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Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Picture a fish so large and so voracious that it could eat 40 times its own weight, decimating the amount of plankton that other fish feed on and devastating the booming Great Lakes fishing industry. We take a look at fears over the Asian Carp population and what it could mean if it ever reaches Lake Erie.
If you haven’t heard, Asian Carp are invading the Great lakes.
The Zebra Mussel clung its way into the tributaries of the Lakes by way of boat motor and stern. The conical shell has become a beacon of distress for ecologically abrupt water systems. Photos depict obtuse yachts in the water, crooked with the weight of this miniscule mollusk. If you have ever seen a bunch of these suckers move, it might be reminiscent of a long ago Acid trip. The bunches grow so big that they clog subsidiary drainage systems and devour algae crucial to the ecological system.
The Asian Carp is more devastating.
Silver Carp, Black Carp, Bighead Carp. These, and others are the North American nickname of this voracious bottom feeder. It survives mainly on plankton, but devours obtrusive snails with delight. The Asian Carp was brought to The States in the late 70′s by Catfish farmers in the South East. The Carp are supreme cleaners, they grow to a meter and a half in length and weigh in at a hefty 99 lbs. Get the drift? These suckers are Enormous.
Unfortunately for the ecosystems of the North American tributaries of the Mississippi River and the Great lakes, the Carp will become a plague. The Carp eat plankton and thrash about in shallow waters. This behavior destroys the habitat and food source of the copious species of game fish fry.
Floods let the Carp into the river.
Flooding of the Mississippi in the late 1990′s allowed the Carp to creep into the Mississippi. From their home in Louisiana, the Carp crept up over dams and locks, past the spirit of Mark Twain. When they arrived in Chicago by means of the Illinois river, DNR officials shit their pants. In the middle of July 2002, Eric Slater of the L.A. Times wrote a brief syndicated article about the migration of the Carp toward the Great lakes.
“A fisherman on the Kaskaskia River in southern Illinois suffered a broken nose when one leaped into his face”.
The article detailed more than the danger the jumping abilities of these Carp. The article spoke of the greater demise (of the great lakes) and the measures the government was implementing to stop it.
Carp had been spotted in the Illinois River. Researchers had netted a thirty pound silver Carp and the threat toward Lake Michigan was inevitable. Bureaucrats put it on their agenda and after conferring with neighboring states, decided to create a barrier. The Army Corps of Engineers would devise and construct a dual electronic/ bubbling mechanism to deter the fish. Chain link fences had been constructed on the waterway to no avail, the Carp simply jumped over them. Who knows how many have creeped through by now?
The Slater article has inspired a slur of different accounts depicting the Carp as an unusual beast. Documenting officers of the DNR had been interviewed, as well as local fishermen. Most account for the jumping ability of the fish. Broken noses, concussions, near misses, they all provide fantastic reading. Statistics are easy to field when the species simply jumps into your boat. It may be difficult to imagine, but these nasty beasts are ambivalent. They also gots’ hops.
They have one motive; to inhabit and take over. Walleye fry will waste away along with the fatty Salmon and Perch we fish. Ultimately, an injury from a jumping fish will result in tragedy and we will succumb to the realization that our ultimate demise stemmed from the need to proliferate our species. We never thought our control might get out of hand and ruin everything.
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Thursday, July 29th, 2010
So pumpkin growing season is over and you spent all season growing a 900 pound giant pumpkin, so now what do you do with it? Places like Germany, Utah and Oregon have come up with an innovative idea.
Why not carve it out, throw a motor on it or grab some paddles and hold a boat race.
In Oregon the craze started in 2003, the annual regatta pits the regions giant gourd growers against each other in what is a competition of size and speed, and while it sounds both impossible and crazy, it is in fact what the name suggests; it’s a boat race, but the boats are giant pumpkins.
How do they do it?
