The Seattle Boat Show continues through this weekend. Yes, even on Super Bowl Sunday. So if you haven’t stopped by, make some time available.

And don’t forget the South Lake Union “Boats Afloat” portion of the show; the weather’s perfect. Get out there and take a look at some larger boats in their natural habitat.

But hold on…what’s this?

Allow me to share what I think is the weirdest boat at the show. Actually, it isn’t at the show, which is a shame. But at the WORD Boats display (North 134), you can see material on and talk about the HeliCat 22.

Is it a helicopter? No, it’s a…well, here’s what the website says:

The HeliCat 22 high speed two-person catamaran is great for safe & dry fun, island transport, fishing far away, or day charter. Wrap it with your company logo & photos for eye-catching and fun advertising on and off the water.

The revolutionary new design makes this fast and agile catamaran very easy to navigate, safe in rough seas, and a lot of fun with great fuel economy and low maintenance. It is virtually unsinkable as each of its 22-foot hulls is divided into 6 completely separate watertight compartments.

When using two 60-horsepower 4-stroke outboards the HeliCat exceeded 57 knots (over 60 mph). It is constructed using isophthalic resin, thus eliminating any problems that would occur from osmosis. The HeliCat is manufactured according to ABS rules in Argentina.

Seattle Boat Show Price: $44,500 ready to go with with two Mercury 4-stroke EFI 60-hp engines, and aluminum trailer.

You know, if you lived on one of those non-ferry-served islands in the Salish Sea, and you worked on the mainland, I could kind of see this being your daily commuter.

See, I figure it’s like a motorbike or a subcompact car, for the water. Or maybe it’s more like the personal helicopters we were all supposed to be using by now. This requires more thought…

Pilothouse and “Alaska bulkhead” powerboats in the 20- to 30-foot range are popular here in the Pacific Northwest. Heck, I own one myself.

It’s cold half the year, and it can rain at any time of the year, so being able to close the cabin door and crank up the heat is a necessity for any serious cruising boat, the way air conditioning might be in Florida.

So it’s entirely appropriate that Boston Whaler has chosen to debut the new 285 Conquest Pilothouse at the Seattle Boat Show. In case you won’t be there, you can see a whole slideshow over at Boston Whaler. Let’s see what the press release says…

Boston Whaler Unveils Hull # 1 of 285 Conquest Pilothouse at Seattle Boat Show’s Opening Day, Friday January 27

SEATTLE – Boston Whaler has chosen the 65^th Annual Seattle Boat Show for the world debut of its new 285 Conquest Pilothouse. The boat will be unveiled at a special event – open to members of the media and select invitees – at 5pm on Friday January 27, opening night of the show. Tim Schiek, Boston Whaler’s president, and Kevin Roggenbuck, president and CEO of Lake Union Sea Ray will offer remarks and a champagne toast to mark this milestone. They and other Boston Whaler representatives, including Lenn Scholz, Boston Whaler’s director of product development will be available to answer questions.

“We’re thrilled that Boston Whaler chose the Seattle Boat Show as the launching pad for its cutting-edge new 285 Conquest Pilothouse,” said George Harris, president of the Northwest Marine Trade Association, organizers of the Seattle Boat Show. “Boston Whaler is a well-known and well-loved brand in the Pacific Northwest and showgoers will be ecstatic to be the first boaters to see it.”

The groundbreaking new 285 Conquest Pilothouse features Boston Whaler’s first-ever full-enclosure pilothouse design—ideal for the unpredictable boating weather in the Pacific Northwest. The brand-new 210 Montauk will also be making its debut. The largest Montauk yet, the 210 offers a suite of premium fishing features in a package that allows anglers to boat farther and stay out longer than ever before.

The 285 Pilothouse includes a state-of-the-art integrated windshield-hardtop system, aft bulkhead with door, and a fully enclosed, weather-protected helm offering unprecedented comfort and cover from the elements.

