Trust gCaptain to be on the cutting edge when it comes to technogeekery for the commercial mariner!

Coracle Online was one of (if not the first) company in the maritime and shipping industry to get into iPhone and iPod Touch application development.  Their first application, The Maritime Glossary, provides instant access to over 9,000 nautical terms and abbreviations for anyone with an interest in international trade and the maritime world.  The Maritime Glossary is currently available in the iTunes App Store for $4.99 (link to download).

But Coracle is not stopping with just one.  Available next week in the iTunes App Store is Ship It!, a fun game that lets players load cargo and, well, ship it, before time runs out. In the video above, you can see a sneak preview that Coracle recently posted on YouTube.

Also in development from Coracle Online is a third application called Ports Information.  While details on this app have yet to be released, according to their website, the app provides “comprehensive Port Information on your iPhone and iPod Touch”.

And finally for those of you wondering, YES, gCaptain is in the process of developing its own iPhone and iPod Touch application.  While I can’t release the details just yet, stay tuned as we will be doing an official unveiling in coming weeks!

I still think the SmartPlug folks have got one hell of an uphill battle ahead of them, trying to break into a market already saturated with a pre-installed standard. But good luck to them!

You know, they’re right here in Seattle. Maybe I’ll drop by and see what I can learn.

Anyhoo, on with the press release!…

Continuing to revolutionize shorepower systems, SmartPlug Systems is proud to announce its 30 Amp Retrofit Boatside Plug and Inlet are American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) compliant. Both products have been independently tested by IMANNA Laboratory to meet ABYC E-11 standards.

“Becoming ABYC compliant paves the road to meeting Canadian regulations and beginning to distribute SmartPlug products in Canada,” said Ken Smith, CEO and founder of SmartPlug Systems. “We forecast sales of the SmartPlug will double as soon as sales in Canada are permitted.” Additionally, being ABYC compliant will assist in the introduction and meeting of regulatory requirements for shorepower in Europe and Australia, as well as facilitate the company in becoming an OEM for powerboats and sailboats.

Several rigorous tests were performed in order for the SmartPlug products to meet the standards. One test assured that the SmartPlug Retrofit Boatside Plug and Inlet are weatherproof, whether in use or not. With the plug and inlet engaged and in the locked position, the SmartPlug underwent a constant stream of water from a hose directed at all points of potential entry into the internal mechanisms.

Additionally, a temperature test was performed to assure that the SmartPlug will work at its rated max amperage in high ambient temperatures. The blade of a boatside plug was tested and shown to be capable of carrying a current continuously, without a temperature rise of more than 54˚ F. This is equal to the ampacity of the cord, but not greater than the maximum current for which the plug is rated.

[A press release, provided by the manufacturer. —Tim]

Shutting down running engines, generators and powered ventilation upon discharge of the fire suppression system ensures the extinguishing agent is not depleted before the fire is out. Taking advantage of modern microprocessor technology, the state-of-the-art ESRS Automatic Engine Shutdown System from Sea-Fire Marine now offers improved functionality and flexibility.

With two pressure switch inputs, the innovative system utilizes spring-cage connectors for an incredibly fast and simple installation. A new display panel provides plug-n-play via CAT5 cable connections. Multiple display panels can also be easily attached.

Operating between 9-31 VDC, the versatile ESRS Automatic Engine Shutdown System is offered in 4, 6 and 8 relay units to shutdown up to eight pieces of equipment. Options include fire suppression system, auxiliary zone and low-pressure monitoring features, as well as high-temperature zone monitoring with heat sensors. A relay reset timer version is also available.

Meeting ISO marine 8846 and CE approval standards, the advanced ESRS Automatic Engine Shutdown System from Sea-Fire Marine has suggested retail prices starting at $449.

Trust Boat Bits to take a fresh look at an old subject, with a boater’s priorities in mind. This time, it’s cargo-carrying aboard a bicycle:

One of the things that makes the whole boats on bike thing work is that it gives you the ability to get around and when you add the ability to carry stuff it all comes together.

Backpacks simply do not do the trick. They certainly have their place but when you need to move stuff from one place to another you have to have that “Sure another case of beer is no problem” ability!

While we were in France and on the canal lateral we’d refill our water tanks from a natural spring and bike the water a few miles. What made it really neat was that the spring in question was the same water as Perrier and free for the taking!

But the fact was it made shopping easy and gave us a range to be able to find the bargains that would be unavailable to us if we had been confined to foot or public transport. Being able to ride twenty-five miles, do some shopping, have lunch, and ride back without it being a drudge made all the difference.

Like any tool on a boat though, some care has to be taken with gear. Those days of humping jerry cans and cases of wine with the panniers and various bike bags available which were not quite up to the task or boat-friendly were the only hassle.