First, you have to hollow out a 700 lb. pumpkin only days before the race, or it will turn soft and lose seaworthiness. Qualifying size for race eligibility is 600 lbs, but most of the giant pumpkins competing in the regatta weighed in at twice that (the biggest pumpkin was 1408 lbs). They all had to be lifted into the water with the help of a forklift, and many of them were decorated with designs ranging from airplanes to turtles to giant mushrooms – some past favorites include “Freedom”, “Swamp Dog”, and “Blue Streak”. Racers must be physically fit, for a pumpkin doesn’t easily glide through the water. Large round objects aren’t the most cooperative vessels.
So every stroke of the paddle is demanding. Navigating your personal vegetable craft (PVC), as the pumpkins are known, is made harder by more inexperienced paddlers in your way, exhaustion, and the fact that you’re probably laughing the whole way across!
An interesting trend is how boat racing has begun to influence the breeding and growing of pumpkins. James Nienhuis a U. Wisconsin professor of Horticulture has crossed the Atlantic Giant Pumpkin (a racing favorite) with a pink banana squash to improve its shape. Leo Swinimer of Novia Scotia, a champion racer, has developed techniques to coax a better a boat shape out of his giant pumpkins.
This year, the sport of pumpkin boating was taken to a new level when JR Hildebrandt of Nekoosa, Wisconsin paddled 150 miles down the Wisconsin river in a pumpkin over 8 days to raise money for the Tri-City Children’s Dream Foundation. Hildebrandt’s pumpkin was outfitted with a small propane heater and a bailer.
He capsized 5 times during the trip, and ultimately had to switch to a new pumpkin after his first was overtaken with and refused to float. A grower in Stoughton saved the day with a 605 lb replacement for the waterlogged 760 lb pumpkin that started the race. In response to the switch, Hildebrandt reported, “That was like going from driving a Cadillac to driving an Escort.” Clearly, no two pumpkins make boats alike.
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Nav Tracker 2.0 GPS
In January 2009, thieves ran PWCs up to a 35-foot Fountain that was docked in Fort Lauderdale, cut her lines, and quickly towed her away. Within seconds, the boat’s owner received a text message on his cellphone alerting him to the fact that the vessel was on the move and providing her exact positioning, speed, and heading. Armed with this information, he contacted the Broward County Sheriff’s Department, which immediately dispatched a helicopter to track and retrieve the stolen vessel. Though the would-be thieves escaped as the chopper hovered overhead, the $200,000 boat was recovered in good condition. And the total time for the entire operation? A mere 54 minutes.
Though this kind of retrieval might sound well suited to a cops-and-robbers flick, last January’s recovery was very real. In fact, it’s just one of a slew of similar tales that Paradox Marine proudly posts on its Web site, and deservedly so. There’s little doubt that the quick rescue was possible thanks to the company’s Inmarsat satellite-based Nav-Tracker 2.0 system, which—along with the Marine Magellan system—is one of its signature security offerings for boats of all sizes.
| The NAV-TRACKER 2.0 GPS TRACKING SYSTEM |
The The Nav-Tracker 2.0 will keep you informed of your boat’s location
through a GPS tracking service provided by the new Inmarsat Isat M2M
service. |
Key features:
|
Daily transmissions of location and status
Passive geofence arm and disarm
Real time GPS tracking through INMARSAT Isat M2M satellite service
When in geo-fence alarm, unit transmits location, speed and heading every 15 minutes
Stand alone system or wirelessly integrate with all Marine Magellan packages
Monitor one sensor, optional sensors include:
-High water
-SOS / panic button
-Door contact
-Temp sensor
-Beam sensor or any normally open sensing device
This extremely reliable service, formerly used exclusively by commercial vessels, is now available to the private boat owner. When armed, the system passively sets a 500 meter geo-fence (radius) around the vessel. In the event the geo-fence is breached, as many as 8 recipients you designate will receive an email and/or text message displaying the vessel name, its location in latitude and longitude, the closest city, its speed and heading. The unit will also send you a daily status report with the same information. Finally boat owners can have peace of mind knowing where their boat is at all times.
