, but generate intense power. For about $300 in chemicals one can generate enough power to fling 10 pounds into space (64 miles AGL) at more than 6000 MPH. It was the only pic I could post! I figured the long-line angle was the closest I'd be able to get with my computer "skill".

Wow, the trip you described tested your mettle, but you came through a three-time winner. I can hardly wait to do a trip down to the bay and the banks, but need more experience. So, another 10-day, and I can hardly wait. Still, those fish of yours are inspirational. Oh man, so much to do, and so little time, and even less money!

What is the oxidizer, H2O2?

Yup, if this old cancer surviver with two bad legs can land big fish anyone can. Save a bit more and do a 15 day or longer trip, it's well worth the money.

Hey, Keta!

The oxidizer is ammonium perchlorate (AP), and the propellant is classified as AP composite propellant, or APCP. My current motors use AP but the binder is PBAN--same propellant used in the solid rocket boosters for the space shuttle, though NASA adds 11% aluminum and I don't use any metals--I don't need them, and they just make cleaning the motor an absurdly dirty job.

My space flight is tentatively scheduled for next year, from Poker Flats--the launch range of the University of Alaska. While I'm up there, I simply must try some halibut fishing in the ocean, and some salmon fishing in rivers. And, I must see the northern lights. So interesting that you lived in AK. So cool. Two of the most beautiful women that I ever saw moved to AK. Most of the rest were on HB in the summer.

Did you see the giant grizzly in the Anchorage airport? The teenage son of a rocketman from Texas bagged it, just after it had eaten a dude (well, his butt and thighs). I received the photos of this insanity days after it happened. The bear was dropped with a 9mm, IIRC (full clip, then reload and cap). That is one beast that I do NOT want to see in AK, unless I have a minigun handy. Hasta la vista, baby!

Thanks for the sage advise. Two great dudes I met last trip, Gene and Rubin, are doing a 16 day trip this Feb. My fishing bro, Gordon, and I are doing our next 10-day together. Then we are looking for 80 reels. At this point, that giant fish you caught would kill me! This year I hope to hone my technique. I bet you could catch 80lb YFT all day long without hardly breaking a sweat. Like martial arts, it's all about technique. I'm patient. I'll learn. I just hope I live long enough to get to the next level.

Hey, Keta!

It just cleared my head that you are a cancer survivor. Thank God!

I am a heart attack survivor,at least for now. The lead singer in our band (which I joined after surviving the MI) is battling cancer. The band is rallying around her, we will not gig till she is with us, so now we just practice and do little outing to make her laugh.

Man, I'd love to watch you fish. It would teach me a lot! But, obviously, you could teach me (anyone) a lot of other stuff too. Way to go, bro. I am so happy for you. In the words of Roger, in Won't Get Fooled Again, EYAH!! :-)

quote:

Man, I'd love to watch you fish. It would teach me a lot!

I'm just a old guy that likes to fish and keep my eyes and ears open, there is much more to learn.

I hope things go well for your lead singer, my life has changed but at least I'm around to complain about it.

If the Brownie was at the airport prior to '99 I've seen it. My work took me to Anchorage, in transit to Whittier, twice a year. I was also on the board of directors for the AOC (Alaska Outdoor Council) for many years and went through the Anchorage airport on the way to meetings. My home port was Ketchikan.