July 31st, 2007 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
Maybe it’s some hard-to-reach spot at the end of the bilge. Perhaps you’re wondering what’s around that blind corner in your engine compartment. In my case, I just wanted to know what kind of fuel/water separator I had, and how hard it was going to be to replace the filter element.
Sometimes, you just can’t get your eyes in where you need to see, especially on a boat. I’ve often wished I had some kind of miniature remote-control robot, like those Mars rovers, with a tiny camera aboard.
But then I realized: Maybe I’ve got something nearly as good! (more…)
Those little bits of red and blue yarn or ribbon on your sails can tell you a lot about how effectively you are steering and trimming. This great article from WB-Sails is one of the most informative I’ve ever run across on the subject. The animated diagrams are just great! If you feel a little fuzzy on why the telltales on your sails do what they do, it’s well worth a read.
If you are sailing too low, or if the sail is sheeted in too hard, a separation bubble forms on the leeward side. This is very harmul to the performance and should be avoided at all times.
Independently of the luff separation bubble, the airflow may get detached from the sail just before the leech on the leeward side. The eddy formed like this makes the leech telltale disappear behind the sail. For the sake of clarity, the size of the separation bubbles is exaggerated in the drawing.
When I bought my cruising cat a few years back, the un-loved, raw-water cooled 18hp Volvo diesels were one of my biggest concerns, and I set aside some cash for new diesels and saildrives. As luck would have it, I found a couple new, still-in-their-crates, 27hp Yanmar diesels with matching saildrives, being sold by an inventor who decided he’d rather not build his own catamaran. Since then, the crates have been sitting in my shop waiting for the old Volvos to give up their places. But, lately, I’ve been thinking seriously about going diesel/electric hybrid instead.
Electric drives for sailboats have been gaining noticeable momentum in the last few years, and it no longer seems to be such a bleeding edge proposition. Here are some of the systems I know about:
July 23rd, 2007 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
I encountered a small flotilla of incredibly charming little boats this weekend. I think of my C-Dory as a pocket cruiser with pint-sized, classic looks, but these boats are positively precious. I was smitten.
I spoke briefly with Bruce and Vicki Bridwell, aboard their 1958 Skagit 20 Express (and note the classic Johnson outboard they’re running). It turns out these folks are all associated with FiberGlassics Northwest, dedicated to the restoration and enjoyment of classic fiberglass cruising boats.
In a quite interesting boating technology-related post, Brian Lam of Gizmodo gets the lowdown from Philippe Kahn in the midst of his double-handed Transpac record attempt. This is an especially nice remark: (more…)
July 18th, 2007 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
Icom’s M72 handheld VHF transceiver is only two years old, but in the world of marine electronics, two years can seem like a long time! I’ve been shopping for a handheld VHF radio, but it ain’t easy: There are so many small radios on the market, choosing one can be overwhelming.
July 16th, 2007 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
Prism Kites is another one of the many local businesses I like to promote. They’re well-known for their cutting-edge stunt kites; you know, those two-line rigs you see spinning, flipping, and dancing all around at the park. I own two of these, but the fact is, I don’t take them cruising with me.
Why not? Mostly, because I like another Prism kite even better! I love my little Triads. In my opinion, the Triad is Prism’s most versatile kite, and I’ll tell you why: (more…)
July 12th, 2007 · by Tim Flanagan, Managing Editor
I’m sorry if I sound like some sort of Coast Guard groupie. In my defense, I used to be a big-time Trekkie, so at least my heroes nowadays are real people wearing real uniforms! If I start showing up at conventions in a home-made Coast Guard uniform, though, you’ll know something’s gone terribly, horribly wrong.
But any way you slice it, these folks are awesome. (more…)