Paradox Products Magellan
Another of Paradox’s signature products is the Magellan system, which comes in a variety of packages and models, including the Inmarsat- and cellular-based Insight. (Magellan package prices range from $1,499 to $7,000.) This system grants owners near-complete access to their boat from any computer or phone with Internet access, as long as she’s within Inmarsat’s satellite-network range (which Keenan says is basically, “everywhere except for the north and south poles”).
Like the Nav-Tracker, the Magellan Insight sends warnings via voice, e-mail, or text message, alerting owners to all manner of situations—say if there’s high water in the bilge or if the vessel’s batteries are running low. Owners can also log on to a personal Web page to view streaming video from their onboard cameras and can control all A.C. and D.C. accessories from their cellphone. Keenan reports that owners have been known to use this function to boot up the air conditioning before they arrive at their marina or make sure there’s ice ready if they’re heading out for a day of angling.
But the system isn’t just about comfort; it’s also about security. The Marine Magellan can accommodate as many as 32 wireless sensors to be hidden around a vessel, everything from smoke detectors to invisible, photoelectric beam sensors, which are often used in the cockpit and flying bridge. There are even canvas-snap sensors, which are exactly what they sound like: hidden triggers epoxied into boat-cover snaps that activate if the cover is tampered with. The Marine Magellan Insight then immediately sends location information to several prearranged individuals (just as with the Nav-Tracker), which can also be viewed on Google Earth and which are updated every 15 minutes. Plus, the two-way voice reporting that comes with the Insight means that once you’ve been alerted to a theft, it’s possible to dial into your boat’s system and actually communicate with the intruder onboard your vessel. “Owners can talk to the thief and say, ‘the police are on their way,’” explains Keenan. All from the safety of a remote location, of course.
Inferno Intenso Marine sound barrier
In response to past increased pirate activity, Paradox Marine offers the Inferno Intenso Marine sound barrier, a device that generates an unbearable noise frequency pattern that “immediately disrupts the activities of onboard intruders, i.e. terrorists, pirates or robbers, and buys time for crews to reach safe havens.”
It also works as a siren, has built-in sabotage protection, a long-life battery and a durable casing that withstands the elements of the marine environment, according to the manufacturer. One unit covers areas up to 750 square feet. The Inferno works in standalone mode or can be integrated with Paradox Marine’s vessel security, tracking and monitoring systems. What’s more, since May 25 the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Directive 104-6 has required U.S.-flagged vessels that operate in high-risk waters to have security protocols in place that are fit to deter, detect and disrupt piracy. MSRP starts at $2,199 for the marinized version. Paradox Marine, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The Inferno Intenso Sound Barrier machine from Protect Security Systems is a sound alarm security device that can be paired with other security machines like a fog cannon or strobe light. This product from Protect Security Systems Ltd if paired with these machines become the ultimate security machine.
The Inferno Intenso Sound Barrier machine comes in a compact size measuring 685 mm in length, 106 mm in width and 40 mm in height. A discreet sound alarm like this can be easily installed or mounted above doors or other access points. With improved built-in battery features, the Inferno Intenso Sound Barrier machine can send off an alarm continuously for more than 30 minutes and has a standby of 1 month on one full battery charge.
This wall mounted sound alarm system also has automatic battery checking, a battery backup feature and weighs only 1.7 kg. The Inferno Intenso Sound Barrier also has an anti-sabotage quality, with hidden cables and compatibility with several alarm system panels. Its sound alarm operates at a frequency area of 2.5 kHz, and acoustic effect of 125 to 127 dB (A), which is in full compliance with Danish decibel guidelines.