Which is why I’m very happy that Seattle Sports is making bike bags and panniers these days. Seattle Sports stuff is tough and seriously waterproof. In fact one of our ongoing upgrades is replacing all our various waterproof bags with Seattle Sports stuff as the old bags on the boat reach their sell by dates.

The pannier that I’m partial to is the Fast pack simple, bombproof and cheap! While not on your bike they will happily do double duty as waterproof bags for things that need to be kept dry or stowed away.

Time for another Navagear feature at MadMariner! In it, I summarize some of the options available for pure iPod-only stereo amplification. The inspiration for the story was the Left Coast Simple Stereo I discussed here recently. In the process of hunting down competitors to that unit, I learned a lot!

[It's another MadMariner feature from a few weeks back. In it, I summarize some of my experiences with the Magma kettle stove/grill. I’ve encountered problems, and sometimes I’ve discovered solutions. The Magma kettles are very popular, and this article should be valuable to anyone who owns one, or who is shopping for a barbecue. —Tim]

Magma Kettle barbecues are nearly ubiquitous throughout North American cruising grounds. I’ve owned one for a couple cruising seasons now, and I’ve learned a lot about the ups and downs of these units.

Let me say right off that this grill has enhanced our cruising experience more than any other single improvement. Moving cooking operations out to the cockpit removes the steam, splatter, and spills from the cabin entirely.

Even more significant, though, is the elimination of the bottleneck at the cabin door, which is where the galley is. The rest of the crew can come and go as they please while I cook astern. It sounds silly, but cooking out back seems to make the boat physically larger. On a 22 foot boat, a change like this is almost as good as buying a boat three feet longer.

To be precise, I’ve got a Magma Marine Kettle 2 combination stove and gas grill in the “original” (smaller) size. I use it as a stove more often than I use it as a barbecue, and as such I have some tips that are worth sharing.

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Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones. Especially when they utilize materials you already have aboard the boat in your time of need.

On my boat, I need a way to keep the sun off my ice chest. Oh sure, I could buy a better ice chest, or install something inside the cabin. But the one I have fits into the available space at the stern, between the two fuel tanks, just perfectly.

And then I remembered that I had one of those red and silver “space blankets” aboard, and I had a length of dowel aboard (it’s actually the handle from one of my kids’ fishing nets; the net went missing a couple weeks ago).

Et voila, the ice chest sits in the shade all day long.

I had a chance to test this all last week, and my observations suggest that this makes a huge difference in rate-of-meltage and consistent internal temperature. Potato salad was just fine stored in here for a full seven days, and I only augmented the block ice with two bags of “party” ice during the entire week.

Another great tip from MadMariner’s “Tips you can use” department:

We have all been there. Flashlight in mouth, head down, arms greased up so they can both squeeze into the locker. You are attempting to place a screw into a bracket before the blood rushes to your head. You have one screw left. Left hand on bracket, right hand on screwdriver with index finger holding the screwhead tight on the driver. Then…the screw falls into the bottom of the locker, just under that lip at the bottom where no one can reach. Here’s what to do: Get your shop vac, slip a lightweight sock over the hose, turn it on, and hold it over the abyss where the screw has fallen. Presto . . . you now have the screw held tight against the sock.

– Martha Trammell

Heck, they just won the NMMA Innovation Awards at the big MAATS show in Orlando. Panbo’s Ben Ellison was one of the judges, and he’s written about several of the winners. Here’s part of the Navionics press release:

Wareham, Mass. – Navionics, the leader in electronic charting and digital navigation data, is excited  to announce that Navionics Mobile 2.0 chart plotter software for iPhone has won an NMMA Innovation Award.

Source: www.ibinews.com – Ten marine aftermarket products gained recognition for “innovative achievement” by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) at the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) in Orlando. The awards were judged by Boating Writers International (BWI).

In the Aftermarket Electronics category, the Navionics Mobile 2.0 chart plotter software for iPhone won the award. Judges praised the software for bringing much information to a boater’s iPhone at a price point starting as low as US$5. “It’s the coolest app boaters will find on iTunes,” said David Seidman, one of the judges, in a statement.

And as if that weren’t enough, Navionics has just released an update for Navionics Mobile. They’re now up to version 2.2, and they’ve got a YouTube video to show off some of the new features. Here’s the press release:

Navionics Mobile, recent recipient of the 2009 NMMA Innovation Award at MAATS, now has even more of the features that you’ve been asking for. While the charts reside permanently on your iPhone, your adventures don’t have to… with version 2.2, you can create a virtual travelogue of your journey including geo referenced photos, tracks, routes and markers and post them directly to your Facebook page.  For those friends not yet on Facebook, simply email them your adventure log and let them view it overlaid on Google Earth.

What’s new in 2.2?

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These additional screen shots go along with the press release I published earlier.

I have a feeling this might be kind of like looking at an ultrasound of your unborn baby: It makes a lot more sense when you can watch the image changing through time, and static screen shots leave something to be desired.

Even so I’m fascinated, just from the still images.