In a fuel or oil spill emergency, it’s critical to have all the tools at hand for quick containment and clean-up.  The C.I.Agent® Spill Response Bag is a comprehensive rapid response system for hydrocarbon spills on water and land.  It includes reusable components that eliminate the expense and hassle of hazardous waste disposal.

C.I.Agent is a proprietary, non-hazardous blend of USDA food-grade polymers that encapsulate and solidify hydrocarbons on contact.  Listed on the EPA National Contingency Plan Product Schedule*, C.I.Agent solidifier is non-toxic and environmentally friendly.  It turns fuel, oil and other hydrocarbons into an inert, rubber-like mass that recycle into asphalt, rubber and plastic, or burn as fuel.  It’s disposable as normal trash, especially beneficial when most other remediation products must be treated as costly and dangerous hazardous waste after use.

Small enough to be tucked out of the way onboard, stashed in a dock box or kept near a fueling station, the Spill Response Bag is customizable to fit particular applications.  A standard kit contains a 12′ reusable C.I.Agent Quick Deployment Boom (QDB), 10 lbs. of C.I.Agent Granules in .5 lb. dissolvable pouches, a reusable 12" x 12" Bilge Bag, a garbage bag and heavy-duty gloves.

The versatile QDB effortlessly captures sheen when dragged across the water.  On land, it’s excellent for protecting storm drains from fuel spills.  Because it is lightweight and flexible, one person can easily deploy the QDB unassisted.  It’s also available in standard lengths of 25, 50 and 100′, or custom sizes upon request.  The durable and reusable Bilge Bag contains 8 oz. of C.I.Agent polymers inside a tough, tear-resistant pouch.

Until the loose polymers inside the QDB and Bilge Bag are completely used and solidify, these products can be deployed again and again.  Users simply rinse them and hang to dry, knowing they will not drip or leach harmful hydrocarbons.

The C.I.Agent Spill Response Bag measures 17"W x 20"H x 8"D and comes in eye-catching Safety Glow Orange and Lime Glow Green.  A standard kit retails for $420.

C.I.Agent Solutions offers a wide range of products for marine, industrial and environmental applications, including booms, pillows, storm drain inserts, fabric barriers and hydrocarbon flow filters.  The company prides itself on creating effective solutions for its customers’ unique hydrocarbon containment and clean-up needs.  C.I.Agent Solutions received the 2010 WorkBoat Environmental Award for its recovery efforts in the Gulf following the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

Contact C.I.Agent Solutions, 11760 Commonwealth Dr, Louisville, KY 40299. Toll free: 866-242-4368; Fax 502-267-0181.  www.ciagent.com.

It’s a little unusual for Navagear to take an advocacy position on anything not related directly to marine technology for recreational boaters, but I’m going to make a slight exception this time. Regular readers will be aware that I don’t often speak up on current events, and I remain (publically, at least) neutral on the various hot topics of the day.

Nevertheless, I think it’s important for us, as recreational boaters, to ensure that we’re well-informed on the big picture when it comes to the health of our world’s oceans. This, after all, is the realm to which we devote our recreational time, money, and attention. If our enthusiasm for boating is any indication, we have all demonstrated some degree of love and respect for the marine environment in which we play.

So perhaps many of us will be willing to spend 18 minutes (I know, it’s an ETERNITY when you’re sitting at the computer!) to see what oceanographer Sylvia Earle has to say about it.

Thanks for BitterEnd for the link.

Bob at BoatBits mentioned a few different stoves suitable for boat interiors, and one that I fear may not be suitable at all. I’ll excerpt his post here and add my comments:

Part of the problem with solid fuel heaters and stoves on boats is that, for the most part, they are more decorative than functional and somewhat pricey… Dickinson and SIG both make a bulkhead heater that is OK and produces some needful heat but falls short on the stove side but will keep a coffee cup warm…

I agree with this. If you’re going to burn wood, charcoal, or other biomass for heat, it’s a shame not to be able to COOK with that heat, too! At least boil water for tea or heat up a can of soup.