Source [Paradox Products]
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Monday, July 26th, 2010
1. Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s mega-yacht Eclipse
Arrive on board the Eclipse by helicopter and choose to disembark on one of the two helipads that are closest to your quarters. A lift then takes you down the nine stories to your desired location, where no doubt a steward will meet you with a crystal flute of champagne. Each of the 24 guests that can be accommodated on board can enjoy the privacy of their own rooms, with each VIP suite having a balcony from where they can enjoy the fresh air and sublime views. Exciting features like a disco, a cinema, an outside pool, hot tubs, a bar, numerous lounges and even a rounded glass room in the stern which allows for panoramic views are all on offer to entertain guests. If cruising at 25 knots is not adventurous enough for you, there are 20 jet skis, numerous pleasure boats and even a submarine to get guests out on the ocean for some adrenalin-pumping action.
2. The Dubai, 524 feet
With her 524 feet in length, this unique vessel offers all an Owner can dream off. With her elegant and timeless designed exterior lines from renowned designer Andrew Winch, her true size and volume remain hidden from the eye.
Her unique interior styling designed by Platinum Yachts Interior Design department combines all the possible materials and colors together in a unsurpassed and unbelievable beautiful interior, made with the precision and quality in finishing as can be expected for this unique yacht.
Her dramatic open glass staircase with three elevators serving all the decks, connects a large number of guest suites, VIP suites and the full Owners deck with the large dinning area and a variety of formal and informal saloons. The exterior decks combine a variety of pools, Jacuzzi’s, sunbathing areas and exterior dinning areas together with the swimming platform for unlimited water-sports activities with a wide variety of water-sports-equipment and toys.
Capable of carrying a 9.5 ton helicopter with refueling capabilities, together with two large guest tenders accessible via the boarding platforms on the side of the vessel, the Owner and his guests can board in even the most remote areas.
The fully redundant engine room installation ensures trouble free operation anywhere in the world. The propulsion installation consists of two shaft lines with controllable pitch propellers, each driven through a gearbox by two MTU diesel engines; fully flexible mounted to guarantee the lowest possible noise and vibration levels onboard and powerful enough to sail 26 knots. An AC installation capable of handling the Middle East climate conditions ensure a comfortable stay on board in any condition or climate.
3. Al Said, 509 feet
The motor yacht AL SAID is a 155 m 509 (foot) imposing steel ship which was crafted at Lurssen Yachts and her design is by Lurssen and Espen Oeino. Sleeping 70 passengers and 154 crew members, motor yacht AL SAID was registered as (Project Sunflower). This balanced boat was designed with the naval architecture of Lurssen and Espen Oeino. Espen Oeino produced the interior design and styling. Motor yacht AL SAID was launched in 2007 for Sultan Sayyed Qabus bin Said as Said of Oman, also known as Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The enormous luxury yacht motor yacht AL SAID can sleep as many as 70 people and 154 professional crew. Al Said has a forward sundeck structure and a sandy color. Her tenders and amenities are kept secret, but aerial shots indicate at least a helipad aft on one of the upper decks.
4. Prince Abdulaziz, 482 feet
This floating mansion was launched in 1984 as the largest yacht in the world and held the title for more than 10 years until it was bumped from the top spot by the Dubai.The ship belonged to the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia for decades but was passed to Prince Abdullah (now King Abdullah), his brother, upon his death.The large lobby on the main deck was reportedly designed after the Titanic with large spaces and classical furniture. The yacht is equipped for 22 guests with 12 staterooms.
5. El Horriya, 475 feet
This Egyptian presidential yacht is not only one of the world’s largest but also one of the oldest. Built in 1865 in London, the yacht was intended for the King of Egypt. Originally named Mahroussa, El Horriya was extended in 1872 and again in 1905. Nowadays she is berthed in Alexandria and is listed as a training ship by the Egyptian Navy. Originally built for the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Khedive Ismail, this historic yacht was present at the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal in 1869, when she was used to receive visiting dignitaries. She was lengthened by 12.1m in 1872, when her paddle wheels were removed, and by a further 5.2m in 1905. Her last major rebuild was in 1950. El Horriya was the Egyptian representative at the Bicentennial Fleet Review in New York harbour in 1976, after which she slipped into disrepair while being used as a museum ship. In 1992 a major effort was put into making her seaworthy enough to travel to Italy for the Christopher Columbus Fleet Review. She now serves as the Presidential Yacht but is seldom seen in public. She is usually berthed in Alexandria, where she is cared for by the Egyptian Navy, which lists her as a training ship.
