Raritan Engineering

Crucial Annual Engine Inspection Time

Maintenance continues to be the key to a better-running engine and much longer engine life. While there's more to learn than any one article could feature, make these recommended inspections of the following five systems.

For expert insight, we checked in with Volvo Penta's service training center supervisor Ed Szilagyi, Mercury MerCruiser dealer service expert Rob Gina of Boatwrench in Longwood, Florida, and other marine pros.

Check all of your fluids so as to ensure smooth operation.

1. Fluids
Motor oil should be a clean, amber or gold color. Black oil suggests old and dirty oil; change it. In the event that the oil looks milky or foamy, it's contaminated by water-- bring the motor in for service.

Check power-trim fluid levels. Inspect trim-pump reservoir caps for the milk-carton-like seal beneath the cap. Dispose of this; it inhibits venting and may lead to leaks.

Get rid of the lower gear-case drain screw and check the condition of the lubricant. It ought to be clean, amber- or green-colored, and not filthy or contaminated by water. Burnt lubricant implies improper gear lash and impending failure; milky means water is leaking through a seal, which results in rusted gears, shafts as well as bearings.

Remember to examine engine coolant and power and hydraulic-steering fluid levels.

2. Cooling
Operate the engine on a hose adapter or perhaps at the dock to make sure proper cooling- system operation just before you go.

As soon as the engine is cool, check water hoses for age, brittleness and dry rot. Hoses should be pliant but firm, not mushy.

3. Drives and Props
Check the prop shaft for straightness by standing directly behind it and rotating the propeller, looking for out-of-true rotation. Bring bent props to a prop shop. Look for fishing line snarled all around the shaft where it enters the gear case. This common malady causes seal leakage, allowing water in, gear lube out, or even both.

Look for damage to the skeg. Repair and paint damaged areas.

4. Belts
Push between pulleys; belts ought to bounce back. Look for cracks, fragility and dry rot, and abnormal wear. Look for thin areas.

Rusty, pitted pulleys often indicate an engine water leak. Belt-dust residue likewise suggests damaged pulleys.

5. Steering
Steer from lock to lock. Inspect cables for binding or stiffness. Clean crud from steering rams.

Inspect hydraulic steering for air pockets, sponginess and/or irregular function. Fix steering woes immediately, before using your boat.

6. Fuel Systems
Avoid ethanol fuels when possible. While it's typically more costly to do so, fueling up at the marina where non-ethanol fuels are readily available could save money in the long run.

If you leave your boat idle for extensive time periods (greater than 60 days), add stabilizer to your fuel supply and run the motor at least 10 minutes in order to disperse the treated fuel throughout the system (fuel lines, filters and injectors or carburetors).

Suggestion: Be sure to utilize sufficient fuel conditioner! If unsure, double the recommended dose. Too much doesn't hurt anything, but not enough won't do the job.

7. Anode
Anodes safeguard your drive from corrosion and deterioration. Here's what to inspect: Ensure your motor and drive have the correct anode for your use-- magnesium for fresh water, zinc for brackish and salt water. If you're not sure, bring your rig to your dealership.

Change all anodes that are less than two-thirds their initial size. Do not repaint over anodes; this prevents all of them from carrying out their job. Be sure to check your owner's manual for the location of all anodes. Although a few are visible and quickly accessible, some might be located internally and therefore overlooked. For example, Volvo closed-cooling engines have anodes in the heat exchangers.

8. Charging System
It's certainly not a bad idea to always keep a marine smart charger connected and plugged in any time you're not making use of your boat.

Keep the terminals and cable ends clean and devoid of corrosion. Cleanse using baking soda or Coke and a wire brush. Do not use wing nuts on the terminals; nyloc nuts will certainly ensure that cable ends stay tight.

Keep the battery cables and wires out of water and damp places. Since they're covered in plastic sheathing, it's difficult to notice when they're corroded inside until it's too late and your engine won't start. Be sure all wires are actually marine-grade tinned copper.

9. Hoses
Inspect all water hoses and clamps for tightness, age, fragility and dry rot. Make sure there are no leaks and that hose clamps fit securely without causing damage to hoses. It's a good idea to keep additional clamps, hose-repair kits/extra hoses in your on-board tools and parts kit.

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Don't Postpone Fuel Tank Maintenance

Don't let this happen to you! November is the time of year when the postponing catches up to people. The huge tasks we avoided all summer stare us in the face. Do absolutely nothing, and you run the risk of a summer lost pulling epoxy from your hair instead of sailing. If your boat is actually 20 years old or even older, a fuel tank replacing-- a bear of a project, even in optimal circumstances-- may be that project you're delaying. If it is, well, you're in luck, since we've got a reasonable bit of information to help guide you through the process.

Marine consultant and technical writer Steve D'Antonio wrote an extensive article about tank replacing previously. The following excerpt from that short article deals explicitly with aluminum, however, there certainly are other options.

Aluminum is a common substitute fuel tank material choice for most installations. It is simple to work with, easily obtainable, relatively inexpensive, light, strong, and corrosion resistant, although far from corrosion-proof. There certainly are some prerequisites whenever selecting aluminum for fuel tank fabrication, and some important installment details which must be followed.

The alloy used must be 5052, 5083, or 5086 series and a minimum of.09 inches thick. This specific gauge is ABYC authorized, but, 1/8-inch (.125 inches) is preferable, and 1/4-inch (.25 inches) should be considered when it comes to "extreme" applications, like bilge installments or perhaps where optimal resilience and longevity is sought. Every fraction of an inch of wall thickness will buy more years of life, especially if the installation is less than perfect.

If aluminum possesses many good characteristics, why use anything else? Unfortunately, as many boat owners will attest, aluminum is anything but indestructible. Among its primary weakness is its susceptibility to some deterioration, especially pitting, galvanic, and poultice. Pitting is caused by upsetting the corrosion-resistant film formed on the surface area of aluminum, sometimes as a result of variations in available oxygen. As soon as it takes a foothold, the pit grows deeper, which produces a more powerful cell, speeding up the next type of corrosion, which is galvanic.

Galvanic corrosion is the interaction between dissimilar metals in the presence of an electrolyte. In aluminum tanks, this particular procedure may occur among a copper-alloy fitting (brass or bronze) and seawater, or between a pitted aluminum surface and seawater. You must make sure that all metals that are actually in contact with the tank are compatible with aluminum.

To prolong the tank's life as well as minimize the chance of any possible harm, bonding the tank is also a good idea. Bonding the tank is an American Boat and Yacht Council requirement for several reasons: to avoid electrocution for shore-power-equipped vessels, to mitigate lightning damage, as well as to prevent side-flashes (electrical current jumping in between metal components during a lightning strike). According to the ABYC, the boat's bonding system, the DC negative system (which includes the engine block and battery negative), and the AC safety ground all must be connected and remain at the same potential.

The resistance between any two components in this system should not exceed 1 Ohm. (It's essential to keep in mind that any bonding wire attached to the engine block must be sized to safely carry full engine cranking amperage.).

Bonding the tank minimizes the possibility of damage caused by stray current corrosion, and it prevents static electricity build-up on or in the tank, which could result in a spark and explosion (admittedly not likely on diesel installations). If the tank is bonded, and the bonding system is actually correctly attached to an underwater hull zinc anode, then this anode might provide some corrosion protection to the tank.

Poultice corrosion results when aluminum continues to be in constant contact with a wet surface, like wood, carpeting, insulation, or stagnant water. If allowed to make contact, these demons are the precursors of an early death for any type of aluminum tank. The result is actually prodigious quantities of white, gooey aluminum hydroxide. (It looks like freezer-burned vanilla ice cream.) This will rapidly jeopardize the tank surface.

The greatest defense from this specific scenario is careful attention to installation details. No hygroscopic material should be permitted to make continuous contact with an aluminum tank, period.

A suitable aluminum tank installation requires 1/4-inch by 2-inch strips of non-hydroscopic material, like neoprene or high-density plastic (Starboard for example), spaced two inches apart and positioned in between the tank bottom and the shelf on which it is installed. This will certainly prevent the tank from resting in water, and also enables air to circulate underneath the tank, while enabling condensation to evaporate. Furthermore, the installer must make sure to bed or glue the insulating material to the bottom of the tank. In case this is not performed, water or condensation will certainly find its way in between it and the tank, and corrosion will set in. Any other mounting arrangements, such as cribs or beams, must feature this insulating material.

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Marine Hot Water Heaters Blog Dept: 5 Great Ways to Prep Your Boat for Hurricane Season

Take Action to Protect Your Boat During the Upcoming Hurricane Season

Raritan Engineering Company your marine hot water heaters specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding prepping your boat for hurricane season. 

Will you have a recreational boat located in hurricane country as of June 1? Your marine hot water heaters experts talk about how according to recently released predictions by experts at Colorado State University, the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season could be a doozy. 

1. Who pays for salvage? When a hurricane throws your boat across the boatyard into a big pile, sinks it in the slip, or carries it into a football field end zone, you end up with a salvage situation. If the boat is not a total loss and needs to be recovered and brought to a repair facility, salvage costs can escalate quickly. Most boaters assume that the cost of raising or moving a damaged boat to a safe location – salvage coverage – is included in their insurance policy. And with better policies that’s true: They offer salvage coverage that is separate but equal to the boat’s hull coverage limit. 

2. You can lower your “named storm deductible” by preparing. “Storm deductibles,” which increase your deductible for boat damages incurred in a named storm, are common with recreational boat insurance policies today. One way to reduce the deductible is to make active preparations when a storm approaches, such as hauling the boat, lashing the boat to the ground, and removing any windage items such as enclosures, canvas and/or sails. 

Do You Live In Hurricane Territory? Have No Fear With These Ways to Stay Safe

3. Know your hurricane haulout coverage, and use it if you have to. For boats in hurricane zones, “hurricane haulout coverage,” also sometimes known as “named storm haulout reimbursements,” is a must. This coverage helps pay boat owners a portion of the labor costs to have a boat hauled, prepared and tied-down by professionals, which include marina or boat club staff, or to have the boat moved by a licensed captain. 

4. Is your boat trailer insured? Not all boat insurance policies cover boat trailers as a separate item, so if a hurricane topples a tree onto your boat trailer breaking it in half, ensure it’s covered. Your insurance company should know the cost of the trailer separate from the boat’s value.

5. A heads up if you have a liability-only boat policy. Some boaters choose liability-only insurance. That can meet their needs just fine, but ensure that it also includes coverage for salvage and wreck removal, and that separate coverage is available for fuel-spill incidents. 

So don't forget these great tips for prepping your boat for the upcoming hurricane season. 1) Make sure you have salvage coverage on your insurance;  2) know your hurricane haulout coverage;  and 3) be well prepared, do your homework regarding safety and all insurance coverages.

Sailing Maori Journey, New Zealanders Rekindle Indigenous Pride

Check out our marine water heaters selection here at Raritan Engineering and see how we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Some, holding Samoan flags, made a beeline for the waka Gaualofa. At the head of the vessel was Fealofani Bruun, a 32-year-old female captain whom many — particularly “Moana” fans — had come to see.

His own waka, the Haunui, circumnavigaes New Zealand spreading a message of environmental conservation. Mr. Barclay-Kerr said the sight of a waka sailing into the bay often awakened memories among older Maori people of oral histories they had learned as children.

“Often they’re not confident enough to talk about it until the waka arrive, because people tell them, ‘Ah, it’s just a story,’ ” he said.

Turned down for the navy, Mr. Dice joined a yacht squadron and then the Coast Guard in the hope that he would learn to sail, but it was the waka that provided the opportunity he sought. He was now preparing for a voyage to Hawaii on the double-hulled canoe in 2020.

A version of this article appears in print on March 15, 2018, on Page A12 of the New York edition with the headline: Sailing Into a New Zealand Harbor, and Recreating History.

Order your marine water heater here at Raritan Engineering and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on marine hot water heaters below. 

via Is Your Boat in Hurricane Country?

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via Sailing into a New Zealand Harbor, and Recreating History

Marine Sanitation Dept: Great Ways to Keep Your Ropes Clean and in Great Shape

Don't Underestimate Good Rope Maintenance

Raritan Engineering Company your marine sanitation experts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding great ways to keep your ropes clean and in great shape.

Your marine sanitation suppliers discusses how if you didn’t remove your running rigging last winter, then there is a good chance you'll be coming back to sheets and halyards coated in dirt, mold, and mildew.

• Wash only with a very mild detergent. For relatively new ropes, this means something like Woolite or a half-dose of a modern laundry detergent. For the first few years, ropes still contain thread coatings and lubricants from the factory that provide an easy hand, as well as offer some protection from UV radiation, abrasion, and water absorption.

• Avoid contact with acids, bases, and solvents. Both polyester and nylon (polyamide) are vulnerable to certain chemicals, so manufacturers broadly warn against using them. However, both nylon and polyester are unaffected by most solvents. Nylon is particularly vulnerable to acid. Strong acids such as battery acid or muriatic acid can literally melt right through a nylon rope in a matter of minutes.

Check Out the Secret to Keeping Your Ropes Looking Great

Because marine sanitation is critical on your vessel, you need to check us out here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

• Fabric softener at recommended doses is approved. However, high doses of fabric softener can weaken ropes, primarily because they prevent complete drying.

• Power washing is not recommended. While it can be an effective method for cleaning marine growth from mooring pendants and dock lines, a power washer in the hands of an inexperienced operator can do significant damage.

• Bleach is not recommended by any manufacturer in any quantity. Every manufacturer has faced claims of rope failure or splice failure caused by a bleach overdose. Extended soaking in bleach solutions must be avoided.

• Hot water is not a problem. Nylon and polyester are undamaged at normal water-heater temperatures (120 to 135 degrees).

• Don’t dry with heat. The rope should be flaked loosely on the floor and left to dry. Nylon and polyester ropes are not typically heat-set, and there is great risk that the sheath and core will shrink differently, causing distortion and structural damage to the rope.

• Bleach is very bad (again). This one is worth repeating. Each spring, riggers are asked to re-do splices that have come loose after bleach ate the stitching and whippings that secured the splices.

So don't forget these important reminders for keeping your ropes clean and in great shape. 1) Wash your ropes with only a mild detergent;  2) never use bleach;  and 3) make generous use of hot water.

Centuries-Old Sailing Ship Washes Up On Florida beach

A 48-foot section of an old sailing ship has washed ashore on a Florida beach, thrilling researchers who are rushing to study it before it’s reclaimed by the sea. The Florida Times-Union reports the well-preserved section of a wooden ship’s hull washed ashore overnight Tuesday on Florida’s northeastern coast. 

Julie Turner and her 8-year-old son found the wreckage on Ponte Vedra Beach Wednesday morning. At first, Turner thought it was a piece of a pier or fence, but then, she realized it was a centuries-old ship that had washed ashore.

“We walked and checked it out and immediately knew it was a historical piece of artifact". 

Researchers with the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum have been documenting the artifact and say it could date back as far as the 1700s. Marc Anthony, who owns Spanish Main Antiques, told WJAX-TV it’s extremely rare for wreckage to wash ashore.

“To actually see this survive and come ashore. This is very, very rare. This is the holy grail of shipwrecks,” Anthony said.

Museum historian Brendan Burke told the newspaper that evidence suggests the vessel was once sheeted in copper, and that crews found Roman numerals carved on its wooden ribs.

Buy sanitation equipment here at Raritan Engineering and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on marine saniation below. 

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Boat Toilets Staff Blog: Easy Ways to Keep Your Alternator Running Strong

Give Your Alternator a Nice and Long Life

Raritan Engineering your boat toilets suppliers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding easy ways to keep your alternator running strong.

So I was thinking about Bitcoin today, the digital crypto-currency that seems no less cryptic than what’s in my wallet these days, and this got me thinking about giant stone money on the island of Yap, and because I spent most of my time on Yap rebuilding an alternator, this got me thinking about alternator belts.

1 - Check belt for excessive wear. Compare the belt width and depth with your spare belt (you have one of these, right?). When the engine area around the belt is coated with black dust, the belt is probably slipping or misaligned. Small-case, high-output alternators get very, very hot.

2 - Obviously, you must have the right size and type of V-belt. Look for A-series industrial belts, available from most autoparts stores. A quirk of these belts is that the belt number is not identical to the belt length: an A41 belt, for example, is 43 inches long.

3 - Check belt alignment. The belt must be properly aligned with the engine and alternator pulleys. Do not assume that the pulleys are aligned, even if you have a factory-installed alternator. A misaligned belt will often chirp—as opposed to a squeal or screech for a slipping belt.

4 - Check pulleys for corrosion and proper operation. The pulley should not wobble on its axis. If the pulley-end bearings have failed (listen for distinct rumbling or roughness as you spin the unloaded alternator), check alignment carefully after replacing the bearings, as this may have contributed to the failure.

Why Let Your Alternator Die Earlier Than Necessary?

5 - Your boat toilets distributors talk about how proper belt tension is an equally important issue. The correct belt tension depends on the pulley arrangement on the individual engine, as well as the type of accessories driven by the belt. A belt that is too tight can cause problems, but loose belts are more common. 

6 - A Gates Krikit V-Tension Gauge is a handy tool to have on board for checking belt tension. It is easy to use, and the instruction sheet gives belt tension guidelines for a variety of pulley and accessory combinations. 

7 - The engine compartment must be kept clean. A lot of air gets sucked through an alternator. If your engine runs dirty, that dirt will find its way into the alternator, coating the windings and other components.

8 - Make sure the alternator gets plenty of airflow. This may mean increasing engine compartment venting. A beautifully insulated engine compartment that reduces noise is very efficient at keeping the heat inside.

9 - New belts tend to stretch during the first several times you run your engine. After replacing the belt, allow a run-in period of about 10 minutes and check tension again. 

10 - After your final adjustments, make sure your alternator mounting bolts—at the bracket and at the alternator—are tightened down. Some manufacturers give torque for the bracket numbers, 70 to 80 foot-pounds or thereabouts.

Bottom line: By paying a bit of attention to your alternator belt before the season begins, you can save yourself some big Bitcoin down the road.

So don't forget these important tips for keeping your alternator running strong. 1) Check the belt for excessive wear;  2) check belt alignment;  and 3) the engine compartment must be kept clean.

Man screams when fishing rod pulls away suddenly—then, a friend helps to reel in a ‘monster'

Ever had the feeling when you are out fishing that you have hooked a big one? The man in this video thought so, and when he reeled it in—oh boy, what a whopper! It was a catfish that weighed over 250 pounds (approx. 113 kg).

Well, we might not get to catch something like this, but this thrilling video is exciting enough for sure!

Fishing can be fun if you are getting plenty of bites and just plain boring when you aren’t. Famous fisherman Yuri Grisendi didn’t have time to be bored though; he had hooked a gigantic fish while out on the River Rhone, France.

After landing the 8-foot monster catfish and taking plenty of photos, Yuri gave it a kiss and set it free. He caught this river monster in 2015, and it was his personal best.

Visit us here at http://raritaneng.com/raritan-product-line/marine-toilets/marine-elegance/ and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on boat toilets below. 

via Ten Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Alternator

via Man screams when fishing rod pulls away suddenly—then, a friend helps to reel in a ‘monster’

Marine Toilet Dept. Blog: Proper Sailing Etiquette For Rookies

What Does Proper Etiquette Involve For You? 

Raritan Engineering Company your marine toilet specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding proper sailing etiquette for rookies. 

Your marine toilet professionals talk about the etiquette of sailing involves the proper and traditional ways of conducting yourself on a boat and the rules for sailing and interacting with other boats.

Ask Permission to Board

Before you even try to climb onto a boat, find the skipper or crew and ask for permission. The correct way to ask for permission is to say, "Permission to come aboard?" This is one of the most essential rules of etiquette for sailing and is used when you want to become a guest on another boat.

Don't Pack Too Much, Pack Smart

While packing for your sailing trip, keep in mind that you will have limited personal space and storage areas for the items that you bring. The more items that you bring, the less room there will be to move around and enjoy your surroundings. It is important to only pack the essentials plus one or two creature comforts that will make your trip more pleasant. For clothing, keep the general weather in mind and only bring the bare minimum. 

Be Safe and Keep Others Safe

Safety is critical while on a sailboat, as there is no local emergency service department to come to your aid within a moment's notice. Because sailboats are limited in space, there is only so much protective and safety gear that can be brought aboard.

See your choice of marine toilets here at Raritan Engineering and see how we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Bring Something for Everyone

Whether you're the host or a guest, it's common courtesy to bring gifts for others on board. When you are the host of a sailing trip, it is a common pleasantry to bring something to share with everyone, such as breakfast. As a guest, it is also a common courtesy to bring a gift for the host and for the other guests. 

If You're a Guest, Offer to Buy Fuel

When you are a guest on another sailboat and were invited to go on the trip, it is appropriate to offer to buy fuel. Ask the host while you are still at the marina if you could pay for the fuel that the boat needs before leaving the dock. You could also offer to pay for the fuel at the next fueling station. Offering to pay for the boat's fuel is a simple way to show your appreciation to the host who invited you to come along.

Ask to Use the Head

Ask to use the "head" before using it. The "head", also known as the boat's toilet, requires proper operating instructions so that you do not accidentally cause a clog or overflow. Be sure to not discard excessive amounts of toilet paper, as this may cause a clog. 

Don't Be Messy

With the limited amount of space on the sailboat, keeping everything in its proper place is essential to everyone's safety and comfort. Avoid making a mess. If a mess does happen, take the time to clean it up properly. If a liquid has spilled, keep everyone out of the area until you clean it. 

So don't forget these great tips for showing proper etiquette while sailing. 1) Ask permission to board;  2) don't pack too much, pack smart;  3) bring something for everyone;  and 4) if you're a guest, offer to buy fuel.

88-Yr-Old Has Lived on a Cruise Ship For the Past 10 Years

Have you ever taken a vacation that was so great you never wanted to leave? What if you could figure out a way to stay there for the rest of your life?

For Lee Wachtstetter, that vacation was aboard the Crystal Serenity cruise ship, and she has it all figured out.

“I started frequent cruising. But I got very, very tired of packing and unpacking. So I said, there’s got to be a better way to do this,” Wachtstetter explained.

Mama lee has already experienced the hardship of raising children and traveling. She aims to spend her twilight years relaxing.

“Everything is ‘Been there, done that.’ If I’ve been there and done that, I don’t go off the ship,” she explained.

“And I love it when everybody goes touring. I got the whole ship to myself with all the help.”

For about $175,000 a year, Wachtstetter cruises around to tropical locations without a care in the world. “I think I live a fairy tale existence,” she admitted.

Mama Lee has written a memoir titled “I May Be Homeless, But You Should See My Yacht,” documenting her life of luxurious travels. “It’s not a real life, I realize that. Not everybody does this. But a lot of people could.”

Purchase your marine items here and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

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Marine Heads Division Blog: Which Fishing Radar Is Best For You?

Get Help On Choosing the Right Radar For You 

Raritan Engineering Company your marine heads experts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding which fishing radar is best for you.  

Your marine heads professionals discuss the big question, dome or open array: Which would work best for you?

Granted, I fish mainly inshore on my bay boat, but still I find times when radar might be useful to me: when I can’t clearly see pelicans diving on pogies in the distance; when fog or low-light conditions make navigation tricky; when I want to see which way a rain system is moving and how fast.

I asked the experts to spell out basic differences between domes and arrays so anglers could more easily take the first step in a ­radar-purchase decision.

Boat Logistics

“Typically we start off first by asking what kind of boat they have,” says David Dunn, director of sales and marketing for Garmin. “For a 25-foot center console, an open array might not be the best fit.”

Weight can also be a significant factor. Domes weigh 15 to 25 pounds, while arrays weigh 45 to 70 pounds — thus requiring a substantial hardtop.

Larger center console and sport-fishing vessels that rise higher off the water or feature taller superstructures gain better performance from open-array radar.

Need and Usage

Once you determine what size radar your boat can effectively use, you need to consider how you’ll use the technology. “Ninety-five percent of people are using it for collision avoidance,” says Mark Harnett, Simrad radar product manager. 

Bird finding “comes with power,” Dunn says. “You need to have more power. That’s where we draw the line. The technology in a dome is a lot better than it used to be. 

Higher-power 12 kW magnetron radars such as Raymarine’s HD and Super HD Color arrays work better at finding birds at longer range, says Jim McGowan, Raymarine marketing manager. 

“When you go bigger [in length] with the antenna, you get more detail in the image and a little more power on the target. If you go up on transmitter power, you get more power on the target,” McGowan says.

Beam Angle

Antenna length determines the radar’s beam angle, which is the side-to-side arc measurement of the radiated microwave beam. 

Know Your Needs Before You Buy Your Next Fishing Radar

Browse our selection of marine heads here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

For instance, at longer ranges of more than 5 miles, a wide beam might paint an inlet as one large blob along the coastline, while a tighter beam might show both sides of the opening. 

Seeing larger targets can be ­advantageous at times, he adds. “The thing I like about domes: All targets are big.”

Options on Options

Perhaps by now you’ve determined whether you need a dome or an array for your style of fishing. But you still face a second tier of decisions about features and technology.

Pulse-compression radars up to about 40 watts — such as Simrad’s Halo and Garmin’s Fantom dome — can be equivalent to 5 kW to 6 kW radars. Halo transmits chirps of varying power; in general, it emits less power more often than an equivalent magnetron radar. 

The best advice I have is to take the buying process one step at a time, and you’ll definitely enjoy the final outcome that much more.

So don't forget these great reminders when buying your next fishing radar. 1) Always know how much your boat weighs;  2) figure out your main reasons for using the radar;  and 3) take the buying process one step at a time.

Sailing Maori Journey, New Zealanders Rekindle Indigenous Pride

Some, holding Samoan flags, made a beeline for the waka Gaualofa. At the head of the vessel was Fealofani Bruun, a 32-year-old female captain whom many — particularly “Moana” fans — had come to see.

Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, a master navigator who has spent decades sailing waka throughout the Pacific, was one of the creative producers of the festival opening. He lamented that the stories of Maori ancestors arriving in New Zealand had long been taught in schools as myths or fairy tales rather than recognized as history.

His own waka, the Haunui, circumnavigates New Zealand spreading a message of environmental conservation. Mr. Barclay-Kerr said the sight of a waka sailing into the bay often awakened memories among older Maori people of oral histories they had learned as children.

Standing knee-deep in the sea on Petone Beach, a 35-year-old Haunui crew member, Dale Dice, said taking to the sea had strengthened his connection with his culture. Mr. Dice, who works as a furniture removalist, said he had tried everything he could think of “to get a chance to sail around the world — but nothing worked out.”

Turned down for the navy, Mr. Dice joined a yacht squadron and then the Coast Guard in the hope that he would learn to sail, but it was the waka that provided the opportunity he sought. He was now preparing for a voyage to Hawaii on the double-hulled canoe in 2020.

A version of this article appears in print on March 15, 2018, on Page A12 of the New York edition with the headline: Sailing Into a New Zealand Harbor, and Recreating History.

Buy a marine head here and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on marine heads below.

via How to Choose the Right Radar for Your Fishing

via Sailing into a New Zealand Harbor, and Recreating History

Thru Hull Fittings Staff Blog: Preventing Rig Corrosion

Keep Corrosion From Damaging Your Rig

Raritan Engineering would like to share with you this week some great information about preventing rig corrosion.

Your thru hull fittings professionals discuss how when awakening your boat from its winter slumber a rig check should be high on the list of priorities. Even though the boat has been sitting still, the laws of physics still take their toll. Corrosion is the biggest enemy and the stainless steel components in your rig can effectively hide the insidious advance of this disease.

One underlying moral of these stories is that stainless steel can fail without warning, a message that can leave a boat owner feeling helpless. Does this mean that our only resort is to replace anything that raises suspicion? The line between caution and paranoia becomes thin. Fortunately, stainless steel hardware has a long and mostly successful track record on boats, and the warning signs are often apparent. The trick is knowing where to look.

In the upcoming May issue of Practical Sailor, renowned rigger and sailing writer Brion Toss, explores of rigging failure in finer detail in an excerpt from his forthcoming book, “Rig Your Boat.” Here are just some of the tips that Toss shares.

Don't Let Corrosion Sneak Up On You

1. Follow the load. Your thru hull fittings suppliers talk about how to follow the path that loads on your rig follow as they are transferred to the hull or deck. Sharp bends, and slack, ill-fitting, or misaligned unions will concentrate loads in one area and increase the chance of failure at these points. Seemingly minor oversights like using an undersized clevis pin on a toggle can lead to premature failure.
2. Beware of hidden dangers. Many failure points are often physically hidden from view. Crevice corrosion in chainplates, bobstays, and padeyes often starts where the stainless comes into contact with wet wood or core material, or in fiberglass laminate where water has been trapped. 
3. Go aloft. If you don’t unstep your mast each season, you or a qualified rigger should go aloft at least once a year to inspect wire, terminals, spreaders, and the hardware and fittings at the top of your mast. You should hire a pro to do a full inspection every six years, and start thinking about wire replacement after 10-12 years—although this can vary greatly according to use and environmental factors. While you’re off the ground, check around mast tangs for signs of slipping. 
4. Inspect swages. Deck-level wire swages are one of the most common sources of failure on saltwater cruisers. Cracks, swelling, or weeping rust stains are a sign that time is running out for this hardware. Although no absolute timetable exists, riggers we have spoken with advise owners to start thinking about wire replacement after 10-12 years.
5.  Read the instructions. Turnbuckles can only be loosened so far; screw-on Norseman-type terminal fittings need to be correctly assembled and sealed. Neglecting to review the installation guidelines for any component in your rig is asking for trouble.

Bottom line: Some of the so-called hidden dangers of stainless steel hardware and rigging are not so hidden after all, but we need to know what to look for.

So don't forget these helpful tips on preventing corrosion from ruining your day. 1) Sharp bends, and slack, ill-fitting, or misaligned unions will concentrate loads in one area and increase the chance of failure at these points;  2) beware of hidden dangers;  and 3) always read the instructions.

World's first electric container barges to sail from European ports this summer

The world’s first fully electric, emission-free and potentially crewless container barges are to operate from the ports of Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam from this summer.

The vessels, designed to fit beneath bridges as they transport their goods around the inland waterways of Belgium and the Netherlands, are expected to vastly reduce the use of diesel-powered trucks for moving freight.

The barges are designed to operate without any crew, although the vessels will be manned in their first period of operation as new infrastructure is erected around some of the busiest inland waterways in Europe.

In August, five barges - 52 metres long and 6.7m wide, and able to carry 24 20ft containers weighing up to 425 tonnes - will be in operation. They will be fitted with a power box giving them 15 hours of power. As there is no need for a traditional engine room, the boats have up to 8% extra space, according to their Dutch manufacturer, Port Liner.

At a later date, six larger 110m-long barges, carrying 270 containers, will run on four battery boxes capable of providing 35 hours of autonomous driving. Their use alone could lead to a reduction of about 18,000 tonnes per year of CO2, it is claimed.

According to the latest statistics from Eurostat, 74.9% of freight in the EU is transported by road, compared to 18.4% by rail, and 6.7% along inland waterways, although the use of water routes has been rising.

The company’s chief executive, Ton van Meegen, told shipping industry trade journal the Loadstar that the barges would be the first in the world to sail on carbon-neutral batteries and that only the low bridges in the low countries prevented them from being loaded with more goods.

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Macerating Toilet Dept. Blog: Best Way to Get a Boat Loan

Avoid These Problems When Getting Your Boat Loan

Raritan Engineering Company your macerating toilet specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding some great ways to get a boat loan. 

1. Check your credit. Your macerating toilet experts talk about how before applying for a loan get your current credit score and ensure your credit report is accurate. Scores above 800 may earn you a better interest rate. A free copy of your credit report is available annually from each of the three national credit bureaus at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. 

2. Find the right loan type. A fixed-rate, fixed-term, simple-interest loan is the most common. This offers the same monthly payment for the life of the loan. Variable rate or hybrid options may offer a combination of a fixed rate for a few years, and then a variable rate. 

3. Consider a HELOC. Buyers of smaller vessels often tap into their home equity line of credit (HELOC) to fund a boat purchase. That may work well if you plan to pay the boat off while interest rates remain relatively low. 

4. Compare loan rates. Generally rates are lower and available loan terms are longer for newer boats and larger loan amounts. However, each is dependent on a variety of factors including model year, loan amount and down payment. Be prepared for banks to require larger down payments, have higher rates and offer shorter terms on older boats, especially those more than 20 model years.

5. Don’t be fooled by ads. You may see rates advertised as low as 3.99 percent, but there usually will be some small print that could make that loan less attractive. For instance, the rate might only be fixed for a few years or the loan period might be only seven years.

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6. Get pre-approved. To help save time, ask if you can get preapproval, or if you can possibly start the underwriting process before you have a signed sales agreement or even have a specific boat in mind.

7. Know your tax benefits. A boat can qualify as a second-home loan interest deduction if it has a berth, galley and head, so buying a boat with these features may offer a tax advantage. 

8. Get it surveyed. For pre-owned vessels, hire a qualified marine surveyor to inspect the boat to ensure it is in good condition and you won’t have any unexpected repair bills. BoatUS.com/Surveyors can help you find one. Also, many lenders will require a marine survey.

9. Ask about closing costs. As with any loan, there are some fees involved. Sales tax, processing fees, title and registration and/or US Coast Guard documentation fees are common. Check with your lender to find out what to expect.

10. Calculate your monthly payment. How much can you afford? Go to BoatUS.com/Calculator to easily crunch the numbers. Your lender will also review your debt ratio and other criteria.

A contract is more easily enforced if it's in writing. Dealers often use standardized purchase agreements, but buyers have a right to protect their interests. By crossing out terms that are inappropriate and adding optional provisions or contingencies, you can tailor the contract to protect yourself. Check out our "Buyer's Toolbox" to see how you can obtain a sample contract. It's good to remember that the initial cost of buying a boat is not the biggest expense of ownership. An annual budget should include your boat loan (if financed), storage or slip fees, insurance, operation, and maintenance fees. One surveyor told us he recommends that in the first year of ownership, buyers should be prepared to spend 10 to 20 percent of the purchase price for repairs and updates. Commonly called extended warranties, service contracts are actually repair insurance policies. It is important to know that while the manufacturer's name may be written on the literature, they're administered by a third-party company. Service contracts don't create a legal obligation between the manufacturer and buyer, so before you buy a service contract, read it over and make sure you feel the coverage is worth the money

So don't forget these pointers when trying to get a boat loan. 1) Check your credit;  2) always compare loan rates;  and 3) ask about closing costs.

Millennials Who Sank A Boat Get $13,000 In Donations

A pair of millennials sank a boat they were not qualified to operate and received $13,000 in donations to buy a new one, according to the Daily Wire News.

Nikki Walsh and her boyfriend Tanner Broadwell decided to sell all their possessions and live a carefree life by sailing from island to island on a 50-year-old sailboat. Unfortunately, their dream came crashing to an end because of their lack of sailing experience.

After the couple sold all their possessions, they bought the boat and spent $10,000 on repairs. Once the repairs were done, they embarked on their journey. But there were two problems; they didn’t purchase insurance and neither of them knew how to sail. 

Not knowing how to sail can be forgivable. It’s dangerous, but not uncommon. But not purchasing insurance on a vehicle is not forgivable. This particular couple has not purchased insurance for their next trip yet.

Boating Safety Tips. Whether you’re a new sailor or have years of experience, it’s always good to know/review boating safety tips. According to Discover Boating, the first tip is to always be weather-wise. Before embarking on a trip, you should always check local weather conditions. If you notice that the clouds are starting to darken and the winds are picking up, they suggest that you get off the water.

Pre-Departure Checklist. Discover Boating recommends that everyone who is sailing on the boat go through a pre-departure checklist. That means going through fire safety and tips on how to fuel up. Going through the checklist is a good refresher in case people have forgotten. 

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Boat Head Division Blog: Fishing With Your Downriggers

Your Boat's Downrigger Can Help You On Your Next Fishing Trip 

Raritan Engineering Company your boat head specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding fishing with your downriggers.

Your boat head experts discuss how a few things frustrate us as much as staring at mark after mark on the fish finder, while our offerings go untouched. We’ve all been there — wondering what we’re doing wrong, why the fish won’t rise to take a bait, and what we could be doing differently to trigger a strike. 

We have a number of ways to get baits down beneath the surface: planers, lipped lures and using oodles of lead are all options. But you’ll have a tough time finding someone versed in the use of downriggers who doesn’t believe them to be a superior tool for reaching deep fish in a number of situations.

Thermal Adjustment

“Fish don’t just sit up top, especially when there’s a strong thermocline,” says tournament angler and team captain Mark Henderson of Liquid Fire, who fishes everywhere from the Gulf coast up to his home port in North Carolina.

Henderson says he always runs two downriggers, and mixes up what’s offered on the lines — usually skirted baits, plugs or live baits — to give the fish some options. He’s caught species ranging from sailfish (as deep as 85 feet) to mahi to king mackerel.

Even when there isn’t a strong ­temperature break beneath the surface, Henderson still utilizes downriggers to give his baits a slightly different look. “Changing the presentation just that much, with a common bait like a cigar minnow or ribbonfish that’s usually placed at the surface, sometimes makes a difference.”

How Many Fish Will Your Downriggers Help You Catch?

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The other downrigger ­application he advocates — and it’s a popular one — is trolling for wahoo. “A lot of times, they prefer a subsurface bait,” he says. “In that case, a purple-and-black Ilander lure rigged with a ballyhoo is the ­preferred offering.”

Forgione says this technique makes ­downriggers very effective for targeting sailfish, and also for blackfin tuna in spring. “They always seem to be swimming right along that temperature barrier,” he explains. “And you have to remember that the temperature and the currents can be completely different down below, sometimes as little as 20 feet down.”

Pay to Play

Effective though they might be at times, downriggers must be properly tended. “When you get a fish on the line, you need to get the downrigger ball up and out of the way fast,” Henderson explains, “or you risk a disaster.”

But will a downrigger expand your options, and allow you to apply the most effective tool possible when the conditions call for it? You bet, and that will help you turn those frustrating sonar marks into fish on the end of your line.

So don't forget these great tips on using your boat's downriggers to help you fish offshore. 1) Downriggers can give bait a different and more appealing look;  2) they help you get your bait to the part of water at the right temperature;  and 3) make sure you tend your downriggers properly.

UK government to protect fishing waters from EU with ARMED patrols

The move will be a major signal to the European Union to stay out of British waters.

If EU fishermen fail to do this they will be met with an armed response.

Mr Eustice spoke to the House of Lords’ EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee and said:

“We are ensuring we have the capacities we need on the day we leave the EU.

“We are speaking to the MOD about the fisheries protection unit and what additional capacity many be required there.

“We will need more vessels, particularly when boarding fishing ships.

Jim Portus, chief executive of the South West Fish Producer Organisation, previously said the Navy would have to be intelligence-led.

He said: ”Yes, there are risks of port blockades, especially by the French. They do it so often.

“But we already have technology like satellites, plus CCTV cameras on many vessels.

“There will be 1,000 UK fishing vessels just itching to report any illegal activity.”

French Fishermen complain that ‘life will be hard’ as Britain to FINALLY get its waters BACK

‘Life will be hard’ when the UK takes back control of its waters claims French fishermen.

French fishermen destroyed the UK fishing industry! These are our waters and our fish.

The French are more than welcome to fish in their own waters.

Cry me a river…

SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: “It is clear that there is overwhelming public support for the UK to regain control of what is after all part of its natural capital – the fish stocks around our shores.

“It is pleasing that voters have also been persuaded that it makes sense for us to leave the [EU’s] Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) within the early stages of the transition period.”

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via How Pros Use Downriggers to Catch More Offshore Fish

via BREAKING: UK government to protect fishing waters from EU with ARMED patrols

Macerator Toilet Staff Blog: Get the Maximum Life From Your Paint Job

Make Your New Paint Job Last!

Raritan Engineering would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to get the maximum life from your paint job.

Your macerator toilet experts discuss how the results derived from a professionally applied LPU topside refinish are as dramatic as the invoice that accompanies the makeover. The shiny, wet look and the protection it affords can last for years—whether it’s three years, five years, or nearly a decade depends upon how kindly the rejuvenated surface is treated. 

Giving your topsides proper maintenance attention, like waxing regularly, will keep them looking healthy.

-During application: Most well-executed LPU paint jobs begin with epoxy primers and fairing compounds as the underpinnings of a glistening LPU topcoat. 

-Cleaning: Regularly sponge washing the hull is the first step in preserving the topcoat’s shine. Avoid cleaning with scrub pads and gritty cleaners; this should be a completely non-abrasive effort. Many paint makers offer their own mild detergent, and we’ve found Awlwash by Awlgrip to be a very effective, completely non-abrasive cleaner. 

-Sailing is not a full-contact sport: More often than not, the decision to have the topsides re-painted has to do with localized damage that resulted from docking maneuvers gone awry, tussles at the starting line, or storm damage when a line gives way. Those who can avoid such bumps and bruises can nurse the gloss for many more years. 

-Wax On-Wax Off: After the first two or three seasons of washing and protecting the surface from winter-cover abrasion and line chafe, there’s often a need to tune up the gloss a bit. The best bet is to follow up another good washing with a conventional carnauba-based wax like Mother’s California Gold or Collinite’s #885. 

Check Out These Easy Ways to Keep Your New Paint Job Looking Great

-Your macerator toilet professionals talk about how to breathe life into dull coats: Owners of boats with five- to seven-year-old intact LPU paint jobs that look dull but remain well adhered, can try rubbing out the surface with 3M Perfect-It rubbing compound and following up with a carnauba wax. 

-Repair care: Repairs to two-part LPU coatings are a true test of product awareness and applicator talent. The challenge lies in blending the old and the new, and blending the circumference known as the “overspray region.” Matching color change and gloss variation is even tougher than automotive work. The reason for these difficulties is the quality of the paint itself. 

One of the reasons why AwlCraft and other slightly softer and more user-friendly acrylic-based LPU paints are growing in popularity is that they are much easier to repair and buff than polyester-based two-part paints. 

So don't forget these great reminders for keeping your new paint job as long as possible. 1) Most well-executed LPU paint jobs begin with epoxy primers and fairing compounds as the underpinnings of a glistening LPU topcoat;  2) regularly sponge washing the hull is the first step in preserving the topcoat’s shine;  and 3) after the first two or three seasons of washing and protecting the surface from winter-cover abrasion and line chafe, there’s often a need to tune up the gloss a bit.

Stray Kitten's Little Paws Are Frozen To A Boat Dock, But Sheriff Says, 'You Won't Die Today!'

An elderly couple in Mercer County, Kentucky found a kitten that had fallen into the water at a boat dock and its little paws were frozen to a rock.

It had been stuck there for 11 long hours and was frantically crying for help!

They immediately dialed 911, and Sheriff Ernie Kelty rushed to the scene, knowing he didn’t have much time before the little cat would die from exposure to the cold.

He started by trying to release the icy paws from being stuck so he could try to get him loose. He poured warm water over them and gently pulled as he did to free his paws.

Then he placed the shivering little cat under the shirt beneath his jacket to warm him, which is both smart and adorable!

After about 20 minutes, the kitten stopped shaking so hard, and he took him out to check him.

The elderly couple was still there, worried sick about the little cat. Sheriff Kelty, wanting to reassure them that it was going to be okay, handed the kitten off to the elderly couple.

The kitten had been through quite an ordeal, but he now has his forever home. He also got a special name; Ernie, after his rescuer.

Talk about an unbelievable turn of events: He’s about to freeze to death, alone and afraid, and then he gets a loving home in which to spend the rest of his life!

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Macerator Pump Dept. Blog: Don't Overthink Your Sailing Strategy

Don't Overcomplicate Your Sailing Methods 

Raritan Engineering Company your macerator pump suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding why it is important not to overthink your sailing strategy. 

It’s September 2018. Imagine yourself at the dock at the start of day two of that big event you’ve been working toward all year. Your macerator pump distributors discuss how it’s currently blowing 18 knots with even bigger puffs because a front has just rolled through. 

What should you set the rig to? Is the course full of waves and steep chop? Where is the sweet spot for your jib halyard? Are the jib cars too far forward, too far aft, or just right? What about the top main batten? 

Hopefully, many of these questions will be answered in your preparation leading up to the big event because, if you try to focus on all these questions simultaneously, it’s easy to get muddled and overcomplicate things. 

First, have a plan and stick to it.

You’ve raced before, so set a routine that works and stick with it. For instance, you can keep provisioning simple by bringing the same food every day. You know what’s been successful in the past, so why overcomplicate things? 

Knowing when you need to get to the boat and when to leave the dock should also be part of your premade plan. Again, keep it simple. 

Second, don’t leave things to the last minute.

When you come in from racing, it’s rare that something doesn’t need to be fixed or tweaked. How tempting is it to say, “I’m tired. I’ll just do that in the morning. What I need right now is a beer!”

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Practice isn’t last-minute either, even though we’ve all heard people say, “I’d like to get out to the racecourse early to practice.” During a major regatta is not the time to try to improve your skills. 

Third, don’t sweat the details you can’t change.

As you head out to the racecourse, the question of whether your tuning is right always weighs on your mind, but don’t dwell on it now. 

If you’ve practiced and your team is ready, the tuning will be good enough to allow you to win the race. The point is not to focus on something you can’t change. Keep it simple and focus only on important decisions you’re able to make.

Fourth, make sure you’re going fast.

Speed is king in keeping things simple. Both upwind and downwind, speed makes everything easier because it allows you to concentrate on the race and your tactics. Whatever your problems may be on the racecourse, speed will help you overcome them.

Have a plan and stick with it, never leave things to the last minute, and avoid getting stressed over details that you can’t change. As some of you may have already heard me say: Sailboat racing is like NASCAR – just go fast and turn left!

So don't forget how you can stop overthinking your sailing strategy. 1) Have a plan and stick to it;  2) don't procrastinate;  3) don't sweat the details you can't change;  and 4) go fast.

Huge shark spotted swimming next to a boat

We’re reminded time and again of the numerous ways you can die in Australia thanks to frequent appearances by extremely venomous snakes, but then a shark that’s not far off from being as long as a boat shows up.

The shark, identified as a great white, can be seen circling the waters where a 28-foot-long boat and its crew marveled at what was going on. The shark was swimming just over 150 feet away from a beach, according to reports.

“Big Fish – Fourth Beach Esperance today … by the way, thats an 8.5 metre Patrol boat,” Riggs wrote there. The boat, as we said before, measures in at 28 feet long, while the shark’s eyeballed length was approximately 13 to 19.6 feet.

When you look at a shot of them nearly side by side, you see how huge this shark really is.

Riggs told PerthNow that he used a drone to record this footage.

“I got a tip off that a shark was out at Westies so I grabbed my drone and put it up. And what I got is this footage,” he said. “I reckon it had to be about four metres, and it looked as though it had been fed. It was just cruising along, it looked chilled.” 

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via Keep It Simple, Sailor

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Raritan Marine Products Division Blog; Did You Know Your Outboard Engine Can Help You Fish?

Your Outboard Engine Is Your New Fishing Partner

Raritan Engineering Company your Raritan marine products experts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to use your outboard engine to help you fish. 