“We can’t think of a better place to launch our new pilothouse design than at the Seattle Boat Show, one of the largest and most prestigious boat shows on the West Coast," said Tim Schiek, president of Boston Whaler.

Navagear will be there! Here’s the more generic press release on the 285 Conquest Pilothouse:

Boston Whaler debuts cutting-edge new 285 Conquest Pilothouse

Edgewater, Fla. (January 24, 2012) – With Boston Whaler’s landmark release of the 285 Conquest Pilothouse, the boatbuilder firmly establishes itself as an industry leader in boating innovation. Featuring Boston Whaler’s first-ever pilothouse configuration, which includes a state-of-the-art integrated windshield-hardtop system, aft bulkhead with door, and a fully enclosed, weather-protected helm, the 285 Conquest Pilothouse offers unprecedented comfort and cover from the elements.

“The 285 Conquest Pilothouse represents a bold step forward for Boston Whaler,” said Ron Berman, Boston Whaler’s vice president of product development and engineering. “Along with the fall release of the totally redesigned 285 Conquest, the new pilothouse feature is an integral element in the evolution of our Conquest line. For boaters in more volatile weather regions, like the Pacific Northwest, the 285 Conquest Pilothouse is the ideal vessel.”

The revolutionary pilothouse provides total helm climate control, with a tempered-glass, full enclosure windshield system with electric vent, and a bulkhead with locking door. Windshield wipers with wash system enhance captain visibility, and an optional cockpit diesel heating system keeps the pilothouse toasty in cold weather. Inside the pilothouse, a starboard prep center provides a sink, cutting board, cup holder and handy storage underneath. To port, an elegant and innovative lounge with solid-surface, pull-out table adds to the overall richness of the space. Captains will enjoy a brand-new adjustable helm seat with flip-up bolster and armrests for unprecedented comfort and convenience. And attached to the hardtop, cockpit floodlights, a dome light, a ventilation hatch and rod holders augment the pilothouse’s safety and utility. An available retractable canvas sun shade will provide protection from sun and rain all the way to the aft combing.

But there’s much more to the 285 Conquest Pilothouse than the enclosure itself. A spacious cabin lies below, inviting overnighters with an airy ambience courtesy of warm LED lights, a skylight over the galley, and stunning headroom. Families sleep well thanks to a sumptuous Vberth with filler cushions and plush mid-double berth. The deluxe galley features a refrigerator, microwave, sink with faucet and cutting board, trash receptacle, 110-V outlet, and premium wood-grain cabinetry. Passengers can enjoy total privacy out on the water thanks to a homelike head with VacuFlush™ pumping system, stainless steel sink with pull-out shower, mirror, hanging storage and a shelf for toiletries.

“When we designed the new 285 Conquest Pilothouse, comfort in any condition was of the utmost importance—from the helm to the cabin,” Berman said. “This boat stands out from the crowd in that regard. You will be hard-pressed to find another vessel in its class that provides accommodations that are as generous, even luxurious, as what you’ll find on the 285 Pilothouse.”

The 285’s thoughtful amenities include abundant storage, topside and below. An innovative, three-drawer port storage compartment offers a convenient home for tackle. Four under-gunnel rod racks and four cabin interior rod racks lend anglers more than enough room for their fishing equipment, and dual in-deck fishboxes with drains and pump-outs are perfect for putting fresh catch on ice. The anchor tucks away neatly in a heavy-duty stainless steel anchor roller and is operated by a standard windlass. Additional spacious storage lockers lie beneath the V-berth cushions and in the mid cabin.