Sources[ boatinternational.com] [Yachtpals.com]
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Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
The weather prognosticators are predicting an active Atlantic Hurricane Season. So once again the US Coast Guard has strongly urged the maritime community and boating public to monitor the progress of each and every tropical storm and hurricane and take early action to protect themselves and their vessels.
Here is the latest weather forecast for the Atlantic Ocean.
000
WTNT33 KNHC 221737
TCPAT3
BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION THREE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 1A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL032010
200 PM EDT THU JUL 22 2010
…AIR FORCE RECONNAISSANCE PLANE CURRENTLY APPROACHING THE
DEPRESSION…
SUMMARY OF 200 PM EDT…1800 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…22.3N 74.9W
ABOUT 250 MI…400 KM SE OF NASSAU
ABOUT 400 MI…650 KM ESE OF KEY LARGO FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…35 MPH…55 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 15 MPH…24 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1008 MB…29.77 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY…
NONE
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT…
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR…
* CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS
* FOR THE FLORIDA EAST COAST FROM GOLDEN BEACH SOUTHWARD INCLUDING
THE ENTIRE FLORIDA KEYS AND FLORIDA BAY…AND ALONG THE WEST COAST
OF FLORIDA NORTHWARD TO BONITA BEACH
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN IN EFFECT FOR…
* THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA NORTH OF GOLDEN BEACH TO JUPITER INLET
INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA…GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES…INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS…PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE
UNITED STATES…PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.
Here are a few tips to help mariners protect themselves and their vessels while in marinas:
- If you’re new to boat-ownership, hold a hurricane drill, preferably at the start of the storm season. It’s important to have a plan of action for preparation, with specific assignments. If you walk through the process when conditions are calm, it gives you a chance to ask questions, make adjustments, note additional tools and/or supplies and, in the end, feel more confident about your ability to deliver your boat safe on the other side of a storm.
- Have backup supplies on hand, like spare dock lines, spare fenders and fender boards can be expected to be used in almost every storm. Various tapes (e.g., duct tape, masking tape and electrical tape) are likely to come in handy in the aftermath of a storm. It’s good to have several nylon straps w/ratchet adjusters available for securing dock boxes to the deck, for securing boats on lifts (heavy duty straps, please) and for securing dinghies.
- Recognize that your marina manager has his/her own “Action Plan.” While they’re there for advice on the fly, lending a helping hand may stretch their resources and restrict their ability to secure their facility. Each boat owner should be “independent” with pre-arranged resources (crew, friends, materials, etc.) to be self-sufficient.
- Use fenders and fender boards. They do a good job of protecting your boat, when positioned properly. (If tying from the lifelines/railings, twisting the hanger lines will help keep them in position.)
- If you can get ahead of the storm by a few days you can call a yacht transport company and get your vessel out of the water and into a storage facility. Places like Yacht Exports specialize in yacht transportion service
Here are tips for prepping your boat on a mooring:
- Tie down or remove loose objects.
- Wrap lines around sail covers to prevent ballooning.
- Stay, if possible, on a secure mooring so that the boat can turn into the wind. Mooring all round puts a great deal of strain on the boat, however, if there is no swinging room it can’t be helped, much of what follows still applies.
- ALL connections to the mooring should go through a swivel. Lines without a swivel that have become twisted can break very easily under strain. I have seen it happen.
- When securing the boat, secure each line to a separate cleat/sampson post. DO NOT secure all lines to the same point on the boat. If the mast is stepped below on the keel, use the mast as well if necessary. DON’T if stepped on deck.
- Check the engine for easy starting in an emergency.
- Stock up with plenty of fresh food, water and fuel.