Your Raritan marine products professionals talk about how surrealistic car commercials: Driver dials a knob on his dash and his pickup truck precisely and skillfully backs his trailered boat. Guy pushes a button and his luxury vehicle parallel-parks itself — hands-free.

That same kind of abracadabra control has come to boats, and it’s beginning to have a significant effect on fishing. 

Those of us “of a certain age” ­experience a creepy Orwellian sensation when we see this electronic voodoo. Others just marvel, mouth agape, at the technology.

Outboard Control Features

“Originally, we were only factory installed. You would go to a [boat] dealer and buy a boat either with or without Helm Master,” says Ry Landry, Yamaha marine product and information specialist.

When SeaStar adds the SeaWays Autopilot feature (expected early this year), it will be a free software update installable by dealers.

Yamaha Highlights

“I hate change. But this has made me such a better fisherman, it’s not funny,” quips Capt. George Mitchell, a longtime tournament angler out of Florida who has been using Yamaha’s Set Point features with Helm Master since those updates were announced last February.

Yamaha’s Set Point system includes three functions:

• Stay Point: Holds the boat’s ­position and heading. Best used when you must hover above a specific location without swinging or drifting. 

• Drift Point: Holds the boat’s heading but not position. The bow maintains its orientation while the boat drifts with the current or wind.

• Fish Point Bow: Holds the boat’s position with the bow pointed into the wind/current, using the water- or airflow to maintain heading.

But Mitchell is quick to point out, as were all the other captains and manufacturer reps we talked with, that having these functions is not an excuse to leave the helm.

Fishing Can Be Much Easier If You Use Your Outboard Engine

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The noise and commotion that Stay Point can create can be advantageous in certain situations, such as near Gulf of Mexico oil rigs. Cobia respond curiously to new sounds. Turbulence can attract other fish as well.

SeaStar Updates

“When we were doing our ­investigative work to develop the modes for SeaStation, we spent time with charter captains to see how they would most benefit,” says Shane DeWitt, electronics product manager for SeaStar. 

SeaStar’s Position Hold uses the boat’s most natural heading and modulates the throttle to the engines, moving them with minimal shifting to get the desired performance.

Using these systems, anglers no longer have to rely on an anchor that allows the boat to swing side to side, Mitchell says. “With Fish Point Stern or Fish Point Bow, all you have to do is jog the joystick to adjust the boat. You’re not having to pull the anchor to reposition.”

Engine Setups

SeaStar’s SeaStation system integrates (at no charge) with the company’s Optimus 360 joystick steering package, which is compatible with twin-, triple- and quad-outboard applications for Suzuki, Evinrude and Yamaha products as well as twin mechanical Hondas.

With quadruple Mercury outboard setups, the two port engines might be tie-barred together, with regular and counter-rotating props. Ditto the two starboard engines. “It’s like a big dual [engine].”

These station-keeping and joystick systems all function similarly, employing a GPS sensor and other instruments mounted on the boat’s hardtop, several computers and devices such as inertial measurement units and digital compasses at the helm. 

Future Outboard Options

Outboard companies won’t say what features they might be working on next for station-keeping systems. SeaStar will soon roll out its SeaWays autopilot function, allowing captains to transit to a waypoint or follow a track using the Optimus 360 system.

“We’re always working on new things.” That’s all Mercury’s Balogh will say. “There’s a lot of interest in the joystick in general. We’re happy with the position we’re in right now.”

So don't forget to use these three functions of your engine to help you fish better. 1) Stay Point: Holds the boat’s ­position and heading. Best used when you must hover above a specific location without swinging or drifting;  2) drift point: Holds the boat’s heading but not position. The bow maintains its orientation while the boat drifts with the current or wind;  and 3) fish point bow: Holds the boat’s position with the bow pointed into the wind/current, using the water- or airflow to maintain heading.

The Barge Ladies cruise company has conjured an enchanting treat for Harry Potterfans. Starting this August, you’ll be able to embark on a unique, weeklong river cruise along the River Thames in the U.K. to various filming locations from the franchise, Hogwarts-friendly cuisine, and Warner Bros. Studios.

Harry Potter-themed river cruise ships off this summer

The Harry Potter Magic Cruise runs from Aug. 5-11 and Aug. 19-15 — and it’ll cost you a lot more than a few galleon. The rate is roughly $4,190 a person, though it includes some spectacular sites.

Setting sail on the Magna Carta vessel from Hampton Court, the cruise includes visits to Virginia Water (the setting for Harry’s meeting with Buckbeak in The Prisoner of Azkaban), Picket Post Close (the filming locale for 4 Privet Drive in The Sorcerer’s Stone), the Harry Potter tour at Warner Bros. Studios (preserving props, costumes, and sets from the films), and Oxford’s Christ Church College (the Great Hall served as a model for the Great Hall of Hogwarts).

“The itinerary is my baby and it has been a professional highlight to see it come to fruition,” said Barge Ladies founder Stephanie Sak. 

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via Use Your Outboard Engine to Catch More Fish

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Marine Toilet Systems Staff Blog: Make Your Own Boat Cleaners

Cheap and Easy Boat Cleaners You Can Make At Home 

Raritan Engineering would like to share with you this week some great information about how to make your own boat cleaners.

Your marine toilet systems experts talk about how if you’ve got a locker full of nearly empty black-streak cleaners, waterline-stain cleaners, mildew preventers, bilge cleaners, and boat soaps, now is your chance to retire them all and reduce your cleaning arsenal to just four or five products that can fit in a small bucket.

This is not our first foray into the topic homemade maintenance supplies.  A few years back we dug into the topic of homemade bronze polishes and found a couple of concoctions that proved their mettle—so to speak. 

Home brew No. 1: Salt and vinegar paste

Recipe: Dissolve 3 teaspoons of salt into 1 cup of white vinegar. Add enough flour to make a paste, then scoop the paste onto a clean sponge and polish. Rinse with hot water and buff dry with a soft cloth. Result: This polish worked surprisingly well. all and earned a rating of “Good” on our test scale. 

Home brew No. 2: lemon paste

Recipe: Polish with a soft cloth soaked in a solution of lemon juice and baking soda, or sprinkle baking soda on a slice of lemon and scrub. (We made a paste as in Brew No. 1.) Result: After the mini-volcanic reaction of mixing lemon juice and baking soda settled down, the resulting paste powered off the stains exceptionally well with minimal scrubbing. 

Home brew No. 3, Morris' Mix:

Recipe: Subscriber Scott A. Morris makes his polish by blending polishing compound (not rubbing compound) with a small amount of silicone car wax—according to Morris, a little experimentation will yield your best mix. Result: “Fair to Good” overall, however, it took a bit of rubbing to clean our nasty bronze.

Benefits of Making Your Own Boat Cleaners

Your marine toilet systems professionals discuss how overall, the results in the home brew category were pretty impressive, particularly considering that the first two have all natural ingredients and that all three are economical to make. While the Brews Nos. 1 and 2 cleaned the bronze, they lacked the “luster” of products such as the Miracle cloth.

Of all the homebrew recipes we’ve tested, the one we’re most pleased with is our One-Penny mildew cleaner/preventer, which tester Drew Frye has tested extensively on his boat. We tried two formulas creatively named Formula A and Formula B, which cost just pennies to make. 

Formula A

1 quart hot water

1 tablespoon baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

2 tablespoons washing soda (sodium carbonate)

2 tablespoons trisodium phosphate (TSP)

Much like Concrobium (which it is modeled after), our homemade Formula A removed the mildew from test carpet on board and kept it away, even though the area got wet again. It was also very effective in the moist-environment lab test.

Formula B

1 quart hot water

2 tablespoons baking soda

2 tablespoons Borax

1 tablespoon TSP

Formula B was the second-place performer overall in our test of mildew sprays. It was certainly the best value. It cleaned well, prevented mildew from returning to the carpet, and greatly slowed mildew infection in the moist-environment test in the lab. 

So don't forget these ways to make your own boat cleaners. 1) Salt and vinegar paste;  2) lemon paste;  and 3) blending polishing compound (not rubbing compound) with a small amount of silicone car wax.

How to Fish Midge Patterns With Style

You’ve probably been there. Two hours from home, halfway through the thermos of coffee, knee-deep in cold water on a cold day, and not a single, solitary fish to show for it. They’re taunting you. 

The most likely answer? Midges. Nine times out of ten, when you see so many rings that it looks like the result of an invisible hail-storm, the trout are hitting midges. 

But one thing is very clear: trout love to eat midges. Your average brown trout in a midge hatch is like a fat kid with a bowl full of M&Ms. Although each of the bugs may not make much of a meal, a river is like a conveyor belt that delivers thousands of the tiny morsels to a fish. Midge hatches are especially prolific in tailwaters, those rivers kept at constant refrigeration by bottom-release dams. 

Midges are usually small, but they aren’t necessarily microscopic. A size 18 barbless hook will provide satisfactory results in most situations. An angler carrying a small midge box with a series of tried-and-true patterns from size 18 down to size 22, with a very few smaller, will be equipped to handle 90 percent of the midge fishing situations out there. Generally speaking, big midges will allow you to use more complex patterns, such as the Copper John. For really tiny midges, stick to the simple stuff.

Try cutting the leader where you want the shot to stop sliding, and then knot it back together with a simple double surgeon’s knot. Crimp the shot above the knot and let it slide on down; the knot will keep the shot from hugging your fly.

A better bet, though, would be one of the new breed of vertical emergers based on the Quigley’s Cripple, such as the JLC Midge. Douse these flies with floatant and lube up your tippet for several feet. You won’t have the advantage of the split shot to keep your line taught and your chances of popping your tippet go up considerably, so be gentle. 

Midge fishing in the winter time can be an angler’s only chance to avoid going stir-crazy. When your favorite freestone is snowed in, and your dog won’t even budge off the hearth, bundle up tight, load that thermos, and find a sunny piece of slow water down behind a dam in the valley.

Check us out here at http://raritaneng.com/ and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on marine toilet systems below. 

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Seacocks Dept. Blog: How to Sail Yourself Out of Big Trouble

Great Ways to Keep Yourself Out of Trouble While Sailing

Raritan Engineering Company your seacocks specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to sail yourself out of big trouble. 

Pinwheel Avoidance

Your seacocks manufacturers talk about how this one’s a classic: If you’re the outside boat of a group approaching the leeward mark and blindly carry on with pace, you’ll sail extra distance in bad air, carry wide around the mark, and then exit in a terrible lane. 

Once you’ve slowed, let the pinwheel unfold, and watch as the boats swinging around the outside become pinned and stuck in bad air. These boats had room on you, but because they are now pinned wide from the mark, they can no longer make a tight ­rounding and close you out.

One cautionary note: When slowing down and waiting for your opportunity to round inside, there might be boats coming up from behind with no room who want to speed into the gap you’re ­shooting for. 

Overstand Recovery

Overstanding a mark is a big no-no, but we still end up doing it from time to time. The key to recovery is to start hauling butt, getting to the mark as quickly as possible. Upwind, you need to put the bow down, but in medium and heavy air, cracking off causes too much heel, so depower the rig — traveler down, backstay on, hike hard, and scoot back about a foot on the rail.

Check out our stock of seacocks for your sanitation needs here at Raritan Engineering, where we always have what you need.

Downwind, if the lane is clear, sail high and fast toward the leeward mark. If sailing higher puts you in the dirty air from boats ahead, sail low to keep your air clear as long as possible, then heat it up late near the mark. 

Ducking another boat

The goal when ducking another boat is to minimize loss, and if done well, possibly even pass them on the next crossing. To duck well, generate extra speed by bearing off and then taking advantage of the small lift as you cross close to the other boat’s transom.

Since you are going faster than upwind sailing speed during and after the duck, and you get a small lift from the other boat’s sails, you can burn some of that speed by pinching slightly after heading up, giving you a little more gain to windward. This will last for only a few seconds. Make the front of the jib bubble just a touch. 

What if it appears the other boat will leebow you and you want to continue? If you’re in a lightweight boat with good maneuverability, try a late duck, which will keep from giving away your intentions and possibly freeze them.

On heavier and bigger boats, bear away early and generate as much speed as possible. If they tack to leebow and you have tons of speed, you can head up firmly and smoothly, gliding above closehauled for a while and creating a lateral gap. m, with enough of a gap to hold your lane.

So don't forget these great tips on how to sail yourself out of big trouble. 1) Pinwheel avoidance;  2) outstand recovery and 3) ducking another boat.

Couple who sold everything to sail around the world lost it all when their boat sank after just two days at sea

A couple who packed in the rat race to sail around the world for life had their dreams dashed when their boat capsized after just two days at sea.

Tanner Broadwell, 26, and Nikki Walsh, 24, from Colorado, sold everything they had to buy the vessel that would given them an adventure they would never forget.

But it became immemorable for the wrong reasons when their craft tipped over off the coast of Florida when it struck a foreign object.

They lost everything in just 20 minutes when the houseboat sank along John's Pass, near Tampa, after the keel had been ripped from the base of the boat.

Tanner and Nikki were forced to jump overboard and were left with just $90 (£65) to their name as well as their two-year-old Pug named Remy.

The couple were bored with their rat-race lifestyle at home and wanted an adventure 

And they face forking out up to $10,000 (£7,200) to get the vessel, which had no insurance, out of the water.

Now they have no jobs, no savings and nowhere to go, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

"I sold everything I had to do this," Tanner said, "and I lost everything in a matter of 20 minutes."

The couple had sold all their worldly goods last year after making the decision to sail around the world.

Tanner and Nikki forked out $5,000 for the 28-foot-long sailboat they named Lagniappe, and the same again to fix it up.

Tanner and Nikki paid out more than £7,000 to buy and do up their sailboat they named Lagniappe (Image: Facebook)

But it all went wrong when their boat capsized at sea off the coast of Florida. "We got so tired of that lifestyle," Tanner said, "of doing things to make people do the things they don’t want to do."

The pair, who initially had no sailing experience, got busy doing up the boat and on Tuesday set sail from Tarpon Springs in Florida for their adventure.

"Everybody gave us a nice farewell off the docks."

The next day they passed by Clearwater Beach and made their way to John’s Pass to dock for the night.

But the couple have vowed to set sail on another adventure again in the future.

"I’m not going to give up now," Broadwell said. "I’m going to get another boat down the road."

"We can’t just give up on our dreams," Walsh said.

Choose your Raritan marine products here, and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on seacocks below. 

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TruDesign Division Blog: Time Spent on the Water Doesn't Always Translate Into Safe Boating Behavior

Why It Might Be Good to Get a Captain's License 

Raritan Engineering Company your TruDesign specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how time spent on the water doesn't always translate into safe boating. 

Your TruDesign professionals discuss how as a professional sailor, coach and instructor of captain’s courses, I work with sailors of all levels of experience. I have come to notice that many of them have no professional certifications from recognized organizations like the US Coast Guard or Royal Yachting Association.

Reasons range from “I don’t have time” to “I don’t see the point, I already have the job,” and even “I already know everything in those courses, I have sailed 50,000 miles since I was a kid.”

Time on the water does not necessarily translate into safe boating behavior. That is why I believe that all coaches and professional sailors, that is, hired mariners, should obtain a captain’s license for a multitude of reasons that go beyond the title of obtaining your “ticket.”

It propagates safety.

Getting a license does not make you perfect by any means. What it does is make you better than you were before you started the process. Isn’t that the goal of a great professional? Many sailors do not even have a basic understanding of the Rules of the Road outside of the racing rules. 

Other Great Reasons to Get Your Captain's License

We are proud to be your TruDesign supplier. Check us out at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of our marine sanitation supply needs.

Furthermore, with our modern reliance on technology, I have come across professionals who do not use paper charts. The carrying of paper charts, for example, is just one way that all boaters can be safe in the event of a loss of GPS or power. 

Leading by example.

We all look to our coaches to be the leader of the program. But often in the states, we see kids go straight from the junior sailing program to the coach boat without proper training in powerboat safety. 

Is it Legal?

“Why is it that yacht clubs require their launch drivers have a Coast Guard license, but don’t enforce the same requirement of their sailing instructors ferrying children back and forth on various powerboats?”

Coaches and pro-sailors are hired professionals. At Confident Captain we are of the opinion that the most far reaching compliance with U.S. law is that all hired professional mariners must have a license.

There is always something to learn.

The best sailors I’ve met have made it a point to keep learning for their entire career. There is more to formalized training than the pencil and the chart. The interaction between professional mariners at Confident Captain during any of our courses has always brought the most valuable lessons and insight to the table. 

It is better to be proactive towards answering difficult questions.

It won’t sit well with anybody involved in the investigation. Take a proactive step toward fortifying your career ahead of time by getting a license and engaging in different types of formalized professional development. If your good name is called into question, you will be glad you did.

So don't forget these great reasons to consider getting your captain's license. 1) Doing so propagates safety;  2) you can set a good example for our younger sailors;  and 3) remember that there is always something to learn.

Staying With The Boat And Other Safety Myths

I’m amazed at how long bad advice perpetuates when it’s given in a catchy phrase. An example: Don’t leave the boat until the boat leaves you. This might be the most misguided advice ever to cross the lips of otherwise sensible men and women. Another example: Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.

These stick around not because they are always true, but because they sound good. Don’t be fooled. The ocean is no place for absolutes, even when they rhyme.

Myth 1: You Are Safer On The Boat

Staying with the vessel until it sinks is what sailors did when there was no other choice, before we had VHF radios. If you are offshore without propulsion and cannot arrange a tow, you’re going to abandon your vessel, one way or another. 

Opportunities to abandon a boat safely come in windows that open based on such factors as weather, drift, sea state and the availability of rescue assets. The best time to abandon your vessel is when it is safest for you and those who come to get you.

Getting off the boat is not the same as leaving the boat. If you are going to inflate the raft, get into it as soon as possible, particularly in bad weather. It is always better to climb down into the life raft, dry and well-supplied, than to fight your way through waves, hoping you can make it aboard. 

Myth 2: Call the Coast Guard As A Last Resort

Almost everyone who has called in a mayday picked up the VHF too late. At the first sign of trouble — no matter how confident you are in your abilities — the smart money is on calling a pan-pan and notifying everyone (within range) of your situation. 

Letting the Coast Guard know there might be trouble doesn’t cost anything, but it does open up a world of options that are unavailable if no one knows your situation. 

Survivors call early. Using your radio or phone (cell or satellite) to connect with those who might be able to help is safer for you and for search teams. The more rescuers know about your situation, the more options they have. Coast Guard crews who might be fatigued from earlier missions can call for backup.

If you wait until mayday is your best option, everyone has to scramble, and the chances of a happy ending are much less likely than if you’d picked up the phone earlier.

Myth 3: An EPIRB Is All You Need

EPIRBs are tremendous lifesaving devices. Thousands of people owe their lives to them. Why? They make things easier for your rescuers, not for you. An EPIRB does what its name implies: It indicates a position. More specifically, it indicates its own position, not yours. 

I’ve looked for numerous EPIRBs without finding the vessels from which the signal came, or its owners. What rescuers do tend to find are EPIRBs in a life raft with the crew, attached to a floating vessel after manual activation or safely tied to a sailor wearing a life jacket or an immersion suit.

Remember: A red sky at night can mean good weather in the morning, and there are plenty of times you should stay with your boat. Just acknowledge that the sea is never a place for absolutes. Consider everything at stake, including the risks. 

Order your TruDesign part here at Raritan Engineering and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on TruDesign below. 

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Boat Cleaning Products Staff Blog: Share DIY Water Filter Ideas For Your Boat

Your Boat Cleaning Products Specialists Discuss How to Make Your Own Water Filter

Raritan Engineering your boat cleaning products suppliers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding DIY water filter ideas for your boat.

Your boat cleaning products distributors talks about how one of the first things that you realize after a few seasons of cruising is that approaches to life aboard vary between two wide extremes: cruisers who by choice or because of a limited budget live with minimal creature comforts, and those cruisers who sacrifice little more than living space when they move aboard.

Nick reported that most cruising boats he met during his first year of tropical cruising had some type of watermaker, but usually chose to take advantage of the local water supply when dockside or anchored in polluted harbors. When we were cruising abroad in the early ’90s, it seemed that less than half the boats we met regularly used watermakers.

The Nitty Gritty

All shore-sourced water supplies, either in the U.S. or overseas, contain particulate matter. This may be pipe scale, sand, small bits of grass, or other types of sediment. While not necessarily harmful, sediment builds up in your boat’s plumbing. It can settle in the bottom of tanks, only to get stirred up during an offshore passage. Over time, it can wreak havoc with water pumps, destroy ceramic water fixture cartridges, and prevent the seating of rubber faucet washers.

Nick learned this the hard way when his Grohe faucets started leaking after two years. Fortunately, replacing the cartridges was easy—once he found them—but after that experience, he became determined to reduce sediment in the entire water system.

Protecting Your Water Pumps

Your boat cleaning products experts talk about how if you do have a more sensitive impellor-type pump on your boat, protection is relatively simple. Just install an in-line sediment strainer just upstream from your freshwater pressure pump. Nick used a Par Pumpgard filter, positioned to be easily accessible for routine checking and cleaning. This is a compact, small-capacity stainless-steel mesh strainer in a clear plastic housing. Most of the toilets in our recent toilet test came with these filters, as safeguards against pump damage. They are relatively cheap—about $20 at any marine store.

A Simple Pre-Filter

In Grenada, Nick ran into a couple on a well-equipped Baba 35 who pre-filtered shore water before it even got to the boat, and he later adopted that approach. On a trip back to the States, he picked up a $20 Omni filter housing at a home supply store. GE makes a similar one, as well. The one Nick bought uses standard 9.5-inch filter elements, which he found available worldwide. For a few dollars more, you can get a clear filter housing that allows you to monitor the state of the filter element more easily.

Total cost of this handy gadget today is about $45, including a couple of spare 30-micron sediment filter cartridges. Flow rate through the filter is about four gallons per minute, so it provides minimal increase in your watering time.

Serious Filtration

All the drinking water aboard Nick’s Calypso, even the water they made themselves, went through a General Ecology Seagull IV purification system. This expensive filtering system—list price is over $700—will remove just about everything harmful from water, according to the manufacturer. Any water considered “bacteriologically acceptable for treatment” by the U.S. Public Health Service standards can be rendered safe by the Seagull IV.

So don't forget these helpful tips for making your own water filter for your boat. 1) If you do have a more sensitive impellor-type pump on your boat, protection is relatively simple;  2) using simple pre-filters can be very cheap;  and 3) install an in-line sediment strainer just upstream from your freshwater pressure pump.

Boat Cleaning Tips

Some boat owners go overboard (pardon the pun) when it comes to cleaning their boats. They seem to spend more time scrubbing and polishing their vessels than actually cruising or fishing in them. While keeping a craft clean is definitely an important aspect of boat ownership, it’s not necessary to spend long, backbreaking hours to keep your boat looking like new. You simply have to equip yourself with the right tools/products and clean your boat regularly and efficiently. 

Choose the Right Cleaning Equipment

Before selecting your cleaning equipment and products, consider the type of boat you have and its composition. This will ensure that you have the right tools and materials in hand for the job. Choose cleaning brushes that are sturdy and will get rid of stubborn dirt, grime and salt, without damaging the finish or gel coat on your boat. A long, sturdy handle on a scrub brush will allow you to reach hard-to-clean areas without bending down, provide leverage, and help eliminate strain on your back and arms.

Select a Good, Environmentally-Friendly Soap

For marine use, you’ll want to select a soap that will be tough on dirt, grime, salt and fish blood, yet easy on the environment. Don’t use the same soap you would for cleaning dishes at home. Instead, select an effective, biodegradable cleaning agent with a neutral pH factor. If you use your craft in salt water, it’s especially important to use soap and fresh water to completely remove the corrosive salt build-up that can eat away at your boat. 

Soak Things Up

Use soft drying cloths that are highly absorbent and will soak up water without stripping or scratching. Chamois cloths or drying mops made of chamois material are good choices. To avoid "spotting," be sure to dry off your boat immediately after washing and rinsing.

Wax On, Wax Off

Once you have dried off your boat completely, you may want to apply a quality wax and buff to shine and protect the fiberglass. It’s not really necessary to wax your boat after every use, but this should be done at least once or twice during the season to preserve the luster of the hull and protect against the elements and impurities. Use a quality carnauba wax and apply several coats

Making Your Metal Shine

There are many quality cleaners and sealants available for keeping the chrome and stainless steel on your boat protected, shiny and bright. After applying a light film on your brightwork, let sit for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then, wipe off with a clean cloth. After cleaning, you may also want to apply a quality wax sealer/protectant to create a protective barrier against the harsh elements.

Vinyl Upholstery

First, clean off your boat’s vinyl upholstery with a damp cloth to remove grime, dirt and salt. You may want to follow this by applying a quality vinyl cleaners/protectant and again wiping off the surface. Once the upholstery is free of dirt and grime, apply a light film of spray-on furniture polish and wipe with a clean cloth. This should help guard against stains and preserve the life of your boat’s upholstery. 

Cleaning/Degreasing Your Engine

It’s important to make cleaning your boat’s engine part of your annual winterization ritual at the end of the season. Some boat owners choose to do this themselves, while others opt to have this done, along with other winterization tasks, by an experienced mechanic. A quality engine cleaner/protectant, such as WD-40 or Boeshield T-9, used in combination with a cleaning cloth, is usually sufficient for removing accumulated dirt, grime and grease. 

Visit us at http://raritaneng.com/category-pages/cleaners/ and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on boat cleaning products below.

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Marine Holding Tanks Dept. Blog: Talks About Making Sailing Your Full Time Hobby

Your Marine Holding Tanks Professionals Discuss Steps You Need to Take to Go Full-Time

Raritan Engineering your marine holding tanks specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to make sailing your full time hobby.

Your marine holding tanks manufacturers talk about how I was told four years ago that the only way to move up from being a “green” sailor is to race every single day. Dedicating many hours to the sport contributes to building the instincts that a well-rounded sailor possesses. Here are some of the lessons I learned and advice for other enthusiastic sailors wanting to take their sailing to the next level.

KNOW YOURSELF 

Know yourself well enough to play up your strengths and improve on your weaknesses. Are you introverted or extroverted? Understanding my personality type helped me determine which teams I would have a good rapport with, which I found necessary in creating effective communication on the boat.

Another important aspect of knowing yourself is to recognize what you have fun doing and how it contributes to the program. Is an early morning walk to clean the boat, rig, and sort sails fun? Or is your style staying late and checking off work list items? Even with a full-time boat captain, everyone on the team should pull their weight in ways they enjoy.

FIND A LOVE 

Determine what you love beyond the sport. Finding common interests will connect you to other like-minded athletes in the sport and provide you with a healthy outlet from the constant grind of racing and endless travel. For me, it’s caring for the environment. I relish helping with a beach clean-up, but others might choose to volunteer with youth programs, rig specific systems for handicapped boats, take a team leadership course, become a certified judge, or attend weather classes.

Browse through our holding tanks selection here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

SKILLS 

Learn the language and develop a wide range of skills. Master the bow, repair sails, know how to fix a broken engine, service a winch, become versed in meteorology; but, never stop learning! These skills are helpful for both inshore and offshore sailing and add to your value as a professional sailor. 

SOCIAL

It is important to find a balance between pushing your limits and relaxation. Even if it’s not your style, force yourself to attend post-racing events or join in on the popular evening activities. Tent parties and joining others at the bar offer opportunities to network.

PHYSICAL 

Part of staying relevant in the field is by pulling your weight physically. It quickly gets old when others complain about sore backs and knees. Good nutrition and regular stretching are worth the investment. You should start both at as young of an age as possible. Balance and strength are important for high-level competition, and joint and nerve health are worth investing in. 

SUPPORT 

Develop a support system of both males and females in the industry with whom you can build trust. There will be times when you need to vent, and it’s healthy to have someone who will say, “Yes, I’ve been through that, too.” These friends will help you find teams that need crew, help set your expectations, and help share costs if you need to split a hotel or cab. My rule is to race only with teams that have at least one person who knows me as an athlete. 

TAKE NOTES 

It wasn’t until I returned to a specific sailing venue for the second time that I realized how important it is to keep a sailing record. Find a system that works for you and keep specific notes for boats sailed and venues raced. Keep track of specific boat setups for conditions that day and any discoveries the team made. The next time I return to that venue or boat, I will have an easy refresh before practice and can quickly email notes to new teammates. 

MONEY

If you don’t have a flexible full time job and if you’re either too green to ask for pay or plan to keep your amateur status, finding short-term ways to make money while still being available is critical.  Learn your worth by talking to peers in the industry about what they charge so you know you’re playing fair. Before you negotiate, have a sense for the number you feel good about making, so you aren’t left feeling overworked and underpaid. At the same time, be mindful not to overcharge and break the trust of the owner.

So don't forget these helpful pointers when considering if you can make sailing your full time hobby. 1) Understanding my personality type helped me determine which teams I would have a good rapport with;  2) determine what you love beyond the sport;  and 3) it is important to find a balance between pushing your limits and relaxation.

What Type of Boat is Right for You?

Cruiser, bowrider, freshwater fishing, runabout, sailboat, saltwater fishing, speed boat, trawler, pontoon, or watersports boats – which is right for you? We’ll help you make the best choice.

Whether you’re a beginner boater who’s still trying to figure out basic boat terminology or an old salt who stays in tune with the latest boat design trends, you probably know that choosing the ideal boat for you and your family is no simple endeavor. Different kinds of boats can be broken down into dozens and dozens of categories, but chances are that no matter what you enjoy doing out on the water, one of these top 10 choices is going to fit the bill:

Bowriders, cruisers, freshwater fishing boats, runabouts, or sailboats?

Bowriders are one of the most popular types of boats on the water. It’s no wonder—this versatile design can be used for everything from simple day-tripping to water skiing. And while in the past bowriders were limited in size and scope, recently we’ve seen a push towards larger and larger models, often with accommodations ranging from enclosed heads to full-blown cabins. The most extreme example is the Four Winns H440, a monstrous boat with a bow cockpit accessed by walking through a saloon with niceties like a full galley and a settee. Other large bowriders that have hit the market recently include the Sea Ray 350 SLX and the Cruisers Yachts 328 Bowrider.

The cruiser class encompasses a wide range of different styles and sizes. In its most basic form, a cruiser is any powerboat with overnight accommodations, a galley, and the range to take you to new and distant ports. They generally have relatively fast cruising speeds (or they’d likely fall into the trawler category) and they can range anywhere from 30’ or so on up into the 100’ mega-yacht sizes. Most are powered with inboards, stern drives, or pod drives, although there are also a few outboard-powered cruisers out there.

Whether you want to go casting for bass or trolling for lake trout, a freshwater fishing boat is a must-have. And while there are numerous sub-categories and specialized, species-specific boats out there, we’re going to break this category down into three main choices that encompass the range: bass boats, multi-species boats, and aluminum fishing boats.

Whether you’re on a lake in Arizona or a bay on the Atlantic Seaboard, you’re probably going to see plenty of pontoon boats. Instead of riding on a fiberglass hull, these boats have two or sometimes three aluminum “logs” they float upon. Once upon a time they were slow and pokey, rather ugly, and not very seaworthy, but these are all problems of the past. Today, pontoon boats can be fast, slick-looking, and shockingly comfortable to ride on.

True, they still aren’t the best pick for bodies of water that regularly experience large waves. But they’re extremely stable, they have gobs of deck space, and their modular nature means you can choose from endless seating arrangements and even add things like wet-bars, towing arches, and more. Check out the Premier Sunsation 270, for example, and you’ll discover a double-decker, triple-log pontoon with twin Yamaha F300 outboards and a water slide that shoots you into the lake from the second story.

The term “runabout” is really a catch-all that includes everything from bowriders to combination ski-and-fish boats to small speed boats. The thing these all share in common is that they’re small, open boats intended for day use in fair weather. And while their exposed nature will be considered a drawback by some boaters, it should be considered an advantage, too—you don’t buy a boat to get away from the sunshine and spray, do you?

Well, have you made up your mind? Have you culled through all these choices, and landed on a winner? If so, congratulations—now get busy, and start boat shopping. If not, we’re jealous. Because the only way to really know which boat’s best for you is to get out on the water, and try ‘em out. So again we say congratulations—your indecision means that now, you need to go out on as many different boats as possible, as often as possible, until you make up your mind. Good luck, dear boater, and have fun. Lots and lots of fun.

Purchase your marine items here and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

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Marine Sanitation Division Blog: Discusses the Success of Kayak Fishing

Your Marine Sanitation Experts Share Tips for Kayak Fishing

Raritan Engineering your marine sanitation professionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the success of kayak fishing.

With the stealth of a ninja, Kevin Whitley eased the kayak between two pilings in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. He dropped the bait straight down. Instantly the fiddler crab was thumped by a big sheepshead, and the tug-of-war was on.

There was a time when Whitley, known on the water as “Kayak Kevin,” would have drawn strange looks for his narrow, 15-foot piece of floating plastic. But the area’s kayak fishing scene has exploded. 

“We have the water for it,” said Cory Routh, who runs a kayak fishing guide service and was one of TKAA’s early members. “So … I’m not surprised by the rise in interest at all.”

“I have a bit of a gypsy mentality and thought about taking up hiking,” Whitley said. “But my ankles and legs aren’t hiking quality. I could paddle, though.”

Burnley was targeting the diversity of fish in the lower Chesapeake Bay and had built a small following of anglers who enjoyed the quiet of paddling, the sounds of waves lapping against plastic, the splashing of a fish right at your side.

Whitley went after the sport with a passion some found surprising, given his previous lack of interest in fishing.

We Continue to Talk About the Kayak Fishing Trend Going Around

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The kayak fishing scene seems to have grown locally in conjunction with the increasing popularity of small recording devices like GoPro cameras. Anglers often mount them on their bow, on a pole from the stern or on their hat. 

“The production quality of some of the stuff is mind-blowing,” Routh said. “Go to YouTube these days – there’s no shortage of quality video being produced by kayak anglers.”

Kayaks don’t require boat ramps, and they can take you into hard-to-reach spots, including skinny water (3 feet deep or less) where you can find feeding speckled trout and puppy drum, among other species. 

And while a gas boat and gear can run you several thousands of dollars, beginners can usually get decent starter kayaks for about $1,000. Annual upkeep is far less expensive, as well.

But for many anglers, like Whitley, the most appealing aspect of kayak fishing is its connection to nature. Being on a small craft, close to the water, you can hear everything and see everything. The fishing is almost secondary.

So don't forget these great reasons to try kayak fishing. 1) Affordability. There are a wide range of price points for kayaks, almost all are more affordable than a traditional boat with a motor;  2) accessibility;  and 3) low maintenance.

Sailing Is a Sport for You!

Sailing clubs can be found on the coast, rivers and inland lakes in some spectacular locations around the country. There are nearly 400 sailing clubs around Australia with more than 60,000 registered club members and 100,000 people regularly participating in the sport.

You don’t need to own a boat to enjoy sailing. There are clubs that provide boats and boat owners looking for crew. 

Different types of sailing

There are many different types of sailing to choose from:

• Social sailing – Non-competitive participation that involves just going for a sail.
• Cruising – A form of social sailing where a destination to sail to is selected.
• Racing – A number of boats going round a course in a competitive structure. There are different levels of competition, from more social or introductory racing through to serious national and international regattas.
• Ocean racing – A form of competitive sailing that takes place off-shore. One of the most famous ocean racing events in the world is the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

All About Boats

Having some knowledge of the different types of boats available will help you decide what type of sailing best suits you.

Sailing Terminology

Sailors use traditional nautical terms for the parts of or directions on a vessel: starboard (right), port (left), forward or fore (front), aft or abaft (rearward), bow (forward part of the hull), stern (aft part of the hull), and beam (the widest part).

Like many sports, sailing offers a pathway for new participants to use as a guide to building experience, skills and confidence.

The Sailing Pathway has 10 steps and is applicable to participants of all backgrounds, ages and abilities, in different types of boats. 

Safety

Safety plays an important part in all sports, none more so than sailing.

Weather is an important factor of sailing, not so much the temperature or how sunny it will be, but the wind strength and direction.

The challenge of racing other boats is what appeals to many sailors.

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via Anglers are Turning to Kayaks to Get Closer to Fish

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Marine Sanitation Device Staff Blog: Finding the Best Safety Tethers For You

Your Marine Sanitation Device Specialists Discuss Which Safety Tether Material Is the Strongest

Raritan Engineering your marine sanitation device suppliers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding find the best safety tethers for you.

A safety tether keeps you safely on board, but it also comes with its own risks.

How much impact, are we talking about? Enough to break tethers. In the 1998 Sydney-Hobart race, Glyn Charles was lost when his tether parted during a rollover. As a result of this accident and some shocking follow-up tests, World Sailing (then ISAF) adopted a new drop test for tethers.

What We Tested

Searching for an ideal combination of stretch and strength in a tether, Frye tested various webbing and rope materials, as well as a fall-arresting device approved by the Occupational Safety and Hazards Administration.

Rope is used less frequently because it can roll under your feet, but small diameter ropes are less troublesome. In the lab, Frye tested webbing from a lightly used production tether, one-inch climbing webbing, two sizes of climbing rope, and Amsteel, a high-tenacity 12-strand Dyneema rope from Samson. 

Often sailors believe that the elastic feature on some tether webbing will absorb shock. In fact, this elastic is designed to retain slack.

Climbing rope has drawbacks, though. Its tight cover, meant to reduce snags on rocks, makes it nearly impossible to splice. Eyes at the end are most often sewn, but this requires special equipment and load testing. 

How We Tested

In all, this report represents about seven years of experimenting with custom tethers, both in the lab and on the boat. To supplement our control tensile strength tests in the lab, we drop-tested some sample tethers, collected third party data, and cross-checked it with our own. 

We Continue Talking About Finding the Best Quality Safety Tether for the Price

Your marine sanitation device distributors talk about how in the most simple terms, a tether absorbs energy of a fall the same way a bungee cord absorbs the bungee jumper’s energy—by stretching. So during the lab test, we paid close attention to elongation. 

For comparison, according to U.S. military standards, the maximum opening force of a parachute on a full body harness should not exceed 1,200 pounds force. In a sailor’s chest harnesses, the threshold for injury is much lower (just a few hundred pounds can crack a rib).

Non-Compliant Tethers

There are many tethers still on the market that do not meet World Sailing requirements or the ISO 12401. Some refer to outdated and withdrawn standards such as EN 1095. The performance of such tethers in drop testing is not known, but our previous tests and testing carried out by US Sailing suggests most will fail.

Conclusions

Based on the results of our test, climbing rope (11 mm) easily exceeds the World Sailing standard, Amsteel fails due to poor energy-absorption characteristics, and climbing webbing is marginal. Both 8.5-mm climbing rope and tether webbing meet the World Sailing standard with reasonable safety margins. 

Tether length is critical, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach to length. On smaller boats the standard 3-feet/6-feet dual tethers are too long. In our view, 2-feet/4-feet is more practical. 

In the end, we found only two types of tether materials that consistently meet the World Sailing drop-test standard:

• Purpose-built 1-inch polyester webbing certified to meet ISO 12401;
• Climbing ropes that meet the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation standard for single dynamic ropes (typically 9.2-11mm).

Although the chandlery-variety commercial tethers meet all the requirements, they produce a very hard jolt in a fall and are not available in custom sizes.

We hope this report will encourage tether makers to explore the use of lighter materials and materials designed to absorb the shock of a fall. While a short, unyielding tether-to-anchor connection may serve the racing sailor well, a longer, stronger, yet forgiving tether material can be better suited to the specific needs of the offshore sailor.

Don't forget these important points for find the best safety tethers for you. Use purpose-built 1-inch polyester webbing certified to meet ISO 12401 or climbing ropes that meet the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation standard for single dynamic ropes (typically 9.2-11mm). 

Living Life on a Boat

We get a lot of comments wondering what in the world we do on the boat all day. Many people assume that we would get bored and sick of each other. The truth is that our boat is our home. So we do pretty much the same thing you do in your house. 

We very rarely spend the entire day on the boat unless we are making a long passage. The majority of our days are spent either exploring the water or land.  

When we are actually on solid ground we get a lot of walking miles in. When we are cruising around the keys or in the Bahamas the islands are generally small enough to see plenty by foot. We will occasionally order an uber if absolutely necessary.

In the morning we make a standard breakfast. We don’t have an electric coffee maker but our french press works just fine. Our eggs are scrambled on our propane stove and our view is to die for.

The days that we have to do computer work we either set up a hotspot from our phones and work at the table or take the dinghy to shore and find a coffee shop with wifi.

At the end of the day we go back to our cozy home and cook dinner. We do not have a T.V. but we have plenty of games, books, and Netflix downloaded on our Ipad. I am currently on a giant losing streak of chess with Billy but I can still kick his butt in Rummy. Right now I am currently reading Maiden Voyage and Billy is trying to learn more about Florida history by reading A Land Remembered. If we do happen to have good service we can stream Youtube videos or watch movies on Netflix.

The trampolines on the bow are a great place to sit back and relax. We have a full bed and bathroom in each hull that is separate from the galley. This gives us complete privacy if we have guests over. The main cabin is very cozy and is a great place to get work done.

We may not have to mow the lawn but scraping barnacles off the bottom is very comparable.

If you have ever wondered what it was like to live on a boat, now you know. 

So visit us here http://www.raritaneng.com/marine-sanitation-devices/ and see how Raritan Engineering always takes care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

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via Building a Custom Safety Tether

via Living Life on a Boat - Tula's Endless Summer

Marine Ice Makers Dept Blog: How to Train New Crew Members & Keep Them Happy

Your Marine Ice Makers Suppliers Share Great Ways to Get Your New Crew Into Gear

Raritan Engineering your marine ice makers distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to train new crew members and how to keep them happy.

Your marine ice makers experts talk about how crew integration is one of the toughest challenges, especially in classes that allow a mix of amateurs and pros. The goal is to create a team dynamic that allows the team to develop with the right amount of pushing. It’s equally important to remember that while every amateur wants to win, keeping it fun, and racing at a high level is not easy. 

1. Commitment to the process of teaching and learning.
It is unrealistic to expect a team member with a regular job to get on a boat and do everything exactly right the first time. As we rotate team members in and out we first help the person identify the three priorities of their job for each maneuver, focusing on keeping it simple. 

2. Communication.

Follows the same theme above, but in the heat of the moment there won’t be time to communicate what’s required, so being proactive with the coms about “what’s next” and making sure that everybody is dialed in allows for smooth execution. Remember sailing is a learned sport and everybody does things slightly different. 

3. Practice and managing expectations.
Is it reasonable to expect to win if you don’t practice? No. Plain and simple. If the expectation is to win, then practice will be required. When putting together a mixed team of amateurs and pros, don’t have a lot of rotation in the intense boat handling positions. Onboard Barking Mad we sailed with the same pit girl for 10 years.  

Loyalty among the crew is prized above all say many boat owners, but loyalty among crew doesn’t come without a little effort on the part of the boat owner. 

Organizing custom gear that looks sharp and clearly identifies a crew to a boat is a great way to build crew pride. 

Check out the best marine ice maker available here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

To go along with Woodruff’s advice, here are our top 5 simple ways to keep your crew happy on and off the water:

1. Keep them fed and watered: Of all the expenses an owner can incur with boat ownership, skimping on lunch is not the place to save a dime. Bring enough food to the boat to keep them (and yourself) going all day, including quick snacks like cookies, nuts, or chips. But you don’t have to spend $150 per regatta on gourmet sandwiches either—talk to your crew to find out what they like. 

2. Order team gear: Nothing says team like a uniform. It’s important to have crew that gets along together and is enthusiastic about going sailing. Custom crew gear that looks sharp and clearly identifies a crew to a boat is a great way to build pride. And a proud crew is a crew that will prioritize going sailing with you. 

3. Don’t micromanage: We all make mistakes, but nobody likes to feel like they’re under a microscope all the time. One of the most common complaints made among the crew about their boat owner and helmsman is, “He’s a great driver, if only he’d focus on that.” If your crew is new and needs some extra training, schedule a practice session. 

4. Draw from your crew’s talents: Corinthian sailing crews come from all walks of life and bring all kinds of experience to your boat. Talk to your crew and find out what they’re good at. Do you have a graphic designer in your midst? Ask them to design a new team t-shirt. 

5. Organize onshore events: The onshore social element is a huge part of why many sailors join Corinthian crews. Taking your crew out for a team dinner at the end of Rolex Big Boat or any other big regatta is a great way to say thanks. 

Hey crews: This isn’t a one-way street. There are a lot things you can do to let your boat owner know you appreciate the opportunity to go sailing and show them you’re an invaluable member of the team. 

At the end of the day, racing together is a huge commitment for the owner, crew, and their family and friends. Making everyone feel like a valued member of the team goes a long way to creating a successful program.

So don't forget these reminders for training your new crew members and keeping them happy. 1) Keep them fed and watered;  2) commitment to the process of teaching and learning is needed;  and 3) good communication.

Man's Inability To Reverse With Trailer Providing Great Entertainment To Everybody At Boat Ramp

“Left hand down, mate,” he yelled from the jetty.

“Yeah keep going. Nah go back up and straighten out, mate. Yeah, woo! Now come down slower.”

Nat Wilmott is trying to keep the peace down at the Betoota Sailing Club boat ramp – but he’s having a little bit of trouble.

The line this morning was nearing ten trailers and a sunburnt Betoota Grove financier was trying and failing spectacularly to launch his boat into Lake Yamma Yamma.

In the dry desert heat, people were getting frustrated.

But not everyone.

Those not in the line, the jetty fisherman and the like, we’re all laughing at the expense of Peter Mantits, a somewhat likable private fund manager at Macquarie Private Wealth in the French Quarter.

“Mate, you’re fucking useless!” screamed one bloke from beside the boat ramp.

“Do you want me to do it, mate? I’ve never driven a Merc before, but. Is the big silver cunt an auto or what?”

But that was when Nat, the owner-operator of the Betoota Sailing Club Tackle Shop, stepped in to help.

Peter had fallen into the trap of boat ownership without first thinking to master the art of reversing down a boat ramp – something he regrets now.

“It looks easy enough, to reverse a trailer, but it’s not,” said Peter.

“Then this nice old man, Nathan I think his name was, coached me through it and I ultimately got the thing in the water,”

“The whole episode certainly entertained these South Betoota mouthbreathers. Leering at me from the edge of the boat ramp.”

Choose your Raritan marine products here and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

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via Man's Inability To Reverse With Trailer Providing Great Entertainment To Everybody At Boat Ramp

Marine Hot Water Heaters Division Blog: Sailing Is Never Boring

Your Marine Hot Water Heaters Experts Discuss the Excitement of Sailing

Raritan Engineering your marine hot water heaters specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be interest to you this month regarding how sailing is never boring.

Your marine hot water heaters manufacturers discuss how unlike a lot of other sports and activities, sailing offers a wide variety of ways to enjoy it. Tennis is tennis, skiing is skiing, hockey is hockey, golf is golf. But sailing means many different things.

Ranging from distance sailing to closed course racing, W-L racing, round the island(s), pursuit racing, shorthanded sailing, single-handed, day races, overnight races, premier bucket list races, even iceboating, the list of ways to enjoy sailing goes on. However, most of us end up gravitating to one type of sailing and do it over and over again, typically in the same place(s).

