October 15th, 2007 - Annapolis Boat Show

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Annapolis Sail Boat Show Newsletter

Here are some of the many products we looked at and quick links to the relevant parts of the article.

At the show we found carbon wheels, high tech rigging solutions using the latest materials with old fashioned techniques,  a shore power cord storage that saves time and effort, a 12 volt air conditioning that takes little space and does not need 110 but watch out for those batteries,

On deck we have Harkens new Mark IV furler which greatly aids installation and you can use your existing head stay, an Electric Winch which has no parts below deck, A very well designed Foldaway boarding ladder, the ATN gale sail is a way to fly a storm jib over your roller furler,

For the navigator we looked at the new B & G 3000 and Garmin BlueChart  g2 Vision's remarkable features, Weems and Plath navigation aid for nighttime navigation, plus How to get the most current Charts printed.

Mainsail Furling Survey

One reader of myboatsgear asked us a question about which type of mainsail furling system was best, either an in the mast furler or boom furler for his next large cruiser. He is a racer and currently owns a Beneteau 40.7.

This made us think who uses what and so we began a survey of all the keelboats at the show except the day sailors. The survey proved quite interesting and surprising. In a following newsletter we will post the results of the survey and provide pros and cons to each system.

Last Years Show

Here is the link to last years show as many of these products were on show again and are still very interesting for anyone that did not see them last year.

Carbon Wheels

One trend we see is more carbon wheels on the performance boats. In the boat business its called wheel envy. Who has the coolest looking wheel is the coolest.

This is the Lewmar carbon wheel onboard the J122.

Here is an Edson carbon wheel on the Gunboat 48.

The wheel may cost a few thousand dollars but the boat nearly 2 million so it looks like a deal.

You can see the B & G 300 instruments on the console.

Harken new MkIV furler

The new Harken furler has a couple of big benefits. First it is separate from the head stay. This means you can use your existing headstay and save some cost. The connection between the two is through the bottom pin seem to the right.

The turnbuckle which is part of the headstay is independent of the furler unlike the previous model, which makes adjustment easier.  Pull the pin and lift the furler to expose the turnbuckle. Adjust and them lower the furler and replace the pin.

The new furler has 3 rows of bearings an increase of 1 row from the previous model. This reduces friction and greater load bearing for furling and with the slightly larger cage diameter you have bit more purchase.

To order a MKIV you will need the bottom pin diameter and the headstay wire size.

Harken has a new exciting product that will be launched at METS in November. I cannot tell you what it is yet as I have been requested to keep it quiet until the launch. It is a new electrical device that will aid rig tuning.

High tech rigging solutions

Hampidjen Dynex

Dynex is a no stretch rope, because of its exhaustive pre stretch treatment during manufacturing. In fact the only elongation is due to the braiding of the line. The line is so stiff it feels like metal. The combination of low stretch and lightweight coupled with Colligo synthetic rigging systems makes for a very simple light standing rigging solution.

This is the catamaran that used Hampidjan's Dynex  line of ropes for its standing rigging.

Click on the link to read Chris Kinzel article about his 63 performance/cruising sailing catamaran and how he was looking for an alternative to steel for the standing rigging.

Dynex is imported into the USA by Annapolis rigging 410-269-8035

Colligo Synthetic Rigging Systems

These fittings are like the old days of rigging a tall ship. However with the new ropes and fibers available that have ultra low stretch they are a good way the terminate the line and add adjustment with out moving parts. See the story of the Catamaran above to see how this works and the benefits.

Weems and Plath

Weems and Plath lightrule is a great gift idea but it is also a very useful tool in learning and being able to decipher ships and boating traffic's navigation lights at night.

How many times have you wondered what the vessel is that is homing in on you. What  is it and where is it headed? Lightrule will help you figure this out which greatly reduces stress.

Weems & Plath have a whole group of these light and road rules which are great learning and practical tools

Oceangrafix

This is the chart supplier who can print any chart with the latest up to date chart information. No off the shelf out of date charts here.

Members us the USPS and associated squadrons keep an eye on local navigation markers, channel markers and anything to do with Navigation. They report any changers or problems to NOAA who update their charts. Charts are then printed direct from the software for absolutely up to date charts.

Print a new up to date chart from Oceangrafix. It may cost a couple of dollars more than buying one in a store but you know you have the most current available with all the latest updates.

These are links to United States Power Squadron and the Raritan Squadron who informed me about the service they provide.

USPS

Raritan Bay Squadron of the U.S.P.S.

Glendinning Cablemaster Shore power cable storage system

This system is really designed for the power boat market. However for a large quality yacht this system saves both time and effort plus it tidies up that tangle of chords at the bottom of the locker.

The boat end of the cord is permanently hardwired into the boat saving one connection. All you need to do is to extend the cord (there is a remote control to facilitate this) and then plug in and that's it.

The storage needed to house the system is not that bad and any boat over 40 foot could use this system.

