Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2018 i Boating

John Mills was the gunner’s mate aboard HMS Bounty, a ship that, after two novels, five movies, and not to mention the actual historical account, needs little if any introduction. According to the ship’s log, Capt. Bligh’s personal journal, and records of the British Navy, Mills was one of the older, more-experienced crew aboard Bounty, having served on Mediator under Admiral Collinwood (himself a partner with Lord Nelson in many campaigns). Mills apparently lacked a sweet disposition, but as the record shows, he’d spent a lifetime at sea under the command of great mariners. It’s safe to say he knew what he was talking about. I present this curriculum vitae for no trivial purpose. In the 1962 film version of Mutiny on the Bounty, the one starring Marlon Brando, the…

A few years ago, my brother was cruising in our family boat along the shoreline of an island in the St. Lawrence River. Over the years, all of us have run the boat through the same area without incident. But this time, my brother heard the sickening thud of our outboard’s lower unit being sheared off by a submerged boulder. It’s a rock that, when water levels are normal, hides below the surface at a deep enough depth to allow safe passage. That season, however, the water levels had dropped to 20-year lows, turning areas we could normally navigate in our sleep into danger zones. Changing water levels is just one hazard among many on rivers, as well as lakes subject to flow control by dams. Here are a few…

A careless diver cleaned the sterndrive with acid when removing barnacles from my new-to-me 2004 26-foot Sea Ray. The paint layer is thin, and bare metal shows in areas. Do you recommend painting it? Which paint? Can it be a DIY job? The boat lives on a lift above salt water. Thanks. Miguel G. Via email A: Yes, it is a DIY job. Sand/abrade the surface using 180-grit paper or a maroon Scotch-Brite pad until the metal is bright and there is no flaking finish. Clean with soap and water, then dry. Next, wipe down with white vinegar, which is acetic acid. This chemically etches the aluminum; you can certainly use the purpose-made etcher from the paint-maker. Etching must be performed immediately prior to applying the primer, so plan your…

Aluminum’s property of spontaneously forming a protective layer of oxide makes it durable and ideal for marine use. Heck, lower maintenance and durability are a couple of the reasons why many U.S. Coast Guard boats are built from unpainted aluminum. But many recreational boaters expect a higher level of aesthetics than “dull gray and durable.” Even anodized and painted aluminum require cleaning and weather protection. I applied Toon Sauce to the anodized aluminum pipe work supporting my boat’s T-top in order to test it. First of all, it did remove stains on the tubing when applied as directed. It also did not appear to harm the anodized finish. (I also applied some to a piece of painted aluminum siding and nothing untoward occurred.) I cannot say how long the protective…

I own a variety of life jackets for a variety of uses. My belt pack serves for evening cruises and other quiet-water use when I am accompanied. My inflatable vest is great for when I’m off shore fishing with friends. When I’m out on open water by myself, I often choose the vest pictured here. Inherently buoyant, it’s reliable and requires little attention, and the pockets come in handy. It’s not meant to be presented as the “best” life jacket. Instead, I’d like you to consider the features it possesses and the customizations I’ve made, in the hope that you might benefit from them in your personal boating situation. REFLECTIVE PATCHES This vest came with them factory-installed, but companies like ACR make adhesive reflectors you should consider adding to any…

This year, my home state of California instituted its first-ever boater card program, which phases in mandatory boater education over eight years, eventually requiring all skippers to pass a state-certified boater education course and obtain a card issued by the state Division of Boating and Waterways. California joins more than 40 other states and Canada in requiring some form of licensing or mandatory boater education. To provide you with the scoop about these programs, I pulled up the California Boater Card website — californiaboatercard.com — and filled out the application, which included a $10 payment via credit card. The site then referred me to a choice of 10 approved boating-safety courses. I chose the free BoatU.S. Foundation online course, which includes seven sections. “This will be quick, a slam dunk,”…

WE SAY First launched in October 2016, the Ri257 was designed to create some of the biggest wakeboarding wakes and wakesurfing waves on the market. For 2018, though, this big boy has gotten even better thanks to the introduction of Centurion’s new Opti-V hull. Simply put, the wakes and waves aren’t just the best Centurion has ever created, they are among the best available. What’s more, by reducing resistance on the running surface, the new hull stays more balanced and improves fuel economy. Better for wakes and your wallet? We’ll take it. Combine the new hull with the optional QuickSurf Pro system and you can fine-tune the shape of the wave or wake to suit a variety of riders’ preferences. Our test rider, Sam Baker, almost couldn’t believe how big…