With these few tips that we have outlined here hopefully when the next big storm comes your way you will be prepared.
Sources [ NOAA] [boatingnews.com]
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
We all have been keeping our eyes on the latest news about Hybrid cars. Now everything from motorcycles to lawnmowers are going hybrid. Yes! even lawnmowers. The real question is how up to date are you on the latest hybrid boats? Whether your a speed boat lover or a yacht lover there are options out there for just about anyone.
First for you wakeboard and ski enthusiast or even the speed lover.
Epic Wakeboats 23E
Chris Anthony, who co-founded the company producing the Aptera 2e electric car, says the Epic Wakeboats 23E burns 50 percent less fuel and emits half as much CO2 as a typical wakeboard boat during a four-hour outing on the water. It also represents a new direction for gas-electric technology in boats.The sleek 22-footer is a series hybrid that uses a small gasoline engine to drive a generator that keeps the lithium-ion batteries going as they approach depletion. It’s similar to what you’ll find under the hood of the Chevrolet Volt, and we haven’t heard of anyone using something like this in a boat. What is really amazing is that the 23E allows for a one hour wakeboarding session without burning a drop of fuel.
The 23E is powered by what’s called the Flux Propulsion EVO 8.1 Marine Drive. It produces the equivalent of 375 horsepower, enough to propel the 23E to 36 mph while burning far less fuel than comparable vessels. The batteries, which are mounted along the centerline of the boat, can be recharged from a common 110- or 220-volt wall socket, and Anthony hopes buyers will slap a few solar panels on their boathouse roofs to make the 23E that much greener. As for mixing electricity and water, don’t sweat it. Anthony says it’s perfectly safe. “A lot of people get scared when they think hybrid boats because of the combination of water and electricity, but everything about the E23 is marine appropriate,” he said. “Even if you sink the boat there won’t be a problem.”
The 23E doesn’t skimp on the amenities, either. It’s got a stereo with 10 speakers for blasting tunes when your rip’n and ride’n and a dual rudder system for quick turns. With room for 14 people, you won’t have to leave anyone back at the marina. All this technology isn’t cheap, with the boat expected to cost as much as $150,000 when it hits the water in July. Epic hopes to produce a $70,000 model by 2012, and it’s considering a diesel-electric model down the line.
Next we have a boat for everyone who enjoys a slow relaxing ride while feeling like everything you ever need is within reach.
Island Pilot DSe Hybrid
Who says water and electricity don’t mix? The world’s first solar-electric-diesel hybrid yacht will have you impressing the greenies at the Yacht Club and sailing the seas in style. The Island Pilot DSe Hybrid catches rays with a 6.8 kW solar array that’ll get you to Margaritaville and back at 6 knots with zero emissions. But if the sun isn’t shining in Cocomo, you can crank up the Steyer Motors parallel hybrid system that mates a 75-horsepower diesel engine and a pair of 36-horsepower electric motors powered by a 20-kilowatt-hour battery pack.
The DSe can run for as long as two hours on battery power. Kick on the diesels and she’ll cruise at 13 knots while charging the battery pack through a pair of 25-kW generators. Run the diesel engine and electric motor in tandem and she’ll hit 15 knots.
Of course, no one buys a yacht for the drivetrain — yachts are all about luxury, and the DSe delivers. If the scenery gets boring, you can watch a DVD on the 26-inch HDTV and Bose home theater system. You can make waves of your own on the queen-size bed in the master stateroom. The guest suite has a queen bed that converts to a pair of twins if you’ve got kids along. There’s a full galley, a water heater that holds six gallons — no cold showers for you, cap’n — and even a washer and dryer to keep your Hawaiian shirts clean.
Anyone who can drop $600,000 on a yacht in this economy probably isn’t hurting for cash, but they’ll get a break on insurance from Travelers Insurance Company, which has announced a 10 percent discount on policies for hybrid boats. Transporting this big yacht might be a little difficult but if you use a yacht transport company like Yacht Exports we will help you with your move.