Cablemaster brochure

DC Breeze

12 volt air conditioning for the boat who does not have a 110 system, shore power or the space for full size air conditioning. Smaller sailboats and cuddy cabin cruiser come to mind.
 

• 5k Btu/hr of air conditioning in hot tropical climates
• Direct 12 volt or 24 volt DC input - no inverter required
• High energy efficiency
• 3-speed operation
• Digital thermostat available

Electric Power Winch

I was asked by a broker at the show if I knew of a solution to his space issue under deck for an electric winch. This product was not at the show but Annapolis Rigging told me about it a while back and its a good option.

This winch does not have any motors underneath so If you looking for a power winch and you do not have the space below deck or don't want to loose the space here is the answer.

The compact electric motor is inside the winch. All you have is two wires exiting the bottom of the winch. We know of one of these winches installed this winter and will follow its progress.

Foldaway boarding ladder     

This ladder is a great option to have as it is easily stowed and deployed.

See how the folded ladder fits neatly between stanchions and level with the lifelines. The attachment points can be the rail track if you have one or you can choose from a variety of other attachment fittings

This diagram shows the ladder  deployed.   

Here is a tip from a user. Put a fender on top of the horizontal leg that keeps the ladder vertical. This stops the ladder banging against the topside in a swell.

ATN Gale Sail

Here is a problem that all Owners of boats with roller furling headsails run into. How do you set a storm sail.

The ATN gale sail is a great way to have a storm jib ready to go when you have a roller furling head stay. The sleeve very simply is put around the furled jib or Genoa. The spare halyard is attached and the strom jib is hoisted.

If you go offshore this is a must for safety.

B & G 3000

There are a few features about the 3000 that make it vastly improved over 2000 system.  Matt fries from B & G describes the 3000 system as the culmination of many years of ideas and improvements over the existing system which were stored and added together into one system.

First is the new graphics that you can see on the RaceVision tablet below. All wind data trends can be analyzed by the hour which is an aid to the navigator and tactician.

Second due the unique construction methods the displays are much more impervious to fogging.

Third is the ease of installation and trouble shooting. Having talked to an installer, putting a 3000 system in a new J122 he told me the ease of install and fault finding is far superior to the 2000 system.

Fourth is the calibration. I like the table you can bring up which shows you all the calibration numbers for true wind. Seeing the numbers in one table is a huge help in keeping your system accurate. There are many more benefits to the 3000 to many for here.

  B&G launched a sophisticated new wireless, handheld On-Deck Tactical Navigation PC at Southampton Boat Show 2007. RaceVision3000 builds on previous versions of RaceVision. In the US the launch will be in Ft Lauderdale.

RaceVision3000 is a compact, rugged, touch-screen PC for on-deck navigation on racing yachts. It is designed to meet the tough requirements of the racing navigation environment and is available in two variants, one with a Bluetooth Wireless Port, whilst the other is configured for use with a boat's Wireless LAN (WLAN). This high-power tablet-style PC comes complete with the latest version of B&G's Deckman tactical software. RaceVision3000 uses an on-deck IP67 Wireless Antenna that can be placed anywhere onboard, which enables several cutting-edge, performance enhancing features, including wireless communication with a boat's instrument system.

Garmin BlueChart g2 Vision

At the show I looked at some of the new chartplotters including the 5212 touch screen. I am going to check this out at a later date but for now I look at the impressive features of BlueChart g2 Vision charts.

By adding a BlueChart® g2 Vision card to your compatible chartplotter, you'll have access to premium mapping features such as true 3D-view detailed mapping capabilities (both above and below the waterline), plus helpful Auto Guidance, high-resolution imagery, and “real picture” aerial photos of ports, harbors, marinas, waterways, navigation landmarks and other points of interest.  

The picture to the left shows the auto guidance feature. By entering your boats details including depth and mast you will get a plot which avoids shallows and bridges.

The orange line is the course g2 Vision has plotted for you and you can see it changes accordingly to avoid shallow water.


BlueChart g2 Vision features:

BlueChart g2 Vision SD cards enhance the preloaded maps on your chartplotter and add a whole new dimension of exceptional features such as:

• High resolution satellite imagery, when overlaid on the chart, provides the mariner with unparalleled situational awareness.
• Aerial reference photography provides “real world” photos of ports, harbors, marinas, waterways, navigation landmarks and other points of interest, offering the mariner another powerful tool for navigating unfamiliar waters.
• Mariner’s Eye View perspective provides a bird’s eye view from behind the boat showing the chart information for a quick, reliable and easy position fix.
• Fish Eye View 3D perspective provides an underwater view that visually represents the sea floor according to the chart’s information.
• Auto Guidance technology searches chart data to suggest the best passage to a destination.
• Fishing charts allow the mariner to hide navigation data from the SD card while leaving the bottom contours and depth soundings for their next fishing adventure.
• Includes tides, currents, marine services, coastal roads and points of interest.
• Detailed BlueChart g2 maps are included on the card to supplement the maps on your chartplotter.

That's it for this year but there are more shows and still more great products coming every day, so check in with

Scuttlebutt 

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