Until recently, Yamaha followed the Henry Ford philosophy on color choices — you could get any color you wanted, as long as it was gray. But Yamaha has finally succumbed, joining other major outboard brands — including Mercury — in offering more than one color. The Yamaha F300 and F350 outboards will be available in pearlescent white, although the gear case is still gray. This color of white thrives in the sunlight and complements all gelcoats, according to Yamaha. The white motors will be available as late-stage customization orders and will be designated as F300NCA2 and F350NCC2.…

Most multifunction displays have a video input on the back of the set or offer a video-adapter cable option for video cameras. Check with your electronics dealer or marine electronics brand to find out what kind of cable you might need for the camera you have in mind. The camera you choose should be weatherized for the marine environment and operate on the same voltage as your boat’s batteries. It should have a wide enough angle of vision to cover the area you want to monitor. Cameras looking aft should also have the ability to reverse their image so the picture appears as it would if you were looking at your car’s rearview mirror. You will also find cameras available with built-in infrared lighting for use in low-light areas, like…

Freedom Boat Club has introduced thousands of people to boating through its rental clubs around the country, where boaters pay club fees in order to use the company’s fleet rather than own their own vessel. We caught up with John Giglio, the company’s leader, about the club and recreational boating. BOATINGMAG.COM MAY 2018 SCAN ME To read the full interview, go to boatingmag.com/freedom-boat-club or scan this tag! How many Freedom Boat Club locations are there? We have 153 clubs in 30 states and Canada, with a fleet of more than 1,600 boats. In addition, we have just announced a very exciting partnership with Jeanneau in Europe. What’s the main appeal of joining your club? The key factors that attract our members include a very affordable cost of entry that provides…

Distracted driving? Oh, yeah, it can be dangerous, and most states have laws to combat it. Is it easier to avoid distractions while piloting a boat compared to a car? No, probably harder. There are no white lines to follow, other vessels approach from all directions at all speeds, sea conditions get lumpy, channels narrow, harbors turn crowded, calls come in on the VHF, fish strike trolling lines, and people move around the boat. The list of on-the-water attention diverters goes on and on. Experienced skippers have learned to pay attention around their boats while underway, but how can new boaters get that experience as safely as possible? And is it possible for experienced skippers to sharpen their situational awareness? The folks at the National Safe Boating Council asked that…

BOATINGMAG.COM MAY 2018 OPTIMIZED AGM batteries require the correct charger in order to perform. Q: CHARGING UP Hi Mick. I’m a first-time writer but a long-time reader. I have removed my four AGM batteries from the boat and placed them in my basement. How do I properly care for them over the winter? If the answer is some sort of charging, please advise what product(s) you would recommend. Thanks. Dick Buttrick Cataumet, Massachusetts A: Hi Dick. Batteries should be stored fully charged. I like to charge them, then remove the charger and check the batteries monthly. If they have discharged significantly, I will then recharge them. AGM batteries self-discharge at a much slower rate than standard flooded-cell batteries. Still, if you cannot monitor the batteries monthly, I suggest using a…

Most boaters who have spent time aboard boats in open water will immediately recognize the problem illustrated in the accompanying photo. Taken aboard a twin-stateroom inboard cruiser, it shows the very sharp corner of the galley counter. Bumping into this while simply passing by would hurt. Falling against it in any kind of wave action while the boat is cruising, or even anchored, or due the unexpected wake of a passing boat is sure to cause injury. Corners aboard boats should be rounded or padded for safety.…

Dear Doc, when I walk around the marina, I notice that a lot of spotlights in the boats are facing aft instead of ahead. Is there a reason for this? Do the lights have a default position? It seems to me that if the light was turned on before being rotated forward, they would blind the skipper and take away his night vision. Bill Simms Charlotte, South Carolina A: Many captains will run with the light rotated to face aft when not in use to prevent the lens from getting coated with salt (although it often does anyway), diminishing the output from the spotlight when it is turned on.…

To survive a boating accident, you need to mentally rehearse your responses to as many possible risks as you can imagine. The most important safety equipment on board is your brain. But here are three of the most important safety devices you should carry. ELECTRONIC FLARES Pyrotechnic flares were once the only rescue flares approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Not anymore. Recognizing the inherent risk of burning flares, particularly on small, crowded inflatable rafts, and noting the short burn time, the Coast Guard wisely adopted standards for approved electronic flares. Some have shelf lives of decades, not months, and provide an important cost savings and an extra margin of safety over burning flares. But so far, only one LED flare meets Coast Guard standards for rescue equipment. The Coasties…