It is no wonder that we have trouble keeping people in the sport, there is an epidemic of “sameness”. I am guilty of this myself by organizing the same races we have done for years. Time for some changes.

We Talk About Why You Should Give Sailing a Second Chance

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Reverse the order of starts, change the course layout, try downwind starts for a change, you get the idea. Have a race where a junior sailor has to helm, or maybe a whole team of juniors? Maybe a surprise race where the sailors don’t know what the format will be until they show up to race.

There must be many things we can try and see what our sailors like and don’t like…but even those that don’t stick will still offer something new. The talk at the bar afterward might be more interesting too.

When you're done with the preparations, you leave the harbor and hoist up the sails. You turn off the noisy, vibrating engine, after which there's no sound except for the wailing of the wind and the sound of the sea. I always start smiling at that point. The boat speeds up, starts to list and everything comes to life. 

When you're on the water, you have an unbridled sense of freedom and opportunity, as you can always continue to see what lies on the other side of the horizon. Not only do you feel a strong connection to the elements and nature, but to the entire world. 

All in all, to me, it's about being removed from a mundane environment, feeling fully mentally connected with something else, be it the sea, the boat or the crew, with a constant state of shared Flow going on and realizing that everything stated above can take you most of the way to anywhere on this planet of ours.

So don't forget these great reasons why sailing is way more exciting than you think. 1) There are so many things you can do while on a sailboat;  2) don't get stuck on just one way of sailing;  3) be willing to be a thrill seeker.

4 Reasons Why Sailing is a Fun Family Activity

Clear water, sunshine, and good winds. These are the three essential elements needed for a perfect day out sailing. And guess what? Malaysia has three of these elements in abundance. 

Although sailing is often regarded as a man’s sport, it can still be children-friendly, making it apt for a fun family activity. Here are four reasons why sailing should be your next family activity:

1. Perfect family bonding session

As the world is moving at a much faster pace than it used to, people are spending less time with one another. Everyone is busy trying to survive the rat race that they forget to relax and enjoy life. As such, participating in a family activity can be a good way to jazz up your life while building and maintaining your relationship with others. 

2. Teaches kids new skills

Most people think sailing is solely for adults. Although it’s a sport that sees plenty of adult participation, it can still be enjoyed by tiny humans as well. It’s not only a good hobby for kids, it also teaches them a few essential life skills as well. One of the most important skills that can be learned through sailing is undoubtedly self-confidence. 

3. Meet like-minded people

What better way to meet like-minded people then to participate in an exhilarating activity like sailing? Just like any sports out there, sailing is a great way to meet people of similar interests as you. It allows you to share information or learn a thing or two about sailing from your other buddies. Besides that, it also makes a good family day outing. 

4. An escape from the city

Living in the city comes with its perks – better quality of living, higher salary, and top-notch facilities, just to name a few. However, it’s also stressful, busy, and frustrating at times. As such, when you’re tired of living in the hustle and bustle of the city and in dire need of an escape, sailing is one of the best ways to do it. The ocean is the most peaceful place you and your family could ask for as none of you have to deal with the crowd, traffic, and pollution of the city. 

So, the next time you’re thinking of a family outing, opt for sailing as it can be extremely fun and exciting, and at the same time it relaxes your body, mind, and soul.

Order your marine water heater here at Raritan Engineering and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

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via Avoid the ‘sameness’ epidemic

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Marine Heads Experts Discuss How to Handle Fishing in Rough Seas

Your Marine Heads Professionals Talk About How to Fish Successfully in Choppy Waters

Raritan Engineering your marine heads specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to handle fishing in rough seas.

Your marine heads distributors talk about how fish often bite as the sea stirs. Steep waves and a stiff breeze also whet anticipation for some anglers and enliven action aboard.

“Wahoo definitely bite better when the breeze kicks up,” says Bermuda charter and tournament captain Allen DeSilva. In DeSilva’s waters, that’s 15 knots and 6-foot seas. “Marlin are the opposite. The days we get five, six, seven fish are not rough,” he says. 

Adjust Your Trolling Speed

One reason average or calm seas favor marlin fishing is that it’s easier to see trolled lures and fish in the spread. “When it gets rough, bring everything in closer,” DeSilva says, to overcome the decreased visibility.

He also simplifies his overall presentation on bumpy days so that when a bite happens, he can avoid tangles.

This decreases snarls between the teasers and the short-rigger lures, he says, plus the mates have less to clear when you hook into a fish.

Change Up Lures to Match Conditions

“You want lures deeper when it’s rough, so the fish can see them through the whitecaps,” compared with a normal day, when lure surface action attracts fish’s attention, DeSilva says.

We Continue Sharing Great Tips for Fishing in Rough Waters

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Amaral places heavier lures on the upwind side when he can, and also closer to the boat so the wind separates his spread. Heavier, ballasted lures also track better when speed fluctuates as boats surf down following seas. 

Trolling Baits in Heavy Seas

Whether he’s fishing infamously rough Venezuela or placid Costa Rica, charter captain Bubba Carter runs two dredges with teasers atop, plus swimming ballyhoo on two flat lines clipped to the transom, and two long rigger baits.

Weight helps hold baits more squarely behind the boat and also keeps them swimming in the water, not skipping on top. Just a quarter-ounce more makes a big difference. He also trolls outrigger baits farther aft. That extra bit of line in the water helps hold the bait down.

Capt. Ronnie Fields typically uses small scoop-faced Mold Craft Chuggers ahead of his baits whether he’s in the Carolinas, Costa Rica or the Caribbean, fishing private or tournament boats. He switches to flat-faced Mold Craft Hookers in rougher water so baits won’t somersault when they pop out of the water on wave crests, which tends to foul circle hooks.

Fields’ biggest changes are in his teasers. “When it’s rough, flat lines blow into the squid chains, so I’ll take the squids off,” he says. “Whatever I would have put behind the squid chain, maybe a mackerel with an Iland Express, I’ll just run without the squids.”

So don't forget these great tips for fishing in rough waters. 1) Adjust your trolling speed;  2) change your lures when conditions change on you;  and 3) remember that boat weight can make a difference.

Crazy Deep Sea Fish and Other Creatures Caught by Russian Fisherman

Known for his ability to pull up all sort of interesting sea creatures, Russian fisherman Roman Fedortsov's well followed Instagram and Twitter accounts are littered with images of the critters he hauls up in his work as a trawlerman in Murmansk, Russia. 

Here's a warning, these deep sea fish as likely to haunt you, as they look ready-made for a horror film. Accounting for just 2% of known marine species, these fish typically live at depths of more than 3200 feet (1000 meters) below the sea, in a hostile area where light doesn't penetrate. 

For instance, due to the lack of light, many fish are blind, but others have developed extremely large eyes that are sensitive to light given off by living organisms, also known as bioluminescent light. In fact, many deep sea creatures are capable of bioluminescence, which makes sense if you're living in the dark. 

As you can imagine, even though some species demonstrate deep sea characteristics beyond 650 feet (200 meters) of depth, getting at these creatures isn't exactly easy and there's still much that marine biologists do not know about these elusive fish.

Buy a marine head here and see how Raritan Engineering provides you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

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via Gale-Force Fishing — Trolling in Rough Seas

via Crazy Deep Sea Fish and Other Creatures Caught by Russian Fisherman

Marine Toilet Professionals Discuss How to Maximize WiFi and Cellular Reach While Boating

Your Marine Toilet Specialists Share How to Successfully Make Cell Phone Calls While Out on the Water

Raritan Engineering your marine toilet distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to maximize WiFi and cellular reach while boating.

How can I send and receive emails or texts when I am on the boat and away from the dock? Your marine toilet suppliers talk about how one way is to maximize your Wi-Fi and cellular reach by linking your mobile device with specialized range extenders from companies such as Digital Antenna, Aigean Networks, Shakespeare, Wave WiFi and WeBoost.

You can also use satellite messengers such as the ACR 406 Link, which lets you use your ACR EPIRB or PLB to send short pre-written messages (e.g., “I’m here, I’m OK”) along with your position to family or friends.

The SPOT Gen3 can deliver emails and position reports via the internet and SMS to a computer or cellphone. You can also save a track of your trip for future reference.

Each satellite device above requires an annual subscription and has an emergency SOS Mayday function.

How to Email and Text While at Sea

Want ways to send and receive emails and texts while at sea? Here are products that can help.

WebWatch WC-1 ($850) by Shakespeare is a mini antenna dome (12 by 12 inches) that combines Wi-Fi and cellular signal amplifiers in one housing with cell speeds up to 4G standards. It is smart enough to automatically switch from cellular to a Wi-Fi connection when within Wi-Fi range to save on airtime costs.

See your choice of marine toilets here at Raritan Engineering, where we take care of all your marine sanitation supply needs.

Tip: Be wary of Wi-Fi-product range claims because performance can vary widely. Also, you may not always experience optimum speeds at all times. On a busy boating day, high Wi-Fi activity can slow connection speed.

Safety First

The most important feature of a satellite communicator is the ability to send an emergency Mayday message to summon first responders to your location. Be advised that VHF radio coverage extends out only to slightly beyond the line of sight. 

Double Duty

As most of these satellite communications devices are pocket-size and portable, they are great to take along with you when you venture beyond cellphone coverage on land. 

Worldwide Service Extras

SkyMate M2500 ($995) consists of a fixed-mount transceiver module, external antenna, and keypad control that bundles global email, SMS, navigation, position reporting and weather forecasting with satellite imagery. 

Add Voice

The Iridium Go! ($900) is a palm-size portable hotspot that lets you make a wireless connection to your smartphone, computer or tablet. In addition to email, data and text messaging, you can update weather reports, post to Facebook and Twitter, and even share photos with friends. 

Don't forget these great tips on how to boost and maximize your cell signal while boating. 1) Linking your mobile device with specialized range extenders;  2) you can also use satellite messengers;  and 3) spending a little more money on these products will be worth it in the long run.

Want to sail with your dog? Three sailors on how to train a boat dog

Many people can’t imagine heading out on a bluewater sailing adventure without their best friend: a boat dog. But training a dog to use the bathroom on a sailboat, and dealing with customs and immigration in various countries can be a drag.

I’ve wondered how people do it, so reached out to three awesome women sailors who’ve been loving living aboard with their canine friends. I loved learning about how people get on with their boat dog while sailing full-time.

What heart warming stories and lovely boat dogs!

Potty training your boat dog

So how on earth do you train a dog to go to the bathroom on a sailboat that’s always moving and rolling with the waves?

Kym Helwig and her husband are living aboard their sailboat in Vero Beach, Florida, and said it wasn’t all that hard to train her Sheltie, Solly. “Training him went smoothly. He’s naturally smart, and the second time I asked him to use the astroturf in the cockpit he did! Now, we have his astroturf on the cabin top and I scoop his poop regularly and throw it in the garbage.”

“Did we need turf, a carpet, pheromones? For Kala, she hated all of those things.  It was just a test of patience,” said Molly. “We were assured by vets that a dog wouldn’t hurt themselves (bladder infections, etc…) by holding it so when we were anchored in a creek overnight, we encouraged her to go with treats. 

Passing quarantine with a dog on your sailboat

Kristiann said before they started cruising they’d already lived in several countries with their dog, so they were prepared with the proper vaccinations and paperwork.

“The most valuable test you can get is a rabies titer test that checks for rabies antibodies. I keep Friday’s vaccinations up to date and research the protocol in each new country before we enter. 

“There is one country, for example, whose law is ‘any animal brought into Tonga will be destroyed’ so you must know the rules and understand the requirements and limitations,” Molly said. ” We cannot circumnavigate while we have Kala because of the restrictions in the South Pacific (technically we could by putting her in quarantine or flying her to Australia but we are not interested in doing that). 

How to keep your dog healthy and safe on deck

Kym said when her dog was small, she was afraid he’d lose his footing and fall overboard.

“We have a life jacket for him that he wore during stormy, windy or rocky conditions, just to make sure he’d be okay if he did accidentally go in the drink,” she said. “But now on our mooring ball he spends most of his time topside and is super agile. 

What about getting a dog enough exercise when doing a passage, where there’s nowhere to run or swim?

“That’s a limitation, for sure. If conditions are very calm, Friday has the run of the boat and decks,” said Kristiann. “If it’s rough, he’s clipped in or inside the salon. What we’ve found is that everyone is exhausted by being constantly underway, including our dog. 

Kymberly said her main challenge is getting the dog to the vet, but otherwise, living with Solly aboard has been a great joy.

“Solly is just wonderful to have aboard. He loves to play, and we love to play with him,” she said. “He brings some recreation and humor to our lives. I’ve taught him not to bark, a tall order for a Sheltie, but he is usually quiet.  He has alerted me a few times to something he thought was unsafe and I praised him."

All in all, it seems like a great adventure having a boat dog, where you can share a life of freedom and adventure with your very best friend.

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Boat Toilets Specialists Talk About Great Portable Electrical Propulsion For Tiny Sailboats

Your Boat Toilets Suppliers Discuss Some Great Ways to Motorize Your Small Sailboat

Raritan Engineering your boat toilets distributors would like to share with you this week some great information regarding great portable electrical propulsion for tiny sailboats.

In part one of our two-part test of five and six-horsepower engines in the upcoming January issue of Practical Sailor, we take a second look at portable electric motors. Practical Sailor’s interest in modern portable electric propulsion dates back to 2004, when then editor Doug Logan began to lose faith in the two-stroke outboard on his Boston Whaler. 

Logan’s initial review of the Minn Kota focused on its potential as a dinghy motor but he also tested it on larger skiffs. We later heard from several Practical Sailor readers who use trolling motors to power their sailboats (some as large as 30-feet!), but most said they used them mainly for short distances and in mostly flat water. .

Although people often compare such trolling motors to the $2,000 Torqeedo Travel 1003, there are several key differences. The Torqeedo uses a dedicated lithium magnesium battery that has a longer life and a more favorable power-to-weight ratio than a lead-acid battery. 

In 2005, we tested four popular trolling motors with rated thrusts ranging from 40 to 80 pounds. The results highlighted a major drawback of all electric motors: available horsepower and range is closely tied to battery capacity. Driving a sailboat with one of the more powerful trolling motors at full throttle for more than a half an hour will nearly drain a standard Group 24 battery. 

If you need more power, there are other options. In our most recent foray into electric outboards, we tested a motor called the SolidNav Traveler. The hefty 48-volt, four-horsepower outboard was manufactured by Parsun Power Machine, China’s largest outboard exporter. The outboard's brushless solid magnet motor was built by Mars Electrical Co. of Milwaukee, Wis. (now Motenergy). 

We Share More Information On How to Boost Your Small Sailboat's Engine

Your boat toilets professionals share how our testers were impressed by the motor's heavy duty design, and the way the electric motor was incorporated into the familiar gasoline outboard form factor. Performance was good, but again, it was limited by the constraints of electric power. In our test of the Solid Nav, four North Star Energy group 24 AGM batteries with 140 amp hour reserve capacity were wired in series to deliver the required 48-volts.

Of all the electric outboards available to the sailor, the Torqeedo holds the most promise, but the niche is rather narrow. This is the third time we’ve looked at these motors. In our first preview, we tested an early iteration of the Travel 801L, an ultralight electric equivalent of a two horsepower outboard. 

As with all electric motors, power and range are limited. On our test boat, a Catalina 22, the range on a single battery at 4 knots speed is about 2.5 miles. At slower speeds of about 2.5 knots, the maximum range is about 7 miles. 

Bottom line: For the average daysailer with high power demands, a small gasoline outboard remains the most practical choice for portable propulsion. An electric motor can work, but for longer range service it will require significant investment in big battery banks, and perhaps a solar charging system. 

So don't forget these great benefits to using portable electrical propulsion for your small sailboat. 1) These motors have a lot of potential;  2) you will save money on fuel;  3) there will be less maintanence involved.

The Fastest Single Engine Outboard Boats You Can Buy Right Now

At Wave to Wave, our favorite boats are smaller, single engine sport boats. This covers a large spectrum because some boats are semi offshore, some are lightweight lake hot rods and some are somewhere in the middle. Most people like something that can do it all, handle some chop, get some decent speed in a straight line; while bringing the family along. 

Allison, GrandSport 2003

The XS-2003 Allison GrandSport is the gold standard for small single engine family boats. Allison makes a slightly smaller boat, the SS-2001 SuperSport but the GrandSport offers a little more room and usability. Both are exceptionally fast. Probably the fastest production boats available in this category. Allison has been a pioneer in using high quality materials too. They have had full composite construction for a very long time and they have bullet proof transoms, by integrating aluminum in them. In racing, Allison is obviously well known and revolutionized the light, pad bottom design that has been emulated by many. With a steep deadrise, pronounced notch and aggressive strakes, the GrandSport gets incredible lift. I believe Darris Allison once said he was concerned with making not the fastest boats but the most efficient boats. With a Grand Sport, you can run a stock 175 Pro XS and be in the high 80s (MPH). 

Click here at http://raritaneng.com/raritan-product-line/marine-toilets/marine-elegance/ and see how Raritan Engineering provides you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

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Boat Head Suppliers Talks About the Exciting World of EC 12 Sailboat Racing

Your Boat Head Manufacturers Share a Fun Way to Sail Without Getting Wet 

Raritan Engineering your boat head professionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the exciting world of EC 12 sailboat racing.

Your boat head specialists talk about how it’s early on a Saturday morning in October, and the parking lot is already jam-packed at Lake Somerset within the gated community of Sun City, in Beaufort, South Carolina. 

It’s the Sun City Model Yacht Club Regatta, and the sailors are here to practice for the upcoming East Coast 12 Meter National Championship, hosted by Turtle Pond Model YC in Peachtree City, Georgia, on the outskirts of Atlanta. 

The EC 12 Meter class is an active group with a national ranking system and a keen following up and down the U.S. East Coast, as well as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. A new boat costs $3,500, but good secondhand boats can be found for half.

Launching an EC 12 is not as simple as removing it from its cradle and placing it into the water. Each 24-pound boat measures 59 inches in length, and the mast stands 72 inches above the deck, holding up 1,300 square inches of sail. 

We Continue Discussing Great Ways to Enjoy Sailing

Find marine toilets here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

On the racecourse, orange foam buoys are placed strategically to allow for changing wind directions. On the water level of the tree-rimmed lake, especially, winds change often. Gusts are unpredictable and erratic. 

Racing commences with a booming ­prerecorded countdown from a handcrafted wooden cassette player.

“Three … two … one …”

Then the hollering begins: “Don’t come down!” “You can’t go in there!” “You have no room!”

Sound familiar?

It’s amusing to watch the sailors, shoulder to shoulder, elbowing each other to get ahead. Caught up in the excitement of the races, not a single competitor worries about disturbing the resident gator. 

So don't forget these great reasons for trying out a new way to sail. 1) You don't have to fall overboard into water;  2) these boats are significantly cheaper;  and 3) it is a great way to be competitive.

How a love of sailing helped Einstein explain the universe

If the world's most famous physicist Albert Einstein is any guide, modern-day scientists need to get out of the lab more and onto the water.

Around 1900, a cheeky Swiss patent clerk wrote to a friend about four scientific papers he had been working on in his spare time. He described them as revolutionary, claiming they would one day modify the "theory of space and time".

"But as soon as there was a breath of wind," she said, "he was ready to start sailing again."

The pair became lifelong friends after bonding on their sailing trips.

Ripples in time

Suzanne's observation sheds light on how "Young Einstein the sailor" first cracked the laws of physics in 1905. His first three articles relied on a stationary observer. He'd obviously figured out the concepts of space and time while becalmed on a lake.

It took 10 more years of sailing to figure out the hard physics bit — what happens when velocity and relativity are constantly changing — or put simply, when the breeze comes up.

Maybe the water and sunshine cleared his head. Either way, his sailing technique was unusual to say the least — in his words: "set sail, make it fast, no thoughts of energy or velocity, loll back, let boat drift."

Losing 'Tummler'

Einstein the sailor was not interested in racing and fell into the "cruising" category. He hated engines and is even said to have refused a present of an outboard motor.

But his joy didn't last long as the Nazis seized the boat in 1933 when Einstein fled to America.

He tried hard to get her back but a rescue operation was deemed too dangerous and Tummler was lost.

Not so smooth sailing

In his new home in the United States, Albert Einstein was always on the lookout for places to sail.

In his late 50s while sailing in a remote spot off Long Island on his clunky little sailboat Tinef (which apparently meant "worthless" or "junk"), he was frequently dismasted, ran aground and nearly drowned when he hit a rock and the boat capsized, trapping him under the sail.

The laws of physics are more obvious in a constantly changing sea and Albert Einstein knew just where to look: "Nature conceals her secrets because she is sublime, not because she is a trickster."

Click here to get your boat head and see how Raritan Engineering provides you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

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Macerating Toilet Manufacturers Share a Secret to Successful Fishing Spots

Your Macerating Toilet Experts Talk About Why Fish Love Seaweeds

Raritan Engineering your macerating toilet professionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the secret to successful fishing spots.

Your macerating toilet specialists discuss how on a summer morning when the blue, glassy waters 10 miles off Port St. Lucie, Florida, appeared devoid of life, a distant patch of golden-brown sargassum loomed enticingly on the horizon.

Anglers might call them weeds, but these are actually species of marine algae, with different types producing different game fish, depending on where you’re fishing. In the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, the main species are Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans, both of which are holopelagic, which means they grow free-floating in the ocean and never attach to the seafloor during their life cycles.

That’s not to say that weeds are the only form of structure under which offshore life collects. Debris such as logs, palm fronds, wooden pallets, ladders and even the floating carcasses of cetaceans and pinnipeds can attract a chain of marine life. 

What’s the Attraction to Weeds?

Avid offshore anglers know almost ­instinctively that weeds can hold fish, but they might not know exactly what actually attracts fish to these spots. 

Much of the sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Eastern Seaboard originates in the ever-shifting and borderless Sargasso Sea, an aggregation of sargassum spanning approximately 1.4 million square miles in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. 

Mahi Attracted to Sargassum

In a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study off North Carolina, 81 fish species were documented using sargassum for shelter and food. “Most of these fishes are juveniles and occur within Gulf Stream waters."

Data collected by the program indicates 60 to 70 percent of mahi that are caught are taken around sargassum along the East Coast, he says.

“Dolphin[fish] can grow to 40 pounds in 12 months,” Hammond points out. It takes a tremendous amount of food to fuel such fast growth, and mahi find much of their fodder under and around the weeds.

Interestingly, holopelagic sargassum depends on fish as much as fish depend on it, says Oxenford. “Sargassum relies on the feces of its inhabitants for nutrients,” she says.  

Finding Kelp Paddies Offshore

Schools of warm-water game fish such as mahi, striped marlin, yellowfin tuna and California yellowtail often migrate northward along the Pacific coast of Baja and Southern California in summer. In El Niño years, anglers might also get a shot at wahoo or blue marlin.

Yet, as with patches of sargassum, not all offshore kelp paddies hold game fish. Like that McDonald’s I mentioned earlier, but with no customers, some are devoid of large predators at any given time. While little or no scientific research exists on what makes one floating kelp patch better than the other for attracting fish, anglers rank paddies on a number of factors. 

It’s impossible to determine age, and recruitment times vary, Sepulveda points out, but schools of bait species, such as anchovies, chub mackerel and jack mackerel, under the paddy indicate that it’s mature enough to attract game fish. 

Fishing Near Sargassum

In the waters off Miami Beach, Florida, the best pieces of offshore sargassum are those concentrated into relatively large patches, says Capt. Jimbo Thomas, whose 42-foot Post, Thomas Flyer, is a top-producing charter boat in the region. 

If he sees a bait school, Thomas likes to drop a sabiki rig and catch a few to identify the species and add the prevailing forage to the livewell.

Find your marine toilet of choice here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

The same holds true on the West Coast, but frigates don’t reach as far north as Southern California. Terns, shearwaters and jaegers are prime indicator birds in this Pacific region. Flocks of terns fluttering low around a paddy serve as a sure sign of mahi or other predatory fish.  

Finding Weeds

Some days, weeds can be difficult for boating anglers to spot, particularly when large patches are scarce and an overcast sky or glare reduces color contrast. Choppy seas complicate the search. On any day, elevation helps — a big reason many fishing boats are equipped with towers.

Slowing the boat speed can also help, giving your eyes more time to scan the surface. Many anglers troll lures and/or rigged baits at about 7 knots while on the hunt. Captains encourage all crew members to stay on the lookout — the more eyes the better.

Brightenburg likes to shut down on the lee or down-current side of the weeds and then drift away, with live baits placed fairly far behind the boat, while chumming with liveys and chunks. 

Feeding Style

Some days, fish under a weed patch get finicky and refuse to bite most lures or baits. “Often, mahi get keyed in on small baitfish like 1-inch minnows under the weeds,” Thomas says. “They get their minds set on one thing and ignore everything else.”

Whether the golden-brown algae is kelp or sargassum, paddies, patches and lines of floating weeds rank among the most consistently productive offshore hot spots. 

Find Your Own Weeds

Moving in on another boat that has already found a productive weed patch is, to put it mildly, frowned upon by serious anglers. So-called poaching not only creates frustration among the crew that worked hard to find its own patch of weeds, but it can also result in ugly confrontations between the two boats. It also makes the offending skipper look like a hack. Better to hunt up your own patch than poach one and lose all respect.

So don't forget these great tips on how to find your next great fishing spot. 1) Don't encroach on another boat's fishing area;  2) patches and lines of floating weeds rank among the most consistently productive offshore hot spots;  and 3) slowing the boat speed can also help, giving your eyes more time to scan the surface.

Oceans under greatest threat in history, warns Sir David Attenborough

The world’s oceans are under the greatest threat in history, according to Sir David Attenborough. The seas are a vital part of the global ecosystem, leaving the future of all life on Earth dependent on humanity’s actions, he says.

Previous BBC nature series presented by Attenborough have sometimes been criticised for treading too lightly around humanity’s damage to the planet. But the final episode of the latest series is entirely dedicated to the issue.

“For years we thought the oceans were so vast and the inhabitants so infinitely numerous that nothing we could do could have an effect upon them. But now we know that was wrong,” says Attenborough. 

Attenborough says: “Surely we have a responsibility to care for our blue planet. The future of humanity, and indeed all life on Earth, now depends on us.”

The series producer, Mark Brownlow, said it was impossible to overlook the harm being caused in the oceans: “We just couldn’t ignore it – it wouldn’t be a truthful portrayal of the world’s oceans. We are not out there to campaign. We are just showing it as it is and it is quite shocking.”

Brownlow said much of the footage shot of albatross chicks being killed by the plastic they mistake for food were too upsetting to broadcast. The programme also filmed on the Great Barrier Reef in 2016, witnessing the worst bleaching event in its history.

Carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning also dissolves in seawater, making it more acidic. Prof Chris Langdon, at the University of Miami, says it is “beyond question” that the problem is manmade. “The shells and the reefs really, truly are dissolving. The reefs could be gone by the end of the century.”

The noise from shipping, tourism, and fossil fuel exploration is also revealed as harming sea life. Steve Simpson, at the University of Exeter, who works on coral reefs in southeast Asia, says: “There is a whole language underwater that we are only just getting a handle on. They use sound to attract a mate, to scare away a predator. You hear pops and grunts and gurgles and snaps.” He shows the noise of motorboats distracting saddleback clownfishes from warning against a predator attack.

Overfishing, which remains prevalent around the world, is also addressed. “Every night thousands of miles of fishing lines laden with hooks are set – there is enough, it is said, to wrap twice around the world,” says Attenborough. But the programme also highlights some success stories, such as the revival of sperm whales off Sri Lanka and herring stocks off Norway after bans or restrictions were put in place.

Strict management of the herring fishery in Norway has saved it from collapse. Herring now draw in humpback whales and orca. Photograph: Audun Rikardsen

Pauly also warned of the dangers of plastic attracting toxic chemicals and then being eaten: “They become poison pills.” Pauly said the question facing humanity now was simple: “Are we going to fight for the oceans or not?”

Choose your Raritan marine products here and see how Raritan Engineering provides you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

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Thru Hull Fittings Experts Discuss the Benefits of Using an LED Mastlight

Your Thru Hull Fittings Professionals Share Why LED Mastlights Make Your Boating Experiences Better 

Raritan Engineering your thru hull fittings specialists would like to share with you this week some great information regarding the benefits of using an LED mastlight.

Your thru hull fittings distributors talk about how if you have your mast down this season or are contemplating an annual inspection aloft, it is a good time to consider a switch to an LED tri-color mastlight, which can cut the mastlight's energy consumption by 90 percent. 

In the past, the most popular means of meeting the U.S. Coast Guard’s navigation light requirements for boats under 65 feet (see “Nav Light Requirements,” below) was to use an Aqua Signal Series 40 tri-color lamp housing with its long-filament incandescent bulb. Its 25-watt energy appetite not only puts a significant load on the house battery bank, but it requires a heavier-gauge wire be run up the spar in order to avoid an energy-robbing voltage drop. 

What accounts for this great efficiency? Since the late 1960s, LEDs have followed a trend that amounts to almost a doubling of light output every 36 months. (If Wall Street had done the same, a $100 investment made in 1969 would today be worth over $500,000.) 

In order to achieve white or colored light, phosphor coatings are used. Another significant breakthrough is the prism-like lens and epoxy-sealed cavity that bundles up many of these semiconductors. The resulting "bulb" reflects and refracts the light energy produced, delivering a color-controlled beam. 

We Continue Talking About Why LED Mastlights Are the Way to Go

Your thru hull fittings suppliers discuss how because of this challenge, you have to be careful about simply swapping out bulbs and using your current lens housing. Even if you decide that saving money is worth the risk of non-compliance with international and federal code, you should at least do a carefull visual comparison of the new and old light combinations.

When it comes to navigation lights aboard sailboats, brighter is definitely better. And our tests of LED nav lights proved that more light can indeed be made with less energy.

NAV LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

Rule 25 of the U.S. Coast Guard's rules state that a sailing vessel shall exhibit sidelights and a stern light. Boats shorter than 65 feet may have these combined in one fixture (a tri-color masthead light). To comply with accepted standards, the lights must meet the following visibility minimums:

• Sidelight: 2 miles for boats over 36 feet; 1 mile for boats under 36 feet

• Sternlight: 2 miles

• Towing light: 2 miles

• All-round light: 2 miles

So don't forget these great reasons why an LED mastlight could be the answer for you. 1) You will save on energy;  2) the investment is worth it in the long run;  and 3) they meet the US Coast Guard's requirements. 

ZR48 CORVETTE BOAT Powered By Mercury Racing Twin Turbo Marine Engines Delivering 2.700 Horsepower !!!

After a thorough research for the best Muscle Cars videos, we have come up with something that left us speechless and we couldn`t wait to share it with you. It is a word about an amazing video featuring the long-talked 2,700HP ZR48 CORVETTE BOAT in action! All media headlines were filled up with this Darth Vader`s palace on water when it came out for the first time, but now, we finally have a decent video where we can see this Dark King in an attention-grabbing action.

Anyways, this video is recorded in the right moment! Namely, the guy recording, turned on his camera right when this ZR48 Corvette boat was trying to get away from the coast guard. And it did it with no difficulties at all. After that, this boat is recorded speeding way off shore at a velocity of something between 85 and 100 miles per hour. 

This astonishing MTI built ZR1 Corvette themed Speedboat is powered by two Mercury Racing Twin Turbo Marine Engines and it is fully carbon-fibered! Thanks to the engines and the lightness, it can develop 2700 horses on water, which is, without a doubt a massive power for a boat. 

Visit us here at http://raritaneng.com/product-category/trudesign/thru-hulls/ and see how Raritan Engineering provides you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on thru hull fittings below.

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via – ZR48 CORVETTE BOAT Powered By Mercury Racing Twin Turbo Marine Engines Delivering 2.700 Horsepower !!!

Raritan Marine Experts Talks About Best Ways to Maintain Boats for First Time Buyers

Your Raritan Marine Professionals Discuss Great Tips for New Boat Buyers

Raritan Engineering your Raritan marine specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding some of the best ways to maintain boats for first time boat buyers.

You bought a boat. Your Raritan marine distributors talk about how why you need to maintain it. Just keep the following three points in mind, and the first year with a new boat should be smooth sailing.

First off, engines, steering equipment, water pumps and anything else aboard that moves will benefit from use. Turn everything on and use it at least a couple of times a season. Raise and lower your anchor at the dock, for instance, if you never anchor out. 

Next, keep it clean. This isn’t just aesthetic. If the engine space is clean, you’ll see an engine-coolant or steering-fluid leak right away, so you can have it taken care of before it gets worse. Debris in the waterways around deck hatches can clog drains. Then when it rains, if the water can’t drain, it finds its way into that hatch, and sometimes onto equipment that shouldn’t get wet. 

We Give Simple Ways to Keep Your Boat Looking Great All Year Long

Browse Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering Beyond that general advice, here’s a quick list of maintenance items you’ll need to address during your first year:

Engines: In cold climates, winterize engines every fall to protect cooling systems where water might be trapped and freeze. At the same time, treat engine inner workings with fogging oil to prevent corrosion. Except for a few outboards, engines require an oil change, along with new oil and fuel filters, every year. 

Underwater paint and hardware: Change sterndrive or outboard gear-case oil every fall, or at least check for water intrusion while winterizing the engine. Send propellers with more than a couple of minor nicks to the prop shop to be reconditioned. The paint on your boat’s bottom prevents marine growth, such as barnacles and sea grass, but its effectiveness varies by paint type, climate, region and even local water bodies. 

Fiberglass: Rinse your boat thoroughly after each outing, and wash it once a week with mild boat soap—one that won’t remove wax. Southern latitudes and saltwater boating require wax as often as every two months from the main deck up. Northern and freshwater boaters might wax only once a season. 

Teak decks, wood trim and metal hardware: Wax is the best protectant and cleaner for metal, particularly aluminum. Whatever you choose—spanning bright, glossy varnished trim to just soap and water on teak, letting its natural oil protect the wood—stay on top of it. 

Air-conditioning systems: If your boat has air conditioning, consider using the dehumidifier mode while you’re not aboard, but only if you’re able to check on the boat every day or two. Clear debris from air conditioner’s seawater-plumbing strainers at least weekly, or anytime the air conditioner’s cooling-water stream coming out of the side of the boat seems to be weaker than normal.

Owner’s manuals for each onboard system include maintenance schedules. When in doubt, ask a pro. Advice from other boaters is well-intentioned but not always correct for your boat. The boat dealer, or anyone who repairs boats for a living, is a much better source.

So don't forget these helpful tips on how to maintain your boat if you're a first time buyer. 1) In cold climates, winterize engines every fall to protect cooling systems where water might be trapped and freeze;  2) rinse your boat thoroughly after each outing, and wash it once a week with mild boat soap;  and 3) if your boat has air conditioning, consider using the dehumidifier mode while you’re not aboard, but only if you’re able to check on the boat every day or two.

Go Boating on the Red Lotus Sea

The so-called Red Lotus Sea is one of Thailand’s loveliest seasonal attractions. Somewhat off the beaten path for international visitors, the charming destination is popular with Thai couples looking for a spot of romance and families who want to take the kids somewhere special. 

What is the Red Lotus Sea?

Known in Thai as Talay Bua Deang, the Red Lotus Sea (sometimes also referred to as the Red Lotus Lake) is officially called Nong Han Kumphawapi Lake. A large yet rather normal lake at most times during the year, the lake transforms into a magical wonderland of beautiful pink shades during the cooler months. Indeed, due to the picturesque beauty when the striking lotus flowers are in full bloom, the lake has been named as one of the world’s strangest lakes.

How can I explore the Red Lotus Sea?

The lake’s full majestic beauty isn’t immediately apparent from the edges, though you can peer through binoculars to get an idea of the wonder on the water. The best way to enjoy the fairytale-like visions is with a boat ride across the expansive lake. Boat trips can be arranged with ease from the main car-parking area in Chiang Haeo sub-district.

There’s no need to join a tour as you can easily charter your own vessel to discover the lake. Boats cost around 500 THB for a trip, and the prices are per boat, not per person. Boat rides last for around an hour to an hour and a half. (Shorter trips can also be taken for around 300 THB.) 

Your boat will journey into the middle of the lake, following small channels through the lotus flowers, to eventually bring you to a large and dense patch of vibrant pink flowers. Pause and admire the glorious vistas and snap plenty of pictures to remind you of an unusual day filled with scenic splendour. 

What facilities are available near the lake?

Facilities and amenities are basic, though you will find public toilets (with squat-style toilets) and several food vendors in the main car park. Stock up on snacks for a picnic on your boat ride.

Where is the Red Lotus Sea?

The Red Lotus Sea is located in the Thai province of Udon Thani. Udon Thani is in the northeastern region, the part of Thailand that is also commonly referred to as Isan. The lake can be found roughly 45 kilometres outside of the heart of Udon Thani city, in the district of Kumphawapi.

When can I visit the Red Lotus Sea?

The cool season is the prime time to visit the Red Lotus Sea. The pink buds begin to bloom at the end of the rainy season, reaching their peak in January and February. Some flowers remain open through March, but then from March to around October, the lake is devoid of any special colours.   

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Macerator Pump Professionals Discuss How Boating Makes You Feel Great

Your Macerator Pump Specialists Give Good Reasons to Boat More Often

Raritan Engineering your macerator pump distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how boating makes you feel great.

Your macerator pump suppliers talk about how boat trips are just plain good for the soul. The sense of peace and tranquility that can be restored to you while gently rocking on the waves is undeniable. Although, if you need more reasons to take a boat trip, or are trying to convince someone else why a boat trip is well worth the time, look no further.

Boat trips create bonding experiences with family and friends. The lasting memories you can make while on a boat trip are priceless. A day in the sun allows our bodies to soak up a safe amount of Vitamin D. With the use of sunscreen, Vitamin D is an important vitamin that one needs in order to survive.

Learning new boating skills can be an empowering and educational experience. When you go on a boat trip, you will always have the opportunity to learn something new.  

Boat trips allow you to unplug. In this digital age, we are always either sending a text message or checking our email inbox. Stress, insomnia, and depression have been connected to our inability to power down. 

When you go on a boat ride, you have the opportunity to broaden your range of experiences by trying different types of water sports like fishing or water skiing.

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Boat trips keep you balanced. How many times have you become so consumed with work or school commitments that you neglected to set aside a day for some fun family boating? Going on a boat ride will help you keep your life in balance between work and play.  

So, this is not a reason to get your wife’s permission to spend yet another weekend fishing with the guys or the perfect excuse to tell your boss you have the flu while you go snorkeling..err, well maybe those ideas are not too bad, considering the health benefits that are associated with boating! 

Vitamin D & Fresh Air – Sunshine provides Vitamin D that promotes healthy bones and is medically proven to improve mood. However, so many of us spend the bulk of our days in the office, in the commute and in the rat race, that fresh air and the healthful aspects of sunshine truly become a rare commodity. 

Quality Time with Family/Friends – One of the biggest factors contributing to your happiness in life and your overall well being relates to your social life. In fact, medical studies link strong social ties to longevity, healthier eating habits, less stress and much more. 

Staying Active – It’s no secret that staying active is a serious contributor to good health. Unlike watching TV or playing video games, taking up boating as a hobby can help you lead an active and healthy lifestyle. 

Feeding your passion – Having a passion contributes to your overall happiness which correlates to good health. Boating is that passion for many. Spending time out on the ocean fishing, snorkeling and watching sunsets quickly becomes a passion.

So don't forget these great reasons about why boating is so good for you. 1) It is a great source of vitamin D and fresh air;  2) you get to spend quality time with family and friends;  and 3) it helps you to stay active.

Ghost Ship Was Found Sailing Unmanned in the Ocean for at Least 38 Years

What comes to your mind when you read the term “ghost ship?” It generally refers to a ghostly vision or a phantom of a ship that was believed to have sunk a long time ago.

Although the term “ghost ship” seems like something paranormal it is a nautical term for a ship that is floating adrift without any crew members. There are numerous reasons why a crew would choose to abandon a floating vessel and it usually doesn’t involve anything supernatural.

According to The Sun, a ship called SS Baychimo was seen in the oceans for at least 38 years. That’s a long time but apparently, it was built in 1914. It became part of the British Hudson Bay Company in 1921.

The year after it was built, the source cited that the Baychimo got “lost” and was “set off on a solo voyage.” It was built in Sweden and it was originally named the Ångermanelfven.

It sailed as far as the coast of Canada, where it carried furs, tobacco, sugar, tea, and weapons. In the late months of 1931, the ship was trapped “in the ice off the coast of Alaska.” The crew was rescued by airplanes.

These men built temporary shelters located half a mile away from the beach and settled there throughout the winter season.

The remaining crew was stuck in their temporary shelters for three whole days. When they got out to view the boat, it was already gone.

The report noted:

“Everyone assumed the SS Baychimo had sunk, but a few days later an Inuit seal hunter spotted her floating about 45 miles away.”

Apparently, the ship was sighted in oceans after that incident. It was last seen in 1969, when it allegedly got stuck in ice, off the Alaskan coast – which was its original location in the 1930’s.

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Macerator Toilet Specialists Discuss Keeping Ice Damage Away From Your Boat's Deck

Your Macerator Toilet Distributors Talk About Protecting Your Boat Deck From the Elements

Raritan Engineering your macerator toilet suppliers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to keep ice damage away from your boat's deck.

It is the first day of fall, and that means winter is right around the corner, which is no fun sailors who live in the northern slice of the planet, unless, of course, you’re an ice-boater or frost-biter—in which case, I’m happy for you (spoken like a true Floridian). 

If you had niggling leaks at your mast, your forward hatch, or deck hardware this summer, those niggles can become nightmares when freezing temperatures begin to do their sledgehammer work upon our boats—as well as our psyche. Most decks these days are sandwich cores, which have a stiffening material, usually foam or balsa, or plywood, sandwiched between two fiberglass skins. (For a more in-depth picture of the pros and cons this construction process, check out our report on core construction.) 

We Give Great Tips to Keep Ice From Damaging Your Boat's Deck

Your macerator toilet manufacturers talk about how the freeze-thaw cycle can also break the bond between the fiberglass and the core, further weakening the deck structure and introducing new problems. In a worst-case scenario, you return to your boat in the spring and find bubbles, bulges, and cracked gelcoat or fiberglass where water has pooled and frozen, pushing your deck's outer skin upward.

Bottom line is this: Of all the fall maintenance fun (don’t call them chores) you’ve got to deal with in the weeks ahead, take some time to address the leaks. Much of what you’ll need to carry out your own leak-repair project is right here in our archives. Our most recent report on caulks and sealants can help you find the right sealant for the job. 

Better yet, if you want to prevent leaks to begin with, follow the time-tested technique for sealing through-deck penetrations to prevent leaks from reaching the core when you add or re-install deck hardware. 

So don't forget these great suggestions for protecting your boat's deck from ice damage. 1) Get the right mind set, don't view maintenance as chores;  2) research which caulks and sealants are best for your boat;  and 3) sealing through-deck penetrations.

Man's Inability To Reverse With Trailer Providing Great Entertainment To Everybody At Boat Ramp 

“Left hand down, mate,” he yelled from the jetty.

“Yeah keep going. Nah go back up and straighten out, mate. Yeah, woo! Now come down slower.”

Nat Wilmott is trying to keep the peace down at the Betoota Sailing Club boat ramp – but he’s having a little bit of trouble.

The line this morning was nearing ten trailers and a sunburnt Betoota Grove financier was trying and failing spectacularly to launch his boat into Lake Yamma Yamma.

In the dry desert heat, people were getting frustrated.

But not everyone.

Those not in the line, the jetty fisherman and the like, we’re all laughing at the expense of Peter Mantits, a somewhat likable private fund manager at Macquarie Private Wealth in the French Quarter.

“Mate, you’re fucking useless!” screamed one bloke from beside the boat ramp.

“Do you want me to do it, mate? I’ve never driven a Merc before, but. Is the big silver cunt an auto or what?”

But that was when Nat, the owner-operator of the Betoota Sailing Club Tackle Shop, stepped in to help.

Peter had fallen into the trap of boat ownership without first thinking to master the art of reversing down a boat ramp – something he regrets now.

“It looks easy enough, to reverse a trailer, but it’s not,” said Peter.

“Then this nice old man, Nathan I think his name was, coached me through it and I ultimately got the thing in the water,”

“The whole episode certainly entertained these South Betoota mouthbreathers. Leering at me from the edge of the boat ramp.”

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Marine Toilet Systems Suppliers Give Jackline Installation Tips

Your Marine Toilet Systems Manufacturers Discuss Safety With Jackline Installation 

Raritan Engineering your marine toilet systems experts would like to share with you this week some great information regarding jackline installation tips.

The “to-do” list begins to swell in October, a month when many northern hemisphere sailors start preparing their boats for offshore passages to warmer climates. High on many lists is the job of installing jacklines—the lines running along the deck to which we attach our safety tethers. 

One of the most startling conclusions of our current test was that despite the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) generalized approach to jackline standards, the best material for a jackline varies as boat length increases.

We Continue Talking About the Importance of Good Boat Maintenance

Your marine toilet systems professionals talk about how material selection is just one of many details regarding jacklines that deserves careful thought. If you are re-installing your jacklines or installing for them for the first time, be sure to read our upcoming test report.

• Although you can use existing hardware for anchoring jacklines to your deck, finding adequate anchors on light boats can be difficult, since the deck and fittings might not be very strong. 
• Confirm that the entire system is of known minimum strength. ISAF standards recommend 4,500 pounds minimum breaking strength for webbing, although we recommend more for boats greater than 40 feet in order to provide an adequate safety factor. 
• Nylon stretches a great deal when it is wet, so nylon jacklines should be tensioned when wet.
• Webbing jacklines should be twisted—not laid flat. This way they are easier to clip into when wet and they won’t flap in the wind.
• Outboard-powered boats should never have jacklines or tethers so long that a sailor who has fallen overboard could be towed behind the boat near the prop.
• Jacklines should stop well short of the bow. Fast boats, multihulls in particular, can hurl a person forward when the bow stuffs into a wave.
• The cockpit should have at least one dedicated fixed point for clipping into. Consider installing dedicated clip-in points (padeyes) at other work stations—i.e. at the mast, or at the bow.
• Rope jacklines can be acceptable on boats with higher coachroofs that allow the lines to be routed off the deck where they won’t fall underfoot. 
• When Dyneema or stainless cable are used on the deck, sheathing them in tubular webbing can reduce the chance that the jackline will roll under foot. 
• Jacklines must be clearly distinguishable from running rigging, so that there is no chance of clipping into the wrong line. 
•  Jacklines should be permanently rigged during a passage. It takes time to become accustomed to their use, and sailors have often gone overboard in benign conditions.
• Jacklines should be rigged under sheets and over deck-routed control lines so that a sudden tack or jibe does not grab the tether.
• If you rely on stainless steel hardware, use only the highest quality. (Wichard is one company whose hardware has consistently done well in our tests.) During our field research we came across a 46-foot boat with very tight 3/16-inch stainless jacklines attached with 3/16-inch stainless shackles. 

Don't forget these helpful jackline installation tips. 1) Confirm that the entire system is of known minimum strength;  2) Jacklines must be clearly distinguishable from running rigging, so that there is no chance of clipping into the wrong line;  and 3) if you rely on stainless steel hardware, use only the highest quality.