Which brings us to the Shipmate small cast iron sort that you can really use as a stove as well as produce a hellacious amount of dry heat which is no bad thing on a boat.

I like it! Although, were I in the market for such a thing, I might favor the little Sardine stove fabricated on Orcas Island by Andrew Moore as part of his Navigator Stove Works line. I like supporting local producers whenever possible.

The downside of the "Skippy" and other cast iron stove/heaters is that they have a rather large footprint and can be problematic space wise on a small boat as well as being a seriously heavy hit on the pocket book.

I noticed that. These things aren’t inexpensive!

But they sure look "shippy" and inspire all sorts of confidence… Don’t they?

Very much so.

I’ve mentioned before that maybe the best option would be to build a "rocket" stove and cobble together some sort of "shippy" means of mounting it within a boat  along the lines of a bulkhead or floor mounted heater.

The Stovetec solid fuel stoves developed for the third world seem to be just the thing and, truth be told, not entirely un-shippy looking when you take a moment to look at it…

Being a rocket type stove it will produce much more heat using less fuel and that makes all kinds of sense on a boat where solid fuel storage is somewhat problematic. Better yet it is inexpensive and buying one helps a good cause… Kinda works for me!

[Warning: I’m straying a bit off topic here: It ain’t about boating for two paragraphs or so. Then I get back to boating gear farther down the page. —Tim] Thanks to you, Bob, I spent about two hours last night online learning about rocket stoves, and I’m utterly fascinated. Smitten, even. I want one, and I want to help provide them for people who cook with wood and charcoal. Watch this video to get an idea why this is important:

This is one of those simple products that makes so much sense for so many people all over the world, particular in the so-called “developing world”, it’s a wonder it isn’t already ubiquitous.

BUT, I have serious reservations about installing the amazing StoveTec stove aboard a boat. Here’s why:

• It’s going to rust. I just don’t see any way around it. Even stainless steel sheet metal, when subjected to repeated heating and cooling cycles, tends to rust in a marine environment. And this stove isn’t fabricated with stainless steel. Installed inside the cabin, away from direct contact with saltwater, it’ll probably last a few years before rust becomes a serious problem.
• However, it’s not at all appropriate for an interior installation aboard a boat, unless one also installed some sort of cooking hood like in a real kitchen to pull exhaust out of the boat. Therefore, it’s not really going to help heat the boat. So back to the original idea (“a solid-fuel stove for heat AND cooking”), this isn’t really an attractive option, as far as I can tell.

Once again, I claim no special expertise on this topic. I’m always interested in learning new things, and I never take offense at being corrected. So what’s the most sensible solid-fuel, interior, heating/cooking stove available?

In any case, thanks for inspiring today’s Navagear, Bob!

[It’s another MadMariner feature from a few weeks back. This time, I’ve expanded my list of Navagear gift ideas. Most of these are things I own and use myself, and would not hesitate to recommend. In one case, however, I decided to include an item I do not own myself. Can you guess which item that is? —Tim]

It’s Thanksgiving already. How did that happen? So it’s time to roll out the 2009 Navagear Holiday Top Picks.

I’ve selected items that are of high quality, genuine utility and good value to boaters. I own and use most of these items, and if any one of them was lost or broken, I would not hesitate to replace it with the same item from the same manufacturer.

FLIR FIRSTMATE THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA

"The world’s first waterproof, hand held, high-performance maritime thermal night vision camera available for less than $3,000." This is the only item on this year’s list that I do not personally own, but it sounds like the perfect gift for the boater who has everything. Unless you’ve served in the military, fire fighting, or law enforcement, this is something you’re probably not familiar with. Thermal imaging is totally distinct from the night vision technology that has been available for years. Suffice to say I’m VERY interested in this product! So if you get one for Christmas, and you live in the Puget Sound region, drop me a line so I can take a look.

MUSTANG MD-3183

My wife tried on every PFD in stock at Fisheries Supply a couple years ago, and these Mustang automatic inflatables were the most comfortable. They aren’t the cheapest, by any means, but if you’re going to wear one at all times while underway (and you are going to wear one while underway, aren’t you?), you deserve to be comfortable and unencumbered. And you deserve to wear pink, or red, or tan, or black, if you so choose. These run about $250.