For all its convenience and intuitive design elements, it could be easy to forget that the 285 Conquest Pilothouse is also a technological dynamo. Standard dual 225-hp Mercury FourStroke Verado® outboards represent the cutting edge of modern marine power. They come paired with deluxe SmartCraft™ helm gauges, DTS Digital Throttle and Shift, and hydraulic power steering that puts the captain in total command. Available factory-installed Raymarine® electronics provide the latest in navigation electronics technology. A 200-gallon fuel tank gives owners peace of mind for weekend overnight trips or offshore angling outings. Owners have a suite of entertainment tools at their disposal, as well, including Clarion® waterproof speakers (two in cabin, two in cockpit) with iPod and AM/FM/CD functionality.

“Serious boaters trust the Conquest name because it can provide a premium experience for a range of pursuits,” Berman said. “Fishermen will seek out the pilothouse for its rugged angling features and all-weather setup. Families will find first-class amenities throughout for overnight outings and entertaining guests. We’re excited by the possibilities provided by the pilothouse feature. Boston Whaler is dedicated to offering the most gracious on-water experience to its owners, no matter your boating style, and to that end, the 285 Conquest Pilothouse delivers on numerous levels.”

Deborah Bach has this story at Three Sheets Northwest:

[The SCAMP's more unusual features include a water ballast tank and an offset centerboard. Photo by Debra Colvin]

Imagine being able to take all of the features you like in a wide variety of boats and combine them to create your ideal boat.

That’s what the publishers of Port Townsend-based Small Craft Advisor magazine did, resulting in the sturdy and innovative SCAMP (Small Craft Advisor Magazine Project), an 11-foot, 11-inch open-cabin boat that weighs about 420 pounds and is designed to be the smallest possible safe, comfortable cruising sailboat.

The boat’s more unusual features include a water ballast tank, an offset centerboard, a “veranda” to provide shelter from the elements, and a draft of just eight inches when the centerboard is raised — allowing intrepid sailors to explore waterways not accessible by most other boats.

It has a simple balanced lugsail rig and is intended to be sailed or rowed, but can also be fitted with an outboard in place of the rudder.

The SCAMP has garnered the endorsement of small boat adventurer Howard Rice, who has sailed and paddled a 15-foot sailing canoe solo around Cape Horn in both directions.

“In my opinion, it’s a new category of small daysailing and cruising boat,” Rice said. “There’s nothing else like it.”

Read more

Greetings from Morro Bay, California!

Regular readers will remember that I’m helping deliver a 50-foot powerboat from Seattle to San Diego. Today we’re stuck in Morro Bay due to offshore weather conditions. But it ain’t a bad place to be stuck, by any means. There’s plenty to do in this delightful little town.

Including watch Brad Wilcox and friends haul out his newest creation from her just-completed sea trial.

And just what is she? A Hobie Cat with some kind of camper trailer mounted on top? Not quite. It’s Brad’s pet project right now, a labor of love that he hopes will serve as an ultra-efficient family cruiser and fishing boat.

The hulls started life as amas (the smaller outer hulls) for a trimaran project that never quite came together. So Brad repurposed them into primary hulls for this 32-foot power catamaran, cutting a big aluminum mast extrusion to create the akas (the lateral struts connecting the hulls). He fabricated the fiberglass cabin and virtually all the mounts and fittings you see in these photos.

During recent sea-trials, with its 50-horsepower Mercury outboard, he was able to go upwind at about 10 knot, and better than that downwind. He described waiting at the notoriously tricky entrance to Morro Bay for a big swell, and then throttling up at just the right moment to catch the wave, surfing into the bay at 20 knots!

He continues to refine the design as he learns more about how the boat performs, and it should be interesting to watch the project develop. He envisions augmenting the outboard with a big kite for downwind runs, which would make quite a sight. Good luck, Brad!

My friends Marty and Deborah bought a boat with…shall we say… "sanitation issues”. Apparently, those issues have been resolved, and a big part of the solution was the installation of an Air Head composting head. Take it away, Mary!

The one thing Deborah resents about boating is having to think so much about waste — as in, the kind we humans personally produce.

But I’m going to spend the next two On Watch columns talking about just that. Sorry, honey.