Not Quite Time for Winter Storage? Consider These Simple Fall Boat Maintenance Tasks

Boating and boat ownership during autumn months can mean different things depending on where you live. In the southern states, it could mean that the summer heat is finally dissipating enough to fully enjoy days spent out on the water. In the north, it may mean the beginning of the end of boating season.

Even if you’re not quite ready to store your boat for the season, there is still regular maintenance you might consider as the season changes. Many people may not realize what the lack of other boaters on the water (thanks to cooler temperatures) could mean for your time on the water. 

Fall Maintenance and Safety Checks  

It can be a good idea to check your safety equipment and supplies, including:

• Making sure the batteries in the very high frequency (VHF) radio are charged.
• Signal devices are up to date and working.
• There are plenty of warm clothes on board and they’re stored in a plastic bag to help keep them dry.
• Make sure you leave a float plan telling people where you are going and when you should be returning.

Another thing to keep in mind is your battery bank, a group of batteries used (often exclusively) to start your boat’s engine. A battery that started perfectly fine in summer may not have the power to get you back in colder temperatures, because as the temperature decreases, so does a battery’s capacity, according to Trojan Battery. 

Keep the Inside Dry

Cold temperatures can also mean condensation inside the boat, so ventilation becomes very important. When leaving your boat for more than a few days at a time, you may want to take a few extra steps to help make sure your supplies are not damp or susceptible to dirt and grime upon your return. 

Doing an inspection of all plumbing is a good idea every few months, although particularly heading into fall. The hoses that have expanded all summer due to excess heat could now be contracting in the colder weather, and fittings may no longer be as tight as they should be. 

While it may not be time to prepare your boat for the off season just yet, these tips may help ensure your safety and keep your mind at ease while you enjoy the fall boating season.

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Seacocks Specialists Discuss How to Cope With Racing Rule Changes

Your Seacocks Suppliers Share How to Handle These New Rule Changes

Raritan Engineering your seacocks manufacturers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to cope with racing rule changes.

Your seacocks distributors talk about how World Sailing has changed the criterion for deciding whether extended close covering violates Rule 2.

● World Sailing held its annual conference in Mexico in November 2017 with a week of meetings involving several hundred delegates from all prominent sailing countries. There were many proposals to modify the racing rules discussed and voted upon, and for the most part, proposals that were accepted will not take effect until January 1, 2021, when the next revision of The Racing Rules of Sailing is published. 

Four changes for 2018 clearly fix the problem U.S. Sailing identified. The changes also establish a clear process to be followed whenever the protest committee receives a report alleging a support person has broken a rule. Here’s a summary of the four changes World Sailing made:

■ A new rule, Rule 63.9, has been added, which specifies a process the protest committee must follow when it receives, under Rule 60.3(d), a report alleging that a support person has broken a rule. The committee must first decide whether the report is sufficiently convincing that a hearing should be called. If so, the committee must conduct the hearing following the procedures specified in Rules 63.2, 63.3, 63.4 and 63.6. 

■ Section (e) of the definition Party has been expanded. For any hearing involving a support person, the parties to the hearing are: the support person alleged to have broken a rule, any boat that support person supports, and the prosecutor. This change means that if a hearing is held because a coach, a parent or any other support person may have broken a rule, every boat that that person supports is entitled to be represented during the hearing, and will have all the rights a protestee would have in a protest hearing. 

■ Previously, Rule 64.4(b) referred to a penalty given to a competitor as a result of a breach of a rule by a support person. That did not make sense. A regatta is a contest between boats, and each boat entered is scored and can be penalized. When a competitor breaks a rule, his or her boat receives the penalty. 

■ There are now four types of hearings: protest hearings, redress hearings, hearings following reports under Rule 69 alleging misconduct, and hearings following a report under Rule 60.3(d) alleging that a support person has broken a rule. 

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The World Sailing Racing Rules Committee publishes The Case Book, which contains authoritative interpretations of the racing rules. Every year new cases are added to it, and occasionally an old case is revised. 

Case 78 concerns tactics, usually applied near the end of a series, in which one boat, without breaking any rule of Part 2, closely covers another for an extended period of time in order to drive the other boat well back in the fleet. 

From 2013 to 2017, Case 78 stated that such tactics do not break Rule 2 provided “there is a sporting reason” for using them. At recent major regattas for Olympic classes, that test has caused problems. For example, some national authorities use their sailors’ scores at a continental championship to select members of their national team or to select a boat that will qualify to represent their nation at a future event.

Another problematic situation happened at a recent event in which Boat A had clinched first place before the last race of the series. After the start of the final race, Boat A drove Boat B, at the time second in the standings, way back in the fleet, with the result that B ended up in fourth after the last race. 

Because of these issues, World Sailing has changed the criterion for deciding whether extended close covering violates Rule 2. Effective January 1, 2018, the criterion will be whether the covering tactics “benefit [the boat’s] final ranking in the event.” 

This could affect you in your local sailing series. Many clubs combine the standings of boats in several weekend events to create a season or to pick a seasonal club champion. 

America's Cup Race Gets A Radical New Single-Hulled Boat

This undated concept drawing shows a radical fully foiling monohull, the AC75, for the 2021 America's Cup, created by Emirates Team New Zealand. Virtual Eye/AP hide caption

This undated concept drawing shows a radical fully foiling monohull, the AC75, for the 2021 America's Cup, created by Emirates Team New Zealand.

Emirates Team New Zealand, which took home the America's Cup after swiping it from Larry Ellison's Oracle Team USA in a duel of foiling catamarans off Bermuda this summer, has reinvented the boat that will next compete for the trophy.

On Monday, the kiwi syndicate and rivals Luna Rossa from Italy unveiled the broad outlines of the boats they will be racing in Auckland in 2021. They are unlike any monohull familiar to the weekend sailor.

Looking bow-to-stern, the new AC75 resembles as much the ancient creature that first ploddingly crawled from the sea as it does a high-tech craft that scoots over the water at 50 mph.

Emirates Team New Zealand YouTube

Like its multihull predecessors, the 75-foot-long craft is designed to "foil" on underwater skis that raise the hull clear of the surface, greatly reducing drag. The AC75 features twin foil-tipped articulating keels. On a given tack, one is underwater providing lift while the other juts to the side to provide balance.

While the multihulls have their many advocates, they have also drawn scorn from some quarters — especially over safety concerns.

The new boats could mitigate one of the major complaints about the AC50 catamarans: their propensity to capsize or go end-over-end, Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton said in a statement released in Auckland.

"Our analysis of the performance of the foiling monohulls tells us that once the boat is up and foiling, the boat has the potential to be faster than an AC50 both upwind and downwind," Dalton says.

For many sailors, used to seeing the superior speed of multihulls, that's a claim likely to be hotly debated in harbor pubs until a working prototype – still months or years away – settles the question.

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TruDesign Professionals Discuss the Dangers of Winter Ice

Your TruDesign Specialists Share Tips for Winter Ice Safety

Raritan Engineering your TruDesign distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the dangers of winter ice while boating.

WATER AND ICE SAFETY

Your TruDesign suppliers talk about how almost everyone knows how enjoyable time on the water can be. Don't let a moment of carelessness ruin your fun. An inadvertent fall in the water can be an amusing story afterwards, or it can result in tragedy -- ALWAYS wear a life jacket when you are on, in, or near water. 

PADDLERS - CANOES AND KAYAKS

Paddling sports are very popular recreational water sports in Pennsylvania. There are dangers that can be lessened with knowledge, preparation and practice. 

PADDLING TIPS

1. Wear your life jacket. Some 80 percent of all recreational boating fatalities happen to people who are not wearing a life jacket.
2. Expect to get wet and dress properly. Even the best paddlers sometimes capsize or swamp their boats.
3. Be prepared to swim. If the water looks too hazardous to swim in, don't go paddling.
4. If you capsize, hold on to your boat, unless it presents a life-threatening situation.
5. Scout ahead whenever possible. Know the river. Avoid surprises.
6. Be prepared for the weather. Get a forecast before you go.
7. Wear wading shoes or tennis shoes with wool, polypropylene, pile or neoprene socks.
8. Never take your boat over a low-head dam.
9. Portage (carry) your boat around any section of water about which you feel uncertain.
10. Never boat alone. Boating safety increases with numbers.
11. Keep painter lines (ropes tied to the bow) and any other ropes coiled and secured.
12. Never tie a rope to yourself or to another paddler, especially a child.
13. Kneel to increase your stability before entering rougher water, like a rapid.
14. If you collide with an obstruction, lean toward it.

File a float plan (PDF) with a reliable person, indicating where you are going and when you will return. Remember to contact the person when you have returned safely.

We Continue Talking About Boating Safety During the Winter

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Coast Guard kicks off ice breaking season, stands ready to keep ports open

During the Coast Guard's 2017-2018 winter ice breaking season, the Coast Guard will conduct ice breaking operations for several reasons, with the priorities being:

Ports and Waterways/Search and Rescue: Facilitate security operations or help prevent loss of life on the water or ashore.

Urgent Response to Vessels: Address situations which have a high probability of becoming hazardous.

Exigent Community Services: Support communities that have need for fuel (petroleum, LPG, LNG), food, and medical supplies, and assist in preventing or easing flood conditions.

Facilitation of Navigation: Meet the "reasonable demands of commerce." Coast Guard crews are also replacing aids to navigation with special ice buoys designed to ride underneath ice floes and remain on location.

Other Missions including: Crew training and proficiency. Research and development, and science missions.

This year, our Coast Guard cutters are again poised to work hard to keep vital shipping lanes open to commercial traffic. Of the heating oil used in the country, 85 percent is consumed in the Northeast, 90 percent of that is delivered by barge.

This New Cruise Ship Can Sail Through 8-foot-thick Ice, All the Way to the North Pole

Considered a specialist in luxury expedition sailings to the Arctic and Antarctica, Ponant cruise line is making significant additions to its fleet, with four new explorer yachts and the world’s first-ever luxury electric hybrid “Icebreaker” ship.

Scheduled to launch in 2021, the Ponant Icebreaker will be able to easily navigate frozen waters, with a specially designed hull capable of cutting through eight-foot-thick ice floes. 

How Cruise Ships Float

Cruise ships may weigh hundreds of thousands of tons, but they’re still some of the best floaters out there. Here’s how even the largest liner on the open ocean stays above water.

The 135-cabin Icebreaker will be equipped with 16 zodiacs and two helicopters, and an experienced expedition leader, like Nicholas Dubreuil (an adventurer who has traveled across the poles by kayak, sleigh, and skis) will accompany every sailing.

Ponant’s Icebreaker will also be one of the most environmentally friendly ships sailing the seas. Powered by electricity and liquefied natural gas, the Icebreaker is expected to produce almost no emissions. 

Featuring giant portholes shaped like whale eyes, these ultra-modern lounges — conceived by French architect Jacques Rougerie (a specialist in underwater habitats) — also have blue mood lighting, curved seating, and decorative lines that echo the movement and shape of native marine life.

So don't forget these helpful tips when coping with winter ice. 1) Wear your life jacket. Some 80 percent of all recreational boating fatalities happen to people who are not wearing a life jacket;  2) be prepared for the weather. Get a forecast before you go;  and 3) if you collide with an obstruction, lean toward it.

Order your TruDesign parts here at Raritan Engineering and see how Raritan Engineering provides you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.

Be sure to watch our latest video on TruDesign below. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies. 

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Marine Sanitation Device Distributors Discuss How to Choose a Sailmaker

Your Marine Sanitation Device Suppliers Share Tips On How to Select a Sailmaker 

Raritan Engineering your marine sanitation device manufacturers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to choose a sailmaker.

Historically, fall has been the best time to order new sails. Boat show specials abound and you have plenty of wiggle room on delivery date—at least if you are snowed in for most of the winter. But our wants and needs seem to rarely dovetail with the perfect season. 

The following article from our print archives is aimed primarily at the first-time sail-buyer. For more specific guidance on sail buying, be sure to check out our recent articles on choosing a cruising main, which includes a link to PS readers’ favorite sailmakers and list of recommended sailmakers, and “State of the Main,” a look at how the industry has dramatically changed over the past two decades.

For a one-stop comprehensive look at building a sail inventory we also have a downloadable e-book series in our bookstore. You can buy the individual e-book you need, or save on the complete three-part series that covers all the essentials as well as more esoteric sail subjects like storm sails and riding sails.

Selecting Sailmakers

You’re best off selecting up to a half-dozen candidates that make the kind of sails you want and sticking with them. In identifying them, you’ll want to consider a number of variables. If you’re a heavy-duty, serious racing fanatic, you may do well with one of the national franchise groups, particularly if you are good at it and likely to add to their victory list. 

If you are not involved in racing, you probably have a wider choice of sailmakers who will do a genuinely good job for you. You may still want to try a franchise, particularly one that has a loft close to you, though you should remember that the large companies, for the most part, got that way through their involvement with racing. 

And remember, even a phone call to Hong Kong is not likely to result in that sailmaker’s arriving on board next Saturday to check out your sails. If you are really serious about your boat, and want to get her all the best things for your Great Cruise, then you’ll probably spend a little more time on selecting the sailmaker who will be compatible with your style of sailing and your type of involvement with boats. 

Sometimes, even the advertising can be believed! Once you’ve narrowed the selection down to a manageable number, ask for an appointment to see the loft, and the opportunity to discuss how they make sails and why they recommend their methods. 

We Continue Talking About How to Choose the Right Sailmaker For You

Interpreting Price Quotations

Your marine sanitation device experts discuss how sooner or later, you’ll get together the quotes on the sails you need. Unless you’ve been very specific about the exact sails you want, you may be overwhelmed by the apparent choices offered. You may also be amazed by the variation in prices for sails of a given designation, and it is easy to arrive at misleading conclusions about the cost of sails as a result. Any price quote you get should include at least the size and weight of the sail, as well as the price.

Most sailmakers will offer some incentive to place your order during their slack season on the premise that it is better to work for a small profit than not to work at all. In the Northeast, the discount season is generally October through December, the particular dates varying from one loft to another. At least one loft we know offers a sliding discount, largest in October, tapering down to smallest at year’s end. 

How big your order has to be to negotiate such a discount varies from one loft to another, and not all lofts are approachable, but if you have over $5,000 to spend, it is probably worth asking. 

Adding it Up

No discussion on buying sails would be complete without mention of quality. Of course, every sailmaker sells only the finest quality, so it is up to the buyer to determine for himself which “finest quality” sails are right for him. In fact, not all sails are made the same. Price is a guide to quality, at least to the extent that you are unlikely to buy the best sails at the lowest price. Of course, not everyone needs or wants the very best, and the budget-priced discount sailmakers certainly have a place in the “best” market if the best thing you want to say about your sails is that they didn’t cost much.

In the end, you play as great a part in getting good sails as the sailmaker himself, because ultimately, you make the crucial decisions. Providing the correct and adequate information, deciding which of the many options you want, and selecting a sailmaker you feel confident will do his best to serve you with products appropriate to your usage all are matters for you to resolve. It’s your money.

So don't forget these helpful tips when choosing your next sailmaker. 1) If you’re a heavy-duty, serious racing fanatic, you may do well with one of the national franchise groups;  2) don't rush in making a decision;  and 3) be very specific in asking for price quotes.

Power boats: National rowing winners helping spread the sport 

When John and Hannah Huppi met in 2007, they had three things in common: They were both from Washington — Hannah from Washington state and John from Washington, D.C. — they were both freshmen at Tulane University, and they both had an interest, but no experience, in rowing.

Ten years later, the Huppis are a young married couple who, having just competed in the World Rowing Championships in Slovenia last month — where they came in fifth — are continuing their daily mission to spur the popularity of rowing in the Crescent City.

Drawing members from as far away as Mandeville, Slidell and Baton Rouge, the New Orleans Rowing Club can be found skimming along Bayou St. John at 6 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday and 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 

“Rowing is something you can pick up in high school and continue to do into your 70s and 80s,” he said. “It’s unique in that it’s both an endurance and power sport that is also low-impact. We have a lot of people that are drawn to it as a good way to get their exercise in even with things like knee or back injuries. Plus, you get to be outside and on the water. It’s so calming, so peaceful.”

Dedicated to the sport that gave them so much, including each other, the Huppis started thinking in 2015 about the future — both their own and the future of the sport in their adopted city. It was just a year after taking over command of the New Orleans Rowing Club that the couple decided to start the first high school rowing team in New Orleans.

“The program is really attractive to students who are looking for a team environment and also may be looking to improve their chances when it comes to college admission and scholarships,” John said. “There are some great opportunities for rowing scholarships out there, and rowing is popular for both men and women at most prestigious schools.”

The hope is to instill a lifelong love of the sport in rowers who may find themselves at the New Orleans Rowing Club after college, itching to compete again, just like the Huppis did.

“Hannah and I married last year, and while we were planning the wedding, we decided that we really wanted to go to Europe, and we really wanted to get back into competition shape, so we set our sights on two big goals: the national championships in Tennessee this past August and the world championships in Slovenia this past September,” John said. “We started training really hard, and we took gold at nationals.”

Still high off their European adventure, the Huppis are gearing up for the next competition — in November, 24 members of the New Orleans Rowing Club will be competing in a race in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“There are large rowing communities in Florida, Tennessee and Texas,” said John Huppi. Louisiana, not so much, but the Huppis are working on that.

“The plan is absolutely to make it to the world championships again next year,” said John Huppi. “How could we not when it’s going to be right in our backyard — Sarasota, Florida?”

Click here to get more information regarding marine sanitation devices and other marine sanitation supplies at Raritan Engineering.

via Choosing a Sailmaker

via Power boats: National rowing winners helping spread the sport

Marine Ice Makers Specialists Give Ways to See If Your Boat Is a Lemon

Your Marine Ice Makers Distributors Talk About How to Find Out if You're Sailing in a Lemon

Raritan Engineering your marine ice makers suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding ways to see if your boat is a lemon.

Your marine ice makers manufacturers talk about how while many of the more than 63,000 boats damaged as a result of 2017 hurricanes will be repaired and have more years of life on the water, some used boat buyers in 2018 could end up with storm-damaged lemons. The nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), cautions used boat buyers that some boats affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are beginning to hit the market, and that getting a prepurchase survey (called a Condition and Value survey) is very important.

“It’s not that you don’t want to buy a boat that’s been repaired, but you should have full knowledge of the repairs and know they were done correctly. It’s a transparency issue that will help you negotiate a fair price,” said BoatUS Consumer Affairs Director Charles Fort. The boating group offers eight tips to help you spot a boat that might have been badly damaged in a storm:

1. Trace the history. When a car is totaled, the title is branded as salvaged or rebuilt, and buyers know up front that there was major damage at some point in the car's history. But only a few states brand salvaged boats – Florida and Texas do not – and some states don't require titles for boats. Anyone wishing to obscure a boat's history need only cross state lines to avoid detection, which can be a tipoff. Look for recent gaps in the boat's ownership, which may mean that it was at an auction or in a repair yard for a long time.

2. Look for recent hull repairs. Especially on older boats, matching gelcoat is very difficult. Mismatched colors around a repaired area are often a giveaway and may signal nothing more than filler under the gelcoat, rather than a proper fiberglass repair.

Check out the best marine ice maker available here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

3. Look for new repairs or sealant at the hull-to-deck joint. Boats that bang against a dock during a storm often suffer damage there.

4. Evidence of sinking. Check for consistent corrosion on interior hardware, such as rust on all hinges and drawer pulls. You might be able to spot an interior waterline inside a locker or an area hidden behind an interior structure.

5. Corrosion in the electrical system. Corrosion on electrical items, such as lamps, connectors and behind breaker panels might mean the boat sank recently. Does the boat have all new electronics? Why?

6. Look for evidence of major interior repairs. Fresh paint or gelcoat work on the inside of the hull and engine room is usually obvious. All new cushions and curtains may be a tipoff, too.

7. Look for fresh paint on the engine. It may be covering exterior rust as well as interior damage.

8. Ask the seller: In some states, a seller isn't required to disclose if a boat was badly damaged unless you ask. If the seller hems and haws, keep looking. 

Boating season is very short in New England, and recreational boaters want to spend as much time on the water as possible during the summer months. 

New boats will usually include a warranty from the manufacturer. Additionally, there is usually an implied warranty included in a sale by a marine dealer who regularly sells boats or other vessels. 

The consumer should give the manufacturer or dealer prompt notice of any problems that might come up. It is recommended that the boat owner keep a written record of the dates that problems occurred, the nature of the problems, and the conversations that they have with the manufacturer or dealer about the problems. 

Although each case is different, possible remedies can include canceling the sale and seeking a refund. Consumers may also be able to recover damages for the loss of use of their boat. And, federal law provides that the manufacturer or dealer might be responsible to pay the consumer's attorney's fees.

So don't forget these helpful reminders when trying to determine if your boat is a lemon. 1) Always trace the history;  2) look for fresh paint on the engine; and 3) ask the seller.

Commissioned By George Washington, “Old Ironsides” Still Sailing on 220th Birthday

The USS Constitution, or “Old Ironsides,” proved today that it is still just as seaworthy as it was when first commissioned 220 years ago. On Friday morning, the warship left Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston and sailed to Fort Independence at Castle Island where it was met by the Concord Independent Battery and 101st Field Artillery Regiment from the Massachusetts National Guard. 

Upon arrival, the USS Constitution gave a 21-gun salute, which was returned by National Guard. While passing the Coast Guard station — where it was originally built — the USS Constitution gave 17 volleys of cannon fire.

The historic ship’s trip to Fort Independence and back to Boston is part of the Unites States Navy’s 242nd birthday and the Constitution‘s 220th birthday celebrations. 

The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was commissioned and named by President George Washington and set sail for the first time in 1797. Known as “Old Ironsides” for its numerous victories during the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom, the three-masted heavy frigate is a wooden warship with sides nearly two feet thick.

It was one of the first ships of the newly-created United States Navy, the successor of the Continental Navy. It was personally named by President George Washington and President John Adams, who attended its inaugural launch in 1797. 

Not only does it have all of that history, but “Old Ironsides” has a very unique distinction from other U.S. naval ships. The USS Constitution is the only remaining ship in the Navy’s fleet that has actually sunk an enemy ship. Of course, that was back in the War of 1812 — but it just adds to how impressive this two-century-old ship really is!

White oak was used for the new planks and keel, keeping with its original construction. The ship is still operated by the U.S. Navy, along with the Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston, but was retired from active duty in 1855 and has been stationed at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston since 1934. It undergoes repairs roughly every 20 years.

Visitors will also have the chance to make birthday cards for the USS Constitution, as well as make paracord bracelets for military care packages. A cannon salute will take place at 12:15 p.m. precisely to mark the first launching of “Old Ironsides” in 1797.

Choose your Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via 8 Telltale Signs That the Used Boat You're Buying Could be a Storm-Damaged Lemon

via When a Boat Is a Lemon

via Photo

via Commissioned By George Washington, “Old Ironsides” Still Sailing on 220th Birthday

Marine Hot Water Heaters Professionals Share Discussion of Whether Or Not Inboard or Outboards Are Better

Your Marine Hot Water Heaters Specialists Talk About the Benefits of Inboards and Outboards

Raritan Engineering your marine hot water heaters distributors would like to share with you this week these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding a discussion of whether or not inboards or outboards are better.

Your marine hot water heaters suppliers talk about why does everybody seem to want to put outboards on big boats these days? It looks crazy to hang a bracket with a pair of outboards on the transom of a good-looking, sturdy 36-foot hull designed for work or play. 

Won’t they?

Well, when semicustom boatbuilder Bill Judge showed up in one of his 36-foot Chesapeakes for the Annapolis Fish for a Cure tournament a couple of years ago, it was powered by a pair of 300 hp Suzuki outboards instead of the usual 480 hp Cummins inboard. 

Bill Judge has been both a boater and a boatbuilder all his life. He’s been building the 36 Chesapeakes for 10 years. In the beginning he sold it as a diesel inboard, but the last three years he’s powered it exclusively with Suzuki outboards.

The Boat

The Judge 36 Chesapeake is a classic. The 36-by-12-foot hull possesses a lovely flared, bow-proud semi-V Chesapeake deadrise shape. Unlike most Chesapeake boats, it has no keel, though the sharp deadrise extends back about two-thirds of the length before flowing smoothly into nearly flat (4-degree) transom sections.

Though he originally designed the Judge 36 Chesapeake for inboard power, Judge hasn’t built one with a diesel for three years; the new ones have all been powered by Suzuki 300s on brackets — except for the most recent, which runs Suzuki’s revolutionary new DF350A with contra-rotating propellers. 

The diesel inboard offers potential longer-term reliability, enhanced stability, and a longer cruising range.

Outboards provide increased speed, lower cost, the ability to trim completely out of the water, and easier maintenance access.

Performance

For the inboard model, we ran Justified, a 2012 inboard. Its owners fish but also like to cruise, so Justified is fitted with a full galley and dinette, an after-cabin bulkhead, air conditioning, and a genset. Its Cummins 480 had 1,450 hours of time when we tested. The owners love their boat and wouldn’t trade, citing its easy motion at all speeds and its fuel economy, which proved the best of our three testers. 

With twin Suzuki 300s, the 36 Chesapeake recorded a top speed of 43.6 mph at 6,000 rpm.

With a single 480 hp Cummins inboard, the 36 Chesapeake recorded a top speed of 33.6 mph at 3,400 rpm.

Your Marine Hot Water Heaters Manufacturers Continue Discussing If Inboards Are Better Than Outboards

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The unnamed 36 with Suzuki 300 engines is Bill Judge’s personal boat, the first that he built with outboards. Three years old, it had about 900 hours on the motors when we tested it. This boat is lighter, rigged primarily for fishing and day-cruising with an open pilothouse. It ran noticeably higher in the water, drier and flatter, with both Interceptors and engine trim available to adjust running attitude to fit conditions. 

Bill Judge uses his 36 Chesapeake with twin Suzuki 300 outbards primarily as a fishing boat.

Outboard Versus Inboard

As we began to dig into the pros and cons of the two layouts, though, a broader picture emerged of what it would mean to live with each system over the long term. The first is purchase price. 

But won’t the inboard outlast the outboards? Maybe. But Judge states he has built outboard boats for guides who have happily put over 3,000 hours on the Suzuki engines. That translates into more than a decade for most recreational owners. 

The owners of the 36 Chesapeake inboard like to fish and take long-distance cruises at trawler speeds.

Another huge difference is ease of maintenance. The cost for oil and fluid changes is comparable until we consider the inboard’s cooling system, which requires not only periodic changing but also winterization. Fouling a line or grounding and damaging a propeller requires a diver at least and perhaps a haul-out for the inboard, while tilting an outboard makes solving most problems much easier. 

So don't forget these helpful pointers when considering whether to buy an outboad or inboard. Outboards provide increased speed, lower cost, the ability to trim completely out of the water, and easier maintenance access.

Yanmar Launches The DTorque 111 Turbo Diesel Outboard

Following its agreement with German manufacturer Neander Shark for exclusive global distribution of the game-changing Dtorque 111 twin-cylinder 50 hp diesel outboard engine, YANMAR MARINE INTERNATIONAL (YMI) has announced the official launch of this exciting new propulsion product.    

The compact Dtorque 111 is designed to revolutionize the small workboat market where its expected lifespan of well over 10,000 hours at least doubles that of any comparable outboard gasoline engine. The Dtorque 111 offers a remarkably smooth and quiet diesel engine, delivering 50 hp at the propeller with a stunning torque output of 111 Nm at just 2,500 rpm. 

To create the Dtorque 111 the German developer and manufacturer Neander deconstructed conventional small-diesel engineering to first principles. The result is a two-cylinder common-rail turbo charged diesel engine, using a unique system of dual counter-rotating crankshafts in an aluminum block, which dramatically reduces the vibration levels that a conventional small two-cylinder diesel engine would normally generate. 

Smallest diesel outboard

The Dtorque 111 is the world's smallest diesel outboard engine with common-rail fuel injection. This enables it to deliver an impressive performance with class-leading fuel economy and exhaust emissions that fall well within the latest EU RCD 2 limits*. .

For the past 2 years both YANMAR and Neander have been trialing pre-series outboards in six EU pilot countries. "We invited a wide cross-section of our customers around Europe to performance-test the outboards in differing sea states and loading conditions gathering as many opinions as possible," explains Floris Lettinga, YMI Global Sales Manager.

Floris Lettinga continued, "With many commercial operators maintaining a single diesel fuel policy to avoid risk of fire and explosion, the market potential for the Dtorque 111 is highly diverse. So far, the main option for small workboat propulsion has been the gasoline outboard. No longer is that true!"

The Dtorque 111 turbo diesel outboard is SOLAS (MOB) certified and now in full production with customer deliveries in the last quarter of 2017.

Order your marine hot water heater here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via Outboard vs. Inboard

via YANMAR LAUNCHES THE DTORQUE 111 TURBO DIESEL OUTBOARD

Marine Water Heaters Specialists Discuss the Ease of Bilge Pump Installation

Your Marine Water Heaters Distributors Share Ways to Install and Maintain Your Bilge Pump

Raritan Engineering your marine water heaters experts would like to share with you this week some great information regarding the ease of bilge pump installation.

The best bilge pump in the world won’t keep your boat dry if it’s not properly installed and maintained. While bilge pump installations are fairly straightforward—and definitely within the scope of DIY projects—there are several factors to consider (capacity, wire size, hose diameter, fuse size) before you begin, and there are some good rules of thumb to follow.

CHOOSING AN ELECTRIC PUMP

The first step is selecting the right bilge pump(s) for the job. We recommend installing two electric centrifugal pumps (preferably one with automatic water level sensor): a smaller pump mounted at the belly of the bilge to handle the incidental bilge water (rain, stuffing box drips, etc.) using minimum power and another pump mounted a few inches higher to handle bigger jobs. 

• Capacity: For most mid-sized boats (30-35 feet in length), we’d recommend a 1,000-1,500 gallon-per-hour (GPH) pump for the primary and one with a capacity of about 2,000 GPH for the backup. 

When comparing output specs on multiple pumps, be sure the rating criteria are the same. New standards set by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) require that compliant makers rate pump capacities so that they reflect real-world usage. The ABYC stipulates that pumps be rated with a head height (also called vertical lift) of 1 meter and a hose length of 3 meters, and with a head height of 2 meters and hose length of 6 meters. Head height is the vertical height of the hose outlet above the pump outlet. 

• Key features: An automatic pump will rely on a water-level sensor such as a float switch to activate the pump. This can be a separate unit or one that is integral to the pump. This sensor should resist fouling and be easy to test for proper operation. 

INSTALLATION

The illustration above shows one recommended setup for automatic bilge pump installation.

• Location: According to the ABYC, the pump inlet must be positioned so that bilge water can be removed when the boat is in a static position and when it is at maximum heel (ABYC H-22). The mounting location also should make it easy to service the pumps and to clean them, particularly their strainers.

When installing two electric pumps, the lower-capacity pump should have a built-in float switch, be mounted at the lowest point of the bilge, and be wired straight to the battery through a fuse. The higher-capacity pump is installed a few inches higher, but not directly above the smaller pump.

• Plumbing: When plumbing an electric bilge pump, be sure the setup is designed to reduce head pressure as much as possible to maximize discharge capacity: use smooth hose sized to meet maker recommendations; keep hose runs as short as possible; and try to avoid bends, turns, and elbow fittings in the run. 

We Continue Talking About Easy Bilge Pump Maintenance

Your marine water heaters professionals talk about how the discharge line should rise steadily to the through-hull or loop. If there are any low spots in the run, water will pool there once the pump cycles off. This can create an airlock when the pump is activated again, and the pump likely will stall. 

• Wiring: Use correct size wire and fuses: The proper wire size reduces voltage drop and properly fused wiring reduces risk of a locked rotor (a motor that’s trying to turn, but can’t) causing an overcurrent situation and potential fire hazard.

Consult the American Wire Gauge 3% voltage drop table (www.marinco.com/page/three-percent-voltage) to be sure you’re using large enough wire. 

For the fuse size, simply go by the pump maker’s recommendation, and you should be set. The fuse, per ABYC standards, should be installed within 7 inches of the power source.

• Accessories: A few accessories to consider adding to the bilge pump system include a visual/audible bilge alarm, bilge switch, and a cycle counter. ABYC standards require an alarm on boats with enclosed berths. 

Automatic pumps should always be fitted with a readily accessible and clearly marked manual switch so that even if the owner isn’t around, anyone (crew, marina neighbors, or passersby) can locate and activate the switch when the need arises. 

If the larger-capacity pump has a float switch, we highly recommend connecting it to a bilge alarm (and alarm cut-off switch). That way, hopefully, the horn will get someone’s attention before the constant cycling of the pump drains your batteries. 

Two good references on bilge pumps and installing them are “This Old Boat” by Don Casey and Nigel Calder’s “Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual.”

MAINTENANCE

Regular and frequent inspections of your bilge pumps are a must and should be included in the vessel’s overall preventative maintenance program. This helps you know when to replace worn or damaged components (bad float switches, deteriorated  hoses) before they fail. 

Keeping your bilge clean can be a hassle, but it doesn’t compare to the headache of a locked rotor or an impotent bilge pump in an emergency. 

So keep in mind these pointers when installing and maintaining your bilge pump. 1) The pump inlet must be positioned so that bilge water can be removed when the boat is in a static position;  2) when plumbing an electric bilge pump, be sure the setup is designed to reduce head pressure as much as possible to maximize discharge capacity;  and 3) This helps you know when to replace worn or damaged components (bad float switches, deteriorated  hoses) before they fail.

Solar and battery technology power a novel hurricane resistant floating electric house boat

Arkup, the “avant-garde life on water” company, has designed a new luxury home that integrates solar on the roof and a newly approved lithium ion marine battery system. The main selling features are that it can rise with sea levels via jacks, withstand extreme weather, move as a regular electric propelled boat, and provide it’s own water plus – of course – electricity.

There are no specifications on the solar panels used – merely multiple notations that 30kW of panels can fit on the roof in 2,300 sq feet.

The systems are liquid or air cooled lithium ion battery kits. The individual battery packs are 5.7kW each and individual stacks go up to 137kWh. No where on the Arkup website it specific the exact number of units, however, they clearly state it is ‘customizable’ – so expect that the only limitation to stored power will be related to space.

The Orca system was recently approved by DNV GL – global ocean classification body – as being safe for maritime usage.

The Arkup is powered by an electric propulsion system – adding to Electrek’s electric boat collection. The system can move at up to 7 knots per hour with a range of 300 nautical miles. With its solar propulsion system – it could probably run indefinitely.

Two points from Arkup’s promotional material gives a feel for the market, in addition to luxury, that they’re aiming for:

Sustainable: Environmentally friendly, powered by solar energy, no fuel, zero emission, equipped with waste management, rainwater harvesting and purification systems, our living yachts are totally off-the-grid.

Resilient:  Made for all environments and designed to withstand category 4 hurricane winds, our livable yachts are equipped with a hydraulic self-elevating system to prevent from sea sickness and flooding

Click here and see how we here at Raritan Engineering always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs. 

via Bilge Pump Installation and Maintenance Tips

via Solar and battery technology power a novel hurricane resistant floating electric house boat

Marine Hose Professionals Talk About Safety During Lightning Storms

Your Marine Hose Specialists Share Great Tips For Lightning Storm Survival

Raritan Engineering your marine hose distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding safety during lightning storms.

Your marine hose suppliers discuss how they say lightning never strikes twice, but when it strikes my good friend Chuck Larson, the story gets told over and over again, and never gets old.

And the odds are actually 1 in 1.083 million in any given year, according the National Weather Service. Sounds like a long shot, but in an 80-year life span those odds increase to 1 in 13,500, which seems more probable. 

In fact, an impoundment of the Little Tennessee River was the site of the lightning strike that nailed Chuck some 20 years ago. Chuck and his cousin, Andy, and two bikini-clad friends were back in a cove when they heard thunder and rightly decided to head for home port, but when they wheeled out onto the main lake, they discovered the storm was almost upon them and coming from the direction of home. 

Many powerboaters like to think that they’ve got the speed to simply outrun or get out of the way of lightning storms, or they figure they’re safe if they go boating only when it’s clear and sunny. That’s an attitude aided by the low odds of a boat being struck by lightning, which BoatU.S. pegs at about one out of 1,000 boats in any given year. No worries, right, mate?

Check out our marine products choices here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Wrong. Engines can malfunction; big lightning storms can leave no room to escape; sunny mornings can turn into dark, threatening afternoons. If yours is the only boat in the area during a lightning storm, the odds of being struck go way up, leaving you and your crew vulnerable to millions of volts raining down from the skies. 

Timing

A strategy of boating only on sunny, cloudless days may work well in places like Idaho and California, but that would mean almost never using the boat in places such as Florida, Louisiana and much of the Midwest. 

Absolutely, boaters should track VHF, Internet and television weather reports and make responsible decisions about whether to go boating depending on the likelihood of lightning storms. Short-term forecasts can actually be fairly good at predicting bigger storms, but small, localized storms might not be reported. 

A storm that builds directly overhead might be less obvious until those pretty white clouds that were providing some nice shade moments ago turn a threatening hue of gray as rain dumps on you and the wind starts to howl or, worse yet, boom with thunder and lightning that are right on top of each other. 

Write the Check!

On many levels, robust insurance coverage plays a huge role in your lightning-protection plan. Knowing how to avoid lighting storms and read the weather are certainly important, being ready for action in the event of a storm or strike is crucial, and an upfront investment in lightning protection can lessen destruction. 

Take it from a luxury trawler owner who sustained more than $1 million in damage from a strike: “Boat insurance turns out to be the best investment we have made in the past 10 years!” he said. “We will never again grumble about writing a check for an insurance premium.”

So don't forget these important reminders when staying safe from lightning storms. 1) Don't assume you have the speed to outrun a lightning storm;  2) you should track VHF, Internet and television weather reports and make responsible decisions about whether to go boating depending on the likelihood of lightning storms;  and 3) buy good insurance.

If it seems every American is doing dragon boating, you may be right. But it all started in Philadelphia

If you haven’t seen an actual dragon boat by now, chances are you’ve heard of it. Or you’ve seen pictures. Or you have a friend on a team who posts her medals on her Facebook feed.

But what most people don’t know is that the ancient Asian water competition, involving boats adorned with dragon heads, 10 pairs of paddlers, a steersperson, and a drummer, is exploding across the United States. Or that Philadelphia — where American dragon boating got its start — remains at the crest of the sport.

At the same time, the country’s most elite dragon boat paddlers – Team USA – are training for the world championship starting Oct. 18 in Kunming, China, with Philadelphians heavily represented on the team and its coaching staff.

There are no national statistics on dragon boat participation, because many of the festivals attract community groups or companies for short-term team building or charity drives. But places as far flung as Dexter, Ore.; Minocqua, Wis.; and Norfolk, Va., are touting first, second, or third annual dragon boat festivals. In July, the Cooper River held its second annual event, and Bucks County held its third on Sept. 23.

Among those recently drawn into the sport is Lyudmila Kuznetsova, a Philadelphia dentist who first tried paddling in May with the Dragon Ladies, a Main Line team. After a handful of practices, the Dragon Ladies raked in a women’s division gold medal at Philadelphia’s Independence Dragon Boat Regatta in June.

“For me it was a chance to be on the water,” said Kuznetsova. She loves the exercise and the social aspects of being on a team that draws on newcomers to the region.

“Sport is a life-changer for most of us,” said Marks, who for 25 years headed Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts. After breast cancer in 1998 and a double mastectomy in 2006, she joined Against the Wind, the area’s first breast cancer team, founded in 2001. It will compete in July in Florence, Italy, in the international breast cancer dragon boat festival. Global interest is so great that registration closed a year before the event.

American dragon boating began in Philadelphia in 1983 after the Hong Kong tourist bureau asked USRowing to send a team, all expenses paid.

Robert McNamara, a cash-strapped young doctor in 1984, joined the team for the free trip, he said. Two years later, he was coach of Team USA. Since then, it has won more than 100 world championship medals, including 23 golds. It also holds world records in the 500 meter: 1 minute, 48 seconds for the men’s team; 1 minute, 53 seconds for the coed team.

McNamara is on the Schuylkill several mornings a week by 5:30 before going to his job of 30 years as chief of emergency medicine at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine.

As for its growing popularity across the country, McNamara says, “Anybody can get in a dragon boat and survive. It’s a big enough boat that balance isn’t an issue. You get on the water with a lot of other people, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Purchase your marine hose here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitaiton supplies.

via Off My Dock: One In a Million

via How to Survive Lightning Storms While Boating

via If it seems every American is doing dragon boating, you may be right. But it all started in Philadelphia

Macerating Pump Experts Discuss How to Use Downriggers to Your Success

Your Macerating Pump Professionals Give Great Downrigger Tips For Your Next Fishing Trip 

Raritan Engineering your macerating pump distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to use downriggers to your success.

Your macerating pump suppliers talk about how fish often concentrate in a specific stratum of the water column, held there by food, temperature, and other conditions they find to their liking. This can challenge anglers who want to keep their trolling baits or lures in the zone. 

Follow Your Fish Finder

Use your fish finder to look for schools of bait and fish, as well as thermoclines that often mark as a steady line between the surface and the bottom. Any of these can signal the depth to set your lines. 

Test the Waters

Until you figure out at which level the fish are holding, run your downriggers at different depths. You can also stagger-stack two or more trolling lines on each ­downrigger by using adjustable line releases that clip onto the downrigger cable. 

Consider the Conditions

Don’t rely solely on the downrigger’s depth gauge, because boat speed and the speed/direction of the current can affect the actual trolling depth of your lure or bait. You can often observe the actual running depth of your gear on the fish-finder display and raise or lower the downrigger to get into the strike zone.

What is a downrigger & how do they work?

We pulled up on the reef at around 7 in the morning. It was a popular reef on the Gold Coast well known for its mackerel fishing. We were keen to try for a Spanish mackerel so had opted to forego the early morning bite period to try and catch some live bait that we intended to slow troll. We run 2 large live wells on our charter boat, RU4 ReeL, and they both had a good number of live slimeys swimming around in them, so we felt quietly confident even though the prime bite time was already over. 

We Continue Talking About the Benefits of Using Downriggers

What do they do?

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A down rigger is similar to an outrigger in that it places your bait where you want it away from the other baits or lures. An outrigger lifts your bait up to the surface and moves it out of the bubble trail created by your propeller and into clearer water. A Downrigger simply drops your bait down into the water column to a depth of your choice and as with an outrigger when a fish grabs the lure or bait your line pulls out of the release clip and your are thus able to fight your fish weight free and unhindered. 

How does it work?

Downriggers were originally used in large lakes to target trout and salmon. As we fisherman are an inventive mob, we eventually worked out that we could use them in other fisheries and they found there way into the saltwater. Whether they are used in fresh or salt the principle around their use remains the same. 

Once you have the line in the clip you will need to let the ball down progressively while controlling the line coming off your spool. This takes a bit of practice as the initial start up can yank the line off your reel with a sudden jolt. I apply a bit of finger pressure to the spool of my reel to ensure that I don’t get a tangle. 

When to use the Downrigger

You can catch just about anything on a Downrigger from snapper to marlin; and their uses are not limited to offshore fishing. On our charter boat we predominantly use them for targeting pelagic species like mackerel, cobia, marlin, and yellowtail kingfish; but snapper, various species of tuna and a variety of reef fish have been making up quite a respectable by-catch. 

The down rigger offers a very natural presentation and can also often tempt fish into biting that will refuse a similar bait that seems unnatural to them. 

What to use

You may have noticed that I keep referring to baits or lures when talking about down rigging. You can fish just about anything out of a down rigger either on anchor, on the drift or trolling. 

On our charter boat we use our Canon Downriggers quite closely in conjunction with our Humminbird sounders. You can clearly see the Downrigger ball on the sounder (if your transducer is mounted on the transom) so it can simply be a case of adjusting the depth of the ball to the depth that you are marking fish on your sounder. 

Downrigging is a technique that can catch you a lot of fish when others fail to produce. It is not the be all or end all of fishing techniques and as with everything will not always produce fish, but if you have never tried it or own one but don’t use it. It may well be worth the effort and you will be pleasantly surprised at the results.

So don't forget these helpful benefits to using a downrigger on your next fishing trip. 1) You can catch just about anything on a Downrigger from snapper to marlin;  2) the down rigger offers a very natural presentation and can also often tempt fish into biting that will refuse a similar bait that seems unnatural to them;  and 3) downrigging is a technique that can catch you a lot of fish when others fail to produce.

Dolphin Tangled In Fishing Line Swims To Shore To Get Help

Folks out enjoying a day on this stretch of the Spanish coast last week likely never thought they'd end up saving a life — but that's exactly what they did.

Inés Oliva Pérez was among a group of sunbathers on El Buzo beach, in El Puerto de Santa María, when she spotted a young dolphin stranding herself in the surf. Other people there noticed it too, and a small crowd began to gather at the waterline. But as the dolphin washed ashore, their curiosity about her surprise appearance soon turned to concern for her well-being; suddenly, it made sense why she might have approached them.

The dolphin's mouth was tangled in fishing line, which she had no way of removing on her own.

Reserve your items here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via How to Use Downriggers

via Beginner's Guide to Downrigger

via Dolphin Tangled In Fishing Line Swims To Shore To Get Help

Toilet Macerator Suppliers Discuss How to Find the Best Broker to Help Sell Your Boat

Your Toilet Macerator Manufacturers Give Great Tips for Finding a Trustworthy Broker When Selling Your Boat

Raritan Engineering your toilet macerator professionals would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to find the best broker to help you sell your boat.

However, for those who are looking to get the best price for their boat with minimal effort, a broker is usually a more sensible choice.

Before you choose a broker, here are some things to consider.

• A broker’s fee is always 10 percent upon the sale of the boat, but some offer more services than others for the same price. Brokers asking you for funds up front should be immediately discounted.

• Responsiveness. How quickly a broker responds to your inquiry is indicative of how they will respond to potential buyers. Give them 24 hours, and move on if they don’t respond or if they make excuses as to why they didn’t respond promptly. 

• Marketing. All brokers have access to YachtWorld. Ask where else the broker will advertise your boat and expect to receive a written list of websites and print publications and social media. 

• Look at other listings. Ask a potential broker for links to some of their listings. If you don’t like the write-up, think the photos are shoddy, or if there isn’t enough information, move on.

• Comps. The average buyer and seller, despite what they might find perusing ads and looking at resources like BUC, do not have access to actual comps. Your broker does. In addition to knowing what is currently on the market, your broker should offer you information on how many similar boats have sold in your region recently, what they were listed at, how long they took to sell, and exactly what they sold for.

Your Toilet Macerator Experts Talk About How Finding a Good Broker Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

• Paperwork, escrow, and protection during the closing process. Your toilet macerator specialists talk about how a broker will have an escrow account and will ask that all deposits be submitted to the account. The broker will have all the forms you need, and some even use programs like YachtCloser which simplify the process through e-signing. 

• Import duty. If you have purchased a foreign-built boat and plan to sell it in the US to a US citizen (regardless of your citizenship), import duty must be paid. Your yacht broker will help you find a customs broker. 

• Personality. You and your broker are forming a relationship, and chances are that you are already somewhat emotional about the sale of your boat. Your broker needs to understand this and be open and honest with you. 

