By Ben EllisonOn the one hand, Im sorry to report that the U.S. Coast Guard has made little visible progress toward implementing Rescue 21, the new search-and-rescue communications system that will, eventually, unleash the potential of DSC-VHF radios. On the other hand (this comes as a real surprise), the reappearance of coastal marine VHF operators just may induce a lot of sailors to
Cautious sailors understandably worry that the trend toward networked multifunction electronics could lead them to simultaneous multifunction failures. But the solution may be improved system architectureas seen in Northstars new 8000i, diagrammed at rightnot in running separate machines. Notice that the Northstar system is masterlesssounder, radar, cameras, and even the various sensor
A Sail for RidingMost boats dont behave as well when anchored with rope rode as they do when lying to chain. They tend to sheer about much more, especially in wind-against-tide scenarios, which is bad for your nervesand those of your neighbors. One way of coping with this is to set a riding sail on the backstay to help keep the bow pointed into the wind. You could make one of
Most boats dont behave as well when anchored with rope rode as they do when lying to chain. They tend to sheer about much more, especially in wind-against-tide scenarios, which is bad for your nervesand those of your neighbors. One way of coping with this is to set a riding sail on the backstay to help keep the bow pointed into the wind. You could make one of these yourself, or you could order
Sometimes it can be tricky to find a good place on board to mount a solar panel. Heres a neat idea from the German company Sunovation, which fits its solar cells to deck hatches; theres something organic about a gizmo that both blocks sunlight and uses that same light to generate power. The photo shows a Gebo hatch fitted with semi-transparent Sunways power cells that generate about 16 watts in
The unusually mild and wet winter in the Northeast had one drawback, as I discovered during a midwinter boat checkthe conditions were ideal for mildew. There are various ways of getting rid of this pestilence, but it always seems to return. YachtBrite claims its enzyme-based Moldaway powder will kill off those pesky mold spores as well as clean up stains. Dissolved in water, the nontoxic,
Sea Breathes new 2300-F floating dive compressor will supply air to two divers. Powered by a 12-volt sealed battery, the electric snorkel will let you dive down to 25 feet for up to 60 minutes. This looks like a good alternative to carrying scuba tanks on board. Not only would it lend a new dimension to snorkeling, but should you need to clean the bottom or untangle a fouled propeller, youd
Going SoftWalker Bays rigid polypropylene dinghies are a common sight around the countrys waterways and coastlines, where theyre used as sailboat tenders and fun boats. Now the company hopes its attractive new inflatables will meet with the same success. Its Genesis line of RIBs have light but strong plastic hulls and either PVC or Hypalon removable tubes; some
Walker Bays rigid polypropylene dinghies are a common sight around the countrys waterways and coastlines, where theyre used as sailboat tenders and fun boats. Now the company hopes its attractive new inflatables will meet with the same success. Its Genesis line of RIBs have light but strong plastic hulls and either PVC or Hypalon removable tubes; some of them have folding transoms for easier
Labor-saving devices like headsail and mainsail furlers and powered anchor windlasses have become commonplace on sailboats as small as 30 feet, so its not surprising that the quest for an easier life is extending even further. Powered sheet winches have long been the rage on cruising boats of 50 feet and up, but this technology too has filtered downward. Lewmars L34 lays claim to being the
Don’t confuse helming a boat with steering a boat. Put it this way—you steer a boat when towing a waterskier or maneuvering around a marina
The America’s Cup’s attempt to expand access and training opportunities for future Cup sailors is taking shape in the form of the Women’s America’s Cup
After years of hard work, The Sailing Museum has now officially opened in Newport, Rhode Island. Located in Newport’s historic Armory Building, the museum offers
Offshore racing in the Caribbean is a relatively new concept. In years gone by it was deemed unsafe to even sail at night in the
It’s not often that sailors get a chance to put their rescue and MOB training to the test, rarer still that they do as quickly
The first thing you notice when you look at the sailplan for the Farr 65, Falken, which Mia and I recently added to the fleet
Where does an old VO70 go to retire? Right back to the racing circuit, apparently. This spring saw a remarkable contingent of Volvo Ocean Race
With 2,000 miles of coastline, 270,000 islands and seemingly countless bays and inlets, Sweden is truly a sailor’s paradise. One of the top sailing destinations
Strong winds and a brutal sea state made for record-breaking conditions for a least some of this year’s Newport-Bermuda Race fleet. However, these same conditions
Although big, multi-million-dollar projects like the Large Hadron Collider and the human genome project with their legions of PHD’s tend to grab headlines, there’s still