Finally we have a boat for you fisherman out there.
Scout Boats 145 Hybrid
Like mustard and hot dogs, Steve Potts, president of Scout Boats, has brought together two great ideas and produced something better than the sum of its parts.The 145 has a three–bank, 30–amp battery charger to supply the three deep–cycle batteries that power the electric drives. The joystick is a true multifunction control, more in line with an F–16 airplane control than the simple units supplied with IPS and Zeus pod drive units.
The Scout Boats 145 Hybrid is a unique new vessel that can operate using either a standard, gas-powered outboard or a pair of electronic motors mounted at its stern. The motors are controlled by a joystick and will cruise at 8 knots for eight hours, according to the company. The result is a 14 footer that is designed to be fuel efficient and highly maneuverable, and that costs less than $20,000. Within its limitations, the Scout Boats 145 Hybrid just might be the perfect creek cruiser or flats fishing boat.
Scout developed the 145 in conjunction with Lenco Marine, of trim tab fame, using that company’s 36–volt, Dual Digital Drives. These are saltwater–rated electric drives, capable of 360–degree steering with infinitely variable speed control. They also have built–in motor retractor switches to lift the drives out of the water when it’s time to fire up the standard Yamaha 20 HP four–stroke outboard and zip back across the bay to home port.
The Lenco joystick uses LED lights to display battery voltage, along with motor position. It has a cruise control that can lock in any speed or direction of thrust. It is completely waterproof (submersible to three feet), and the LED lights have an ambient light sensor that the company says will provide optimum viewing in all light conditions. Alas, the 20 HP Yamaha nestled on the transom between the electric drives is not connected to the joystick system, but is controlled through a standard tiller.
The suggested retail price of the 145 Hybrid is $17,121, which includes the 20 HP Yamaha outboard. The optional “Sport Package” – a windshield, side rails and bench cushions – would make this boat more comfortable and safer at high speeds when powered by the Yamaha. When it is powered by the dual Lenco drives, you can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of electric thrust, perhaps sneaking up on bonefish in the flats or stripers in the back bay.
Sources[ Epic.com] [Scout Boats] [Boatreview.com]
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Monday, July 19th, 2010
Like flying an airplane, expert boat handling takes both knowledge and some practice. Everyone fears docking a boat in a jam packed marina fearing they are gonna hit another boat and cause damage. There is no simple way to dock your boat but take these few tips to better help you prevent damaging your boat.
All idle speed handling is accomplished with the shifters and throttles, never the steering wheel. If you are attempting to use the wheel while docking STOP! The rudders are of little or no help at slow speeds. Why? Because like an aircraft wing, if there is no air flowing over the wing, the plane won’t fly. If there is no water flowing around the rudder, the boat won’t steer, so there’s no point in trying to steer your way into a dock. It won’t work.
The first step in learning precision control is to become skilled at the use of throttles and shifters. You do that by finding the time and right place to practice. A good time is on a weekday when there is little traffic; a good place is something like a gas dock at the end of a T dock where you have lots of maneuvering room. The objective here is to have a place near a large bulkhead dock where you can use the dock as a point of reference. You know that if you put one engine in forward, and the other in reverse, the boat is going to pivot on its axis. Some boats will pivot precisely on it’s axis, others will not.
The most common mistake boater’s make when attempting to dock their boats is to try and approach the dock in a straight line. By approaching the dock from an angle, however, it will much easier to get close without scraping and to hit the spot you’re aiming for. Thirdly, the speed at which you come in to the dock must be controlled. Anything you’ve ever been told about the best docking techniques in boating probably mentioned that it requires you to run your boat in at the slowest possible speed.