So don't forget these helpful suggestions when looking for a broker to help you sell your boat. 1) A broker's fee is 10% after sale of the boat. Brokers asking you for funds up front should be immediately discounted;  2) ask a potential broker for links to some of their listings. If you don’t like the write-up, think the photos are shoddy, or if there isn’t enough information, move on;  and 3) make sure you can trust and get along with your broker.

Marina manager stole $2M by selling boats he didn't own, authorities say

A convicted felon who managed a Jersey Shore marina stole more than $2 million from 13 people by illegally selling their boats, authorities said.

Denis Kelliher, 47, of Toms River, was indicted on counts of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Pennsylvania's Eastern District said in a statement.

Kelliher, who worked at Trenton Marine in Toms River, used the money from the sale of the boats to pay off personal debts to associates, authorities said. He faces up to 20 years in prison and might have to pay restitution of $2,163,000 if convicted.

Kelliher ran a check-kiting scheme that caused a $7.6 million in bank overdraft fees and admitted he fraudulently obtained more than $600,000 in loans from two friends to pay down those fees.

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via Choosing a Boat Broker

via Marina manager stole $2M by selling boats he didn't own, authorities say

Macerating Toilet Specialists Discuss Why Many People Love Daysailers

Your Macerating Toilet Distributors Talk About Finding the Ideal Daysailer for You 

Raritan Engineering your macerating toilet suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding why many people love daysailers.

How would you describe the ideal daysailer? Or a daysailer at all for that matter? Your macerating toilet manufacturer talks about how the basic concept is simplicity itself. And yet, over the years the term “daysailer” has come to include boats spanning the length and breadth of yacht design.

Even the proper length of a daysailer, an aspect of small-boat design that might seem self evident, has become a subject of debate, as the “daysailer” concept has come to include boats with LOAs of 40 feet or more.

Recently, in a vain effort to impose some order on the concept, we decided to break up the universe of daysailers into six categories. Bring on the letters to the editor! We’d love to know what you think.

Traditional Under 20ft

Among the most beloved daysailers are those that hark back to an earlier age. Indeed, in some cases these are boats that have enjoyed production runs spanning generations. Chief among these would have to be the cute-as-a-button Beetle Cat, which has been in production since the 1920s in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Other more recent entries in this sub-genre include Marshall Marine’s catboat line, Com-Pac Yacht’s Picnic Cat and Sun Cat, Bauteck Marine’s Bauer line, the NorseBoat 12.5 and 17.5, and the Crabber 17, 22 and Shrimper at the small end of the Cornish Crabber line.

One-Designs

As the old saw goes, put any two sailboats within sight of one another, and you’ll inevitably have a race on your hands. However, a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line for a number of smaller designs originally conceived as racers: they also turned out to be great daysailers.

Other standouts include the 23-foot full-keel Ensign, Sandy Douglass’s Thistle and Flying Scot, W.D. Schock’s Lido 14, and the S&S-designed Lightning, originally created for racing on Skaneateles Lake in upstate New York.

Find your marine toilet of choice here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Another brand-new entry in this category is the Chinese-built FarEast 18, available in both a standard and souped-up “R” version, complete with retractable bowsprit. Then there’s the French-built Archambault 27. 

Modern Classics 

One of the most gratifying trends in modern yacht design has been the growing number of “modern classics” out there, with sprightly sheer lines, gorgeous overhangs, low topsides, and cutting-edge fin keels and spade rudders below the waterline.

If there’s a downside to these boats it is that they tend to be pricey, especially those including lavish amounts of teak and varnished mahogany topsides. Still, there’s no getting around how well those low narrow hulls, tall, powerful sailplans and deep high-aspect underwater appendages perform out on the water. 

Weekenders

Since the dawn of “yachting” as a pastime, there have been sailors who take an almost perverse delight in building tiny boats that not only sail well, but also have a place to bunk out—a daysailing sub-genre that is as active today as ever.

Do some of these heavier designs push your personal definition of a daysailer? So be it. Kudos to these boats and their designers for making sailors, and our readers in particular, stretch their minds a little.

Multihulls

And now for something completely different.

Multihulls have traditionally been difficult to pigeonhole, and that remains true when considering them as daysailers. Is the Hobie 16 beach cat a daysailer? Why not? Too wet? Not serious enough? 

No matter what the specific design, it would be hard to find a better class of boats for a day of sailing.

Family Boats/Trainers

Family boats and trainers are perhaps the toughest to categorize, given all the different shapes and sizes they come in. Nonetheless, we all know them when we sail them: boats that are both forgiving and have enough cockpit space to accommodate at least one or two passengers. 

Among those boats created for the express purpose of training new sailors, the Colgate 26, created by Steve Colgate and naval architect Jim Taylor, is probably the most noteworthy. 

In many ways, these small to midsize trainers are the boats that first come to mind when many people think of daysailers, and for good reason. They might not be the sexiest boats on the water, but they’re pretty and a lot of fun to sail. 

So don't forget these great ideas for your next daysailer purchase. 1) Size doesn't necessarily matter;  2) older models can be ideal as well;  3) just choose the one you want to be in. There is no wrong choice.

They sailed a Tall Ship from Nova Scotia to France, what'd you do on your summer vacation?

Having grown up in Newfoundland and Labrador, Megan Dicker is no stranger to the ocean. But, this year, she got to sail across it.

"At first, I was anxious," Dicker explained. "I didn't know if I should try, because it seemed like such a wild adventure. But, at the same time, just the thought of sailing across the Atlantic encouraged me [to go]."

The 45 young people worked with the crew, learning how to put up and take down sails, and navigation techniques. She said it was physically challenging at the beginning. "By the end of the trip, it was easy-peasy."

The youth travelled from Halifax to France on the Dutch ship, Gulden Leeuw. (Emma Davie/CBC)

When they weren't on watch or taking tasks, the youth listened to and learned from each other. They came from all walks of life, and from many different communities.

"It was a reminder that you can do anything you put your mind to," said Dicker. "I already knew that we have power within ourselves. But, going on that trip, it kinda amplified that feeling."

Choose your Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via The Six Categories of Daysailers, and Why We Love Them

via They sailed a Tall Ship from Nova Scotia to France, what'd you do on your summer vacation?

Electric Toilets Professionals Share Great Ways to Get Great Coaching From A Small Budget

Your Electric Toilets Specialists Discuss How to Get More Bang for Your Buck When Getting Lessons 

Raritan Engineering your electric toilets suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding great ways to get great coaching from a small budget.

Your electric toilets distributors talk about how not everyone can afford to have the top coach – or any coach – help them through their boat handling. Here are a few quick tips that can help you get the most out of your training sessions without shelling out the big bucks.

1. • Have a friend with a powerboat film your boathandling – Most of us have a friend or two with a powerboat and some free time. One of the easist ways to get a look at your boat from outside is to enlist the help of a friend. 

2. Have your sail trimmers view trim from the powerboat – As an alternative to video taping your setup (or in addition to, depending on how much patience your friend has), have your sail trimmers observe from the chase boat for a legs to get a sense of what the sails look like from the outside. 

3. Combine your post-race of post-practice debrief with a competitor – Use the buddy system. If you have a friend sailing in your fleet, or a competitor that's willing to talk through races with you, it can be helpful for both parties if you debrief about the day's sailing. 

Your Electric Toilets Manufacturers Talk About Getting Good Quality Training At A Good Price

4. Have a crewmember time maneuvers with a stopwatch – Establishing a baseline by timing maneuvers is a good way to check yourself on performance. See your choice of electric toilets here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs. Once you know about how long a tack or jibe should take, you can always run against the clock to check to see how you are doing. 

5. Swap crewmembers around during a practice maneuvers – Moving crew members around will help everyone onboard get a better sense of what each position does. When your bow guy knows what to look for in the shape of the jib, he can provide better feedback to the guy grinding the headsail in at the back of the boat. 

So don't forget these helpful pointers in getting the most of your boating lessons. 1) Have a friend with a powerboat film your boathandling;  2) have your sail trimmers view trim from the powerboat;  and 3) and combine your post-race of post-practice debrief with a competitor.

Lessons from a Long-Range Cruiser: What Tools To Take on Your Boat

We all learn from experience, or rather, we all should learn from experience. Here’s some good advice from Steve D’Antonio, who has a lot of experience cruising himself, as well as working on cruising boats as the former manager of a boatyard. The reality is that if you’re cruising offshore, you’ll have to be able to fix any problem yourself. D’Antonio’s been there, done that. 

First, he says, never leave the dock without reviewing your spare parts on board, particularly impellers, belts and fuel filters. Second, always have a good set of tools, including the most common hand tools, wrenches, sockets and screw drivers plus tools that are specific to the systems on your boat. And third, if all else fails, be able to improvise so you can jury rig a repair so you can get back home safely.

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via 5 Tips for Better Coaching on a Beer Budget

via Photo

via Lessons from a Long-Range Cruiser: What Tools To Take on Your Boat

Boat Toilets Distributors Discuss How to Beat Waterline Staining

Your Boat Toilets Suppliers Share Great Ways to Remove Pesky Waterline Stains

Raritan Engineering your boat toilets manufacturers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to beat waterline staining.

Summer is here, and our routine maintenance chores now require some serious elbow grease. Our first impulse is to go for the super-strength acids that will take care of the hard growth as well as the stains. 

Over the years, Practical Sailor has reviewed several eco-friendly products that do a good job of descaling heat exchangers and removing barnacles. Barnacle Buster from Trac Ecological (Practical Sailor May 2007) and Rydlyme Marine from Apex Engineering (Practical Sailor March 2008) both dissolve calcium carbonate, the main ingredient in lime scale and shell.

Other products like Star brite Zebra Mussel and Barnacle Remover or MaryKate On & Off deal with shell and scale well, but they contain stronger concentrations of hydrochloric acid that give off toxic fumes and are beastly to work with. 

Green Cleaners

Even mild cleaners like lemon juice will remove hull wax.

The trouble with brown-yellow waterline stains is that they’re often made up of more than one problem—a combination, for instance, of algae stain, pollen, and tannic-acid stains, plus oil stain, all in a matrix of salt and strange oxides. 

We Continue Talking About How to Safely Remove Waterlines From Your Hull

Your boat toilets experts talk about how all but one contained oxalic, hydrochloric, sulfuric, or other acids, or some mixture of them, and all were rated Good or Excellent. This is not chemical rocket science. The overall Best Choice and Budget Buy was Spray Nine’s Boat Bottom Cleaner, a gel containing “multiple acids.” 

Most waterline stain removers use harsh acids to banish the brown funk. If the stain isn’t too bad, try cleaning it with concentrated lemon juice first. 

One way to reduce the work load is to stay ahead of stains by more regular sponging of the boot-top and waterline. A thorough buff-and-wax job using one of our top-rated hull waxes goes a long way toward keeping the waterline clean. If things start to get ugly, I’ll use milder “green” formulas that fared well in our tests, or any you might recommend. 

Don't forget these great tips for removing pesky waterline stains. 1) Avoid super-strength acids;  2) keep in mind that even mild cleaners like lemon juice will remove hull wax;  and 3) try to stay ahead of stains by more regular sponging of the boat-top and waterline.

Solar and battery technology power a novel hurricane resistant floating electric house boat

Arkup, the “avant-garde life on water” company, has designed a new luxury home that integrates solar on the roof and a newly approved lithium ion marine battery system. The main selling features are that it can rise with sea levels via jacks, withstand extreme weather, move as a regular electric propelled boat, and provide it’s own water plus – of course – electricity.

There are no specifications on the solar panels used – merely multiple notations that 30kW of panels can fit on the roof in 2,300 sq feet.

The home’s default design is specified to the marine approved Orca Energy Storage System made by Corvus Energy. The systems are liquid or air cooled lithium ion battery kits. The individual battery packs are 5.7kW each and individual stacks go up to 137kWh. 

The Orca system was recently approved by DNV GL – global ocean classification body – as being safe for maritime usage.

The Arkup is powered by an electric propulsion system – adding to Electrek’s electric boat collection. The system can move at up to 7 knots per hour with a range of 300 nautical miles. With its solar propulsion system – it could probably run indefinitely.

Two points from Arkup’s promotional material gives a feel for the market, in addition to luxury, that they’re aiming for:

Sustainable: Environmentally friendly, powered by solar energy, no fuel, zero emission, equipped with waste management, rainwater harvesting and purification systems, our living yachts are totally off-the-grid.

Resilient:  Made for all environments and designed to withstand category 4 hurricane winds, our livable yachts are equipped with a hydraulic self-elevating system to prevent from sea sickness and flooding.

Digital drawings from the marketing material:

Electrek’s Take

Building homes like this is more a play on resilience with a whole lot of money than anything else. 30kW of solar and a lithium ion a marine battery system, plus onsite water purification means you can survive independent of any connection to the mainland.

As the group strongly pushes the customizability of the project, they’d be even more sustainable if there were indoor farming options. Maybe we ought suggest to them that they ought build a magenta colored greenhouse as a room?

Click here and see how Raritan Engineering has more information regarding boat toilets and all your other marine sanitation supply needs. 

via Conquering (or Coexisting with) Waterline Stains

via Solar and battery technology power a novel hurricane resistant floating electric house boat

Marine Heads Professionals Share Great Winter Fishing Spots

Your Marine Heads Specialists Talk About Some Great Ways to Get Your Fishing Fix During Winter

Raritan Engineering your marine heads suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to find some great winter fishing spots.

For hardcore anglers, myself among them, just about any fishing is better than none at all. It's not even necessarily a matter of traveling to a warmer climate. It's the fishing, which is why I sometimes toss piles of fleece and Gore-Tex into the truck and head for a winter steelhead river, where I can wade happily for hours and cast along the edges of icy slush. 

Winter is also an opportune time to fish those places you've always wanted to try or for those species that have always fascinated you. Some years back, I fished with a longtime Florida bass guide who confessed in a quiet moment that his lifelong dream was to go tarpon fishing. 

Here are 15 top winter fishing destinations in the Lower 48. They aren't the only ones. But I was trying for geographic variety so that most readers could reach one or more without having to spring for an airline ticket. So, check the list, check your gear, and scratch the itch.

1. OCEAN RUNNERS [WASHINGTON]

Steelhead in the Pacific Northwest are perhaps the most intensely politicized fish on earth. They are big, beautiful, and hard to catch. Their runs have been decimated by decades of habitat loss and overfishing. Freshwater trout are a sport, but oceangoing steelhead are a passion. 

Steelheading on the peninsula revolves around the little town of Forks, Washington, in the northwestern corner. It's near the Sol Duc, Calawah, and Bogachiel Rivers, which together form the Quillayute system. Other well-known steelhead rivers, such as the Hoh, Queets, and Quinalt, are a short distance south, along the western side of the peninsula.

2. SKI-SLOPE TROUT [COLORADO]

There are some truly crazy trout fishermen in Colorado, where tire chains and four-wheel-drive vehicles are basic equipment for winter fishing. If those can't get you to your favorite December water—and yes, that happens—you may need a snowmobile, too.

We Continue Discussing Awesome Places to Go for Your Next Winter Fishing Trip

Please browse our selection of marine heads at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Steamboat—scratch deeply enough around any major Colorado ski resort and you'll find at least a few winter flyfishers. They've figured out that as long as there's some open, flowing water nearby, the trout will eat something no matter how cold it is outside. 

A little more civilized (insert snooty sniff here) option is on the fabled Fryingpan tailwater near Aspen. It's a 14-mile stretch, which stays open all winter, where big rainbows and browns feast on Mysis shrimp flushed out of Ruedi Reservoir upstream. 

3. FRESH STRIPES [GEORGIA]

It's a little hard for many out-of-staters to think of Georgia as a striped-bass power-house, but consider these notes: The state-record striper is a mammoth 63-pounder taken from the Oconee River in 1967. Ancient history, you say? Nope. In 2002, another giant a few ounces shy of 60 pounds came from Lake Hartwell along the Georgia–South Carolina border.

A striper is a striper, and the same fundamental rule applies here as everywhere else they're found: Find the baitfish, and you'll find the bass. In winter, shad and herring schools tend to congregate in the lower reaches of major reservoirs or the lower ends of creek-mouth tributaries. 

So don't forget these great tips for your next winter fishing expedition. 1) Fishing at any time of year is better than no fishing at all;  2) keep yourself warm while fishing from your boat;  and 3) winter is also an opportune time to fish those places you've always wanted to try or for those species that have always fascinated you.

This fish species can actually repair brain damage from freezing in the winter

Every winter, the northern European crucian carp gets frozen into the ice, and receives no oxygen. Every spring, when the ice melts, a seeming miracle occurs: the fish emerges from the ice and resumes normal life.

Or, not quite. When they thaw from their winter freeze, the crucian carp's brain is not quite the same, according to new research. But the same researchers also found that the fish can recover from its months of anoxia.

What happens to their brains has been a little more elusive.

First, the fish were deprived of oxygen - a condition normally experienced in winter when the fish are frozen. After a week, they were resupplied with oxygen for an artificial spring.

Stains were used to detect cell death and growth.

Interestingly, a lack of oxygen showed no change in the normal rate of cell death in the brain. It wasn't until the fish was reoxygenated that cell death was observed - the rate more than doubling.  

"When the anoxic fish were given 1 day of reoxygenation at normal oxygen levels, a 170 percent increase in the number of apoptotic cells was detected," wrote researcher Lisa Yuen in her 2010 Master thesis.

For the next part of the research, the fish were trained how to navigate a maze to find food. Then, they were subjected to another artificial winter, revived again, brain cell death and all, and put back in the maze.

The fish navigated the maze and reached the food at the end just as quickly as they had before being deprived of oxygen - but their memories had suffered and they took more wrong turns while doing so, the researchers found.

For the final stage of the experiment, fish that hadn't been trained to use the maze were subjected to an artificial winter, revived, then trained to use the maze.

According to the team, the remarkable recovery happened despite suffering damage to the telencephalon - the part of the fish brain thought to be a homologue to our own hippocampus, a key brain area involved in learning and memory.

"This makes the crucian carp an interesting model from a biomedical perspective – while it is unlikely that we will find ways to allow human tissues to survive severe anoxic insults without damage, it is feasible that studies on animals like the crucian carp can provide knowledge for how we can limit and repair the damage."

Buy a marine head here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via 15 Best Winter Fishing Destinations

via Photo

via This Fish Species Can Actually Repair Brain Damage From Freezing in The Winter

Marine Toilet Specialists Talk About How Boating Could Boost Your Health

Your Marine Toilet Distributors Give Great Reasons to Fit More Boating Into Your Schedule 

Raritan Engineering your marine toilet suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how boating could boost your health.

Your marine toilet manufacturers talk about how boat trips are just plain good for the soul. The sense of peace and tranquility that can be restored to you while gently rocking on the waves is undeniable. Although, if you need more reasons to take a boat trip, or are trying to convince someone else why a boat trip is well worth the time, look no further.

Boat trips create bonding experiences with family and friends. The lasting memories you can make while on a boat trip are priceless. Think about watching a sunset on the water with your best friends, fishing for bluegill with your kids, or admiring the wildlife.  

A day in the sun allows our bodies to soak up a safe amount of Vitamin D. With the use of sunscreen, Vitamin D is an important vitamin that one needs in order to survive.

There is proof that being near water can naturally help lower anxiety, leading to a healthier and more relaxed lifestyle.  

Learning new boating skills can be an empowering and educational experience. When you go on a boat trip, you will always have the opportunity to learn something new.  

Boat trips allow you to unplug. In this digital age, we are always either sending a text message or checking our email inbox. Stress, insomnia, and depression have been connected to our inability to power down. When you head out for a boat ride, it’s the perfect excuse to unplug, even if it’s just for a few hours.

You are following your passion. Having a passion or hobby, such as boating (or fishing!), can contribute to your overall happiness.

Boating establishes a feeling of community on the water. Fellow boaters are known for being there to help one another and for offering words of advice.

When you go on a boat ride, you have the opportunity to broaden your range of experiences by trying different types of water sports like fishing or water skiing.

Boat trips keep you balanced. How many times have you become so consumed with work or school commitments that you neglected to set aside a day for some fun family boating? Going on a boat ride will help you keep your life in balance between work and play.  

See your choice of marine toilets here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

A boat trip is an adventure. We only have a limited number of days on this amazing and wonderful place we call earth, so don't waste any of them wondering what it would be like to boat on a different waterway or in a different state. Embrace the adventure!

There is no need to ask for your wife’s permission to invest an additional weekend break angling with the people or the best reason to inform your employer you have influenza while you go snorkeling. err, well perhaps those concepts are excusable, taking into consideration the wellness advantages that are connected with boating! We need to keep an eye out for our very own health, don’t we? Have a look at this checklist of factors where boating becomes an essential part of your wellness.

Why Boating Is Good For You

A Breath Of Fresh Air and Healthy Vitamin D

Sunlight offers Vitamin D that advertises healthy bones and is clinically proven to enhance your state of mind. Nevertheless, numerous people invest most of their days in the workplace, in the commute and also in the daily grind, that fresh air, as well as the healthy facets of sunlight, absolutely come to be an uncommon asset. 

Chance To Experience Being Off The Grid

Disconnect! Whatever that is, it could wait. In this electronic age, it appears we can not (or will not) make a step without “signing in,” breaking a selfie, sending out a message and also staying in contact with the electronic mail. Persistent health issue such as stress and anxiety, sleep problems as well as clinical depression have actually been connected to our absence of capability to power down. 

A Time to Unwind With Family/Friends

Among the largest factors in adding to your joy in life and also your general well-being associated with your social life. As a matter of fact, clinical research studies connect solid social connections to strength, a healthier appetite, lesser tension and a lot more. 

So don't forget these great ideas on how why it could be healthy for you to squeeze more boating into your schedule. 1) A day in the sun allows our bodies to soak up a safe amount of Vitamin D;  2) there is proof that being near water can naturally help lower anxiety, leading to a healthier and more relaxed lifestyle;  and 3) boating establishes a feeling of community on the water.

New food boat sets sail on Lake Koronis

The Koronis Kafe has set sail on Lake Koronis.

The food boat will sell angus burgers, brats, hot dogs, fish sandwiches, and chicken sandwiches, with chips. They will also have pop, water, ice cream and popsicle treats, popcorn, and five pounds bags of ice (if someone needs some for their cooler).

“This is a community-building enterprise,” echoed owner Steve Peterson, another one of the 17 boat owners. “It’s been that already. It amazes me the creativity and ingenuity of the community. Out here, people do the work and don’t love the recognition.”

The main objective is not to make money but to make Paynesville a better place, Peterson added. “What the world needs is to get to know each other better,” said Peterson. “This is a little way to do it. I love that.”

A week later, at another dinner, he repeated the idea, and had five investors. “Getting people to put money into it was the easiest part of the deal,” said Peterson.

The boat was capitalized with $50,000, with Arnold captaining the remodeling work. Owners of Koronis Kafe are Mike and Ronda Arnold; Kella and Paul Bugbee; George Edmondson; Mary and Tom Hendrickson; Carol and Dick Johnson; Leo and Lou Louis; Mike Meyer; Geri and Harlan Palm; Peterson; and Jim and Vicky Torborg.

Via Craig’s List, they bought a homemade house boat, built in the late 1980s by a Stillwater industrial arts teacher, which had been based on the St. Croix River. The boat is 40-feet long and 14-feet wide, with the cabin being 24-feet long.

The boat was approved by the Minnesota Department of Health on Monday, Aug. 14. The owners hoped to have the boat in the water by the Fourth of July, as the remodeling and licensing took a longer than planned. “I can’t believe how many people have asked me about it,” said Peterson.

On weekends, depending on the weather, Koronis Kafe will be out on Lake Koronis. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays they hope to beach on Second Island (Winther Island) for lunch, say from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If anchored, the boat has cleats for other boats to hook onto. They are hoping the boat will be cashless. It is equipped with an iPad and a credit card reader.

If successful, the owners could add a webpage (to take email orders), they could acquire a liquor license, and other ideas in the future.

Purchase your marine items here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies. 

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Thru Hull Fittings Distributors Talks About Which Anti-Freeze Could Be Best For You

Your Thru Hull Fittings Suppliers Share Tips to Consider Before Buying Your Next Batch of Anti-Freeze

Raritan Engineering your thru hull fittings professionals would like to share with you this week some great information regarding which anti-freeze could be best for you and your boat.

There’s nothing like buying several $3 bottles of antifreeze to protect your $30,000 boat, then coming home to discover the unused bottles frozen solid in your garage.

The onset of winter always brings queries about the effectiveness of certain anti-freeze concoctions. A couple years back we got a letter from Mark Baldwin, owner of a Seasprite 34, Ella, in Blue Hill, Maine.

It just so happened that when Mark’s query arrived, we were in the middle of testing various antifreeze formulas for their effectiveness. 

Uni-Gard pink is listed as having 25- to 35-percent propylene glycol, which should provide the -50-degree burst protection claimed on the bottle. 

If, however, there is a lot of water still left in the boat’s plumbing lines, the protection against freezing is diminished, and the anti-freeze can become even less effective through each freeze-and-thaw cycle. Ideally, during the winterizing process, the anti-freeze is flushed through the system to remove standing water from any low spots.

We Discuss How to Identify the Wrong Anti-Freeze For Your Boat

Your thru hull fittings specialists talk about how propylene glycol can harm components in freshwater and wastewater plumbing systems as well, but because ethylene glycol is not a safe choice for potable systems, there are no other antifreeze choices, other than draining the system.

Some sailors have suggested using Vodka as an antifreeze for potable water systems, but this turns out to be an expensive myth, and our tests have thoroughly debunked it. Not only will it burn holes in your pocket, it will turn your tanks and hoses into a fecund biome.

However, the EPA also cited several ways in which glycol can indirectly harm aquatic life by raising oxygen levels, etc. In our view, both formulas need to be used with care on land and near the water, and disposed of properly. Ideally, all glycols should be flushed and purged so that they can be captured for recycling.

Our research into the various anti-freeze additives on the market has produced many interesting findings, among them the correlation between improper winterizing and a stinky water tank.

Finally, here are a few other important tips.

• Never use ethylene glycol, which is highly toxic to humans, in potable water systems. The best practice is to drain the water tanks and lines of all water. When this is not possible, drain the tank and circulate propylene glycol only through the plumbing to ensure all low spots have been purged of water, then leave propylene glycol in plumbing through the winter. 
• Never use winterizing propylene glycol in the cooling system of a glycol-cooled engine. Diesel engine coolants are specially designed to prevent corrosion in the cooling system. 
• Some antifreeze formulas aimed at the RV market have ethyl alcohol in them that can damage PVC plumbing hoses. Look for products with no ethyl alcohol.

So don't forget these reminders about finding the right anti-freeze for your boat. 1) Using vodka as a substitute is a myth;  2) Never use winterizing propylene glycol in the cooling system of a glycol-cooled engine;  and 3) look for products with no ethyl alcohol.

Leave your boat sitting pretty this winter

Owning a boat can be a great source of pleasure, offering fun in the sun, relaxation and adventure, but it’s not something that comes without responsibilities. Maintenance and regular detailing is critical to prolonging the life of any boat or yacht and, by taking extra measures, you can help ensure that your enjoyment on the water is always maximized. 

Comfort inside, sun outside – While a boat brings fun and adventure, having the ability to take a break from the heat and cool off in the cabin is a true luxury. However, if the inside of your boat is just as warm as the deck, you’re likely to have to cut your day on the water short. 

Reduce glare, improve safety – Regardless of your boat’s setup, sun glare can be uncomfortable and dangerous – especially for your captain. By having a professional install window tinting, your boat’s windshield will block glare to lessen eye fatigue and improve visibility, even when the sun shines brightest, helping you always remain in control of your vessel. 

Block UV rays, prolong the fun – A day on the boat should be just that – an entire day – but without protection, hours spent in the sun can prove harmful. When on the water, having the option to take a brief break and cool off is pivotal and, with window tint, you get that option. 

Privacy and protection, even when away – Ensuring privacy and security of your vessel when docked or in storage is important to its longevity. With window tint, your boat and the valuables inside are kept private and the condition of the fixtures and furniture within the cabin stay protected from sun damage. 

Having your boat or yacht tinted is not just for style and comfort, it adds extra value to your vessel, too. While it’s a wise decision, marine window tint installation isn’t as cut-and-dry as one might think, and in order to get the ultimate benefits, it’s highly recommended to have a window tinting professional work on your boat. 

Click here and see more information about Raritan Engineering and thru hull fittings. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via The (Cold) Case of the Frozen Antifreeze

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Boat Head Professionals Discuss the Great Benefits of Using Baitcasters

Your Boat Head Specialists Share All the Pros of Switching to a Baitcaster 

Raritan Engineering your boat head manufacturers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the great benefits of using baitcasters.

Your boat head suppliers talk about how preference for reel type varies by coastal region, but no matter where you fish, it’s hard to beat a baitcaster for pinpoint accuracy.

Baitcasters necessitate touch and feel that’s simply not required with spinning reels. Get past that small snag and you’ll notice levelwind baitcasters excel in lure-casting distance, accuracy with lighter offerings and even lure retrieves that require jerking actions.

A couple of fishing “hacks” to consider: If you have the dexterity, try cutting out some steps by casting with your left hand and reeling with your right. And if turning the handle on the right side of the reel — or working a lure with your left hand — proves too cumbersome, consider buying a lefty baitcaster. 

Fine-tune Your Baitcaster

Reel manufacturers make it easier than ever to prevent the dreaded baitcasting blunder: the backlash. But anglers should be intimately familiar with two parts of the reel — the spool-tension knob and the brake — to help fine-tune and adjust their casts.

Casting light lures and soft plastics with a baitcast reel requires a delicate touch and is best left to experienced hands.

With the basics of baitcasters now in your rearview mirror, check out these six inshore saltwater casters that push the envelope in technology and usability.

Abu Garcia Revo Inshore Low Profile

“We use specialized high-­performance corrosion resistance (HPCR) bearings that resist rust and debris contamination,” says Andrew Wheeler, with Abu Garcia. “Plus, a longer 95 mm handle and oversize knob adds ­additional cranking power.”

Daiwa Coastal TWS 200

Daiwa’s Coastal TWS 200 Inshore baitcaster incorporates a proprietary T-Wing System, best explained as a modified T-style levelwind with a large aperture to prevent line friction when casting. The line is forced back into a tight groove after the cast to make sure the line is positioned evenly along the spool when reeling.

Discover Why Baitcasters Could Be Right For You

Okuma Komodo SS

Don't forget that you can find marine toilets here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

“The Komodo SS models work great for calico bass, yellowtail, white seabass and tuna in California, but just as well targeting tarpon, snook and redfish on the East Coast,” says John Bretza, director of product development at Okuma Fishing Tackle.

Quantum Smoke Series 3

Quantum engineered a 35.5 mm spool, when the average spool size is 32 to 34 mm, into a compact frame to provide anglers with increased line capacity, longer casts and more inches of line pickup with the new Quantum Smoke Series 3 (S3). To protect against salt, the company utilized premium aluminum salt-guard multilayer corrosion protection and anti-­corrosion bearings.

Shimano Chronarch G

The Chronarch G baitcaster was built with Texas wade-fishermen in mind, and is meant to tackle redfish, speckled trout and other inshore species in close-quarters conditions.

This Chronarch G model is ­saltwater safe, says Shimano’s John Mazurkiewicz, with a newly incorporated corrosion-resistant spool, something that wasn’t available on past Chronarch models.

13 Fishing Concept TX

The 13 Fishing Concept TX series baitcasters are made specifically for saltwater use.

“It’s not the design that makes reels saltwater specific, but the quality of materials and protection processes,” says Matt Baldwin, product-development director of 13 Fishing. “Our saltwater-specific reels feature Ocean Armor 2 on aluminum frames, corrosion-resistant bearings throughout the reel and attention to materials on the small parts that could be affected by the harsh saltwater environment.”

Don’t Burn Your Drag

A baitcaster’s drag system is built into its gearing. Because of this, baitcasters with high gear ratios have lower drag settings, and lower-gear-ratio reels have higher drag maxes.

“The spool turns the pinion gear, the pinion gear turns the drive gear and the drive gear holds the drag system,” says Chris Littau, with Quantum. “The fastest way to wear out a baitcaster’s drag is to force or pull line out on a heavily set drag.”

Fishing Rod Tricks For Tight Casts

While out on the water, you’re going to encounter many different scenarios. Sooner or later you’re going to have to get your lure/fly/bait into a tight spot or change up your retrieve to help entice a strike. In this article, we will go over two casts that can help you reach those tight areas (one for conventional tackle, one for the fly rod) and teach you one of the most exciting retrieves for topwater conventional lures: “walking the dog.”

If you have ever watched professional tournament anglers on TV you’ve noticed them spending a lot of time making short casts around docks, trees, weeds, etc. That’s because fish love places that give them cover from other predators and shade from direct sunlight, depending on the season.

Sometimes you can make a short normal cast to deliver your lure to these areas; other times, you'll find that you want to get that lure into a very tight area such as under a dock, a submerged log, etc. This is when knowing how to pitch your lures becomes a useful skill.

Here’s a fun game to play to practice at home on the lawn. Use a heavy jig (1/2 oz to 3/4 oz, preferably weedless to help prevent snags). Place a hula hoop about 10 to 15 feet in front of you. In the middle of the hoop place a full pitcher of water. Once you get to the point of landing it in that pitcher cast after cast, start changing up your distance to the pitcher by taking a few steps back or forward. You can also switch to lighter or heavier jigs if you really want to have fun with it.

The best time to target bass with this retrieve is just after the springtime spawn and into the summer months when they are most active in shallow areas. Keep a close eye on your lure, too; this method of fishing usually leads to some of the most dramatic bites you’ll ever see. Often you’ll even see the fish jump out of the water to attack your lure.

To start, make a normal cast and leave a small bit of slack in your line. Give your rod a short quick jerk and then reel up some of the line on the spool, making sure to leave some slack in the water, then jerk the rod again in the same direction. 

The bow cast is great to use in areas with heavy cover for distances up to 20 to 30 feet. To do the bow cast, strip a small amount of line off your reel (roughly the amount for the short distance you want to cast to).

Practice this cast at home on your lawn to get a good feel for the right amount of rod tension and distance that you can hit accurately.

Here’s a fun casting game you can do at home to help you practice this cast. Take a hula hoop and hang it from a tree. Hang it just high enough so the bottom of the hoop is either touching the ground or just above it. 

Don't forget these great tips for fine-tuning your baitcaster. 1) Become intimately familiar with two parts of the reel — the spool-tension knob and the brake;  2) casting light lures and soft plastics with a baitcast reel requires a delicate touch and is best left to experienced hands;  and 3) avoid the backlash.

Click here to get your boat head from the #1 experts in marine sanitation supplies, Raritan Engineering.

via Benefits of Baitcasters

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Macerating Toilet Specialists Share Great Reasons for Getting Your Immunizations Before Sailing Away

Your Macerating Toilet Distributors Why Immunizations Are Crucial Before Heading Out On Your Cruising Excursion

Raritan Engineering your macerating toilet manufacturers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding great reasons why you should be getting your immunizations before going out on your sailing excursion. 

Your macerating toilet experts discuss how immunization can be an inconvenient detail in preparation for a long voyage, but it is crucial in order to ensure a safe and healthy one. The correct immunization depends on your health, medical history and destination. Immunizations exist for two reasons:

* To protect you from illness when you are exposed to harmful bacteria or viruses for the first time. Different cultures, fun as they may be, have different disease factors not found in North America.

* To protect populations at risk from contracting an illness brought in by you.

Factors in choosing appropriate immunization include:

* what immunizations you have had in the past

• your current state of health

* your destination

* your length of time you plan to stay in a designated spot.

* plan at least 6 months to 1 year in advance of your departure.

Immunizations come as a series of injections delivered over intervals of several weeks to months.

Find your marine toilet of choice here with us at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Most common diseases found in the third world countries are transmitted by the following means:

* mosquito bites.

* poor sewage treatment and contaminated water.

* sharing of body fluids or blood from an infected person to an uninfected person. * working with or increasing exposure to the native population, especially in the rural areas.

Mosquito-Borne Infections:

* Japanese encephalitis

* Yellow fever

* Dengue fever

* Sleeping sickness( African Tryponason)

* Malaria

Poor Sewage/Sanitation and Contaminated Drinking Water:

* Hepatitis A

* Cholera

* Typhoid fever

* Amebiasis

* Chagas disease

* Cryptosporidiosis

* Giardiasis

* Schistosomiasis

Blood Borne Diseases:

* Hepatitis B and C

* HIV and Aids

Air Borne Diseases

These travel with air droplets and saliva i.e., sneezes, coughs and people speaking to you.

* Tuberculosis

* Pertussus

With all of these in mind, it is necessary to reassess your destination and the diseases that are more rampant for that specific area. Then get inoculated accordingly. 

So don't forget these important reminders about getting your immunizations early. 1) They are crucial for a safe and enjoyable voyage;  2) they protect you from illness when you are exposed to harmful bacteria or viruses for the first time;  and 3) they protect populations at risk from contracting an illness brought in by you.

Royal Caribbean cancels cruise, sends ship on rescue mission to Puerto Rico

Royal Caribbean has canceled an upcoming cruise in order to send a ship to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on a mission to help hurricane victims.

The Adventure of the Seas, which can carry 3,114 passengers, will forgo its scheduled Saturday voyage and travel to San Juan, St. Croix and St. Thomas on Friday to pick up evacuees and bring supplies.

The cruise line sent ships to St. Thomas and St. Martin to rescue a total of 1,700 people after Hurricane Irma struck the area.

According to the Miami Herland, travelers on the canceled voyage will get a full refund.

President Trump said earlier this week that the federal government has had difficulty getting aid to Puerto Rico, compared to other U.S. areas hit by hurricanes in the past month, because it is an island.

After pressure from lawmakers, Trump announced Thursday that he would temporarily suspend the Jones Act, easing shipping restrictions that have been stifling relief efforts.

Choose your Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

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Raritan Engineering Experts Share Great Tips for Foiling Beginners

Your Raritan Engineering Professionals Talk About How to Improve Your Foiling Skills

Raritan Engineering would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding some great tips for foiling beginners.

Your Raritan Engineering experts talk about how the development of the all-new TF10 foiling trimaran continues as it seeks to be provide a flying experience to sailors of all skill levels – and not just experts. Here is an update on the project from Thijs van Riemsdijk of DNA Performance Sailing.

The 36-foot long racing sailboat is versatile and exciting in all weather, easily sailing at 2-3 times the wind speed in lighter air and comfortably flying along at 25-30 knots in stiffer breeze.

“As a group, we knew we wanted something that pushed the boundaries of what is possible in foiling boat design, and it looks like the designers and builders have created something completely unique and exceptional,” said Dr. Malcolm Gefter, owner of Hull #1 and the driving force behind the new boat and class.

Dr. Gefter explained that he and rest of the TF-10’s first owners are all experienced racers trying to create a class with state-of-the-art performance but without the kind of “arms race” and cost escalation from which most grand prix sailing classes suffer.

“We’ve had dozens of people steering and crewing the boat here in 14 days, and not a single person got off the boat without a big smile on their face,” said Heemskerk, referring to not only potential customers, but also the journalist judges who came specifically to Spain to test the TF10 and several other yachts nominated for the prestigious European Yacht of the Year competition.

“A number of the journalists seemed uncomfortable at first, going from the other champagne-filled charter yachts to our little speed racer, but after a few minutes behind the tiller, we couldn’t get them to put it down!” he said.

Your Raritan Engineering Specialists Continue Discussion of Easy to Follow Tips for New Foilers

Please browse Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

With a crew of experienced sailors aboard the racing yacht and for the first time, no guests, crew continued to test new settings without drama. The boat easily accelerated past 25 knots in the quiet, flat water – a perfect beginning to a day scheduled for the new owner’s first sail since the boat was splashed in Holland early this summer.

A-Class and F-18 catamaran world champion Heemskerk is no stranger to dismastings, especially with his extensive work on the fastest and most modern of foiling boats, but he was surprised to see the mast let go in such light air.

Heemskerk said the yacht’s designers and builders are already investigating the breakage to determine what modifications are needed before the production run gets fully underway, and they’re confident the fix isn’t complicated.

As a longtime research scientist and pharmaceutical inventor, Gefter knows firsthand the tough road that innovation can require, and the former Professor of Biochemistry Emeritus at MIT was introspective when he saw the topless racing machine sitting at the dock.

Dr. Gefter said he was pleased the team was working so hard to identify any issues, and that he was confident the boat would ready to race in South Florida over the coming winter.

So don't forget these helpful tips for foiling beginners. 1) Put some decent weight into the back of the boat;  2) be sure to have a nice strong rope;  and 3) keep the wave from the wake going.

Photos: Tomàs Moya/DNA Performance Sailing

Ultimate sailing playlist: Songs to listen to onboard your boat

We will, of course, be singing Happy Birthday, but this got us thinking about other songs to sing along to onboard.

In no particular order, this is our sailing playlist. We would love to hear yours!  

‘Into the Mystic’ – Van Morrison

Possibly one of the most iconic songs to sail to.

Van Morrison’s lyrics tell of a sailor heading home to his lover, although there has been much debate as to whether there is a deeper meaning.

Whatever the answer, this warm ballad will certainly get you singing along. 

‘The Ship Song’ – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Named as one of the 30 best Australian songs of all time, The Ship Song is a beautiful, tender ballad, which will leave you with a lump in your throat and have you wiping the tears away before you know it.

But none of them reach the depths of Nick Cave’s version. Best for a night sail. 

‘Lost Sailor’ – Grateful Dead

No list would be complete without a song from the eclectic American rock legends, The Grateful Dead.

Not the ideal song to play if you’re nervous about your navigation or you are adrift, but otherwise a solid classic. 

‘Sail On’ – The Commodores

Written by Lionel Ritchie, this Commodores hit from 1979 will particularly resonate if you’ve gone sailing to get over a breakup.

The crew will definitely be belting out the chorus, helping to lift the mood. 

‘Sail Away’ – David Gray

In 2001 you couldn’t escape David Gray’s song  – it was being played everywhere!

Years later, and this song of escape has certainly grown on us. Best to listen to while passage planning – it will certainly inspire.

Choose your Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 experts in marine sanitation supplies.

via Foiling for Dummies: The Boat

Macerator Pump Professionals Offer Great Tips to Maintain Your Own Outboard Motor

Your Macerator Pump Specialists Talk About How Easy Outboard Engine Maintanence Can Be 

Raritan Engineering your macerator pump distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding great tips to maintain your own outboard engine.

Your macerator pump suppliers discuss how today’s outboard engines grant anglers the freedom to fish far from port with great reliability and peace of mind. Regular maintenance ensures that outboards continue to perform well and last as long as possible in the saltwater environment. Let’s look at what you can easily handle on your own.

Changing Your Gear Lube

Routinely changing the gear lube helps you detect water that might be leaking into the gear case. The recommended service interval is usually the same as with engine oil. Use the lube specified in your owner’s manual, such as SAE 90 hypoid gear oil. 

The engine oil you use in your outboard should be certified as FC-W. This certification by the National Marine Manufacturers Association ensures that the oil contains additives to fight corrosion in the marine environment.

Pump in lube until it begins to spill from the vent. With the pump line still in position, replace the vent plug. Then remove the pump line and quickly replace the drain plug.

Using Grease on the Motor

Use a grease gun to pump marine grease into the zerk fittings outlined in the manual at the recommended intervals. Zerk fittings are usually found on the outboard’s pivot tube (on which the engine rotates when it turns), steering tube and tilt-and-trim bracket. 

Replacing Fuel Filters

A separate 10-micron water-separating fuel filter serves as the first line of defense in keeping water and dirt from getting to the engine. That’s why it’s important to change fuel filters per the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. 

So make sure to browse our macerator pumps at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

It's important to regularly use a grease gun on all of the zerk fittings on your outboard, per the manufacturer's recommended service schedule.

Inspect the Propeller

After every trip, manually spin the propeller. If there’s fishing line wrapped on the prop shaft, you can sometimes hear a soft tick, tick, tick — the result of a piece of monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line slapping the inside prop barrel.

Braided line is too limp to create the same sound effect, so you still need to remove the prop to inspect the shaft for a tangle of line and possible damage to the gear-case seal. Do this every other trip. 

Zinc Replacement

Periodically inspect the sacrificial zinc anodes on your outboard. These intentionally corrode before your outboard does in order to protect the motor. Replace them when they are 50 percent gone.

Spark-Plug Service

The service interval for changing spark plugs is generally around 200 hours. Buy the right plugs, and “gap” them correctly. The gap between the center and ground electrodes will be specified in the manual; use a feeler gauge to confirm that proper gap.

Using the plug wrench, insert and thread the new plug into place (be careful not to cross-thread it) and tighten snuggly. Don’t overtighten, which can strip the threads in the aluminum head. Snap the boot back on and reattach the coil. 

Head Protection

Periodically treating the powerhead with corrosion-inhibiting spray lends the motor protection from errant salt spray under the hood. Use a corrosion inhibitor specified by the manufacturer. 

The do-it-yourself route might not be for everyone. Even if you have a marine mechanic handle service, it’s important to know what’s required and why. 

Don't forget these great pointers for maintaining your own outboard engine. 1) Routinely changing the gear lube helps you detect water that might be leaking into the gear cas;  2) use a grease gun to pump marine grease into the zerk fittings outlined in the manual at the recommended intervals;  and 3) after every trip, manually spin the propeller.

Sailing away in a ... pumpkin? Only in Damariscotta

Sailors in Damariscotta got in their 600-pound pumpkins and hit the water on Monday, competing in the paddling and powerboat divisions of the annual Pumpkinfest & Regatta.

Costumed as vikings, pirates and gnomes, they battled for Pumpkinfest titles and the coveted Golden Gourd trophies. And plenty of pumpkinboat fans braved the rain to watch the orange ships sail through the harbor.

All gourd things were celebrated during the festival over Columbus Day weekend.

Events included a parade and enjoying pumpkins via land, sea and air:  That would be a pumpkin derby, pumpkin catapult and pumpkin regatta.

And, of course, there was a pie-eating contest.

Reserve your items here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert for all marine sanitation supplies.

via Do-It-Yourself Outboard Motor Inspection and Maintenance

via Sailing away in a ... pumpkin? Only in Damariscotta.

Macerator Toilet Specialists Discuss How to Get Ready for Winter Sailing

Your Macerator Toilet Distributors Give Suggestions On How to Prepare for the Winter 

Raritan Engineering your macerator toilet manufacturers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to get ready for winter sailing.

During my admittedly few winters above the frost-belt, I have only fond memories of the last few days of the season. And I’ve always admired those who didn’t let the tilt of the Earth dictate the way they arranged their days.

This month, Practical Sailor contributor Drew Frye reviews measures to take if you plan to extend your sailing through the winter.

Practical Sailor readers who have been with us for a few years are familiar with Frye’s work, much of which is carried out from the deck of his PDQ 32 catamaran.  The boat, as far as I know, has not spent a full winter out of the water since Frye bought it.

Frye’s climbing habit routinely makes its way into Practical Sailor’s pages. His past research into fiber lifeline chafe and elasticity in deck cordage drew directly from his own experience with climbing ropes. 