ACR HERMILIGHT

If you’ll be underway at night, your PFD is incomplete without some sort of reliable, bright, automatic light beacon. ACR has been producing such beacons for years, and the current state-of-the-art unit is the HemiLight 2. For $24, it’s hard to beat.

STARBUCKS VIA READY BREW

I drink tea, so this recommendation comes from my wife, who reported on Starbucks new VIA instant coffee last spring. Here’s an excerpt from her report: "I hate instant coffee, but the VIA doesn’t taste like instant at all. Most instant coffee is made by brewing coffee and then drying off the water to create a concentrate. Somehow, the folks at Starbucks figured out a way to microgrind actual coffee beans so that they will dissolve in hot water." Twelve packets cost about $10.

FUJINON MARINER 7X50 BINOCULARS

I’m extremely pleased by my 12-year-old Fujinon Mariners. They’re lightweight, plastic-bodied, fairly rugged and contain good optics, particularly for the price. Fujinon makes a more expensive metal-bodied binocular called the Polaris, but if I’ve got a $700 pair of binoculars, all of a sudden I’ll feel like I have to be extra careful with them. The Mariners are about $200, and if I accidentally damage or lose them, it’s OK – not great, but OK. Because of this, I use them. I take them on trips when there is risk of theft. I allow the kids to use them. My beloved Fujinon Mariners have a permanent spot aboard the boat.

ROSE POINT COASTAL EXPLORER 2009

I love this software. It’s extremely intuitive. I almost never have to refer to the online help. In my opinion (and I’m not alone in this), it’s the best. Even if use it only at home for trip planning, you’ll appreciate the user interface and excellent chart presentation. But it really shines once you get underway. For most of this year I have routinely operated my boat with Rose Point running on the laptop, and when I happen to be out without the laptop, I really miss it. It costs about $375.

TIDEMINDERS

If you tie up to piles in marine water with any significant tide, you’ll love the TideMinders. They protect your line from abrasion while allowing it to roll up and down the piling in response to tide or wave action. I haven’t had a chance to give the TideMinders a serious test, but the testing I have done—moored between a dock and a piling in choppy freshwater—impressed me. The TideMinder balls roll up and down the piling as the boat rocks back and forth in the waves, providing gentle shock-absorption. Not once did I see the boat "come up short" against the line from the piling and jerk violently at the cleat. About $50 for a set of 9 balls.

PICQUIC SCREWDRIVERS

I own several Picquic screwdrivers at this point, and I use at least one of them at least once a week. While cruising, the Picquic Mariner gets almost-daily use. These are wonderful Canadian-made tools, of very high quality and not expensive at all. Do not be disappointed by cheap knock-offs. The Mariner, which is one
of the more expensive models in the line, costs less than $20.

PETZL TACTIKKA PLUS HEADLAMP

I keep one at home and one on the boat, and I bring one or both along when traveling by land or air. It’s so handy to have a small, hands-free light along. It’s bright enough to use during the day, for instance when looking for items under car seats or lost under the bed at a hotel. With the flip-up red filter and adjustable brightness, it gets dim enough to use in the dead of night to check on the anchor rode or identify the source of that mysterious "drip drip drip" sound. About $35.

RITE IN THE RAIN ALL-WEATHER NOTEBOOKS

I carry one of these every single day, and I find it indispensable. I filled up the first one over the course of two years, writing on both sides of each page, so I’m to my second. Mine get plenty of abuse, but they hold up well. I use another, slightly larger one as my primary vessel log aboard Two Lucky Fish. I filled it up last season, and I’m on to my second one of these, as well. In both of these cases I could have changed to some other notebook or log solution, and I chose not to.

E-Z-FOLDZ STEP STOOL

When I wrote about this over two years ago, I’d only owned it a couple of weeks. Now I know a little more about how it holds up. The verdict: Indeed, the "stick-on" plastic feet are all gone. Also, the thing can be disassembled by clever children, and it’s a little bit tricky to get it back together again. But the fact is that the E-Z-Foldz stool is still in active service aboard Two Lucky Fish, and I would replace it at once if it were lost or broken. They’re about $12, and you can find these at lots of big box stores.