As many of you know, we’ve been working on upgrading the sanitation system aboard Three Sheets, our 1989 Island Packet 38. It started as a project to replace the holding tank and hoses, which had become permeated with what we came to call The Stank.

But as we puzzled through how to improve the system, we stumbled upon the marine version of the composting toilet.

Having just tested the limits of my iron-clad stomach during the demolition phase of the sanitation project, I was immediately intrigued with one of the primary selling points of the composting head: no hoses.

In fact, as we looked into the head more (can I say that?), the benefits of simplicity started to make a pretty compelling argument. Not only no hoses, but no clogged hoses. In fact, there was very little that could go wrong with what amounted to glorified (and pricey) shit bucket.

Read more:
Heads Up (Part One)
Heads Up (Part Two)

Bob Salnick has this post at the Windborne in Puget Sound blog:

No, not the kind that stick on your refrigerator, holding up the kids drawings or the grocery list.

I am talking here about magnetic drive pumps for the refrigerator.  Wait, what?

Let me back up a step.  Your household refrigerator discharges the heat it pulls from its interior into the surrounding air.  If you are old enough, you’ll remember the "coils" on the back of the refrigerator, but now virtually all refrigerators have those coils concealed in the base.  Nevertheless, they are there, busy heating air with the heat removed from your food.

Here on Eolian, the refrigerator is water-cooled.  Other than the hassle of dealing with circulating seawater, this makes a lot of sense – the seawater is 48° right now, so it serves wonderfully to carry away the heat.  But there is still that circulating seawater thing.

Originally, Eolian had a very small Johnson brand conventional centrifugal pump for the refrigerator.  But not long after I moved aboard, that pump failed the way most such pumps fail:  the seal gave out and seawater dribbled along the shaft into the pump motor interior, destroying it.  That seal is the weak link in a pump.

There is an alternative, however:  the magnetic drive pump.  In these pumps, the rotor (the thing that impels the water into motion) has an embedded magnet, and is totally sealed off from the motor.  The motor drive shaft has a magnet on its end, and drives the impeller thru magnetic coupling alone.  There is *no* possibility of leakage at the seal – because there is no seal.

Read more

I don’t own a kayak, and I don’t plan on building a kayak. Therefore, I am definitely NOT the target audience for this blog entry by Alex Wetmore.

Yet I am transfixed!

So I urge all my boat enthusiast readers at Navagear to click through and, if nothing else, look at the pictures. It’s a fascinating process. Here’s an excerpt to get you started:

I spent the last week in Portland taking a kayak building class by Brian Schulz of Cape Falcon Kayaks.  I took a pretty good number of photos during the class, and this very long blog entry (perhaps the longest that I’ve posted) will be a photo essay showing how we built the kayaks.  Jump to the very end if you want to see a photo of my finished kayak.

[I’ll cheat and post it here. —Tim]

I took the class with 2 other students, Steve and David.  Brian was also building a kayak during the class for a customer in Portland.  David, Brian, and I were all building F1 kayaks, a design that Brian came up with.  Steve built a Greenland style kayak that Brian copied from historical drawings with some modifications to make it handle well with a larger paddler.

Here is a rough breakdown of how the class broke down:

• Day 1: Build the top of the frame
• Day 2: Build the bottom of the frame
• Day 3: Finish the frame
• Day 4: Skin the boat
• Day 5: Apply polyurethane to the skin and make a paddle.
• Day 6: Finishing touches (deck lines, foot pedals, back band, seat)
• Day 7: Paddle

Each day was about 8 hours, starting at 8am and finishing around 4pm or 5pm.  The exception was Day 4 which was a 12 hour day, and Day 6 which was only about 3 hours.  We had to wait to Day 7 to paddle to make sure that the polyurethane coating was dry before going on the water.  I know that the class schedule has been tweaked over the years, so every class will be a little different.

Normally he teaches the class with 5 students, but ours was a little small due to a last minute cancellation.