WE SAY This single-engine 22-footlength-overall pontoon proved powerful and smooth and offered a lot of amenities at a middle-of-the-road price point. The boat we ran for testing boasted the performance-enhancing X-Treme PR25 Performance Package and a 200 hp Evinrude E-Tec G2 outboard. So equipped, it delivered 42 lively miles per hour and accelerated from zero to 30 mph in 6.8 seconds. Go easy when pulling up novice skiers. As for fuel economy, it delivered 3.7 mpg cruising at 26 mph. The Geneva’s interior layout swallows a large crew. In the bow, curved facing loungers invite relaxation and conversation. A pop-up changing station fits neatly into the rear bulkhead of the portside lounger. Amidships, the helm station is raised for better visibility. A standard Kicker audio system provides the soundtrack. Captain…

In a marine emergency, you might not have the time or composure to place an effective mayday call. Your electronics might not work either. Automated emergency broadcasting devices can alert rescuers and help them find you. HOT BUTTON VHF handheld models such as Icom’s floating M93D ($249.95, thegpsstore.com) offer digital selective calling (DSC) and GPS. Press the red distress button to broadcast an alert with your position and boat description. You need to obtain and enter a maritime mobile service identity ahead of time. Effective range: 4 to 5 miles. GLOBAL REACH An emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) such as the ACR GlobalFix V4 ($394.95, the gpsstore.com) uplinks your position to satellites and alerts rescuers. It also broadcasts a homing signal to pinpoint the device’s position. EPIRBs broadcast for a…

The U.S. Coast Guard stipulates that all recreational boats have one properly sized Coast Guard-approved life jacket in good, serviceable condition for each soul on board, and that the jackets are readily accessible, if not already being worn. If your boat proves short on life-jacket stowage space, consider installing an overhead bag such as the T-Bag from Kwik Tek ($51.44, jet.com) or the T-Top Marine Storage Bag from C.E. Smith ($94.99, westmarine.com). These ventilated, zippered bags attach with straps and buckles to the underside of Bimini tops and T-tops. Access is convenient and quick.…

Q: Dear Doc, will an oil analysis tell me the state of my engine? It’s running fine but has some years on it, and I would like to gauge the remaining life and reliability I might expect it to deliver. Can you help? Tom Donohoe Nashville, Tennessee A: An oil analysis can absolutely provide an indication of your engine’s condition. There are no guarantees about future longevity, but being armed with the knowledge of how much chromium, nickel, silicon and other particulates are present in your oil can help you make better service and purchase decisions. Kits that enable you to collect and ship your oil sample can be purchased from retailers such as West Marine. Read Capt. John Page Williams’ article on the subject for more information: boatingmag.com/how-to/benefits-oil-analysis.…

A safety-stop lanyard — aka engine kill switch — comes standard with marine power systems to instantly shut down propulsion if the helmsman gets tossed from the boat. Yet many skippers forget that they’re tethered and walk away from the wheel, inadvertently killing the engine. It can happen at inopportune times such as while docking. Fell Marine’s MOB+ wireless man-overboard systems resolve this issue. Essentially, a remote xFob that you wear connects wirelessly using the WiMEA protocol to a Fell xHub on the boat. When a wearer falls overboard, it breaks the signal and the engine shuts down. A shutdown also occurs when the xFob is approximately 50 feet from the boat. The system allows for a restart of the engine with an automatic override function so crewmembers can rescue…

Both Raymarine and Simrad have announced Doppler features for their solid-state marine radar systems, thus joining Furuno and Garmin in offering the advanced, easy-to-use collision-avoidance radar technology. Simrad is scheduled to offer owners the ability to unlock the VelocityTrack Doppler feature in its Halo pulse-compression open-array radar systems for a one-time $500 charge beginning in June. VelocityTrack will highlight moving targets that pose a collision threat in a contrasting color, making them easy to recognize. Raymarine has integrated Doppler technology into its new Quantum 2 dome radar with chirp pulse compression ($1,999 MSRP). In addition to identifying and color-coding moving radar contacts that pose a threat, the Quantum 2’s exclusive Safety Sector feature highlights targets in the path of your vessel — whether they are moving or stationary.…