Your Macerator Toilet Suppliers Continue Talking About Winter Sailing Preparedness

Your macerator toilet experts discuss how a related pursuit that occupies Frye is the endless search for ways to reduce onboard weight. As the owner of a catamaran, he recognizes that for many sailors, every equipment upgrade presents an irresistible opportunity to shave extra pounds. 

One of the finer pleasures of winter sailing is the solitude it affords. As Frye wrote when he first pitched the story, “It has always seemed a shame to me that the great majority of boats in the country are only used in the summer. 

So don't forget these important reminders while preparing for winter sailing. 1) Don't let hidden chafe doom your efforts to ditch wire lifelines;  2) consider using lightly used climbing ropes if you are comfortable with it;  and 3) bring lots of hot beverages.

5 tips for winter sailing 

Sailing in winter sounds like a cold and tricky business – but if you take some simple precautions there should be nothing stopping you.

Who hasn’t looked enviously from the deck of their laid-up boat in a yard on a crisp, sunny winter’s day at a boat sailing gently by, a steaming mug of tea in the owner’s hand. In the right conditions, winter sailing can be a joy.

But winter weather windows can be small, and you need to act fast if you want to make the most of a day on the water. Your reward will be a low sun, flat water and deserted cruising grounds.

Here are some tips and tricks to make you and your boat winter-sailing ready.

1. Keep your tanks topped off
It’s worth filling up with fuel and water as often as you can in the winter: fuel berth opening hours are likely to be reduced, and hoses may freeze or the water supplies may be turned off to protect the pipes – which makes it tricky to refill your tanks!

2. Fuel tank
Another reason to keep your fuel tank topped up for winter is to reduce condensation. A full tank has much less empty surface area for it to form, and thus less chance of diesel bug forming, especially if you also use an anti-diesel- bug additive.

3. Engine
For boats left afloat in salt water, it’s unlikely that the temperatures will dip low enough to cause any water left in the engine to freeze, but it’s worth attending to if a particularly cold snap is forecast. Make sure the coolant is topped up with the correct mix of antifreeze, and if you’re really worried, run some antifreeze through the raw-water system.

4. Batteries
Starting a diesel engine from cold in winter temperatures will require more power than it does in the summer, so it’s worth making sure your batteries are topped up – either by a small solar panel, or by taking them home for a recharge now and then.

5. Bedding
If you’re keeping your bedding on board so you can make a quick getaway, consider storing it in a vacuum bag. These keep linen and duvets dry and mildew-free: the air can be sucked out with a 12V vacuum cleaner if you’re not on shore power.

Click here for more information regarding Raritan Engineering and macerating toilets. We are your #1 experts in marine sanitation supplies.

via Gearing Up For Winter Sailing

via 26 Tips For Winter Sailing

Marine Toilet Systems Specialists Talk About Why You Need to Secure Your Boat

Your Marine Toilet Systems Distributors Discuss How Securing Your Boat Saves You Hassles In the Future

Raritan Engineering your marine toilet systems manufacturers would like to share with you this week some information regarding why you need to secure your boat.

Two different harbors suffered almost the same fate as Hurricane Irma raked South Florida with hurricane force winds. In both places, tens of thousands of dollars in damage might have been prevented had the owners of large vessels better secured their boats.

In Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, a fifty-foot houseboat broke lose from its anchor and went careening through the mooring field where dozens of boats where moored. According to the salvage crews I spoke with, the houseboat was one of the key contributors to the pile-up in the harbor that caused several boats to break loose and go ashore. 

The boxy houseboat has a colorful history. It had been moored at Boot Key for years, and its hulking mass made it one of the most conspicuous vessels. 

Your Marine Toilet Systems Suppliers Share Ways That Help You Avoid Possible Boating Disasters

Your marine toilet systems experts discuss how even some of the most attentively moored boats in the harbor were no match for its bulk.

The scene in Dinner Key Marina, 300 miles to the north in Miami was nearly identical. In Dinner Key, however, it wasn’t a slab-sided houseboat that bore down on a local sailing club, it was a slab-sided luxury motoryacht. 

As Irma pushed up the center of the state, the storm dragged a five-foot storm surge and strong northeast winds into Biscayne Bay. That surge, along with the wind, apparently snapped the powerboat’s docklines and sent it drifting down on the floating docks at Shake-a-Leg Miami, a community sailing program that Practical Sailor has supported with gear donations for many years. 

But now their boats, among them a fleet of custom Freedom Independence boats designed by Gary Mull and equipped for disabled sailors, is out of commission. The jumble of boats crammed against mangroves was a mirror image of the mess in Boot Key.

Although they’ve met their initial goal of $50,000 in a matter of weeks, the cost of clean-up is costing far more than they anticipated. They are hoping to earn another $50,000 this month. 

NKY firefighters repair emergency boat themselves, saving taxpayers $100K

The Covington Fire Department completed repairs to its emergency fire boat, which is now back on the water.

Project repairs were completed in-house by a crew of 20 Covington Company, city officials. Officials said their hard work saved the city thousands in tax dollars.

“It cost the city less than $20,000 to complete the project. If we were to have outsourced this sort of work, it would have cost approximately $125,000 to $150,000 to make the repairs,” Battalion Chief Seth Poston said.

Due to deteriorating conditions, the boat was deemed unfit for use and was removed from the Ohio River in February.

Repairs included eight new coats of paint to protect the boat’s undercoat, sandblasting the boat haul to remove corrosion, fixed dock bumper protectors and repairs to the boat’s fire pump engine.

Don't forget these reminders regarding why you need to secure your boat. 1) Insurance premiums are can be expensive to pay;  2) repairing damage could take many weeks;  and 3) it is cheaper to secure your boat, than to replace it.

Click here and see how you can find more information about Raritan Engineering and on marine toilet systems.

via Loose Ships Sink Sailboats

via NKY firefighters repair emergency boat themselves, saving taxpayers $100K

Seacocks Professionals Talk About the Importance of Marine Electronics Maintanence

Your Seacocks Specialists Share Ideas on How to Maintain Marine Electronics

Raritan Engineering your seacocks distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the importance of marine electronics maintenance.

Your seacocks suppliers talk about how the pace of technology can render new electronics obsolete in months. Yet few boaters upgrade on such a time scale, opting to get the longest possible life from their electronics. When is it time to upgrade? Here are four signs.

1 - Touch Point

Touchscreens are faster and easier to use than old-fashioned push-button systems. The speed of access also translates to greater safety, letting you keep your eyes on the water ahead, as well as ­quickly access information. 

2 - Forget Repairs

If a piece of old electronics breaks down, don’t even think about getting it repaired. Outdated electronics might be repairable. But you’re throwing good money against old technology. 

Here at Raritan Engineering, we have seacocks for all your sanitation needs. We are always your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

3 - Seven Up

Seven years is a lifetime in the face of accelerating technological innovation. Think of what’s happened since 2011 in terms of tech innovation: the refinement of touchscreen MFDs, chirp sonar, side-scanning sonar, 3D sonar, auto-routing, auto-charting, solid-state radar, wireless connectivity, plug-and-play system integration and much more. 

4 - New Boat, New Tech

If you’re buying a new boat, congratulations. As you outfit your ride, leave the old electronics on your old boat. Work with your boat dealer or marine electronics installer to get state-of-the-art electronics and consider networking the new MFD with the propulsion and other systems. 

Airmar Transducer Upgrade

If you step up to an MFD with chirp sonar, consider a transducer upgrade. Airmar Technology’s new series of five in-hull chirp-ready transducers require no holes in your boat. Designed for solid fiberglass hulls, each model includes a base that’s installed inside the hull and filled with eco-friendly liquid that allows the transducer to transmit through fiberglass.

Guide Tip: How to Adjust Sonar Sensitivity to Find and Catch More Fish

More than a couple times I have scrolled through social media posts and seen a few “friends” who were wondering why they couldn’t catch giant walleyes that they were constantly marking. Truth is, marine electronics have come a long way and feature a lot of auto settings that work wonderfully, but they still require some fine tuning as conditions change.

The biggest and easiest of these setting that needs to be adjusted is your unit’s sensitivity or power. First identify the depth. Next, adjust your bottom depth range to more than double this number. Example: If you’re in 37 feet, make the bottom range about 75 feet deep.

After doubling the bottom depth range, you should see a double echo or second bottom return. 

Adjust the sensitivity until you can see this second return just a little bit. If the second return looks like a yellow brick road (strong return), then you likely have the sensitivity too high; if it looks like a light blue line (weak return), then you need to increase the sensitivity. 

No, this is not a fix all under all conditions, but it will allow you to get very close to using the correct power level on your fishfinder. This will ensure that you can see your jig if that’s your goal, have enough power to see fish as you get deeper, or make sure you don’t have so much power being sent out that those giant marks you think are trophies are actually baitfish.

Good luck fishin’!

Don't forget these great reminders for maintaining your marine electronics. 1)  Make sure your touchscreen is still properly sensitive;  2) don't repair broken technology, just buy a new one;  and 3) if it has been seven years since buying a new device, it is probably time to upgrade.

Choose your Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via Four Signs That You Need New Marine Electronics

via Guide Tip: How to Adjust Sonar Sensitivity to Find and Catch More Fish | OutdoorHub

TruDesign Experts Discuss How to Find the Right Sounder For Your Style of Fishing

Your TruDesign Professionals Give Great Ideas On to Better Catch the Big Fish

Raritan Engineering your TruDesign distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to find the right sounder for your style of fishing.

Your TruDesign suppliers talk about how for my style of inshore fishing, in my coastal Georgia location and for my 22-foot bay boat, I need some specific sonar capabilities. I want to see what’s to either side of my boat, and I want to see subtle depth transitions in shallow water, without surface clutter.

Bottomfishing Options

Furuno’s new DFF3D multibeam sonar helps Capt. Sean Gill map out structure to better target species such as cobia, which orient differently on each tide.

Furuno pro staffer Capt. Sean Gill, of Savannah, fishes many of the same coastal Georgia locations as I do, though he also works offshore waters.

Pinpointing Structure

Garmin’s 7612xsv, using a down-looking beam, side-looking beam and chirp, helps anglers locate structure quickly without as many passes.

Humminbird pro Capt. Phillip Wilds, of Panama City, Florida, recommends a Solix Chirp Mega SI sonar with an Airmar B175H transducer. 

Wilds likes to split-screen his Solix display: One half of the screen shows a zoomed-in view of the bottom; the other half shows surface to bottom. He turns up the sensitivity as high as possible without getting too much clutter, and leaves the gain on max mode. 

Capt. Tom Pitasi, a Raymarine pro ambassador and guide out of Waterford, Connecticut, says Raymarine’s sonar systems with chirp DownVision are a great choice. “The conical high chirp shows you the fish, and the chirp DownVision is a great tool for locating the structure,” he says. 

Proper Frequencies

Capt. Greg Eklund pairs his Simrad NSS evo3 display with the company’s new S5100 network sounder with multiple-channel capability.

Your TruDesign Specialists Continue Talking About Improving Your Fishing Game

Here at Raritan Engineering, we are proud to be youir TruDesign supplier. So visit us for all your marine sanitation supply needs.

Eklund paired the transducer with Simrad’s new S5100 network sounder. The multiple-channel capability allows him to use the chirp mode and a single frequency at the same time to get the best possible information. “For example, as I get to an area in less than 300 feet that I want to fish, I set my evo3 screen to display two panels,” he says. 

“I am also able to run a low-chirp scan on a separate panel. This allows me to see the entire water column.”

Trolling Options

Raymarine’s new Axiom Pro features quad-core processing, an IPS screen and 1 kW chirp sonar. It comes in 9-, 12- and 16-inch sizes.

“Axiom Pro is the most powerful MFD we’ve ever offered, with fast quad-core processing, ultraclear IPS displays and the choice of 9-, 12- or 16-inch screens. 

Deeper Depths and Challenging Locations

Garmin’s GSD26 (pictured), Raymarine’s CP570 and Simrad’s S5100 are all black-box modules that deliver powerful chirp-sonar options.

For true deepwater penetration, most pros and experts recommend higher-power chirp-sonar modules, such as Garmin’s GSD26, Raymarine’s CP570 and Simrad’s new S5100. 

Inshore and Shallow Water

Imaging sonar such as Humminbird’s Mega side imaging (pictured) and Lowrance's StructureScan can be used inshore or offshore to gather detailed information about what lies to either side of the vessel.

“Another feature is being able to operate my trolling motor and Power Pole from the unit. When fishing tarpon, the StructureScan gives me a great side view of fish. It tells me the distance the fish are from the boat, how many, and on which side the fish are located."

Side-viewing modules and ­built-ins, such as Raymarine’s chirp CP200 and RealVision 3D, Humminbird’s Mega side imaging, Garmin’s SideVü, Furuno’s DFF3D and Simrad’s StructureScan 3D, are proven inshore performers. 

Please go fishing, Washington state says after farmed Atlantic salmon escape broken net

Thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon were accidentally released into the waters between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands, and officials are asking people to catch as many as possible. Tribal fishers, concerned about native salmon populations, call the accident “a devastation.”

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is urging the public to catch as many of the fish as possible, with no limit on size or number. The fish are about 10 pounds each. No one knows how many escaped from the floating pen, but the net had some 3 million pounds of fish in it when it imploded about 4 p.m. Saturday, said Ron Warren, fish program assistant director for the WDFW.

Cooke, in an estimate to WDFW Monday, put the number of escaped fish at 4,000 to 5,000, according to Ron Warren, fish program assistant director for the WDFW. The department has been monitoring the situation and crafting a spill-response plan with Cooke, Warren said.

In a statement Tuesday morning, Cooke said, “exceptionally high tides and currents coinciding with this week’s solar eclipse” caused the damage. Cooke said the salmon escaped after a “structural failure” of a net pen.

The Wild Fish Conservancy, in a statement released Tuesday, noted that on July 27, one of three net pens in the Cypress Island location broke free from an anchor and needed emergency repairs. The statement said the pens should be built to withstand high tidal movements.

She dismissed any environmental concern, saying the fish would not survive and that native fish were not at risk. “It’s primarily a business loss. The salmon will be food for the seals and the fishermen can enjoy them.”

But Michael Rust, a NOAA researcher who co-authored the technical memorandum, said the risk of farmed Atlantic salmon passing diseases on to wild fish is low. And, over the years, he says, they have not been able to interbreed with Northwest native species or successfully establish themselves in the wild over multiple generations.

“I wouldn’t call them healthy. They have weird little deformations on their faces,” said Lucas Kinley, who for the past two days has caught a few of these fish as he set out a seine net for wild Northwest salmon.

Warren, of the WDFW, also is concerned about potential impacts on wild stocks.

Penalties for the escape are being evaluated, Warren said.

So don't forget these helpful reminders when choosing the right sounder for you. 1) Keep in mind your bottomfeeding options;  2) don't forget the importance of pinpointing structure capability;  and 3) remember issues you might have in deep fishing areas.

Order your TruDesign parts here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via Choose the Right Sounder for the Way You Fish

via Please go fishing, Washington state says after farmed Atlantic salmon escape broken net

Boat Cleaning Products Distributors Share Great Ideas of Getting Rid of That Nasty Smell On Your Boat

Your Boat Cleaning Products Experts Talk About the Secret to Removing That Horrible Smell Onboard

Raritan Engineering your boat cleaning products specialists would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to remove that nasty smell from your boat. 

We’ve had a lot of fun with toilets and sanitation systems in the last couple of years, and after last weekend, when I descended into the smelliest brokerage boat I’d ever set foot on, I thought I’d revisit some of our findings here. The good news is that a stinky head is curable. The better news is that it need not cost you an arm and a leg. 

Odor control doesn’t necessarily start at the marine head (hoses are often the chief culprit), but that seems like the logical place to start. A big step toward reducing head odors is to use fresh water for flushing. Salt water is alive with microscopic critters that add to the odor problem when they die and decay in your holding tank. 

The newer electric toilets we tested also cut down on water usage, and just as importantly, they help clear the hose better with their high-velocity flushes. These heads use a high-speed centrifugal “Vortex” pump, which has a unique convex rotor and a funnel-shaped casing or volute that converts kinetic energy into pressure.

Your Boat Cleaning Products Professionals Discuss Easy Ways to Keep Your Boat Smelling Great

Your boat cleaning products suppliers talk about how akin to a common bilge pump, the centrifugal pump has a set of curved blades on a rotor. The fast-spinning rotor creates a change in pressure that can quickly push a slug of liquid through the system, using very little water and making far less noise than the earlier renditions.

However, you have to be wary about what you add. Our recent test of joker valves—the essential valve that1 prevents backflow from the holding tank and helps create the vacuum for flushing—demonstrated that some products used for cleaning, deodorizing, and winterizing heads can shorten the valve's life. If you’re serious about controlling head odors, you will watch what you put in your head and replace this valve every year. It is the most important valve in the system.

Too often, sailors accept head odors as an inevitable side-effect of having a holding tank. But with a little extra effort you can escape the stink.

Rescuers in Houston hauled 21 adorable dogs to safety in a single boat

After Hurricane Harvey, a group of good Samaritans came to the rescue of dozens of good dogs.

Houston resident Betty Walter found herself stranded in floodwaters in the wake of the storm. She was also sheltering 21 dogs (some of which belonged to her neighbors) and wasn't sure how they would all get to safety.

Luckily, the dog rescue crew came along. They loaded all 21 dogs on the boat — Walter walked alongside — and hauled everyone away.

"I was worried there was too many dogs on the boat and it would tipped [sic] over," Walter wrote in a Facebook post. "I told them I would stay behind and for them to make 2 trips. They said NO we are taking all and you. We had 21 dogs on this boat."

To get out, the humans had to slog through water higher than her head, she added.

Eventually, Walter and all 21 took shelter at a crew member's house in nearby Kemah, Texas. At the time of writing, they were all doing fine.

Keep in mind these pointers when getting rid of that nasty smell. 1) Odor control doesn’t necessarily start at the marine head;  2) A big step toward reducing head odors is to use fresh water for flushing;  and 3) salt water could be the problem.

Click here and find more information regarding boat cleaning products here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs. 

via Combatting Onboard Toilet Odors

via Rescuers in Houston hauled 21 adorable dogs to safety in a single boat

Marine Holding Tanks Specialists Talk About the Benefits of Clean Vessels

Your Marine Holding Tanks Distributors Share Helpful Info About the Importance of Clean Vessels

Raritan Engineering your marine holding tanks suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the benefits of clean vessels.

Your marine holding tanks manufacturers discuss how the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) adapts the basic port fee rate for the majority of maritime transport by 1.4% for 2018. Just like in previous years, this development is once again below the inflation rate, thereby sending a clear signal of stability.

In accordance with the current coalition agreement and air pollution control plan of the Hamburg Senate, a new fee rating system featuring an environmental component will be introduced. Based on IAPP (International Air Pollution Prevention) certificates to be presented by port users, a part of the port fee will categorically be calculated based on environmental impacts in the future.

“Our tariff and environmental policy sends a clear signal to the citizens of Hamburg, the shipping companies, and port industries. We aim to sustainably contribute to the air pollution control and ensure that Hamburg remains attractive as a port of call,” says Tino Klemm, Chief Financial Officer HPA.

Given the outstanding fairway adjustment, the reductions for especially large vessels and transshipment will be continued. The cap will not be increased either. This is unique in its dimension among significant competitor ports.

One of the key benefits, whatever your preferred style of boating, is that there are few other means of travel, or forms of recreation, that put you quite so directly in touch with the environment. On the whole, this form of transport is relatively unhurried and generally free of congestion, which inevitably means that you have plenty of time and opportunity to take in the things around you – something which very few people get the routine chance to do.

Browse through our holding tanks selection here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Green Credentials

For sailing yachts, especially small ones without engines, the green-appeal is obvious – if ever there was an example of the most direct use of wind power, then a boat in full sail must be it. 

However, we should not be too hard on those pioneers of British industry – for Britain’s canal network is very largely their legacy, having originally been built around 200 years ago to transport raw materials and finished items to and from the new factories that sprung up. Their need for commercial transport – then chiefly pulled along by horse-power – bequeathed an extensive series of interconnecting water-ways to posterity and enticed many new generations of boaters onto the water. 

Fringe Benefits

Boating brings environmental fringe benefits too. Opening up and maintaining canals and rivers for leisure and tourist boats has improved many stretches of long-neglected and deteriorating waterways, providing valuable habitats in areas otherwise largely impoverished of wildlife. Coastal waters too have benefited from the continued popularity of boating and in areas which particularly promote it as a holiday activity; the growth of new marinas has often been quite deliberately balanced by the provision of environmental stewardship schemes. 

Perhaps one of boating’s biggest plus-points is that it is so widely accessible. In one form or another, from the cool waters of Britain to the warmth of Greece and beyond, just about anyone can sample the benefits of boats.

Heroes You Should Know: Brave Texas Teens Save Over 50 People In Small Fishing Boat

Hurricane Harvey hit Texas on Saturday, taking lives and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Once the storm downgraded to Tropical Storm Harvey, even more damage was done, bringing in unprecedented flooding and raising the death toll to eight, a number expected to rise. In Houston alone, an estimated 30,000 will be forced to flee their homes and seek shelter; 450,000 others will require some sort of disaster assistance.

But, in response, the resilient and courageous people of Texas have sprung into action. The state has witnessed inspiring examples of heroism and unity from its citizenry — including teenage boys with nothing more than a small fishing boat and a paddle board.

Seventeen-year-old Thomas Edwards and his three friends, Richard Dickason, 17, Liam Connor, 17, and his brother Declan Connor, 15, were some of those heroes. 

Edwards told The Daily Wire that he woke up to find the massive flooding; his truck was nearly completely submerged and one-story houses all around him had water all the way up to their doors. Instead of feeling fear or sorry for himself (as any typical 17-year-old might feel after they see their truck under water), Edwards and his pals took this hardship as a cue to help others.

"Once the boat began to float on the trailer we decided to venture out," Edwards told The Daily Wire. "We could hear people screaming for help and we towed a paddle board behind us so we could fit more people on the boat. We began to pick people up and take them to a local Krogers, where other evacuees sought refuge. We were the only boat in the neighborhood until 2 o’clock, and we motored back and forth making trips to rescue as many people as we could."

"We rescued families, babies, dogs, rabbits, you name it," explained the 17-year-old. "My friend Liam and I would stay on the paddle board and pull the boat across the intersection in order to unload people closer to the Kroger parking lot. It was an incredibly surreal experience to take a boat down streets while trying to dodge sunken cars and overhanging tree limbs."

One comment really resonated with Edwards: "Someone said that in times like these, differences don’t matter because we are all in the same predicament."

Selfless young men like Edwards, Dickason, and the Connor brothers are shining examples of what makes America so great. These young men didn't see race, religion, sex, or political affiliation, they saw fellow Americans in need and acted accordingly.

Don't forget this great discussion as to why clean vessels are so beneficial. 1) This form of transport is relatively unhurried and generally free of congestion;  2) you have plenty of time and opportunity to take in the things around you;  and 3) having a clean vessel is becoming easier to do.

Remember to purchase your marine items here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via Hamburg Port Authority Creates Incentive For Clean Vessels

via The Benefits of Boats

via Heroes You Should Know: Brave Texas Teens Save Over 50 People In Small Fishing Boat

Marine Sanitation Professionals Discuss How to Install a Radar Dome

Your Marine Sanitation Specialists Share Tips on Installing Your Next Radar Dome

Raritan Engineering your marine sanitation suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to install a radar dome.

Your marine sanitation manufacturers talk about how proper installation plays a big role in maximizing the performance of marine radar domes. So, if you’re considering installing a new solid-state dome radar aboard your boat or checking out the install aboard a boat you are buying, keep these factors in mind.

Elevation

To perform effectively, mount the radar dome high enough to give it an unfettered, level and full-circle view of the horizon, but not so high as to be adversely affected by the boat’s pitching and rolling. The most common way of achieving this elevation on center console, express cruiser and walkaround cuddy models is to install the dome on a hardtop or T-top. 

Forward Angle

The radar should be installed so that it’s level while the boat is underway. The bow angle is often ­greater when the boat is running at speed than when it’s at rest. So, if you mount the dome level with the boat at rest, the radar beam will be aimed upward while underway. 

Beam Clearance

Today’s solid-state marine radars are so sensitive, they can detect objects that are just an arm’s length away, including onboard elements such as the outer edges of your hardtop. 

Other Antennas

Avoid mounting your new dome radar on the same horizontal plane as a second radar scanner, as the two radars systems can interfere with each other; a conventional-type magnetron radar can actually damage a solid-state scanner in this configuration. 

Your Marine Sanitation Distributors Continue Talking About Radar Dome Installation

Because marine sanitation is critical on your vessel, keep us in mind for your marine sanitation supply needs. Call us at Raritan Engineering, where we take care of all your marine sanitation supply needs.

I decided on the Furuno, I compared prices, and I ordered the thing. I didn’t think to specify the length of the monitor/radome connector cable. I noted that it came standard with a ten-meter cable. Super!

In San Diego, I hired a rigger to rivet the radome mount on the front of our mast, about nine meters up. I didn’t give the cable length a second thought during the two hours I spent trying to fish the cable past obstructions on the mast interior and then out through the tiny hole at the base. But I’m no dummy, less than five minutes after completing that job, I realized my mistake.

“No way. Under the plastic sheathing is metal mesh sheathing, ten insulated copper wires, and a coaxial cable. If you splice in unprotected wire and coax, you’ll get too much interference, it won’t work.”

So I had a plan and with the help of my friend Dr. Stewart in Eureka, I tracked down the cable, terminal strip, and junction box I needed. In a day I finished the installation of the radar I’d bought three months before—and it works like a charm.

It was a hassle to take the do-it-yourself approach, but I spent less, I know much more than I would have had I hired out the installation, and if we ever decide to pull the mast, it will take me about five minutes to disconnect the radar cable. Bonus.

Sheriff's dive team testing sonar finds car of man who went missing 41 years ago

A Goodhue County sheriff’s office dive team was testing its new sonar unit on the Mississippi River when they found the vehicle of a man who went missing in 1976.

The vehicle belonged to David Jorgensen, who was last seen on February 27, 1976 on Trenton Island. In early May 1976, Jorgensen’s body was located on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River in an area known as Warrentown. 

At the time of the sonar discovery, the water level was high with strong currents and it was too dangerous to send the divers down. Thursday, a dive team was able to place straps on the vehicle and make a successful recovery.

Jorgensen’s family members and friends gathered as the vehicle was removed. The sheriff’s office hopes this recovery will bring closure to the question of what happened to Jorgensen’s car. 

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR, Red Wing Fire Department and Siewert's Towing and Recovery assisted with the recovery.

Don't forget these amazing tips for installing a radar dome. 1) To perform effectively, mount the radar dome high enough to give it an unfettered, level and full-circle view of the horizon;  2) The radar should be installed so that it’s level while the boat is underway;  and 3) Avoid mounting your new dome radar on the same horizontal plane as a second radar scanner.

Buy sanitation equipment here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via Installing Radar Domes

via DIY Radar Install

via Sheriff's dive team testing sonar finds car of man who went missing 41 years ago

Marine Sanitation Device Professionals Talk About Great Ways to Fix Canvas Fasteners

Your Marine Sanitation Device Specialists Share Ideas On How to Best Repair Your Canvas Fasteners

Raritan Engineering your marine sanitation device suppliers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to fix canvas fasteners.

Sooner or later, chafe, UV rays, and sharp edges take their toll on our boat’s canvas. A misplaced screw or simple friction will eat holes in a dodger. A seam gives up, a line rubs through the fabric, and a few snaps come loose. 

Older fabric may be too sun-rotted to allow the weak spot another row of stitches will create, and the stitching may leak. 

In the upcoming September 2017 issue of Practical Sailor, tester Drew Frye, who also blogs at his website Sail Delmarva, compares a variety of tapes, glues, and adhesives for making these types of repairs. 

Snaps are the first failure point on many covers and dodgers. Often the stress cause by repeated shrinking and stretching during wet/dry cycles works them loose. 

Your Marine Sanitation Device Distributors Continue to Give Ideas on How to Keep Canvas Fasteners in Great Condition

• Your marine sanitation device experts talk about how to remove the old snap, disturbing as little cloth as possible.

• Bring the edges together on the reverse side with masking tape.

• Cut a 2-inch square patch (round the corners) and slather it up with a 1/16-inch coating of polyurethane adhesive sealant (3M 5200 works well, and other options are discussed in the upcoming September test report). 

• Patch the reverse side if the cloth damage is severe.

• Allow to cure. Varies with the products, but for polyurethane it is typically 3-5 days in warm humid weather, 10 days in cool, dry weather. We've had good luck with 3M 5200, but other polyurethane adhesive sealants did well in our test. 

• Punch and install hardware as usual. Relocate the fittings if the failure was due to the canvas shrinking.

This is one time where the increased stiffness helps, better distributing the force over all of the fabric layers. We’ve never had a repeat failure. 

The same process can be used to repair other types of canvas fasteners. 

Russian tanker sails through Arctic without icebreaker for first time 

A Russian tanker has travelled through the northern sea route in record speed and without an icebreaker escort for the first time, highlighting how climate change is opening up the high Arctic.

The tanker was built to take advantage of the diminishing Arctic sea ice and deliver gas from a new $27m facility on the Yamal Peninsula, the biggest Arctic LNG project so far which has been championed by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Environmentalists have expressed concern over the risks of increased ship traffic in the pristine Arctic but Sovcomflot stressed the tanker’s green credentials. As well as using conventional fuel, the Christophe de Margerie can be powered by the LNG it is transporting, reducing its sulphur oxide emissions by 90% and nitrous oxide emissions by 80% when powered this way. 

In the route’s busiest year so far, 2013, there were only 15 international crossings but the Russian government predicts that cargo along this route will grow tenfold by 2020. This link with the Pacific reduces its need to sell gas through pipelines to Europe.

Simon Boxall, an oceanographer at the University of Southampton, said that shipping companies were making a “safe bet” in building ships in anticipation that the northern sea route will open up. “Even if we stopped greenhouse emissions tomorrow, the acceleration in the loss of Arctic ice is unlikely to be reversed,” he said.

The extent of Arctic ice fell to a new wintertime low in March this year after freakishly high temperatures in the polar regions, and hit its second lowest summer extent last September.

Don't forget these helpful reminders on how to repair your canvas fasteners. 1) Remove the old snap, disturbing as little cloth as possible;  2) bring the edges together on the reverse side with masking tape;  and 3) patch the reverse side if the cloth damage is severe.

Click here for more information about Raritan Engineering or marine sanitation devices.

via Quick and Dirty Repairs to Canvas Fasteners

via Russian tanker sails through Arctic without icebreaker for first time

Marine Ice Makers Experts Discuss Why the Youth Today Aren't Buying Boats

Your Marine Ice Makers Professionals Share Ideas That Can Help Younger Ones to Get Into Boating

Raritan Engineering your marine ice makers specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding why the youth today are not buying boats. 

Your marine ice makers distributors talk about how millennials participate in boating at similar rates to their parents, yet they're far less likely to actually own a boat. Why? Here's a millennial's perspective.

Former Bain & Co. management consultant, millennial Fiona McGlynn, is on a sailing sabbatical with her husband, Robin. 

My husband, Robin, and I had often discussed this question. Having become first-time boat owners only five years before, at ages 24 and 29, we were often the only identifiable 20-somethings at our silver-haired yacht club. Over the next few years, as we immersed ourselves in life on the water, we began to meet other millennial boaters, a handful of young salts who shared our passion. 

Of course, the numbers surrounding boat ownership don't paint the entire picture. Lost in these figures are the young boaters who use their parents' boats, charter a boat for the day, or ride-along with friends. 

I began to wonder what had caused this shift. Why don't more millennials own boats? Here's what millennial boaters and industry analysts said.

Financial strain came up as the number-one challenge for the young boaters we interviewed. As Mike Provance, a 36-year-old powerboater from Coal City, Illinois, noted, "Cost is the big factor, but it's not just the boat. It's my truck, maintenance, fuel. It's worth it. But it adds up."

Keith Raycraft (36, Alberta, 16' Thunder Bolt bass boat) has lived on the water his whole life and pursued a career as a marine-engine technician. For Keith, family comes first. "To me it's all about making memories with my daughter. When I was a kid, I couldn't wait for the weekend so my dad could take me to the island. I want that to be the same for her!"

Getting Greasy And Sailing Anxiety

Ashley Banes (26, Iowa, 186 Hawk Sport) grew up powerboating with her dad on a 22-foot Mach 1 on the Mississippi River. Today she and her husband own a 186 Hawk Sport that allows them to take their 2-year-old out to fish, visit sandbars, and anchor out on weekends. 

Guillaume Beaudoin (34, Quebec, C&C 24). Guillaume has a C&C 24 that he shares with a few friends in Montreal. He is also a filmmaker and is currently boat-hiking his way from Panama throughout the South Pacific, documenting community-driven ocean-conservation projects.

Check us out at Raritan Engineering, where we have the best marine ice maker in town. 

Jimmy Palmer (36, New York, 311 Formula) started small, but has come to love the big go-fast boats and people associated with them. "I enjoy going to charity fun runs, poker runs, and even just throwing anchor for a good day with friends." For the uninitiated, a poker run is a gathering of high-performance boats where each participating boat navigates a carefully charted course, stopping at five checkpoints along the route to pick up a sealed envelope containing a single playing card. 

What's The Future Of Boating?

The appeal of boating transcends age, and 20- to 39-year-olds love boating for the same reasons their parents did. They see it as an opportunity to socialize, create family memories and adventures, and unplug from work. 

Ian Drogin (28, California, Bavaria 44), along with his brother and three friends, recently completed a six-week sailing and climbing adventure in the Aegean Sea where they tackled several limestone crags in the Greek Islands. They chartered a Bavaria 44, Hellenic Sky, which served as "base camp" for their trip. 

Mark Miele and Eden Yelland (37/34, British Columbia, 36' Universal Europa Sedan) live aboard their 36-foot trawler, Halcyon I, part-time and regularly coastal cruise in the Pacific Northwest. In 2015, the couple left their jobs and voyaged from Victoria to La Paz, Mexico.  

How To Help Get Young People Out On The Water

Fellow Boaters

Share your knowledge. Experienced boaters make a big difference by offering advice, hands-on help, and encouragement.

Emphasize safety. A frightening experience on the water can put a newbie off boating. If you see a green boater (or anyone really) doing something that sets off alarm bells, be a friend and take the time to help, gently pointing out a safer approach.

Introduce a young person to boating. Do you have any millennial family, friends, or work colleagues with whom you enjoy spending time? Offer them an afternoon out on the water. Help them catch the boating bug. 

‘Airbnb for boats’ startup Boatsetter buys competitorBoatbound

Boatsetter will be taking select talent from Boatbound plus logistics tech and its inventory of vessels for rental. A source familiar with the transaction said the acquisition was paid for with Boatsetter stock valued in the low-millions range.

The deal makes Boatsetter the biggest peer-to-peer boat rental service in the States, and possibly the world.

To fund future acquisitions of other competitors, Boatsetter also is announcing it has added $4.75 million in funding to its December 2016 Series A round, bringing the startup to a total of $17.75 million raised.

Everyone’s a captain

Boatbound launched back in 2013, well before Boatsetter, and raised more than $5 million from 500 Startups, equity crowdfunding platforms and boat manufacturer Brunswick.

Boatbound quieted down since moving from San Francisco to Seattle 2016 to cut costs and push towards profitability. Now the nationally available service is somewhat oddly being acquired by a competitor that was only operating in one state.

The combined company hopes things will sail smoothly thanks to Boatbound’s technology for routing rental requests and Boatsetter’s focus on insurance.

Based out of Florida, Boatsetter is a three-party marketplace where private boat owners and professional charter companies, captains and renters meet. Users can pick from nearby boats, rent one with a captain attached or pick a separate captain, and quickly get out on the water at an affordable price. 

Baumgarten actually started a peer-to-peer boating insurance company called Cruzin that later merged with Boatsetter. That’s how Boatsetter provides $1 million in liability coverage, $2 million in boat damage coverage, plus additional umbrella coverage to make renters feel safe.

Experience > possession

Now the 27-person startup has a new channel to chase the estimated $50 billion yearly total addressable market for boat rentals. Boatsetter has partnered with Airbnb’s new experiences platform to let people pay to learn to sail in the San Francisco Bay, take a lesson from a pro wakeboarder in Miami or have paella cooked fresh onboard by a chef in Barcelona.

Boatsetter’s biggest challenge will be developing awareness. Most people assume they need a ton of money or boating skills to get out on the water. But the world is shifting from a materialistic culture to an experiential culture. It’s why Airbnb is blowing up.

People want to do amazing things they can capture on their camera phones and share on their social networks. They want memories. And it’s hard to top gliding over the waves with friends on your own private boat… even if it’s just for the afternoon.

So don't forget these pointers when trying to encourage young ones to get back into boating. 1) Share your knowledge and experiences with them;  2) always be safety conscious;  and 3) take them out on an afternoon trip on the water.

Choose your Raritan marine products here with us at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via BoatUS Magazine: Why Aren't Millennials Buying Boats?

via ‘Airbnb for boats’ startup Boatsetter buys competitor Boatbound

Marine Hot Water Heaters Distributors Share Amazing Suggestions When Using a Multiple Battery System

Your Marine Hot Water Heaters Suppliers Give Needed Tips When Switching to a Multiple Battery System

Raritan Engineering your marine hot water heaters experts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding amazing suggestions to keep in mind when using a multiple battery system. 

Your marine hot water heaters professionals talk about how a multiple-battery system’s best attribute may be the ability to provide engine starting should one battery short out, experience a wiring failure or simply get drained. 

Battery Type

The charging characteristics vary between battery types: absorbed glass mat (AGM), flooded cell and gel cell. Integration with engines, chargers and other components is easier if all batteries are the same type.

Battery Class

For most boaters, a pair of dual-purpose batteries serves as a good foundation. A ­starting battery and a deep-cycle battery, or bank of batteries, might serve a bass fisherman, or other boater with high accessory demands, better.

Battery Capacity

Ensure sufficient starting amperage by checking your engine’s owner’s manual for the appropriate capacity. Selecting the deep-cycle battery’s — or bank’s — size is more ­involved. 

Manual Switching

Manual switches are reliable but require you to remember to manually switch between batteries (or banks) in order to keep all batteries charged.

Automatic Switching

Voltage sensitive relays (VSR), and other devices, sense when a battery needs a charge and direct charging current from the alternator ­automatically. These can be built into the engine or may be a separate component. 

Your Marine Hot Water Heaters Manufacturers Continue Discussing How to Install a Multiple Battery System

Check out our marine water heaters selection here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Cables

Cable diameter is directly related to a dual-battery system’s performance. There are formulas you can reference for determining the size of cable based on the amperage it must carry and over what distance.

Starting batteries deliver high amperage for quick engine starts but do not tolerate being used to power equipment. Deep-cycle batteries can be drawn down without damage to power equipment but may not provide enough amperage in a burst to start the engine. 

How to Install a Marine Dual-Battery System

If you have a boat with just one battery, it’s wise to add another, giving you twice as much battery capacity in case, for instance, you inadvertently drain a battery with the stereo while the engine is off. 

Choose a Switch

Make sure the selector switch is designed for two batteries (some are on/off switches) and will handle the amperage when starting the engine. A rating of 250 amps continuous is sufficient for most outboards and gasoline inboards. 

2. Install the Second Battery

Choose a marine battery that meets the engine specs. Installation should comply with Coast Guard and ABYC standards. Wet-cell batteries should be secured in a battery box. 

3. Pick a Location for the Switch

Selector switches have a four- to-six-inch-wide footprint, so pick a surface where you have enough space. ABYC standards dictate that the switch be as close to the batteriesas possible and readily accessible. 

4. Connect the Positive Cables

Cables should have “marine cable” stamped on the insulation. Size 2/0 cable handles most outboards and gasoline inboards. Connect the positive terminals of batteries 1 and 2 to the corresponding posts on the back of the switch, and then connect the positive cable from the engine to the output post of the switch. 

5. Connect the Negative Crossover

In order for the dual-battery system to operate properly, you need a crossover cablebetween the negative terminals of the two batteries. 

Woman caught in Williamson Co. hiding 41 lbs. of meth in boat batteries

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Deputies arrested a woman during a traffic stop they say had 41 pounds of meth hidden inside batteries made for boats or jet skis.

Verdiguel told them she was on her way from Laredo to Dallas for real estate classes, but they became suspicious of her after she acted nervously.

After giving them permission to search her car, deputies found the batteries full of meth inside a toolbox in the back of her pickup.

Officers pulled her over near I-35 and 51st Street last Wednesday and found the drugs hidden in three jugs of degreaser. APD says Ayala faces federal drug trafficking charges.

So don't forget these helpful tips when using a multiple battery system. 1) The charging characteristics vary between battery types;  2) for most boaters, a pair of dual-purpose batteries serves as a good foundation;  and 3) ensure sufficient starting amperage by checking your engine’s owner’s manual for the appropriate capacity.

Order your marine water heater here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via Multiple-Battery System Tips

via How to Install a Marine Dual-Battery System

via Woman caught in Williamson Co. hiding 41 lbs. of meth in boat batteries

Marine Water Heaters Specialists Share Ideas on Protecting Your Nonskid Boat Deck & Deckhand Getting a Taste of the Shark World

Your Marine Water Heaters Distributors Discuss Extending the Life of Your Nonskid Deck 

Raritan Engineering your marine water heaters professionals would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to protect your nonskid deck.

As we found in our do-it-yourself nonskid test revamping a nonskid deck is a time consuming project, one that you'd rather not have to repeat every few years.  

Proper Application

Surface prep: We all know proper surface prep can make or break coatings applications, but it also directly affects the coating’s service life. Always follow maker’s recommendations.

Application: The surface must be clean and totally dry. After sanding, wipe it down with xylene, dewaxer, or acetone. Some paint makers warn against using solvents, so be sure whatever you wipe down with is compatible with the paint.

When it comes to using a paint and a nonskid additive, we recommend combining the mix-in and broadcast methods to get the most uniform grit pattern. Mix the nonskid additive with the paint, roll it on with a high-nap roller, and sift more aggregate on the paint while it’s tacky; once the paint dries, you can brush off the excess and apply a second coat in the same manner.

Your Marine Water Heaters Experts Share Your Love Of Properly Maintaining a Nonskid Deck

Curing: Your marine water heaters specialists talk about how to follow the maker’s recommendation for dry time, and be sure to allow the paint to fully cure before subjecting it to foot traffic. This allows the paint to achieve maximum hardness, making it more abrasion resistant and longer lasting.

Mat Installation: If you’re installing a self-adhesive mat, application is a no-brainer. Just be sure it’s where you want it before you stick it to the deck; contact adhesives don’t allow the small “wiggle” adjustments that epoxies do in application.

Testers also learned a few application lessons the hard way when installing nonskid mats with two-part epoxy. The epoxy usually has about an hour of pot life before it becomes permanently stuck to whatever it’s touching, so clean up any errant epoxy with a solvent as soon as possible. 

Regular Maintenance

Boat bath: Nonskid paints and mats should be cleaned regularly to remove abrasive salt spray and dirt. Wash with standard, mild boat soaps or household cleaners and a soft- to medium-bristled brush. 

Mold and Mildew: To prevent mold and mildew, you can lightly scrub the surface with an ammonia/detergent solution. To spot clean areas that are heavily soiled or show mildew, you’ll likely need to step up to more aggressive cleaner. 

Wax Not: While waxing can breathe new life into topside paint, the paint makers we talked to do not recommend waxing painted nonskid. Most nonskid paints and bead/powder additives have UV protection built in, and the paint formulas include UV absorbers, making waxing unnecessary.

Longevity expectations

Nonskid’s life expectancy can vary based on type (paint vs. mats, and paint type), boat location (UV-saturated South Florida vs. overcast Seattle), and how it is cared for. The soft-foam mats we tested did not weather as well as more rugged mats like Treadmaster—nor did some one-part paints, but they can be freshened up with a little sanding and a recoat. 

On Ocearch shark tagging boat, deck hand from Franklin is getting a taste for the shark world | Wildlife & Nature

In the midst of doldrums, D.J. Lettieri was a blur.

Thankless hours mashing dead fish into chum were broken up by running errands – filling the water coolers, dishing out snacks to crew and guests, tidying up lines and basic cleaning.

Lettieri is living the dream.

A 24-year-old Longwood University grad with a degree in environmental science the Southampton County native has his foot in the door of a research organization that’s working to spread the word on the importance of sharks to the health of the ocean.

While he mostly does grunt work, he said he’s benefitting greatly from rubbing shoulders with some of the top marine wildlife scientists in the country.

He doesn’t mind being the crew’s main deck hand as he learns.

“I take care of the boat,” he said. “When we’re not on expedition, I’ll be painting, scraping, cleaning – you know, boat stuff.

He never went saltwater fishing, but said he was fascinated by sharks from an early age.

“Don’t know what it was,” he said.

After graduating from Longwood, he wasn’t sure how he’d apply his degree to work until he saw that the Ocearch team was looking for people to work on the boat.

“We’re gypsies,” he said. “We were down off South Carolina the last expedition and now we’re here in the mid-Atlantic. We’ll be up in New York in a few weeks. It’s great. What’s not to like?”

The anglers on this expedition were having significant trouble finding any cooperative sharks willing to take the big pieces of bonita, a member of the tuna family, being offered on large hooks.

Within minutes he was wrestling a 3-foot-long sharp-nosed shark, bringing it up to the stern before it bit through the line.

His catch broke the monotony of what had been an extremely quiet day on the boat.

“This is what I want to do,” he said, running back to the bow for another hook.

So don't forget these important tips for protecting your nonskid deck. 1) Always take time to prepare the surface;  2) After sanding, wipe it down with xylene, dewaxer, or acetone;  and 3) While waxing can breathe new life into topside paint, the paint makers we talked to do not recommend waxing painted nonskid.

Click here for more information regarding marine water heaters and see how Raritan Enginering always takes care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via Preserving Your Nonskid Deck

via On Ocearch shark tagging boat, deck hand from Franklin is getting a taste for the shark world

Marine Hose Manufacturers Discuss the Importance of Learning How to Backup Your Trailer & Boat Trailer Stolen in Sicamous Worth $80,000

Your Marine Hose Experts Share Tips On How to Improve Your Driving Skills With a Trailer

Raritan Engineering your marine hose professionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to improve your driving skills with a trailer. 

Between a rock and hard place and on the side of the road is where my good friend Chuck Larson found himself recently. Actually, the rock was between Chuck’s boat trailer and the pavement. Let me explain.

Chuck got off the freeway at the correct exit but turned right when he should have turned left, so instead of heading for the Kwik Trip, he was motoring into the bucolic countryside of southern Wisconsin. Now ­stranded but in motion on two-lane county road MM, Chuck drove farther and farther from the diesel pump and the doughnuts at Kwik Trip.

Make your marine products choices here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

After 8 miles on MM, Chuck’s frustration was mounting and his low-fuel light was glowing when he spied the convenience store with two driveways. He wheeled into the first entrance and, without stopping, turned sharply to his right to pull back onto MM in the other direction, and that’s when he felt something was amiss. 

The boulder, a piece of smooth, egg-shaped granite about the size of a nice coffee table, was set in the earth at the verge of the driveway to keep cars from cutting across the grass. 