I’m putting a lot of detail here, but it barely scratches the surface of what you learn taking the class.  It is a great class if you enjoy working with your hands, enjoy kayaking, and aren’t normally a wood working type of person.  I learned a lot and think I was far more successful than if I had tried this on my own.

Day 1

Read on!

[As a practical and safety-conscious boat owner, I’ve decided to keep my mouth shut about things like the paucity of cleats, handholds, rails, and places to hang fenders. Never mind those concerns…CHECK OUT BATMAN’S AWESOME BATBOAT!

Enjoy the press release. —Tim]

American car companies have recently reintroduced classic models, such as the Dodge Charger and Challenger, to much popular acclaim. Now boaters can get their own versions of updated classics with Danalevi Power Boats. Founder Ross Hartman will offer head-turning models heavily influenced by classic boats and cars, but custom-built with 21st-century technology. A unique project will let those passionate about beautiful retro boats help launch the prototype.

Danalevi’s current 5 models, from 18′-28′, range from stylish to sexy. An 18′ Roadster Classic incorporates flowing curves and seats up to 4 people. The 22′ Gentleman’s Roadster starts with a smooth, rounded bow and tapers sharply to an eye-catching, pointed-V stern. A wild, water-ripping 28′ Sprint Cat GT was inspired by the Ford Shelby of the ’60s.

Behind the retro styling, Danalevi will incorporate core infusion technology and modern production techniques to create high-quality parts more quickly. "Danalevi boats will look better, last longer and need less maintenance," said Hartman.

Packed with superior standard equipment and amenities, Danalevi options range from FLIR imaging to sliding canopies and a custom hard-top trailer. Planned power choices include Steyr Diesel Hybrid Electric motors and Mercury jet drives.

"We have great interest in Danalevi from all over the world," said Hartman. "Marketing campaigns have generated much positive response about our models, attracting as many as 500 new people a day to our website," he said.

But, as banks have become increasingly hesitant with discretionary-income ventures, Danalevi has turned to a new capital-raising concept to help launch its beautiful retro boats. Hartman and partner Michael Connor are participating in Peerbackers.

Peerbackers is a website that empowers anyone to help bring a great idea to reality. In return for project donations, backers receive thank you gifts related to the project. While Danalevi offers donation levels as low as $10, those who contribute $500 automatically have a chance to win one of the first Danalevi boats for themselves. Hartman plans to hold the drawing for the boat at a charity event, the proceeds of which will benefit military veterans. "We want to give back, as a way of ‘paying forward’ the generosity and support of our backers and retro boat fans," he said.

Hartman is confident that as word gets out, boating enthusiasts will want to get involved. Prominent marine industry professionals are already onboard. Initially, Danalevi will work with Marine Concepts to construct the first three designs to get boats to the public as soon as possible.

"With our management team and backers, we feel this is a solid team for success," said Hartman. Renderings of Danalevi models and the company’s story can be found at www.danalevi.net. Information about helping Danalevi launch its prototype is available at www.peerbackers.com/projects/unique-boats-with-retro-feel.

[USCG photo]

Tim Flanagan (hey, that’s me!) has this story at PugetSoundMaritime.com. Apparently, I must have taken a break from the Seattle Boat Show in order to take a ride on the Coast Guard’s hottest new boat this morning.

SEATTLE – Coast Guard Station Seattle invited media aboard the new, multi-mission, 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M), Friday. How could I say no?

[USCG photo]

Especially when we were given the chance to witness some serious high-performance boat handling, up close and personal? Let’s face it; I’m a hopeless Coast Guard fan-boy. I was hooked the moment I got the email.

This RB-M, manufactured by Kvichak Marine in Kent, Washington, is the first of three to be delivered to USCG Station Seattle. One notable feature even landlubbers will notice: No wheel. The “helm”, such as it is, consists of a pair of joysticks.