Angled Docking
You already know that trying to dock by driving the boat into the dock at an angle doesn’t work too well. At least not if you don’t know what to do once you get there. This method is similar to pulling up to a curb where no other cars are present and you don’t have to parallel park between two cars. We can use a variation of the Head-in technique shown in the top illustration by angling in, but then put the bow right up against a piling, and again use that piling as a pivot point, by pushing against it as the boat rotates on its axis. This is the preferred method if you have strong winds or tides. Holding the bow against the piling means that the boat is staying in the same place so that you’re less likely to slide forward hit the boat in front of you. However, be aware that the farther the boat is into the turn, the more the bow is going to want to slip off the piling, and the more you have to use the reversed engine to hold it back. Keep in mind that is it possible to make the boat go sideways, or rather pivot the stern toward the dock, by using the piling as a push-point.
Whether you are right or left handed will make a difference on which side you are docking. Right handed people will probably find it more difficult to dock starboard side to, so practice on both sides. Believe me, its really worth taking the time to practice this because once you do, never again will you be embarrassed by a clumsy docking job in front of a crowd of people. Just remember that you will encounter all sorts of unexpected docking conditions, so you need to learn all three techniques.
Winds and Tides
Most people have terrible problems with strong winds or tides because they never learned how to deal with them. The fact is that you can always use the wind and tide to your advantage rather than letting it be your enemy. I’m not going to be able to explain this in much detail, but the basic principle is: Always dock into the wind or tide if that is possible. Even if its not, you can still turn adverse conditions to advantage. On face piers, the current is usually parallel to the dock, so it can be used to advantage. The wind is a different story because it can be from any direction.
Slip Docking
Backing into a slip is the most difficult docking maneuver of all, where it is imperative that you are constantly alert to wind and current. And to be successful, you must use these conditions to your advantage. I don’t have to tell you about the Chinese fire drills that go on all weekend long at crowed marinas, and I’m sure you’d like to graduate from these Keystone Kops routines. Everything you’ve done so far is going to help you become one of those guys standing on the dock with a smug grin.
There are two ways to back a boat into a slip: Straight in or pivot the boat around a piling, if a piling is available, which it usually is. Obviously, you can only back straight in when there is no wind or tide, or at least not until you become very adept. So let’s take pivoting first since its easiest. Essentially, you’re going to do the same thing as you did when approaching a bulkhead dock, putting the bow up against a piling and turning off it. Only now you’re going to put the stern quarter up against the piling and pivot in reverse. Now that you can move your boat nice and slowly into position, again using wind and tide to advantage because you’re checked these conditions out BEFORE you started the operation, you won’t have any trouble laying your stern quarter up against a piling at the head of the slip.
The best advice that one could ever receive when looking for information on the best docking techniques in boating would be to take it slow, don’t get nervous or discouraged and most importantly, remember that every time you try it, will make it a little easier the next time.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2010
This week’s roundup of startling images from around the world
Saturday 26 June 2010
Sailing ships sail on the Baltic Sea during the tall ship parade. More than 120 tall sailing ships, yachts and small boats take part in this highlight of the Kiel Week sailing event that ends on Sunday.
Credit: AP Photo/Heribert Proepper
Monday 28 June 2010
Two sailors hang onto the centerboard of the 420 they were piloting, which overturned in high winds, on the Charles River in Boston. The pair were able to upright the boat and continue sailing after their plunge into the river.
Credit: AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Tuesday 29 June 2010
A striker drinks water in front of tied up ships at the port of Piraeus. Public services shut down across Greece as workers walked off the job in a new nationwide general strike that disrupted public transport, left hospitals operating on emergency staff and pulled all news broadcasts off the air.
Credit: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris
Wednesday 30 June 2010
People enjoy a picnic on the first day of the annual Henley Royal Regatta in Oxford.
Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Wednesday 30 June 2010
Closed intakes are seen in a compartment across from one of 12 vents that is designed to collect up to 500,000 barrels of oily water a day on the “A Whale” oil skimming ship, which is anchored in the Mississippi River. Billed as the world’s largest oil skimming vessel, the ship is the length of 3 1/2 football fields, 10 stories high and has a 2 million barrel capacity.
Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
Source: motorboatsmonthly.co.uk
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