Last spring, we wrote about great margarita recipes. Today, in the middle of another cold, damp Puget Sound winter, let’s take a moment to dream about warm weather…

…And margaritas.

Navagear informant Stacey has been dreaming of margaritas, apparently. I guess the eggnog and brandy just ain’t doin’ the trick for her.

Hi Tim -

Was just cruising around on your site and saw your margarita recipes. I’ve got an easy one for you that we call our “boat margaritas”….

1 can Limeade
1 can Cheap Beer
Tequila to taste

Combine can of Limeade, one can of water (using Limeade container) and one cheap beer (such as Budweiser). Mix, pour over ice with tequila to taste – making sure to add a small tequila “float” on top. Tart, yummy and easy!

Limeade and beer? Seriously?! Um…OK, if you say so.

And just to include a “gear and gadget” angle, please note that if you simply must have a blended limeade-and-beer margarita, Fisheries Supply is now stocking a battery powered blender from Coleman.

So thanks, Stacey, for the new and unexpected drink recipe. Come to think of it, though, this sounds a little like a “shandy“, which I first encountered in Ireland back during the last century. I had a rock shandy at a pub one night, and frankly, it was kind of yucky.

I’m willing to give this one a try, though. Perhaps it should be called a “margarita shandy”. Shandy aficionados (if such creatures exist) will have to give us a ruling on that.

In case you’d like to keep up on Navagear on your smartphone or PDA, we’ve added a better view for these types of devices. So far I’ve only tested with a T-Mobile Dash, and it makes the site much more readable. Let us know if how it works for you.

Just a quick “shout out” (these kids, I tell ya, with their cool daddy-o slang and their hulahoops and their dungarees) to Captain Brett Ginther from Deception Pass Tours. Friendly guy, and yet another valuable regional resource.

Brett runs one-hour excursions aboard the Island Whaler, a New Zealand-designed jet drive catamaran with foil assist for a soft and stable ride. He runs guests out through Deception Pass and back, starting from Cornet Bay. If you’re in the area and don’t have a boat of your own, or if you’re hosting out-of-town visitors and want to give them a glimpse of our region’s rich marine environment, head over to Deception Pass. Buy the ticket, take the ride.

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:

The Sextant is a super handy Gizmo. Yes, you can get a $99.95 GPS and think that you know where you are, but you wouldn’t know about the stars, the planets, the moon and the sun as you do if you are proficient at finding your position anywhere in the world with a sextant. And that is really where we are, in the midst of the stars and the planets. That’s where we live…

I combine my Tamaya sextant with their celestial calculator so that I don’t need to carry all the site reduction tables. I tell you, at a party with smart hip people, you get more attention with a sextant than you got attention with an iPhone a month ago. Kids love it. Sophie, our 10 year old, is always eager to go and take a planet or a star site. It’s really fascinating to her.

Philippe Kahn is one of the fathers of the personal computer revolution, standing shoulder to shoulder with Wozniak, Gates, and Jobs. He was founder of Borland, which was a key early software company. While remaining a technology entrepreneur, he has also become quite an accomplished sailor.

It’s refreshing to hear a real tech guru tell it like it is, and talk about the electronics on the boat crapping out at the same time he enjoys the capabilities.

Philippe Kahn: Emailing the Father of the Camera Phone as He Sails Across the Great Blue Pacific – Gizmodo

Just thought I would share Monday evening’s sunset from Fossil Bay (Sucia Island, San Juan Islands). I was chillin’ out on my hammock/parbuckle/ladder, and the next time I looked up from my book, this is what I saw. The perfect end to a perfect day.

Thought to be the only white humpback in the world, it was recently seen in a large migration off Australia…

Migaloo, a white humpback whale, is seen cruising on the east coast of Australia near Coffs Harbour in 2005.
Photo: AP

Rare white whale seen – Whale watch – Specials – smh.com.au