The marine electronics geek in me took notice of all the goodies from Furuno, Simrad, FLIR, Standard Horizon, and McMurdo.

Read more

I’ve written about one of Left Coast’s products before: The Simple Stereo. I’m still enchanted with this clever product. I’ve been wondering what new gizmo or gadget they might bring to market.

Imagine my surprise upon learning that Left Coat’s newest gadget is…a 26-foot performance sailboat!? That’s some toy!

I should mention that what first brought the boat to my attention was when I watched the crew stepping the mast on Wednesday before the show opened. The tricky part was that the mast is actually taller than the lower portion of the suspended ceiling infrastructure inside the Qwest Field Event Center. Somehow they got that mast up, and then worked the boat into its correct spot, without breaking anything. Wow!

Yes, that masthead is higher than the lower set of structural beams, the ventilation ducting, and the light fixtures. Even if you don’t give a darn about a new sailboat, stop by just to see the evidence of this amazing bit of indoor boathandling! 

So after witnessing that small spectacle, I found myself sitting up and taking notice; so what is this boat? It’s not a Melges something or other. It’s not a J/whatnot. I admit I’ve been out of the loop on the new racing sailboat designs since retiring from my old spot as the foredeck crew on Greg Slyngstad’s J/35 Hamachi back in the late 1990s, but even I could tell that there was something unfamiliar about this boat.

Colin Emsley, of ABC Yacht Sales in Anacortes, soon set me straight. It’s a Left Coast Dart. Hold on…”Left Coast”? Not the Simple Stereo folks? The very same. I could rewrite the marketing blurb, but the fact is that it’s a good blurb:

The Left Coast Dart started with a refreshing idea… Make a well-built boat that is light, strong and fast, but make it safe enough for kids to sail.

Mission accomplished!

Think of all of the elements that distinguish a sport boat. Now,
incorporate those features into a performance camper. Weekends, here we come!  From the 7 foot forpeak to the 9 foot quarter berths, this is a lot more than a fun sailboat… Its camping without the bugs and dirt.

Everything about the Left Coast Dart will feel familiar, but better. 

With specially designed LED lights that consume a tiny amount of power to the optional Left Coast Simple Stereo, which will belt out your favorite MP3 play lists, this boat will keep you wondering “Why hasn’t sailing always been this comfortable?” Add to that, two speed, oversized winches, bulb keel, the optional spinnaker and you’ll quickly find that this is a lot more than comfortable.

Designed by one of the West Coast’s best known designers, Leif Beiley, the Dart will give you the confidence to push your performance while never worrying about your family’s safety.  Simple, strong and fun. What a unique concept!

Without having taken a test sail, I would speculate that this summary is substantially accurate. I know a bit about racing, and about camp/cruising. This seems like a boat that might actually fit both roles pretty well. It is price-competitive with similar designs, at around $50k for a base model and $80k with all the bells and whistles, including trailer, bowsprit and a full suit of racing sails.

The blurb doesn’t even mention one of the small but innovative features the boat possesses. In fact, this feature is so clever it literally “disappears”: there is no electrical wiring along the inside of the hull or cabin. How do the lights work? What’s powering the stereo or other electronics? The 12-volt navigation light and electronics power circuits are infused directly into the deck itself. No exposed wiring. No holes to drill. A minor enhancement perhaps, but it demonstrates the attention to detail Left Coast has emphasized on all aspects of the Dart’s design and construction.

Another nice feature are the clever LED interior “touch lights”, but those deserve a separate Navagear article all by themselves, so they’ll have to wait for another day. However, Seattle Boat Show attendees (including powerboaters!) might want to step aboard the Dart to see these nifty fixtures in person.

I’m not really in the market for a boat like this, myself. Yet I’m intrigued, and I’ll admit that it’s got me thinking that it might be time to introduce my daughters to sailing…

[UPDATE 2/16/2011: Deborah Bach at Three Sheets Northwest has written an article about this boat.]