Sheryl Lanham of SodaStream gave me the rundown on this product just now (Seattle Boat Show location: East 207), and I’m intrigued. It could really make sense aboard a boat with limited storage.

We don’t drink a lot of sugary pop at home or on the boat, but I do like a little bit of cola or tonic with my favorite rum. And we do like our unsweetened carbonated water, especially the flavor-infused Talking Rain variety. SodaStream has syrups and extracts to produce virtually any soda-based beverage you like.

Essentially, these appliances allow you to carbonate tap water, which isn’t especially innovative all by itself.

What sets this apart is the large 15-ounce CO2 cylinder, sufficient to carbonate 60 liters of water, and the design and quality of the components. Another consideration is the variety of syrups available, including syrups that allow you to create cola and tonic water. These syrups are sweetened with…wait for it…SUGAR! No high-fructose corn syrup! That’s great, as far as I’m concerned.

Here’s the ingredients list for the tonic water syrup, which for $5 will make about 33 cans of tonic:

When you consider the limited storage available on most boats, and the waste inherent in bottled beverages, there are plenty of reasons to consider the SodaStream model if you enjoy carbonated beverages at all. I’d be interested in hearing from Navagear readers who own this (or similar) systems.

In my previous posts on this topic (see especially Refill Disposable Propane Cylinders and How to refill disposable propane cylinders), one obstacle keeps recurring: It might be illegal!

First, let’s be clear: The (typically green) 16.4-oz disposable propane cylinders under discussion are designated “DOT-39 NRC 232/290”, and they come with this warning:

Federal Law forbids transportation if refilled – penalty up to $500,000 fine and five years imprisonment (49 U.S.C. 5124)

I’m no lawyer, but this is a pretty straightforward English sentence: A federal statute says you can’t transport them. You need to look a little deeper, though.

Title 49 of the US Code, entitled “Transportation”, has as it’s stated purpose the following:

The purpose of this chapter is to protect against the risks to life, property, and the environment that are inherent in the transportation of hazardous material in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce.

As I read it, it is NOT illegal to refill them, under Title 49 of the US Code. But it is illegal to transport them commercially. Some state or local laws may apply, of course, and again, you should prob’ly check with a real criminal defense attorney! I’d be very interested in hearing about any prosecutions of this law, of either private or commercial entities. Anyone? Anyone?

Civil actions, of course, are a completely separate matter: Anybody can sue anybody for anything, whether a law was broken or not, to seek redress for damages. Navagear reader and über-fan Robert Meyer brought a civil case to my attention in the comments section of one of those earlier Navagear posts. Robert tells us about a civil (CIVIL, not CRIMINAL; some folks are confused about the distinction) case involving a fatality related to propane cylinder refilling. Anybody contemplating refilling these cylinders needs to be aware of this tragic case.

(more…)

[It’s another MadMariner feature from a couple weeks back. —Tim]

When you write a gear and gadgets blog, it’s easy to focus all your attention on the new, the innovative, and the amazing. There’s sure plenty of that to go around when it comes to recreational boating.

Meanwhile, though, life goes on. If you sleep aboard your boat more than a couple nights a year, you may have discovered the same thing I noticed this summer: most of the things that really enhance the time I spend cruising are quite mundane! Lots of little storage tricks and "just right" gadgets help make storage and housekeeping easier, and that allows me to relax a bit and devote more attention to enjoying the destinations I visit.

Let me put it another way: I love my Class B AIS transceiver, but if I had to choose between it and the $15 under-sink waste basket I rigged-up when nothing else quite fit, I think tidy, accessible trash management might win.

Every boat is different, of course, so many of my solutions won’t work for you. My goal is to help you think creatively about the little annoyances you experience when you stay aboard. The things your spouse or children complain about. Things you may ignore, because you’ve become accustomed to them even though they’re really not very convenient or pleasing. You might be amazed how satisfying it can be to discover or create simple, user-friendly solutions to routine housekeeping challenges.

With that as a background, here is a selection of "tiny breakthroughs" I’ve grown to appreciate aboard Two Lucky Fish, my C-Dory 22.

(more…)

Surely you’ve heard the rumors? There’s a new rum on the block…The Kraken. It isn’t distributed everywhere yet.

It isn’t available in Seattle, in fact. I had to convince Lynne and Casey from Krill Systems to procure a bottle for me in San Francisco! Thanks to their invaluable efforts, I now possess my own bottle of…The Kraken black spiced rum.

I’ve put it through its paces under rigorous clinical conditions here in my super-swanky cocktail testing laboratory. My review can be found alongside reviews by Captain Richard Rodriguez and Portland, Maine sailor Maya Cohen over at Richard’s BitterEnd Blog.