Chuck limped back down county road MM, ego shattered and trailer tweaked, and when he finally got to the Kwik Trip, it was out of doughnuts anyway. But he didn’t have to back up.

Bearings

Fix Your mirrors show small bits of the landscape — in reverse. It’s a lot easier to understand what you’re seeing in the mirrors if you first have a good mental image of the staging area and launch ramp. 

Hands Down

One simple trick many drivers use to back up with just their mirrors is to place a hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Watching your boat in the rearview mirror, move your hand in the direction you want the boat and trailer to go. 

Straight and Easy

If possible, align your rig for a straight shot backward onto the ramp. Then, before putting the gear in reverse, take a moment to look in one or both mirrors and identify fixed reference points. This will help keep you on the straight and narrow once you begin backing. 

Turning Point

On ramps with shorter lead-ins, you may have to back around a turn to reach the water. The key to a smooth turn is in the setup. Ideally, you’ll want to make a smooth, mediumradius turn that leaves the tow vehicle and trailer aligned and facing the ramp a bit before the trailer hits the water. 

A Second Set of Eyes

Backing is a lot easier when you don’t have to go solo. But make sure your observer is helping, not just adding confusion. First, determine that you can see each other; if the observer can see your face in the mirror, the observer knows you can see hand signals. 

Boat and trailer worth $80,000 stolen in Sicamous

SICAMOUS - The Sicamous RCMP are asking for the public's help to recover a stolen boat and trailer.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5 at approximately 4:40 p.m. a high-end boat and trailer was reported stolen after the owner had to leave them unattended due to a flat tire, according to an RCMP press release.

RCMP say the driver left the boat and trailer on the roadside near the Queest Forest Service Road on the Solsqua Sicamous Road after one of the tires on the trailer went flat.

The boat and trailer, worth approximately $80,000, were left unattended for about 20 minutes and when the driver returned, they were gone.

Police say the boat is a 20 foot Mastercraft Wakeboard, black in colour with a distinctive blue, purple and yellow design. Also, the bottom of the hull is green in colour and the tower had been lowered. A black tarp covered the boat. The trailer is described as a black, tandem axle Mastercraft trailer. It has an Alberta plate 5KD090. Near the bow of the boat the registration number, AB5671141, is displayed.

Anyone with information about this theft is asked to call the Sicamous RCMP at 250-836-2878 or via Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477. If the boat is spotted please immediately call your local RCMP detachment or police department.

Remember to keep these helpful points in mind when backing up your trailer. 1) Fix your mirrors show small bits of the landscape — in reverse;  2) One simple trick many drivers use to back up with just their mirrors is to place a hand on the bottom of the steering wheel;  and 3) align your rig for a straight shot backward onto the ramp.

Don't forget to purchase your marine hose here at Raritan Engineering, your #1 leader in marine sanitation supplies. 

via Off My Dock: Reverse Logic

via Backing Up While Looking Ahead

via Boat and trailer worth $80,000 stolen in Sicamous

Macerating Pump Professionals Discuss Great Ways to Help Storm Victims & Helping Victims of Hurricane Harvey

Your Macerating Pump Specialists Share Info on How to Best Support Hurricane Victims 

Raritan Engineering your macerating pump suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding great ways to help storm victims.

The Coast Guard is discouraging private boaters departing the continental United States from transiting to ports affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Uncoordinated volunteer efforts can hinder the response and impede a challenging logistics situation on the ground in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Individuals entering unfamiliar ports or attempting to bring supplies without coordinating through volunteer organizations that are working with FEMA and its partners are putting themselves in danger.”

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance and two other watchdogs, Charity Navigator and CharityWatch, have released lists of more than a dozen highly rated groups in a position to help.

Buy right every time

Another organization, which has an A- rating by CharityWatch, is Team Rubicon, which brings together the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to deploy emergency response teams.

Although the watchdogs haven’t listed local groups in Florida responding to Hurricane Irma, two that have been highly rated by the watchdogs are All Faiths Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, which are collecting and donating food to those in need. Another group—Heart of Florida United Way—is providing shelter and basic needs for those affected by the storm.

Check the charity watchdog websites to find charities you want to consider. The lists are likely to be updated in the days to come.

“If you want to give with confidence, then the best thing to do is to give to established charities that meet standards,” Weiner says.

Donate Intelligently

If you plan to make a donation, keep these tips in mind:

Watch for fraud. Beware of emails and postings on social media by groups and individuals you haven’t heard of before who say they are collecting money for victims.

Macerating pumps can be seen here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Your Macerating Pump Distributors Continue Talking About How to Help Others in Their Time of Need

Think twice about crowdfunding. If you’re considering donating to individual campaigns through a crowdfunding platform such as GoFundMe or YouCaring, keep in mind that it’s difficult to tell whether an appeal is legitimate and whether your donations will be used for the stated purpose. 

Send money. Though victims will need food, clothing, and other supplies, right now moving such items will create logistical challenges that can cause big delays. 

Research other nonprofits. If you’re considering donating to a group not specifically recommended by a charity watchdog, check it out thoroughly before giving. 

Consider future gifts. Although immediate donations are needed to assist in the emergency, the effects of the recent hurricanes are likely to be felt for months and years to come, Weiner says. 

Get More Actively Involved

In addition to donating money, you can take an active role in giving assistance as well. Here are a few ways:

Consider volunteering. Many charities, including human service organizations and animal-welfare charities, are looking for volunteers. For the American Red Cross, you can sign up on the organization’s website. 

Open your home. You can offer to provide free accommodations to hurricane evacuees through Airbnb. The service is waiving all fees until Sept. 25. 

Donate blood. Blood banks have been urging people to donate because demand for blood can rise, especially as patients are evacuated from hospitals.  

Adopt a pet. If you’re thinking about adopting a dog or a cat, for example, this could be a good time. Animal welfare organizations in Texas, Florida, and around the country are likely to take in pets that have lost their owners. 

Hurricane Harvey: How to help victims of the Texas storm

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey's massive flooding in Texas, victims are in need of relief and aid. Here are the organizations that are helping:

Local organizations

Where to donate:

Harris County Donation Hotline:  1-800-924-5985. Available 6 a.m. to midnight.

George R. Brown Convention Center, NRG Center, Toyota Center and BBVA Compass Stadium are no longer accepting donations from the public. The GRB Center is accepting corporate donations and is in serious need of the following supplies: bleach, buckets, containers to carry supplies, lip balm, Vaseline, work gloves, insect repellent, dusk masks, rakes, shovels, duct tape, tarps, trash bags, sunscreen. 

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has set up this fund for tax-deductible flood relief monetary donations. It will be administered by the nonprofit Greater Houston Community Foundation. 

Houston Food Bank helps provide meals for hungry neighbors in emergencies and all year round. 

Houston Furniture Bank provides furniture in need and is launching a special effort to help Harvey victims. They are accepting donations of furniture, especially mattresses, tables and chairs, call ahead before making a drop-off donation, at (713) 842-9771. 

United Way of Greater Houston has set up a relief fund that people can donate to. The organization said its first priority is shelter and basic needs like food. The organization said it will also focus on long-term recovery efforts. It also said that it will absorb administrative costs, so 100 percent of every donation goes directly to relief.

Houston Children's Charity is teaming up with the Astros shortstop Carlos Correa to raise $500,000 to provide displaced children with beds. 

BARC Animal Shelter is taking donations — the shelter is closed for Labor Day and will resume regular operations Tuesday, Sept. 5.

So don't forget these great reminders on how you can help hurricane victims. 1) Uncoordinated volunteer efforts can hinder the response and impede a challenging logistics situation on the ground in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Island;  2) donate to charity;  and 3) get more involved.

Buy marine sanitation parts here with us at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 experts in marine sanitation supplies. 

via How to Help Storm Victims

via The Best Ways to Help in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

via Hurricane Harvey: How to help victims of the Texas storm

Toilet Macerator Suppliers Talk About AC Shorepower Cord Maintenance & Awesome Boat Maintenance Ideas

Your Toilet Macerator Manufacturers Discuss the Importance of Good Shorepower Cord Upkeep

Raritan Engineering your toilet macerator professionals would like to share with you this week some great information regarding AC shorepower cord maintenance tips.

One of the often overlooked maintenance items in the pre-season rush to the water is the AC shorepower system. Accredited surveyor and PS Contributor Capt. Frank Lanier sent a few scary photos from past surveys showing the common examples of neglect he has encountered.

Barring improper use or some owner fabricated MacGyverism gone bad (jury-rigged adaptors, botched plug installations, etc.) overheating and corrosion are the primary causes of AC shore power cord problems. Charred plugs and receptacles are the most common and are a result of resistance build up due to loose or corroded connections, which in turn generate heat and the potential for fire. The problem is especially prevalent among boats that continually run high energy loads such as water heaters and air conditioning units.

Basic inspections of your AC shore power system are easily accomplished and are well within the ability of any boater. The first step is securing all AC power to avoid accidental shock hazards. Turn off your boat’s main AC breaker, then the shore pedestal breaker. Next unplug the shore power cord and verify that all other sources of power (such as power on-demand generators and DC to AC inverters) are turned off and their respective breakers secured in the off position.

Start your inspection with the shore power cord itself, ensuring it’s constructed of proper marine grade components, uses appropriately sized wiring, and is the shortest cord that will get the job done. Always replace cords that show signs of chafe, cracks, split insulation, or those having electrical tape repairs.

Your Toilet Macerator Experts Share Great Maintenance Tips With You

Your toilet macerator professionals continue discussing industry standards call for shore cords to have molded-on plugs with sealing flanges or appropriate weatherproof boots. The plugs themselves should be checked each time you disconnect shore power (prior to getting underway for example) or monthly at a minimum, particularly for discoloration or corrosion on or around pins and plug inlets.

By the time discoloration is visible at the front of a plug or inlet, you’ll typically find that the damage is greater upon opening up the back for inspection. If left uncorrected, the damage will snowball (due to increasing resistance and heat buildup) until it burns a hole through the face of the plug, possibly leading to a fire.

When inspecting your shore power cord it’s also crucial to check the dock pedestal outlet and your boat’s inlet receptacle, ensuring both are corrosion free and undamaged. Upon finding a charred power cord plug, many owners simply replace it or the cord itself, only to find the new one also damaged a short time later due to a burned dock receptacle or inlet.

Another good practice is checking the “feel” of the connection when plugging in. Those that feel loose or don’t seem to be making firm mechanical contact likely won’t provide good electrical contact either. Avoid using worn or damaged pedestal plugs and report them to marina personal as soon as possible.

Practical Sailor has looked at a variety of "smart plugs" that warn owners of impending problems. These include the SmartPlug, which watches for shorts, and the West Marine GalvanAlert, which checks for wiring defects and reverse polarity.

Boat Maintenance Tips 

1. Manage Your Gelcoat with the Right Materials

The gelcoat on your boat needs proper maintenance to continue to protect it – yes, gelcoats are strong, but the wrong cleaners can dissolve them or stain them, so pick the right boat cleaners and use them regularly.  

2. Wipe Off Moisture – Any Moisture

Always keep a couple towels around, and wipe off your watercraft when it is wet. We don't mean just when you pull out of the water, either – although drying after use is an important part of preventing waterline stains. But all types of moisture are bad for your boat if they linger. 

3. Know Your Oil Schedule

Be aware of the specific oil requirements for your boat, which vary based on the model and type of engine. Change your oil whenever required. The easiest way is to take your boat to a certified dealer and have them change your oil. 

4. Always Check the Engine Before an Outing

A boat engine requires careful maintenance, especially before you take your boat out for an excursion. Every time you use your boat, run through a checklist so that your engine is ready for the journey. Check the bilge and hoses for any sign of leaks, check the fuel level and never go out without plenty of fuel, and check the water coolant level if necessary. 

5. Dewax Before Applying a New Wax Coat

A new wax coat is a common pre-season step to getting your boat ready for the waves. However, you can improve the efficiency of the wax coat by dewaxing beforehand. Dewaxing solvents are readily available and easy to use, and your new wax coat will go on more smoothly afterward. 

So don't forget these helpful tips regarding AC shorepower cord maintenance. 1) Botched plug installations, overheating and corrosion are the primary causes of AC shore power cord problems;  2) Charred plugs and receptacles are the most common and are a result of resistance build up due to loose or corroded connections;  and 3) another good practice is checking the “feel” of the connection when plugging in.

Click here for more information regarding Raritan Engineering and how we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via Boat Maintenance Tips | Family Handyman

via AC Shorepower Cord Inspections

Macerating Toilet Professionals Discuss Why We're Having So Many Hurricanes & Do Hurricane Category 6 Exist?

Your Macerating Toilet Specialists Talk About What Is Causing This Big Issue 

Raritan Engineering your macerating toilet distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding why we're having so many hurricanes this year.

Your macerating toilet suppliers share how just as Hurricane Harvey wrapped up its devastation of Houston, Irma got into line behind it and quickly built into the strongest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history. Now, Maria leaves a broken Caribbean in its wake: Dominica's rooftops and rainforests have been ripped to shreds, and Puerto Rico may be without power for months as a result of the storm. 

If you have a question about this hurricane season compared with recent years, we’ve got you covered: 

WHY IS THIS SEASON SO ACTIVE?

In short: atmospheric conditions were hurricane-friendly, and surface sea temperatures were warmer than usual. The Climate Prediction Center says that multiple conditions, such as a strong west African monsoon, have aligned to make the Caribbean Sea and part of the tropical Atlantic—a storm-spawning area called the “Main Development Region”—particularly well-suited to hurricanes.

“[Thermal potential] is a thermodynamic speed limit on hurricanes,” Emanuel says. “The greater the speed limit, the more favorable conditions are for hurricanes to form, and the more powerful they can get.”

WHAT CAUSED THE DROUGHT?

Largely, it’s an artifact of how we measure hurricanes. As Hart and colleagues demonstrated in a 2016 study, if you slightly tweak the definitions of hurricane categories, the “drought” mostly vanishes.

Find your marine toilet of choice here at Raritan Engineering, your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

“Tell the folks who survived [2007’s Category 2] Hurricane Ike that that wasn’t a major hurricane—it destroyed a large part of the Texas coastline,” says Emanuel. “Tell folks that Sandy wasn’t a major event… and it wasn’t even a hurricane.”

ALL THAT SAID, IS THIS SEASON UNUSUAL?

The longer it goes, the more severe it seems to get.

For starters, Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane—the second Category 4 storm to make landfall on the continental U.S. this year. Such a vicious one-two punch hasn't hit the U.S. in over a century, though 1954 came close, says Florida State University meteorologist Robert Hart. That year, the Category 4 Hurricane Hazel devastated the Carolinas, and two Category 3 hurricanes just missed landfall. 

Now, in less than a day, Maria has intensified from Category 1 to Category 5, battering Dominica at full strength, with Puerto Rico still in its sights. According to meteorologist Eric Holthaus, no Category 5 hurricane has struck Dominica since at least 1851. Prior to Maria, no Category 4 storm had made landfall in Puerto Rico since 1932.

DOES A MORE ACTIVE SEASON MEAN THAT MORE HURRICANES WILL HIT LAND?

Not quite. Forecasters caution that within a single year, there’s no solid relationship between the number of storms in a hurricane season and the number of landfalls. 

“Andrew, which occurred in 1992, was at the time the most expensive hurricane ever to hit the U.S., [and] that occurred in one of the quietest years we’ve seen the Atlantic, as a whole,” he says.

“People who are potentially in the path of a hurricane really need to pay attention and absolutely need to follow direction of emergency managers,” Emanuel says. “If you’re told to get out, get out—don’t mess around.”

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE FIGURE INTO THE PICTURE?

It’s complicated, but there’s reason to think that a changing climate will have at least some impact on hurricane season activity. 

That said, in coming decades, predictions based on warming suggest that average-intensity tropical cyclones—Atlantic hurricanes included—will likely get more intense. 

Emanuel and the report both say that on average, individual hurricanes will drop more precipitation in the future, since warmer air can hold more water vapor.

Future storm surges may also worsen, says Emanuel—partly because the intense hurricanes that cause them will be more numerous, and partly because of sea level rise.

Category 6? If Hurricane Irma Becomes The Strongest Hurricane In History, It Could Wipe Entire Cities Off The Map 

Meteorologists have been shocked at how rapidly Hurricane Irma has been strengthening, and they are already warning that if it hits the United States as a high-level category 5 storm the devastation would be absolutely unprecedented. 

I suppose that it is appropriate that such a powerful storm has a very powerful name.  In old German, the name “Irma” actually means “war goddess”…

Do you remember Hurricane Katrina?  Well, scientists now know that when it hit New Orleans it had already been downgraded to just a “low category 3” storm…

If Hurricane Irma were to make landfall as a category 5 storm with sustained winds of 180 miles per hour, it would rip buildings and everything else in its path to shreds.

Don't forget the helpful information found here as to why there are so many hurricanes occurring this year. 1) Atmospheric conditions were hurricane-friendly, and surface sea temperatures were warmer than usual;  and 2) the Climate Prediction Center says that multiple conditions, such as a strong west African monsoon, have aligned to make the Caribbean Sea and part of the tropical Atlantic—a storm-spawning area.

Choose your Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via Why This Hurricane Season Has Been So Catastrophic

via Category 6? If Hurricane Irma Becomes The Strongest Hurricane In History, It Could Wipe Entire Cities Off The Map

Electric Toilets Experts Talk About How to Safely Get Your Beer Fix While Boating & Having Fun With the Amphicar

Your Electric Toilets Professionals Discuss the Joy of Floating Breweries

Raritan Engineering your electric toilets distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to safely get your beer fix while boating. 

Your electric toilets suppliers talk about how everything’s better by boat, Boating constantly engages the world by water. We’ve fished, skiied, tubed, boarded and surfed. We’ve raced, run whitewater, rescued, and embarked on adventures to Communist countries. 

But this time, we’re here for the beer. More precisely, the microbeer: the crafty, flavorful alternative to the mass-produced product proffered by the international brewing industry. In the last 20 years, microbreweries seem to have popped up on every street corner in America.

The food and beer taste better at any local restaurant when you can enjoy them — responsibly — by boat.

The Afina 3950 turned out to be an ideal craft for this outing because its glassed-in salon kept us out of the rain during a typical summer-evening Florida shower, and because it came with a designated captain.

Operation Dry Water: If the helm is your responsibility, stay sober. It’s that simple. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational-boater deaths. Consider the consequences suffered by Orange County, Florida, resident Mark Watts, whose 2006 BUI accident killed a 20-year-old woman on Lake Irma and sent him to prison for six years. 

Your Electric Toilets Specialists Share How Floating Breweries Bring In the People

See your choice of electric toilets here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Jacksonville is also a beer town, home to a 1-million-square-foot Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA suds factory that daily cranks out 235 truckloads — or reportedly 9 million barrels annually — of Budweiser and other maxi-brews. 

River City claims to be the oldest microbrewery in the Jacksonville area, having tapped its first barrel in 1993. Grandstaff has been on duty since 2003. He once worked across the river at the Budweiser factory, where he was a quality-control manager and learned the craft, albeit on a much larger scale.

Grandstaff supervises the production of 200 barrels of beer annually, which puts the operation on the small end of the microbrew scale. The industry defines a microbrewery as one producing less than 15,000 barrels a year. That’s still a lot of beer, but considering the Jacksonville AB plant produces about 25,000 barrels a day, you gain perspective. 

The brew hall is in a glassed-off room adjacent to the bar area with a classic 14-barrel copper brew kettle. On the floor above are fermentation tanks and a storeroom where Grandstaff showed us nine different types of German malted barley and wheat and imported and domestic hops. 

The Afina 3950 was born out of frustration. When Wayne Floe, founder of Minnesota-based Floe International, couldn’t find just the right boat, he designed his own. Now his dream boat, the Afina 3950, is in production as a semicustom with a price of about $500,000. And there is really nothing like it on the water. At first glance, this 39-foot-6-inch-long, 11-foot-beam fiberglass craft looks like a big deck boat with a house on top. 

The Amphicar 770 - Car + Boat = Major Fun

Everybody’s still waiting for a flying car, but floating cars have been around for a long time. The Amphicar 770 was the first mass-produced amphibious vehicle available. Between 1961 and 1968, the Quandt Group built about 4,000 Amphicars. 

You might recall that the Quandt family is one of the wealthiest in Germany. At one point, the family portfolio consisted of 200 companies, including a 10 percent stake in Daimler-Benz and a 30 percent chunk of BMW. 

Despite its German heritage, the Amphicar 770 is powered by a Triumph engine, from the Triumph Herald 1200. The 43hp inline four-cylinder mates to a custom land and water gearbox which was produced by Hermes. The transmission allowed the wheels and the propeller to either operate together, or independently.

On land, an Amphicar was said to be able to travel at 70 miles per hour, using the four-speed manual transmission. With the prop engaged, it was capable of seven knots on the water. It doesn’t feature a rudder, instead using the steering wheels to change direction on the water, as well.

The key to a floating car is obviously its ability to keep water out. The only openings to the water are the two doors, which are double-sealed. 

There’s no sound in this video, but it provides an excellent view of the car’s seals and some action footage in the water.

As with most European products from the 1950s and 1960s, exports to the United States were critical. Of the 3,878 vehicles built, 3,046 came to the United States. Several things kept the Amphicar from continuing after 1968. 

The most notable Amphicar owner was President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had one on his ranch in Texas. His assistant, Joseph A. Califano, Jr. describes his first experience with the President’s Amphicar at the National Parks Service’s website:

“The President, with Vicky McCammon [President Johnson’s secretary] in the seat alongside him and me in the back, was now driving around in a small blue car with the top down. We reached a steep incline at the edge of the lake and the car started rolling rapidly toward the water. The President shouted, ‘The brakes don’t work! 

Today, Amphicar owners are rabidly enthusiastic, participating in the International Amphicar Owner’s Club’s “Swim-Ins” around the country. The Taunton Daily Gazette recently reported on Lori Esters and Gerry O’Bara, who put their Amphicar in Taunton’s Lake Sabbatia, as part of a profile on the WCVB-TV show Chronicle in the coming weeks.

Keep in mind these pointers when enjoying your boating breweries. 1) The food and beer taste better at any local restaurant when you can enjoy them — responsibly — by boat;  2) make sure the crew and company are responsible;  and 3) have fun!

Order your marine toilet parts here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via Microbrewery By Boat

via The Amphicar 770 - Car + Boat = Major Fun

Boat Toilets Experts Talk About Pros and Cons of Towed Water Generators & Fisherman's Pet Lost at Sea

Your Boat Toilets Professionals Discuss How Beneficial Towed Water Generators Could Be

Raritan Engineering your boat toilets distributors would like to share with you this week some great information regarding the pros and cons of towed water generators.

A few years ago, I noticed that 2 of the 10 cruising boats I saw docked in Bergen, Norway, had towed water generators, making me wonder whether the Scandinavians have had better luck with these devices than we have. In the October 2017 issue of Practical Sailor, offshore gurus John Neal and Amanda Swan Neal of Mahina Tiare Expeditions share their experience with these systems. 

It has been a long time since Practical Sailor tested towed water generators, and the number of choices remains extremely limited. The last towed water generator we reviewed was the Hamilton-Ferris towed water generator. And the last long-term test was of the Aqua4Aeroben made by LVM in the United Kingdom. 

Your Boat Toilets Specialists Share Ways to Avoid the Cons of Using Towed Water Generators

Your boat toilets professionals discuss how the units I saw in Bergen looked like they were the Aquair 100 made by the British manufacturer Ampair. In our article on Choosing a Wind Generator, we mention Ampair, and we describe its wind generator in greater detail our marine wind generator test.

Towing isn’t the only option, though. While I was in South Africa a few years ago, I spoke with the local representative for Duogen to try to arrange a test of this product, a combination wind and water generator. At the time, the company was fairly early in the product development, and I was not impressed with the fabrication. 

Call me a skeptic, but when I look at the prices for hydrogenerators and consider how much time they will actually be delivering power to the boat, I think there are much better ways to spend my money. If an efficient and convenient dual-purpose generator comes on the market, I may change my tune. But right now, I think solar, then wind still reign in the world of ship-board alternative energy.

Fisherman's dog lost at sea after his boat capsized, then the water police tow boat to shore

The concept of jumping for joy is not something that most of us take literally. In most instances, this phrase is not used in a literal sense and is more of an exaggeration. However, there are moments that will cause some of us to actually leap for joy during the course of our lives and while these events are often few and far between, this fisherman got to experience one of the most touching reunions that we have ever seen.

If you have never had the chance to see a grown man leaping for joy, then this is the perfect clip for you. This story took place off the Australian coast and this man went through the type of emotional roller coaster that would take years off the lives of many readers. 

At this time, the fisherman believed that his beloved dog was gone forever and the prospect of losing his pet to the sea was a tough one to swallow. When the water police towed the boat back to the shore, the fisherman was ready to give up on finding his dog and had essentially resigned himself to this fate. 

Please take a closer look at this touching video and don’t forget to share it with the people that you care about most. This fisherman clearly loves his dog to pieces and for those of us who have dogs of our own at home, this is definitely a moment that we can all treasure.

So don't forget these great reminders to consider before using towed water generators. 1) Keep in mind what your budget is:  2) ask yourself if being eco-friendly is the right way to go for you:  3) and how fuel effective do you want to be?

Click here and see how Raritan Engineering always takes care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via Towed Water Generators: Are They Worth It?

via Fisherman's dog lost at sea after his boat capsized, then the water police tow boat to shore

Marine Toilet Manufacturers Give Great Tips for Securing Your Engine & Looters Caught While Trying to Steal Boats

Your Marine Toilet Experts Discuss the Best Ways to Keep Your Engine Safe Longer

Raritan Engineering your marine toilet professionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to secure your boat engine.

Your marine toilet specialists talk about how outboard-engine thefts have increased in the last six months, particularly in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions. Keeping your boat at home in the backyard represents of one best security steps you can take.

Unlike boat hulls, outboards are not registered with state departments of motor vehicles, so they prove difficult, if not impossible, to track, Yearn points out. That makes outboards well-suited to the black market.

Prevention Is Key

Since the chances of ­recovering a motor dwindle from slim to none once it’s stolen, the key lies in prevention. But how can you protect your outboards?

Based on tips from Gilbert and others in the marine and insurance industries, here are five ways to prevent outboard thievery. Use as many of these suggestions as possible to thwart the efforts of nefarious types.

Keeping Boat at Home

Storing your trailer boat at your place of residence, behind a locked gate, offers the greatest security. Even when you’re not home, friendly neighbors can help keep an eye on your place and notify police of suspicious activity. One important tip: Avoid posting on social media that your family’s on vacation or otherwise not home. That can tip off opportunistic thieves to an easy target.

Keeping Boat at a Storage Yard

If you’re forced to store your boat at a yard (many of which are part and parcel of boat dealerships) or in a dry rack at a marina, look for security measures aside from a fenced perimeter, locks on the gates and razor wire atop the walls. 

Parking the stern of your trailer boat close to a block wall or building makes it difficult for thieves to steal the motor.

How to Park Your Trailer Boat

The way you park your trailer boat matters. If possible, back the boat up to a concrete building or solid block wall so there’s little room for bagmen to maneuver around the transom. Don’t back up to a chain-link or wooden fence on the property line, as thieves will quickly cut through these meager defenses.

See your choice of marine toilets here with us at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Benefits of Outboard-Motor Lock

A McGard outboard-motor lock (about $28) represents cheap insurance. It threads over one of the transom bolts to serve as a mounting nut, and only a specially keyed socket wrench can remove it. Otherwise, the cylinder around the lock spins freely, even in the fierce grip of a pair of channel-lock pliers.

Electronic Security for Boat

Companies such as GOST, Siren Marine and SPOT offer the ability to monitor your boat and motors around the clock with onboard sensors (both wired and wireless) that connect to apps on your smartphone, tablet or computer.

These systems offer tracking devices such as the compact SPOT Trace (about $50 plus $15 monthly service plan), which can be hidden under the hood of your outboard. It activates with movement and alerts you via text and email, then uses satellite technology to track the location of the outboard.

Electronic security systems, such as those from Siren Marine, can alert you via a mobile device if someone tampers with your boat.

False alarms from animals, such as guard dogs and foraging raccoons, plague some systems using motion detectors, but adjusting the sensitivity can resolve this issue. Siren, for example, calibrates its motion sensors according to body mass. “This allows it to distinguish between humans and smaller creatures to eliminate false alarms,” Harper says.

Sensors can also take the form of pull-switch cables connected to motors or other valuable onboard equipment. Disconnecting or cutting the cable activates the sensor. These can be placed in small, common items, such as canvas snaps that activate when someone unbuttons the boat cover.

Put these security measures to work in and around your boat to protect yourself from becoming a victim amid the rising number of outboard thefts.

Cajun Navy rescuer says looters shot at them, tried to steal boats

Texas National Guard and Texas Task Forces have rescued an additional 10 people follow hurricane Harvey via hoist on Blackhawks toda

HOUSTON — A rescuer for the famed Louisiana Cajun Navy says looters tried to steal their boats and fired shots at them while they were trying to save Houston residents from flooded homes.

Clyde Cain told CNN that a boat broke down, and while the crew sought shelter in a delivery truck, people tried to steal the inoperable boat.

“They’re making it difficult for us to rescue them,” he said. “You have people rushing the boat. Everyone wants to get in at the same time. They’re panicking. Water is rising.”

The Cajun Navy initially made the announcement in a Facebook post Monday afternoon, but the post was later removed.

“There’s looters out here, as in any time you have a natural disaster or catastrophe,” Cain said. “We’re OK.”

Because of the hostile responses, the Cajun Navy has been forced to halt some rescue attempts, Cain said.

Citizens with boats in Texas get to work after Harvey to ‘go try to save some lives’.

The Cajun Navy formed a year ago amid historic, devastating floods in the Baton Rouge and Acadiana areas.

It’s a group of men and women who own boats and go out into flooded areas to help stranded people and perform other disaster relief services.

They  mobilized over the weekend as Houston and surrounding areas began to experience devastating floods.

Earlier Monday, WGNO spoke with Houston resident Tasha Seeb, who used to live in New Orleans.

She’s been running a Cajun Navy dispatch center from her Houston home ever since she had to swim home Saturday night. Here’s what she had to say about the heroic rescues:

So don't forget these great tips on how to keep your boat engine safe. 1) Storing your trailer boat at your place of residence, behind a locked gate, offers the greatest security;  2) If possible, back the boat up to a concrete building or solid block wall so there’s little room for bagmen to maneuver around the transom;  and 3) think about investing in a security system.

Purchase your marine items here at Raritan Engineering. We are always your #1 expert in all marine sanitation supply needs.

via How to Keep Your Boat Engine Secure

via Cajun Navy rescuer says looters shot at them, tried to steal boats

Marine Heads Suppliers Discuss How to Good Maintenance Prevents Engine Overheating & Strangers Save Officers From Capsizing Boat

Your Marine Heads Manufacturers Give Pointers on Preventing Engine Overheating

Raritan Engineering your marine heads professionals would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how good maintanence prevents boat engines from overheating.

Your marine heads specialists share how one of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash — all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port.

Kelp and other types of seaweed can easily clog your intakes and cause engine overheating.

Dire Diagnosis

I decided to let the engine cool for several minutes while we drifted. That gave me time to assess the possibilities — perhaps the water-pump impeller had failed, or a bit of plastic sheet (maybe a discarded floating sandwich baggie) had been sucked up against the cooling-water inlet, or it might be the raw-water strainer was clogged, or one of the cooling-system hoses had come loose. 

Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare.

Knowing that water-pump impellers are prone to eventual failure, I started there. It took only a few minutes to open the pump, and to my dismay, the impeller looked perfect. As long as I had the pump open, I went ahead and swapped in a fresh impeller, closed things up and started the engine. 

Aha! A telltale bit of kelp was poking out of the inlet. I pulled what I could of the slippery seaweed out of the hole but knew there was still more inside. I needed another strategy to fix the problem.

In the Clear

Back topside, I zeroed in on the raw-water strainer once again. Simply looking at it, without opening it, had deceived me into thinking it was OK. It was not. I shut the seacock to prevent the ocean from rushing in when I opened the strainer housing, then unscrewed the canister. It was full of slime, algae and bits of sea grass. 

Now I was puzzled. I clearly had a free-flowing route for raw water to get to the pump and the impeller was turning ­properly, but no water was being pushed through the system. That’s when I got on the phone and called for some tech advice. The answer I got was so simple, it was ­almost absurd. “Did you lubricate the impeller?” the tech adviser asked. “With what?” I responded. “Try dish soap,” he replied.

Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field. The soap eases impeller installation.

Your Marine Heads Experts Continue Talking About the Importance of Proper Maintenance

Browse through our selection of marine heads here are at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

One of the problems with boats is they live in water that is shared by things like seaweed, algae, mollusks, scum, and sometimes floating trash — all of which can easily find a way into the raw-water intake port. So how do you keep that from happening? The solution is twofold — routine maintenance and constant situational awareness. Fail here and engine death is not far behind.

Despite the difficulties, or more correctly, perhaps because of them, this boat trip was one of the most valuable we have ever taken. The fact is we rarely learn anything of value when everything is going well. Unfortunately, most of our learning seems to require that we’re tested by challenges, like mechanical breakdowns, to be overcome.

How I Cleaned My Screen: Before

1. When I started to pull the screen out of the raw-water filter housing, I could immediately see the problem. The screen was clogged with slimy yuck that had accumulated over time.

2. Not only was the screen clogged, but also there was something ominous floating around in the bottom of the housing.

3. I poured out the contents and found bits of sea grass that had been sucked in through the raw-water through-hull. It doesn’t take long for a clog like this to overheat an engine.

4. A toothbrush from the toolbox is the perfect instrument to use for cleaning the stainless-steel screen, and also for scrubbing out the housing. No, I didn’t use Becky’s toothbrush. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Standing Effective Watch

When it comes to the situational awareness part of this story, it all boils down to standing watch effectively. Standing watch isn’t only about looking out for other vessels and being careful not to run aground, although those are important. 

Female Cops Inches from Engine after Boat Capsizes. That's When Stranger Grabs Her Arm

The wake of Hurricane Harvey was crippling for Texas. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue divers restlessly searched flooded roadways helping anyone and everyone stranded by the storm.

Additionally, civilians played an important part in several rescue efforts. Josh Hohenstein, an Army veteran living in Houston, gathered on a boat with locals Tuesday, Aug. 29 to film the aftermath of Harvey.

During his recording, Hohenstein captured a pontoon boat as it flipped over into 15 mile-per-hour rushing water. The vessel, carrying six police officers, suddenly became tangled with a tree before capsizing.

A Facebook post written by Hohenstein said his team rushed over to pull the first responders to safety. The current from nearby Lake Houston was so strong that it was a challenge rescuing one female officer.

The vet credited the successful rescue to driver, Jonathon Crawford. If it wasn’t for his “boating skills,” the cop would have been inches away from going under the boat’s engines.

Hohenstein said he used all his might to save the cop. “I barely caught her by one arm and used everything I had to get her on board,” he wrote.

He continued: “The world doesn’t judge a man on what he does for himself, but rather what he does for others.” Facebook friends agreed with his message, one even calling his team “Hurricane Harvey Heroes!"

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So don't forget these great tips regarding how to avoid engine overheating. 1) Impeller pumps are prone to failure and a good thing to check first. Carry a spare;  2) Use dish soap as an impeller lubricant if you need to replace it in the field;  and 3) always have good tools with you.

Buy a marine head here at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via Prevent Engine Overheating With Proper Maintenance

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Thru Hull Fittings Distributors Share the Frustration of Damaging Storms to Your Marina Bound Boats & Prepare You and Your Boat for the Next Hurricane

Your Thru Hull Fittings Suppliers Discuss How to Prepare Your Marina Bound Boat for the Next Tropical Storm 

Raritan Engineering your thru hull fittings experts would like to share with you this week some great information regarding how to avoid the frustrations of damaging storms to your marine bound boat. 

With Hurricane Irma poised to rake Florida and other states with storm surge and 100-plus knot winds, the storm poses a serious threat to boats all along the East Coast. 

Practical Sailor has covered storm preparation on several occasions. The two most extensive articles appeared in July 2008 “Gear for Battening Down Ahead of Storms,” and “Tropical Storms Dos and Don’ts,” from November 2011. 

Our first choice in a storm is a haulout facility, preferable well-inland and out of the path of the storm.The facility shouldn’t be vulnerable to storm surge, and it should be equipped with fixed anchors to tie your boat down. Second choice would be a hurricane hole with good holding, again well inland and out of the storm’s path.  

• Dock line size varies both with boat size and expected wind speed. Boats docked in hurricane or other severe weather areas should consider going up a size from common recommendations. 

• Loads on the cleat of a 35- to 40-foot boat during an actual hurricane can exceed one ton. While boatbuilding standards (the American Boat and Yacht Council in the U.S.) specify load-carrying ability, some older dock cleats are not up to snuff. 

• If your boat is 30-feet or longer and you do not yet have mid-ships cleats for attaching spring lines, consider adding them at the next opportunity. These should be sized and backed in the same manner as bow cleats, since loads are the same or greater. t is best aligned to withstand the loads (see above point).

•Remember the chafing gear. Preferably something water can permeate for cooling and lubrication. For a round-up of effective chafe gear see “Round 2: Chafe Gear for Mooring and Dock Lines,” October 2012.

• Removing canvas and sails reduces windage. Specifically, remove the furling jib, one of the most common storm casualties. Dodgers and other canvas will also suffer if left up during the storm.

Your Thru Hull Fittings Manufacturers Continue Talking About Protecting Your Valuable Boat During Stormy Times

• Use plenty of fenders. Your thru hull fittings professionals talk about how fenders need to protect you from the dock and neighboring boats. A fender board can be particularly useful in some scenarios. 

• Check your neighbors’ lines. If the boat appears to pose a threat to your own, try to contact the owner, and notify the marina staff. Failing these, deciding whether to take action yourself is a personal decision. What would you want someone to do if the boat was yours?

• Floating versus fixed docks. Properly designed floating docks are generally considered a safer option than fixed docks, with some important caveats. The support pilings must be high enough for the predicted storm surge. 

• Using anchors. If you side-tie and you don’t have a tie-off point opposite to your dock, well-set anchors with plenty of scope can help relieve the pressure on your fenders. Unfortunately, many marinas offer very poor holding. 

• Lastly, any marina facing significant storm surge is simply not safe, but those protected from a long fetch by a low wave barrier are particularly vulnerable. Boat owners on the Chesapeake got an expensive lesson in this during Hurricane Isabel. 

How To Protect Your Boat During A Hurricane

Land Storage

Boats stored on land tend to fare better than boats kept in the water. If you’re able to arrange haul-out and storage, choose a location on high ground, since low-lying areas are prone to flooding during a hurricane.

If you are leaving your boat on a trailer, place blocks beneath the frame on either side of the wheels, and then deflate the tires. Tie the boat to the trailer and secure the boat to ground the best you can. Some folks use an anchor or two sunk into the ground to prevent the boat and trailer from floating free.

Anchoring Or Mooring Out

If you decide to anchor your boat out, find a well-protected area with the least amount of fetch. Use multiple anchors and pay out lots of scope. Ensure your anchor rodes are protected from chafe wherever they contact the boat. (Old rags or towels provide excellent chafe protection.) 

Canals are great hurricane holes because you can run lines from both sides of the boat to trees and other strong, fixed objects. Boaters have also had success tying their boats up in mangrove swamps during hurricanes; they offer excellent protection.

Tying Off To A Dock

If you tie your boat off to a fixed dock/pier/bulkhead, secure your boat with multiple bow, stern and spring lines — use as many lines as you have or can procure, stretching them in many different directions. Also, secure fenders wherever contact with fixed structures could occur. 

Preparations On Board

Whether on land, at anchor or tied up to a dock, pier or bulkhead, you should strip anything from your boat that you can remove to reduce windage. Remove Biminis, awnings, sail covers, boat covers, mainsails and roller-furling jibs.

So don't forget these helpful reminders for keeping your and your boat safe from the next tropical storm or hurricane. 1) Use a haulout facility;  2) remove canvas and sails;  and 3) always use the anchors.

via Preparing a Marina-Bound Boat for a Tropical Storm

via How To Protect Your Boat During A Hurricane

Macerating Toilet Specialists Discuss the Best Ways to Enjoy Night Sailing & Reporters Rescued After Boat Crash

Your Macerating Toilet Distributors Talk About Night Sailing Safety 

Raritan Engineering your macerating toilet suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the best ways to enjoy night sailing.

Your macerating toilets experts talk about how achluophobia, the fear of the dark, is the third most common phobia in the world, with nearly 75 percent of adults reporting some level of fear when the lights go out. According to researchers at the University of Toronto, the fear of darkness is directly tied to the fear of the unexpected. 

PLANNING

Weather and Course

All good sailors know that planning is essential to a successful trip, but when sailing at night it is paramount. Check multiple weather sources frequently and especially in the hours leading up to sunset. Make sure you have studied your charts and know your nighttime route thoroughly. 

Emergency Exit

While you are examining your charts, identify a few key locations (if applicable) you can divert to in the event that you face unexpected inclement weather. The lee of an island, a protected bay, or an alternative harbor facility are all options. 

Timing

Find your marine toilet of choice here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Plan the arrival at your destination during daylight hours, especially if you are unfamiliar with the passage or harbor. Arriving during the day gives you better visibility for unlit markers, natural hazards, and the advantage of knowledgeable harbormasters and dockhands to assist you.

WATCHKEEPING

Schedule

Unless you are sailing solo, it is a good idea to put in place a structured schedule to dictate watchkeeping duties while sailing at night. A clear schedule gives all crew members accountability during the passage and prevents individuals from getting overly fatigued and making potentially critical mistakes.

Rotations

Standard watchkeeping is set in four-hour rotations which is the amount of time needed for a full cycle of REM sleep. If there are two people aboard and you are traveling only for one night, the recommendation is to establish a four-hour solo shift, followed by a one-hour shift with both people on watch, followed by a four-hour solo shift. 

If there are more than two people on the boat, set up a rotation with a primary, secondary, and off-shift person. The secondary person is “on call” for assistance that the primary watch keeper may need while the off-shift person gets uninterrupted sleep.

PERSONAL SAFETY & COMFORT

Safety is always the most important factor to consider when sailing, and there are several safety rules that should always be observed when sailing at night.

Lifejacket

The first and most important rule is to always wear a lifejacket...and wear it correctly. It's a hotly debated topic whether you should choose an automatically inflating vest or a manual one (read about The Great Inflatable PFD Debate and get the lowdown on the different styles from an expert). 

Stay Fueled + Warm

Food, hydration, and proper attire are important considerations for nighttime crew that are easily overlooked. Having snacks, water, warm beverages, and plenty of layers within reach can make your night shift more enjoyable. 

Think Ahead

Lastly, think of all the other things you may need to have on deck with you during your shift and have them ready when the time comes. A good kit might include a headlamp, spotlight, smart phone, headphones, Chapstick, Kindle, logbook, and writing utensil. 

VESSEL CONSIDERATIONS

Be Ready for Changes

If your vessel is not equipped with roller furlings, make sure that you have prepared before dark for potential sail changes, reefing, and wind shifts. If you think the wind is going to lighten up halfway through the night, have a larger geneoa rigged and ready at the bow for a quick and easy change between shifts. 

Reporters rescued after boat crash, harrowing night in hurricane-battered bayou

In a harrowing survival story emerging from Hurricane Harvey’s assault on southeast Texas, a pair of journalists documenting a seemingly routine civilian boat rescue survived near-electrocution and blunt force trauma, and clung to tree branches for 18 hours through hallucinations and relentless rainstorms before being rescued by chance late Tuesday morning.

Within minutes, the powerful currents were dragging the tiny vessel toward downed power lines 20 feet away in a swampy offshoot of Houston’s overflowing Buffalo Bayou.

"The boat hit the powerlines, shocked everyone, rebounded back toward me and [then] I remember seeing the black smoke billowing out of the boat."

Like a bug zapper amplified 10 million times

The two reporters said they had just gotten settled into the bow of the boat and were in high spirits, joking around with each other and anxious to capture some compelling video of a rescue when the accident occurred.

"This went on for probably a couple hours and I kept on saying, 'Hold on to more branches, hold on to more branches, hold on to more,' and he finally said, 'it’s breaking' and 'it’s broke' -- and I remember seeing his head bobble away and I remember thinking, 'Oh no! Oh no!'

'Desperate'

Soon there was nothing to do but wait. The rain was pouring down in sheets, darkness was moving in, and the men took turns calling out for help.

Before the afternoon rescue mission, Butterfield and Connellan had given little thought to alerting editors or local officials about their locations for safety’s sake. No one else knew where they were.

"I had some real hope that we were going to be rescued, but sadly no," Butterfield said. "And then darkness fell."

So don't forget these helpful tips for enjoying night sailing. 1) Be sure to plan well in advance;  2) make a good schedule for watchmen;  and 3) be safety conscious.

Choose your Raritan marine products here from us at Raritan Engineering. We are your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

via Sailing at Night

via Reporters rescued after boat crash, harrowing night in hurricane-battered bayou

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Boat Head Professionals Share Money Making Ideas While Sailing & Ditching Your 9-5 Job for Sailing

Your Boat Head Specialists Discuss Some of the Best Ways to Make Profit While On Your Boat

Raritan Engineering your boat head suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding money making ideas while sailing.

First of all – is it possible to make money while sailing around the world?

Yes – your boat head manufacturers talk about how it’s definitely possible to make money while living and traveling around the world on a boat. But the question is, just how much can you make and how can you make it?

Creative Ways to Make Money while Cruising and living aboard a Sailboat. I talk about all of the in and outs of Youtube, Patreon and Vimeo. Even more fun we talk about all of the people we have met along our cruising adventures and how THEY make money while living aboard.

At the time of writing this, I’ve been living on our sailboat in the Mediterranean full time for the last year. I’ve met a variety of people doing an assortment of things to make money (and find ways to minimize the amount of money that’s spent).

And then there’s us folk in the middle

We’re not necessarily on a low budget; rather we have a bit of savings to help us out for a while. And perhaps we have an income through pensions, rental income or investments. But the cash flow isn’t always guaranteed OR it’s not necessarily enough to keep us feeling secure for the long term.

For me, personally, I have a bit of money in the bank and some pensions that won’t come into effect for another 15 to 20 years. I think we can last for five to ten years but towards the end we’ll really have to watch the pennies.

We have to find a way to afford the upkeep on our expensive teak deck!

How to make money while sailing around the world…

1. Work for six months and then sail for six months

Now that I know about this option I wish I knew about it before we left for our world adventure! I had no idea that people worked during the winter months and then took six months off to sail around the Mediterranean or Caribbean. Looking back, I think that would have been a better way to ease into the live-aboard lifestyle.

Your Boat Head Distributors Give Helpful Suggestions On How You Can Afford to Sail More Often

Be sure to find marine toilets here at Raritan Engineering, your #1 expert in marine sanitation supplies.

2. Find a work-from-‘home’ job

The work-from-home trend is still on the increase. I imagine it will exponentially increase. More and more companies see the value in having employee’s work from home. There are a couple of people in the marina, that I’m in now, that appear to work from home but they’re really working from their boat.

