Randy Mimms has been living aboard a homebuilt plywood, gaff-rigged sloop as long as I can remember. When he first started living aboard he had no motor and not even a VHF. He sailed offshore from the Panama City area of Florida to Maine that way. He's been featured in Wooden Boat magazine and lots of other papers. I always thought his were made of brass but the longer I've known him the more I think they may be Titanium. Check out this video.