Click through to read our critical assessment. If you dare!

Time for another Navagear feature at MadMariner. This time, I talk about several little storage tricks and "just right" gadgets that help make storage and housekeeping easier.

It may not sound sexy, but that’s the point: Sometimes the most important breakthroughs are the ones you immediately forget about, because they make life a little bit better, and you never even consider going back to the old way.

Oh, and by the way, Happy Holidays!

When I first saw this press release, I started to chuckle; a press release for an ICE PICK?!? But I quickly changed my tune when I remembered that aboard my boat, the “ice pick” is both (1) a frequently used tool, and (2) a rusty old screwdriver! Suffice to say, it really sucks as an ice pick.

All of a sudden, a well-made, stainless steel ice pick started to sound like something to write home about. Or, as in my case, something to write about at Navagear. So here we are.

I’m going to share the press release with you, because it may be that YOU TOO need a stainless steel ice pick, but you hadn’t really given it any thought until now. Come to think of it, I’m not really sure why I haven’t replaced that crappy old screwdriver with a real ice pick before now…weird. Anyhoo, on with the press release…

It’s always a good idea to keep multi-purpose tools readily available. Beckson Marine’s Shipmate Stainless Steel Pick/Probe is capable of splitting the smallest ice pieces while also serving as the perfect hole starter. It’s also great when camping, fishing or even when serving cocktails at a party.

This stainless steel blade does not flex under normal use. Shipmate’s special handle design fits almost everyone’s hand size and is shaped to prevent accidental roll-off from counters and decks. The handle is constructed from unbreakable marine plastic, resulting in a lifetime of trouble-free service.

Each pick comes with a sheath to protect the blade during storage. It is also available in a gift box with a sheath, mounting clip and two screws for easy installations anywhere. All materials and components are manufactured in the USA. Prices for Beckson Marine’s Shipmate Stainless Steel Pick/Probe start at $13.25.

For over 50 years, Beckson has produced high-quality marine equipment and accessories. The company manufactures an extensive range of superior products, including pumps, ports, hatches, vents, deck plates, fasteners and hoses.

I’ve written before about refilling disposable one-pound propane cylinders that so many portable appliances use. That article is the most-viewed post on Navagear.com. It’s popular because the subject is relevant to a wide variety of outdoor recreational enthusiasts: backpackers, kayakers, hunters, boaters, you name it.

I’ve been refilling these handy green propane bottles without mishap for a couple years now. Recently I’ve assembled a much-improved refill adapter. I’m going to describe the refilling process in detail.

First, though, it’s necessary to protect myself with disclaimers and caveats refillors. Let’s keep it simple, shall we?

Under no circumstances should anyone ever refill disposable propane cylinders using the following method.

Find a well-ventilated area, outdoors, away from all sources of heat, flame, and sparks. Ditch the cell phone.

Assemble your tools: a propane refill adapter, a pair of needle-nosed pliers, safety goggles to protect your eyes, and a pair of medium-thick work gloves.

Take a standard 20-pound propane cylinder—the kind you see attached beneath barbecues—and turn it upside down on a table or platform of some kind.

Put on your safety goggles. Screw your refill adapter to the OPD valve of your propane cylinder. This is a left-hand threading, so you need to twist the adapter counter-clockwise to tighten it. Ignore the naysayers who warn that modern cylinders with OPD valves won’t permit liquid propane to be extracted using this method; it works just fine.

(more…)

I just received an email containing the following endorsement of FoldTuk’s line of collapsing kitchenware:

My husband and I have lived aboard our 40-foot sailboat for over 6 years. We have been cruising full-time since January 2007 and are currently exploring Mexico’s Pacific coast and the Sea of Cortez. I bought the 6-quart rectangular and oval FoldTuk containers for my husband, who is a gourmet cook. They perform excellently in our boat’s Force 10 propane oven and we are thrilled with their durability and versatility. Because they are collapsible as well as non-corrosive and lighter weight than metal cookware they are the perfect items for the marine environment and any boat’s limited storage capacity. As if all these features weren’t reason enough to buy them, they also continue to look good when we bring dishes to dockside potlucks – everybody remarks on their appearance and sturdiness. We would recommend – and we have recommended – FoldTuk products to anyone.

Marianne Smith & Gary Barnett
s/v Gallant Fox
currently in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico

FoldTuk is currently exploring the marine market; it has not been a particular focus for them until now. For boats with minimal storage (ah, but I repeat myself!), these products may be worth a look.

[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.

(more…)

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.