3. Consultancy – on land

If you have the skills to do consultancy – perhaps a past record of success in a particular field – you can potentially pimp yourself out (infrequently) to do some consultancy projects.

4. Consultancy – on the sea

Again, if you have a set of skills that do allow for consultancy, the possibility exists to set up an online consultancy service. There’s a photographer in Greece I stumbled upon that teaches other photographers how to make money online.

5. On-line project based work

If you can write, edit, design, program, transcribe, research, and any other work that can be done online, you can find thousands of opportunities on the Net. Check out websites like elance.com (now called Upwork.com) just to get an idea on online projects. For this particular website ‘clients’ post a job that they want completed and you can bid on the job. If you win, you fulfill the requirements and then get paid.

Finally, as mentioned at the top of this article, I have an updated version of this article. The update accounts for three years of making money while I sail rather than just my first year. I know far more now than I knew when I wrote this. 

How to Ditch Your Corporate Job and Make Money While Sailing the World

One of the top questions people get when they quit their jobs to travel the world by sailboat is this: how on earth do you afford it?

Melody DiCroce, sailing live-aboard since 2012

I’ve been following Melody’s journey for awhile now, as her blog, Saving to Sail,  goes into ways to make money while cruising. She’s been living aboard since 2012, when she and her husband sold their house and their stuff and moved onto the boat to pursue his life-long dream of cruising. At first, Melody was apprehensive about living on a boat, but now, she can’t get enough of it.

How she makes money

Melody lived aboard while working at a full-time job for the first several years, working for Ramit Sethi, an entrepreneur and NY Times bestselling author.

“I learned a lot from him about money management from his book, I Will Teach You To Be Rich. I made a nice salary and put back as much as I could from my paychecks.”

When they finally cast off this January to sail full-time, she put a lot of irons in the fire. Her biggest source of income is from freelance work, doing writing, web design and copy editing. But she also makes money elsewhere.

Her advice to other sailors

She said if you want to quit your job, you should make sure to have two to three different ways of making money in case one disappears.

And if you’re opening an online business:

“Always tell the truth. No matter what. Run your business with integrity, because that’s when you get the customers who will bend over backwards to buy from you. Trust is a huge thing, especially online these days, so I’m extremely grateful that my audience trusts me. I’d rather have their trust than their dollar. If they trust you, the dollars will come organically.”

Elin Rose, sailing in the Azores Islands

Elin Rose is a 27-year-old Icelandic woman who caught the sailing bug in 2010, when she moved to Lisbon, Portugal to work at her first interior design job. She learned to sail on a river that runs through Lisbon, and fell in love with the sea.

Love sailing? Love living small?

She struggled at first, starting several businesses, none of which worked out. But, she managed to get onboard a sailboat and sailed for three months in the Azores and Madiera islands.

“I realized I had to find a way to work online and continue sailing. I made many friends and met a lot of sailors, yachtswomen and men that inspired me to join their tribe!”

How she makes money now

Elin has now found several ways to make money while also pursuing her dream of sailing.

“I started out on Amazon by finding products to sell and label them under my brand. There were a few ups and downs, but eventually I cracked the code and the business grew month by month,” she said. “It quickly expanded into Ebay, and other sales channels and before I knew it I was a full-time internet marketer with a huge email list of customers all over Europe!”

Her advice to other sailors

Elin said she had zero online business experience when she started out pursuing her dream, and she learned by reading books and listening to interviews.

So don't forget these great tips on how to make money while sailing. 1) You can work for 6 months and sail for 6 months;  2) you can find work from home;  and 3) have online project based work.

Click here to get your boat head at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via Creative Ways to Make Money while Cruising on a Sailboat (Sailing Miss Lone Star)

via TEN WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WHILE SAILING AROUND THE WORLD

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Marine Toilet Systems Specialists Share Great Tips On Preventing Propane Leaks & Propane Safety While Boating

Your Marine Toilet Distributors at Raritan Discuss Some of the Best Way to Maintain Safety While Using Propane

Raritan Engineering your marine toilet systems manufacturers would like to share with you this week some great information regarding great tips for preventing propane leaks.

Simply stated: We are not fans of portable LPG systems on boats. Even fixed propane heating (and cooking) systems that employ all the safety precautions recommended by the American Boat and Yacht Council or comparable advisory bodies can be dangerous, if they are neglected.

In the first part of our upcoming series of tests of propane system equipment, marine surveyor Capt. Frank Lanier outlines the basics of marine propane systems.

Because propane is heavier than air, it can slip into the bilge undetected, where a spark can set the boat ablaze. Propane locker explosions have also occurred. Here are some of his observations on propane safety:

Every LPG system in the United States is required to have a pressure regulator designed for use with LPG. These pressure regulators have relief valves that can vent gas, so it is critical that this gas cannot make its way onboard. 

Your Marine Toilet Systems Suppliers Continue Discussion About Maintaining Propane Safety At All Times

Your marine toilet systems experts talk about how leaks typically occur at fittings and connections, although they can occur anywhere in the system due to chafe or physical damage to supply lines or other system components. Use leak-detection fluid or a detergent solution to locate leaks.

A word on leak prevention at fittings. Typical marine LPG system connectors include 1/4-inch or 3/8-inch NPT (National Pipe Thread) and/or 45-degree SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) flare connections. 

Check your LPG system regularly for leaks or anytime you fire up that stove or grill. Installation of a marine-grade, LPG “sniffer” or fume detector is also highly recommended. If you have one installed, ensure the gas sensor is mounted as low as possible and near the range (where leaking gas is likely to accumulate), and test sensor operation on a regular basis. 

After cooking, leave one burner ignited and turn off the solenoid or tank valve. When the burner goes out, close the burner valve – this empties the line of gas and prevents leaking should a burner valve fail to seal. 

Propane Safety for Boats 

Relatively speaking, propane is a fairly new fuel aboard boats. As recently as the 1970s, the majority of recreational boats relied on denatured alcohol, kerosene, or diesel for cooking and heating tasks. The downsides to those fuels included fussy pressure tanks and cantankerous burners that often wouldn’t work. 

Propane is a great fuel for cooking and heating aboard, but it also deserves a healthy amount of respect.

Also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), clean-burning propane changed all of that — no more hand-pumped pressure tanks or fiddling with clog-prone burners. But propane does have a couple of downsides. 

Shut it Off

The best way to prevent trouble between the tank locker and the stove is simply to close the propane tank valve when you’re not cooking or heating. If you tend to forget such things, you can install an electric solenoid valve after the regulator in the tank locker to give you a way to shut off gas flow remotely. 

Sniff it Out

Any boat equipped with a propane system should have a propane fume detector installed. Often referred to as “sniffers,” these devices use a sensor installed in the lowest possible part of the boat near possible leak sources, such as a stove or heater, to sniff out LPG fumes. 

Line it Up

The supply lines (generally made of rubber hose) that carry pressurized propane gas from the tank to the appliances in your boat obviously need to be in tip-top shape, so make sure they are not cracked or worn, and are secured with cushioned stainless-steel hose clamps at regular intervals. 

Click here and see how Raritan Engineering always takes care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via Propane Safety for Boats | Boat Trader - WaterBlogged

via Double-check For Propane Leaks

Raritan's Seacocks Professionals Share the Benefits of Marine Thermal Cameras & Catching Orcas On Camera

Your Seacocks Specialists Discuss How to Use Marine Thermal Cameras to Your Advantage

Raritan Engineering your seacocks distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the benefits of marine thermal cameras.

Your seacocks manufacturers talk about marine thermal-imaging systems such as those from FLIR and Iris enhance navigational safety at night by enabling boaters to see obstructions such as lobster-pot buoys, floating debris and other unlit, low-lying objects that might not show on radar.

This technology can also help you find fish. With thermal imaging, for example, you can see weed lines and kelp paddies on the ocean at night, says Lou Rota, vice president of worldwide sales for FLIR Maritime. Such floating vegetation, which attracts offshore fish, possesses minute heat differences that thermal imaging can detect.

Thermal cameras can also see fish at night. “We’ve had a lot of people saying that they’ve hooked tuna after finding breaking fish before daylight by using a thermal-imaging camera,” says Rota. “Many anglers also tell us that they can spot schools of bait fish dimpling the surface in the dark.

Black Hot shows warmer objects in darker shades versus the traditional White Hot thermal image, which turns warmer objects a lighter shade.

Ever notice how things often change temperature before they fail? Cold things get hot, hot things get cold? So it figures that an infrared, or thermal, camera would be a great tool for preventive maintenance. 

Finding a Thermal Detective

Many surveyors have added thermal detecting to their services, but do your due diligence before hiring one. Not all are qualified—some have the camera, but not the experience and expertise to interpret the images accurately. 

Check us out at Raritan Engineering, where we have all the seacocks for all your sanitation needs.

Finally, a professional thermographer will have better equipment than you or I will buy, unless we want to get silly with money. It can record 20 minutes of radiometric data at 30 frames per second (essentially thermal videos) that Allinson can then analyze frame-by-frame; many thermal cameras record, but don’t allow analysis later. It’s a lot more camera than most of us need.

Be Your Own Thermal Detective

Hiring a thermal detective for a one-time scan only tells you what’s what at the time, but problems can appear unexpectedly on a boat. So the best way, I think, to use thermography in a scheduled maintenance program is to invest in a thermal camera (you don’t have to spend 40 grand), acquire the know-how to use it skillfully, and make it a step in your maintenance program.

Thermography Training

You’ve bought a thermal camera, and now you have to figure out how to use it. There are many paths to enlightenment, and they all start with Googling “thermography training.” 

Certification training, however, isn’t free: A four-day Level I Certification course, taught in a classroom, costs $1,995. (Level II and III courses all cost the same; each builds on the previous level.) I think certification is a necessity if you’re planning on making money with your thermal camera. 

 But if you just want to maintain your own boat, maybe you should save your money. Amazon.com has a raft of thermography books, from expensive textbooks to nearly free e-books. Before dropping two grand, plus travel expenses, for classroom training, maybe just try a little reading.

Go Thermal Full-Time

Based on the Lepton micro-thermal camera, the AX8 system connects one or more cameras with a laptop or  multifunction display running the operating system and offers full-time thermal monitoring. 

It uses MSX technology to create detailed images. The boat owner can draw regions of interest on an image, add spot meters to watch them closely, and set too-hot and too-cold alarms. 

Cox says the AX8 system is easy to connect. “If you can plug in a cable, you can do it,” he maintains. The system is wired with Ethernet cables; each camera has an I.P. address, so you connect to it like you do any other network device over an Ethernet. It works very much like a video surveillance system.

Playful Orcas Caught Chasing A Boat From Underwater Camera

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be chased by a pod of orcas? Well, wonder no more.  A man was boating off the coast of Norway and ran into a pod of orcas, something I am sure that most of us would love to see.  I would be happy to see these amazing creatures from the water’s surface.

The orcas seem to be curious about the boat that is motoring away on the surface and continue to follow it for long enough for us to enjoy their beauty.  The members of the pod swim in a slightly different ways, but they all head in the same general direction.

And it looks like they are enjoying chasing the boat; almost as much as we enjoy this unique video.

Choose your Raritan marine products here and see how we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

via The Basics of Thermal-Imaging Cameras

via The Benefits of Using Infrared Sensors on Your Boat

via Playful Orcas Caught Chasing A Boat From Underwater Camera

Raritan Marine Holding Tanks Experts Give Great Tips For Successful Everyday Sailing & How to Avoid Fatal Accidents On the Lake

Marine Holding Tanks Professionals at Raritan Discuss How to Get Your Crew in Top Shape

Raritan Engineering your marine holding tanks specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding tips for successful everyday sailing.

Your marine holding tanks distributors continue talking about how we reached out to a mix of successful sailors to find out what they want the other crew members to keep in mind to help them execute their job the best they can. Here’s what they had to say:

Bow:

The race is not over until the spinnaker comes down. It is easy to switch to recovery mode right after crossing the finish line, but this can be costly with a messy takedown, ripped or wet sail. To go along with this, after races finish send the jib bag up before the food bag! It’s frustrating for the bow when I’m are ready to flake the jib and everybody is eating.

Pit:

Be mindful of where things are thrown. For example: a jib change on the run, I may not be the one putting the old jib or bag down below, so I ask teammates to be mindful of the flaked kite halyard. I flake it once and then spend the rest of my run focusing on weight placement, pole position, finding the leeward marks and it becomes time consuming to have my head in the boat for longer than necessary.

Driver:

I love it when new crew get onboard, listen to the race conversation and offer input where it might be lacking or where he/she can contribute value. For example, if no one is calling breeze on the rail, it’s great to have a crew take the initiative to make very concise and valuable breeze calls (Puff on in 3, 2, 1….)

Visit us at Raritan Engineering and browse through our holding tank options, and see how we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Boat Captain:

Ask questions at the right time. I love when people want to learn and be involved with how the boat comes together, but choose a time when not much else is going on, probably not when I’ve just sat down to service a winch. 

Third Boy Scout dies after electric shock in sailing accident

Three Texas Boy Scouts were reportedly electrocuted in a fatal boating accident Aug. 5 on Lake O'The Pines in East Texas. (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)

An 11-year-old Boy Scout died Monday from injuries he suffered in a Saturday boating accident, two days after two fellow Scouts died of electrocution at the scene, a state official said Monday.

The two other boys, who were Eagle Scouts, were 18 and 16, according to the parks agency. Their names have not been released.

Boy Scout officials are asking Scouts to show support during Thomas’s organ donation procedure Tuesday at Louisiana State University’s Shreveport medical center, where he was taken for care and later died. 

“We have to come together as a Scout family and make sure we are supporting those who are carrying quite a weight right now,” Anderson said.

More than 300 people gathered at a park in Hallsville on Sunday night for a vigil honoring Thomas and the Eagle Scouts. It was mostly a collection of other area troops, Anderson said.

“You’re talking about great young men, men of integrity,” Sherri Morgan, Hallsville band director, said at the vigil, according to the News-Journal. “We’re heartbroken. We’re devastated.”

“All is not lost. They leave a legacy,” she added. “So they are going to live on forever.”

Kelly Weatherford, a longtime and close family friend of Thomas Larry’s parents, told The Post she spent Saturday night and Sunday morning in the hospital, waiting for news about an 11-year-old boy that she said was “the funniest, goofiest kid.”

“He’s a little comedian,” Weatherford said, speaking before Thomas’s death. “He makes everybody smile. He’s such a cool kid.”

Thomas’s older brother John was also on the lake when the catamaran caught fire. He watched as a medical crew worked on Thomas and took him away in an ambulance, Weatherford said.

She said the Larry boys were taught “to work hard and be responsible.”

The accident is being investigated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s boating accident reconstruction and mapping team, officials said.

While they wait for answers to their questions, such as why the power line was so low or located over water at all, Troop 620 is drawing from its roots.

So purchase your marine items here with us at Raritan Engineering. We're always taking care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

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Marine Hot Water Heaters Dept: 10 Awesome Destinations for Sailing Adventures Around the World

Marine Hot Water Heaters Dept Shows: 10 Awesome Destinations for Sailing Adventures Around the World

1. The Grenadines

The “Spice Islands” are a chain of 32 picturesque islands sprinkled across 60 miles of the southern Caribbean, offering a perfect blend of dramatic landscapes, culture, marine life, friendly people and unspoiled white sand beaches. Known as some of the world’s greatest sailing waters, you’ll find the ideal sailing conditions and lack of crowds make it one of the best spots for a vacation on the water.

2. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

This tiny archipelago of islands in the eastern Pacific Ocean is remote, though it entices people from all over the world to see its legendary abundance of rare wildlife. Demand for berths here is heavy, making expedition cruising the best way to explore the 19 islands while boning up on Darwin’s theory of evolution…

3. Port Townsend, Washington

Surrounded by water on three sides, with the spectacular Olympic Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop, Port Townsend is the ultimate place for sailing. Washington’s Victorian Seaport & Arts Community is situated right on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, meaning there’s almost always wind that provides ideal conditions for sailing.

4. Minorca, Spain

Though it may be the lesser known of the Balearic Islands, Minorca is scattered with more spectacular beaches than Ibiza and Mallorca combined, including Cala Mitjaneta, Cala Pregonda, Cala Macarella and Macarelleta… The rolling landscape is mixed with secluded coves and beaches along with a climate ideal for sailing, making it a true sailing paradise.

5. Whitsundays, Australia

Azure seas, cloudless skies and… 74 stunning islands. The majority of this area belongs to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, one of the seven wonders of the natural world: sailing here provides the opportunity to snorkel or dive all day. Boats and tours cater to everyone from beginners to the most experienced.

6. Greek Islands, Greece

With some 6,000 islands in Greece, each with their own distinct character, you’ll find practically an endless number of ports to stop in, with each offering a different feel. Sailing is really the best way to experience these breathtaking islands, finding secluded spots or dining on octopus and ouzo.

7. Bay of Islands, New Zealand

New Zealand has one of the highest per-capita rates of boat ownership on the planet, with the maritime reserves in the Bay of Islands in the country’s winterless north rated among the most beautiful sailing spots in the world.  These roughly 150 islands that have escaped development, are usually the first port of call for hundreds of yachts that drop down from the tropics in the cyclone season.

8. Catalina Island, California

Located 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, is a boating paradise. The clear waters off the island are filled with an abundance of marine life. You’ll discover a big boating scene at Two Harbors, a small village home to lots of coves that provide moorings and anchorages.

9. French Polynesia

French Polynesia is made up of five main groups of islands, including Tahiti. The islands offer an alluring mix of beautiful lagoons, traditional culture and exotic marine life. This is truly the place that stereotypical ideas of a tropical paradise come from.

10. Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

There are more than 40 islands dotted across the glistening turquoise waters of the central Caribbean Sea, and hundreds of anchorages. The Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, featuring luxurious cabins across the hillside overlooking North Sound, is a fabulous place to base your stay while enjoying these surroundings.

via 10 Awesome Destinations for Sailing Adventures around the World

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Raritan Marine Sanitation Device Specialists Discuss Amazing Tips While Traveling to Havana

Your Marine Sanitation Device Suppliers at Raritan Talk About the Excitement of Sailing to Cuba

Raritan Engineering your marine sanitation device manufacturers would like to share with you this week information regarding amazing tips while traveling to Havana.

Now that U.S. sailors can so easily can go to Cuba, the question remains should they go? I think most cruisers would not want to miss the chance. To explore the reefs of the fabled Jardínes de la Reina, to reach close along the green mountains between Punta Maisi and Boracoa, to wander the streets of La Habana— what more could the cruising life offer than to explore far (and not so far) corners of the world under sail? 

If navigation worries are what’s holding you back, you need not be overly concerned. One of the unexpected benefits of Cuba’s Soviet experience is the GPS-accurate surveys of the island. This does not mean that you can steer blindly through passes by watching your chartplotter cursor, but it does mean that there are surprisingly accurate charts and guides to the area, in many cases more accurate than our own. 

Your Marine Sanitation Device Experts Continue Discussion on Great Sailing Tips You Might Need While Sailing to Cuba

Your marine sanitation device professionals talk about how it is from the publishers of the Waterway Guide, which was highly rated in our most recent comparison of guides to the Intracoastal Waterway. The Waterway Guide has a relatively strong online component with an active community of contributors, so even if you don’t buy the guide, you can use their website for updates on marinas and other relevant information. Wally Moran, a regular contributor to the Waterway Guide with multiple trips to Cuba under his belt (he is a Canadian citizen), contributed much of the information to the guide. 

It covers the north and south coasts of western Cuba, describing the counterclockwise route around the western tip, Cabo San Antonio. The book is 224 pages long and filled with dozens of detailed chartlets and specific navigation instruction. Offering tips on everything from where to buy fresh-baked bread, to making windward progress along the coast, it is about as good a combination of navigation/travel guide as you’ll find for cruising. 

Cuba: A Cruising Guide by Nigel Calder ($57) is the oldest book in our library. Published in 1999 by Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, the same publisher of Don Street’s familiar guides to the Caribbean, this is the thickest guide to the area, with detailed descriptions of anchorages, even ones that the other guides miss. It is, as far as I know, the only English-language cruising guide that covers the entire island. 

Buying all three books costs close to $150. If I were to skip one to save money, it would be the Waterway Guide, although it covers east coast entry points that Barr’s book omits, so if you are coming down the waterway and through the Bahamas, it is worthwhile. Certainly, you could get by with Calder’s book alone, but Barr’s updates come in handy and her chartlets are well rendered.

If you want to dip your toe into the Cuba cruising without spending a dime, there is also a free guidebook online. 

Finally, for word-of-mouth updates for cruisers who have been there, the Seven Seas Cruising Association is a great resource. The organization held a gam late last year on cruising Cuba and offers a wealth of information for sailors.

Click here for more information regarding marine sanitation devices and how to take care of all your marine sanitation supply needs by going to Raritan Engineering.

via Tips for the Havana Daydreamer

Marine Ice Makers Professionals Share Thoughts on Becoming a Boat Mechanic & How Good Maintenance Prevents Bigger Problems

Your Raritan Marine Ice Makers Specialists Talk About the Importance of Starting Your Boating Education Early

Raritan Engineering your marine ice makers distributors would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to become a boat mechanic.

Explore the career requirements for boat mechanics. Get the facts about training options, job duties, employment growth and salary to determine if this is the right career for you. 

What Is a Boat Mechanic?

Boat mechanics maintain and repair motors, engines, propellers, pumps and other parts. General tasks may include lubricating parts, making mechanical adjustments and replacing worn or damaged parts. In this career, you will need to be able to diagnose small motor problems and explain them to customers. You may also be required to make inspections and keep records of the results along with any services performed. \

A boat mechanic is a technician who maintains and repairs inboard and outboard boat engines. Their duties include disassembling and inspecting motors, replacing defective parts and adjusting timing or fuel-air mix. Other duties may include testing and evaluating motor performance at a range of speeds. They also inspect, adjust or replace propellers, power-tilts and bilge pumps and keep records on inspections and repairs. 

The best marine ice maker can be found at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation supply needs.

Step 1: Prepare in High School

You may begin preparing for a boat mechanic career by taking shop courses if your high school has them. Shop courses provide direct experience with small hand tools and problem solving. 

Step 2: Complete an Apprenticeship

Learning on-the-job through an apprenticeship program is one way to obtain the training you need. Boat manufacturers and labor unions may offer some apprenticeships, while others are affiliated with local community colleges or technical schools. Inboard and outboard engines, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, parts fabrication and performance tuning are among the subjects you may encounter. 

Step 3: Attend College

While an apprenticeship may prepare you for your career, many employers prefer to hire mechanics with formal training or college educations. You may obtain this experience in a certificate or associate's degree program in small engine technology. Some schools emphasize marine technology in their programs. 

Step 4: Obtain Employment

You can apply for positions in repair shops, docks and marinas or start your own business. However, if you choose to be self-employed you will have to promote and administer your business. You'll also need to pay for costly diagnostic equipment. 

Step 5: Consider a Second Revenue Stream

Unless you live and work in an area of the country that is temperate year-round, consider developing a second income during cold weather months when boat owners put their boats into dry dock. 

5-Boat Fire in Everett Saturday Blamed on Mechanical Problem

A mechanical problem is to blame for a fire that damaged five boats, sinking several in Everett on Saturday, officials say.

A boat carrying five people came in to moor at the Port of Everett that evening when a loud boom was heard. Flames spread quickly, and everyone on the boat jumped into the water.

One person was treated by paramedics for minor injuries.

The flames caught the mast of a nearby sailboat, and continued to spread. The dark smoke could be seen for miles.

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via 5-boat fire in Everett Saturday blamed on mechanical problem | HeraldNet.com 

via How to Become a Boat Mechanic in 5 Steps

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Marine Heads Suppliers Share Reasons Why Positive Rudder Angles Are So Important

Your Marine Heads Manufacturers Gives Great Tips On Improving Your Rudder Angles

Raritan Engineering your marine heads distributors would like to share with you topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the importance of positive rudder angles.

Your marine heads distributors talk about why a big piece of the “speed loop” that’s often overlooked, especially in smaller boats, is rudder angle. I was recently chatting with main trimmer Warwick Fleury about_ Alinghi 100_, the winning boat in the 32nd America’s Cup. They sailed this boat when it was new for some time thinking it was perhaps not a step forward. Then one day, they put up a jib that was built for a different rake than the normal rake. All of a sudden, the boat started winning speed tests and eventually won the Cup. We had a similar situation at Luna Rossa with an older boat. Everything possible had been tested, from rudders to keels and masts to structures. It was not a very fast boat. Then we moved the mast forward a few inches, and the boat came alive. The gain from getting the balance correct was bigger than anything else we tested.

So amid such talk about optimum rake for various boats, how can you tell when you’ve really nailed it—that it’s just right? Your GTA 5 submarine parts suppliers discuss how the answer can often be found in the amount of helm you’re carrying. In very general terms, you want to sail upwind with an angle of attack of about 5 to 7 degrees. The angle of attack is the sum of your rudder angle and the amount of leeway you’re making (see diagram). 

How much leeway does your boat make? It can be tough to figure this out; you can measure forever and still not account for things such as current, waves, boatspeed, and angle of heel. 

Your Marine Heads Specialists Discuss Further Why It Is Important to Consider Different Tactics

Don't forget to browse our selection of marine heads at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine supply needs.

Your marine heads experts share the point that once you have a sense for the amount of leeway your boat makes, the next step is to find out where the tiller is, relative to the boat’s centerline, when the rudder is lined up with the keel or centerboard. Just because the tiller is centered, don’t assume the rudder is, too. I’ve found that the tiller will almost always be off to one side or another. 

Once you know where the tiller is when the rudder is centered, you can create some benchmarks. Your marine parts source manufacturers talk about how with the tiller locked in the rudder-centered position, rotate the tiller extension so that it is 90 degrees from the tiller. Put a mark on the tiller extension (if its length is not adjustable, use the end of it) and then put a corresponding mark on the side of the deck, directly under it (see diagram inset). 

It’s helpful to know your rudder angle in situations other than when sailing upwind. Whenever you’re accelerating out of a tack or accelerating on the starting line, you need to have your rudder on, or close to, centerline. You can use the marks you put on the deck to confirm its location.

Even downwind you want some positive helm, especially if you’re not sailing dead downwind. Your marine parts express professionals share how that at any time you’re hiking or planing on boats with asymmetric spinnakers, you’re generating side force. 

Buy a marine head here at Raritan Engineering, where we can answer all of your marine supply concerns and questions.

via The Power of Positive Rudder Angle

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Raritan Marine Products Experts Share the Secret to Leveraging Puffs

Raritan Marine Products Specialists Get You Ready to Handle Puffs Efficiently 

Raritan Engineering your marine products analysts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the secret to leveraging puffs.

Your marine products experts know that being prepared for and responding to puffs efficiently will give you the edge on the racecourse. In light air, finding and taking advantage of puffs can create massive gains both up and downwind. 

BACKSTAY TENSION

In the puffs, the backstay (or runner tension) should be wound on to tighten the rig and flatten the sails upwind. Your marine parts store professionals feel that will help prevent excessive heeling. 

STAY IN CONTROL

If you’re sailing downwind, overloading the helm can cause a broach. With the information provided from the rail, the driver and trimmer must communicate so the spinnaker sheet can be eased in the puff to unload the rudder and enable the helms-person to turn down.

ALL TOGETHER

Crew hiking is challenging and vital in puffs. If the boat heels over in a puff, it reduces the flow over the keel and rudder and the boat slips sideways. Your marine parts warehouse analysts say that hiking hard and working on a consistent heel angle is crucial for taking advantage of the puff.

EYES ON THE ROAD

When the puff hits, the driver should work on feathering the boat through the puffs. That means you could be sailing “inside” the jib with a slight bubble in the luff. That will maintain the heel angle to prevent too much heel.

Raritan Marine Products Professionals Know You Need to Stay Alert While Out On the Water

Browse our marine products selection here at Raritan Engineering and see how we always take care of your marine supply needs.

Your marine products specialists know that during lulls, even advanced sailors tend to chase apparent wind around obliterating VMG and slowing them down unnecessarily. 

Gust Response

The Right Way

I don’t know who said it first, but it’s brilliant. “Ease, hike, trim.” This is the correct order of operations for handling a gust. Here’s why. 

I love Nathan Outteridge’s description of handling gusts in a 49er. He says “We let the onslaught of the gust rush past.” Sounds effortless right? If you think about more flow creating more lift, this really makes sense. 

By accommodating our new apparent wind aft with sheeting out, we are able to increase flow on the sail and maintain a constant angle of heel. 

Your marine parts plus experts know that in marginal hiking conditions, sometimes just adding weight in enough to instantly jump the boat speed up. In these cases, less or even no sheet release is necessary, because your apparent wind swings forward so quickly as you add weight that flow is not lost, and the heel of the boat is not affected by the gust. 

The Wrong Way

“Pinch, Hike, Corrective Steer, Stall”

Due to the nature of gusts swinging the apparent wind aft, it’s easy to see why many sailors react poorly to gusts. When your apparent wind comes back, weather helm is created and the boat naturally wants to head up. 

It’s true that strong pointing is absolutely achieved through higher speeds first, not steering angle changes. The increased speed and flow over the sails and foils creates more lift and this means less sideways force – and good pointing is actually a reduction of leeway. 

Gust with Shift Components

What happens when the direction of the wind actually changes? What if it’s a gust AND a shift? This is actually pretty common in “fanning” type puffs that spread out from the middle, typical in offshore breezes. 

If you’re in a gust with a header component, it will be clear instantly because instead of your AW moving back, it will slam forward and you’ll see your windward telltales come up. Try to anticipate this and just sheet out and steer down quickly to angle. 

Choose your marine supplies here at Raritan Engineering and see how we always take care of your marine supply needs. 

via How to Leverage Puffs

via Sail Faster with Less Hiking – Part 3: Gust and Lull Management

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Raritan Marine Holding Tank Specialists Talk About the Best Sailing Knots to Use

Raritan Marine Holding Tank Distributors Share Great Knot Tying Skills With You

Raritan Engineering would like to share with you this week these awesome knot tying skills that will make your journeys much more enjoyable.

I’m as prone as anyone to being enchanted by the big picture—but I learned quickly where that can lead. About 10 miles off the coast of Colombia, in a gale that tragically swept a poor French cruiser right off his boat, the smallest cheapest block on board our little ketch exploded in a mess, leaving the club-footed staysail swinging around the foredeck like a Louisville slugger in the arms of an angry Skunk Ape (that’s Florida-speak for Big Foot).

The article looked at a seemingly mundane subject, the kind of article no one but a serious sailor would take notice of, but the implications were far reaching. 

The most familiar knot of this type is a rolling hitch. While an ordinary rolling hitch might work fine on an awning, it loses its effectiveness as loads and rope diameters increase. 

While it was the most easily tied and most easily remembered, it cannot be relied on for use with anything but chain and large diameter, high-friction line at relatively low loads, in our opinion.

Bottom line: If you want to be sure your line won’t slip, don’t rely on the rolling hitch.

MODIFIED ROLLING HITCH

The rigger’s and camel modifications to the rolling hitch increased its holding power without greatly increasing its complexity. But it still did not hold on slippery, single-braid Spectra line or on the greased stainless tube with the larger diameter line.

Raritan Marine Holding Tank Suppliers Further Discuss How to Improve Your Knot Tying Abilities

Your holding tank manufacturers talk about the importance of learning new sailing knots. Bottom line: A definite improvement over the rolling hitch, but still not reliable in all situations.

SAILOR’S HITCH 

The sailor’s hitch took twice as long for our testers to tie as the two rolling hitches, and it was the hardest to undo when used with line. After being tensioned on the single-braid Spectra, it took a marlinspike and 10 minutes of hard work to free it. 

Bottom line: This hitch does not perform any better than the modified rolling hitch, but it is harder to remember and jams when used with certain types of line.

ICICLE HITCH

The icicle hitch also took twice as long as the rolling hitch to tie, but it performed better than all but the gripper hitch, holding in all test situations.

Though the icicle hitch would separate a bit as it was tensioned, the top of the hitch never moved even with maximum load. This was the easiest hitch to undo after it had been tensioned.

Bottom line: The extra holding power and the ease of release more than make up for the slight increase in complexity of this hitch.

GRIPPER HITCH

While this hitch performed every bit as well as the icicle hitch, and might have outperformed it, had we made the testing even more difficult, its complexity can’t be ignored. It took our testers one-10th the time to tie the various rolling hitches and a quarter the time to tie the sailor’s or icicle hitches. 

Bottom line: The gripper hitch may have the highest holding power, but in an emergency, most people will prefer a hitch they can remember easily and tie quickly.

Click here for more information from Raritan Engineering on holding tanks and all of your marine sanitation needs.

via Testing Sailing Knots That Really Grip

Boat Toilets Professionals Give Helpful Mildew Prevention Tips

Your Boat Toilets Specialists Talk About Effective Cleaners For Getting Rid of Mildew

Raritan Engineering would like to share with you this week some amazing tips on how to prevent mildew.

We tested the most effective cleaners for mildewed fabrics in 2009 and published a follow-up on long-term treatments in 2015. In the 2015 test, we were delighted to discover that some DIY formulas and common pool treatments like Clorox Algae Eliminator can do as well as pricey store bought miracle-cures. 

Canvas dodgers and biminis are the hallmark of a cruising yacht, keeping the sun at bay and allowing the crew to “dodge” the worst of the weather. Canvas also protects sails, windows, and machinery. 

Clorox Pool and Spa Algae Eliminator proved to be an inexpensive cleaner/protectant.

For maximum water repellency, boat owners could use impervious waterproof fabric instead of canvas, but that typically isn’t a good idea. Waterproof sail covers hold moisture, mildewing sails more quickly. 

If cleaning mildewed sails is among your biggest cleaning chores, check out my previous blog post Dealing with Dirty Sails.

This Advisor discusses tactics and measures you can employ in what amounts to a continuous fight. Once you get a handle on it, your cabin will smell a whole lot fresher—and those itchy eyes and that mysterious cough that you may have been experiencing might just go away too.

Cowl-style ventilators help to circulate air below decks.

Your Boat Toilets Suppliers Share Why Ventilation is So Crucial to Mildew Prevention

To prevent mold and mildew, you need to ensure that your boat is well ventilated. Your boat toilets distributors offer useful tips that explain why this can be as easy as opening hatches or portholes to create cross ventilation. But for times when you are away, you will need to rely on either active or passive ventilators to keep the moisture level down.

Check out our boat toilets at Raritan Engineering and see how we always take care of your marine supply needs.

Take a proactive approach

Controlling mold is a continuous battle that requires a multi-pronged, proactive approach. I say “control”, because you will never entirely eliminate mold and mildew from your boat. 

Following is a general plan of action for removing existing mold and mildew, and once it is removed, to keep it at bay.

Step One: Remove the Mold

To remove mold and mildew, try using a solution of bleach, water, TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate) and powdered laundry detergent mixed in the following proportions: Four quarts of freshwater, one quart of bleach, 2/3 cup TSP and 1/3 cup of laundry detergent. 

Mildew Stain Remover

Among the best of the bleach-based products is Star brite’s Mildew Stain Remover. Offered in a 22-ounce trigger spray bottle, it gives you the ability to direct the spray into hard-to-reach areas, such as under quarter berths, or up into chain lockers. 

In either case, use the product liberally, taking care to spray it into hidden, hard to reach areas. Sop up any runoff from these products with some rags, which you will need to dispose of at the end. 

Step Two: Fumigate

M-D-G Mildew Control Bags eliminate mold with a penetrating vapor.

After removing the mold, follow up with one of the MDG products by Star brite. These products use chlorine dioxide technology to create a penetrating vapor that kills mold along with the odor that it creates. 

Step Three: Apply a Mildew Blocker

Although mildew blockers work only temporarily, applying one will give you a temporary leg up in what amount to a continuous battle. According to Practical Sailor, one that works reasonably well is 3M’s Marine Mildew Block.

Reduce Moisture with Calcium Chloride Crystals

Star brite, DampRid and MaryKate all offer systems that employ calcium chloride crystals to remove moisture from the air. In some cases, the moisture gets deposited into a reservoir, as with DampRid’s Easy-Fill Moisture Absorber or the No Damp Ultra Dome by Star brite. 

Propane and Diesel Cabin Heaters and Stoves

To prevent this, when using a propane or diesel cabin heater or stove, open your boat’s hatch to let the combustion gasses escape, which is something you should do anyway to limit the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Click here to get marine toilet parts at Raritan Engineering. We always take care of your marine supply needs.

via Preventing Mildew in Marine Fabrics

via Combating Mold and Mildew on Boats

Marine Toilet Specialists Discuss Why The Need to Avoid Distraction

Your Marine Toilet Distributors Talk About Safety Awareness Tips While Boating

Raritan Engineering your marine toilet experts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the need to avoid distractions while boating.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission says that sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. Your marine toilet professionals share why on waterways across the country, recreational boaters know that five seconds is a world of time to get into trouble. 

Good news/bad news: “Cellphones are the primary communication device for many boaters,” said BoatUS Foundation Assistant Director of Boating Safety Ted Sensenbrenner. “So while they’re important to all of us, we have to know how to use them wisely."

The stress of it all: Adding to the challenge and unlike automobiles, says Sensenbrenner, is boating’s unique stressors of sun, glare, wind, waves and vibration. Research shows that hours of exposure to these boating stressors produces a kind of a fatigue, or "boater's hypnosis" which slows reaction time almost as much as if you were legally drunk. 

4 tips to improve situational awareness: Cell phones, alcohol and other factors can hinder knowing what’s going on around you, or your “situational awareness.” 

If you’d like to learn more about safe, smart and clean boating, go to BoatUS.org.

See your choice of marine toilets here at Raritan Engineering where we always take care of your marine supply needs.

Funded primarily by donations from the more than half-million members of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nonprofit provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America's waterways and keeping boating safe for all. A range of boating safety courses – including 34 free state courses – can be found at BoatUS.org/courses.

Many of us enjoy fishing, jet skis, or simply relaxing on a boat. In Texas alone, there are more than 595,000 registered boats. Whether onboard a sailboat, motorboat, paddleboat, or another type of personal watercraft, the operator must be extremely careful.

While distracted driving accidents on our nation's roadways have become an epidemic and gained national attention, many boaters do not remember the same safety rules when they take their driving off the road and into the water. 

Boating accidents are frequently caused after drinking alcohol. They are often caused when an inexperienced or unlicensed operator is driving the boat, operating the boat while distracted by a mobile device or another activity, operator inattention, or driving too fast. Boating while intoxicated is a criminal offense.

Operator error, distraction, and intoxication are unfortunately not limited to recreational watercraft use alone. Professional captains have been caught using cell phones during fatal collisions. 

Distracted boating is as dangerous as distracted driving. No matter what or where you are driving, pay attention to your surroundings, use common sense, and don't text and drive. 

So don't forget to purchase your marine items here at Raritan Engineering. We will answer all of your marine supply needs.

via The Five Seconds That Can Get a Boater Into Trouble

via Distracted Boating: Is It as Dangerous as Distracted Driving?

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Macerating Toilet Distributors Share Useful Tips on How to Drop a Water Ski

Your Macerating Toilet Experts Share the Best Ways to Successfully Acquire This Skill

Raritan Engineering your macerating toilet specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the best ways to drop your water ski.

I learned to water-ski behind the family’s old lapstrake Lyman with a 40 hp Evinrude. It proved more than capable of hoisting 8-year-old me out of the water on two skis. But as I grew older and wanted to slalom, it didn’t have the juice to pull me up. 

Step 1

Your macerating toilet suppliers discuss further how to choose a slalom ski with an open ­binding — also called a rear toe plate — for the back foot. Many recreational-level skis not designed for competition will have this feature. Put your dominant foot in the front binding as this will be your lead leg while slaloming.

Step 2

Put the second ski on your other foot with the binding set as loose as possible so your foot can slide in and out of it with ease.

Step 3

In the water, execute a traditional two-ski start: arms straight, knees bent, let the boat pull you out of the water.

See our replacement parts here at Raritan Engineering and see how we always take care of your marine supply needs.

Step 4

Once you’re up on the skis behind the boat, remain in the smooth water in the center of the wake until your driver circles back to your designated drop point.

Step 5

When it’s time to drop the designated ski, lift your heel and push down with your toes to free your foot from the loose binding. Your macerating toilet dept.shares talking about why you do not lift the ski out of the water; instead, work your foot free as smoothly as possible and let the ski drop behind you as the boat pulls you forward.

Step 6

When you are ready, carefully place your free foot on the back of the slalom ski and apply pressure with your toes.

Step 7

Once you are able to maintain your balance, slide your back foot into the open binding — try not to look down, but keep your focus forward on the boat’s transom.

Step 8

Once your back foot is secure, you’re ready to start carving in and out of the wake and developing that oh-so-impressive rooster tail.

Driver Tips

If you’re behind the wheel while a skier attempts to drop a ski, work out a plan with the skier beforehand. Once the skier is up, execute a short loop back to the skier’s starting point, preferably close to shore, where the skier can drop the second ski. 

You're comfortable on a pair of combos, and you're ready to step up to a slalom ski, but you've struggled with deep-water starts. 

Lifting a ski

Lifting one ski off the water is the first step in learning to slalom because it gives you the security of putting the ski back on the water if you start to lose your balance. To lift the ski, transfer all your weight onto the ski that you want to stay in the water - just as you would if you lifted one leg on land.

Based on the lifting exercise, pick your strongest leg. This will be your front leg once you've transitioned to a slalom ski. But first, you must drop a ski. 

Transfer your weight onto your strongest leg just as you did for lifting a ski, but this time keep the unweighted ski on the water. Do not lift the ski off the water or try to kick it off. Try to move as little as possible. Don't rush to find the back toe plate - simply place your foot on top of the toe plate for the time being. 

Don't forget to purchase your marine items here at Raritan Engineering, the answer to all your marine supply needs. 

via How to Drop a Water Ski

via Drop the Nonsense

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Marine Head Units Professionals Give Great Pointers on Unsticking Stuck Bolts and Nuts

Your Marine Head Units Specialists Discuss How to Loosen Up Those Tight Nuts and Bolts 

Raritan Engineering your marine head units distributors would love to share with you this week these great pointers on how to unstick pesky bolts and nuts.

My friend Nick and I had a discussion the other day about which bolts were tougher to break free: shaft coupling bolts or the lug nuts on an old trailer.     

The muscles, in this instance, were those of Dustin Rahl, owner of a very busy mobile trailer service in Sarasota, Fla., Trailers 2 Go. The axle on the trailer for our Catalina 22 test boat Jelly (aka Our Lady of Perpetual Despair), had cracked at the weld, so that its left wheel splayed outward at a 20-degree angle. 

But what happens if the PB isn’t enough? Carefully applied heat from a butane, MAPP-gas, or propane torch is usually the next step. After that, it’s time to break out the specialty tools.

Like a chef with a favorite set of sauce recipes, a good mechanic needs a tried-and-proven list of tricks to help coax rusted fasteners into submission. Their tools range from penetrants and ingenuity to pure brute force. 

When good nuts go bad, its time to call in the bone crushers.

One unusual but effective fastener-freeing technique involves massive thermal change that causes an abrupt material expansion or contraction. 

Your Marine Head Units Suppliers Are Happy to Supply You With These Amazing Tips

Sometimes, all a bolt needs is a few good wacks to loosen the bond, but be careful! You don't want to damage the threads. Your marine head units professionals continue discussing that if you can only approach from the threaded end of a bolt, you can put another nut on the bolt and tap that — not too hard. 

The rusting process also degrades bolt head shape. A last ditch effort may require a pair of Vise-Grips or sockets designed to grab deformed bolt heads. For stuck, slotted-head bolts, an impact screwdriver can be a real lifesaver.

I’d be interested in hearing of other tried-and-true methods for un-seizing the seized.

If you work on a boat you already know nuts and bolts freeze with frustrating frequency. Sometimes it's a carbon steel bolt corroded solid on a cylinder head. Other times it's a stainless steel bolt frozen solid in an aluminum lower unit. 

Begin with fire. An oxy-acetylene torch works best. The downside, if you don't already own one, they are expensive to rent and complex to fire up. And because of the inherent danger of working with an open flame near an inboard gasoline engine tucked into an enclosed space, first run the bilge blower for several minutes to ventilate the area.

Know that sometimes the flame blossoming from the common propane torch may hold enough BTUs to get the job done. Either way, oxy or propane, heat the bolt. No need to go red-hot, but hot enough so droplets of water flicked onto the bolt sizzle off into a vapor.

An alternative to fire is ice. Some mechanics claim dry ice will shrink a bolt enough to break corrosion's hold. Though most of us choose a torch because it's quicker if not more dramatic. Besides dry ice, there is another cool option. It is an aerosol spray that freezes metal ice cold, more particularly a blast of freeze spray, an aerosol that super chills metal parts to minus 72 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Sometimes the corners of bolt head round off making it impossible for a wrench or socket to grasp hold. Calmly reach for a center punch and a ball peen hammer.

Never use force. Just get a bigger hammer. When you are willing to sacrifice the bolt, position the wedge tip of a cold chisel against the corner of the bolt head or nut and bang away with repetitive strikes of a ball peen hammer.  

Finally, assembling fasteners with anti-seize compound in the first place is a good way to keep fasteners from corroding in the first place. For example, on new outboards I remove all the bolts in the lower unit, one at a time, coat them with anti-seize and then replace.

Click here and see how you can get more information regarding all your supply needs at Raritan Engineering.

via More Boat Tips: Unsticking Stuck Nuts and Bolts

via How to Remove Stuck Nuts and Bolts

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Boat Head Manufacturers Discuss the Best Way to Maintain Your Display Panels

Your Boat Head Specialists Share Great Tips on Keeping Your Display Panels In Great Shape 

Raritan Engineering your boat head suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the best way to maintain your display panels.

Your boat head distributors continues to discuss how touchscreen displays make marine electronics easier and faster to use than ever. Once you use a touchscreen, you’ll never want to go back to the old-fashioned push-button mode of operation. Think in terms of today’s touchscreen smartphones — would you ever want to go back to a flip phone?

Stow

If your electronics displays are bracket-mounted, remove and stow them indoors between trips. Your marine parts outlet manufacturers continue sharing how this will minimize weather exposure and thwart would-be thieves. Transport your equipment securely between the boat and storage location. 

Cover

You can’t easily remove flush- or surface-mounted displays to stow them off the boat, but you can use a sun cover on them. The company that makes your display will offer a sun cover in the appropriate size for each model. 

Shield

Virtually all marine electronics displays are built to an industry water-ingress standard such as IPX6 or IPX7. Yet it is still a good idea to protect both the back and front of the display from spray whenever possible. 

Your marine parts near me specialists give further tips regarding how caring for a boat is a constant process. The amount of wear that normal water conditions can cause can strip paints and varnishes, and animals can fly overhead or climb on board and leave messes. 

Choosing Soaps for Marine Use

Soap and water seem like a natural pairing. But soaps that are not rated for marine use can cause a number of harmful problems to the water around you. Phosphates in soaps cause algae growth that can pull oxygen out of the water and cause fish kills. 

Your Boat Head Distributors Talk About Proper Cleaning Methods

Don't forget that you can find marine supplies here at Raritan Engineering. We always take care of your marine supply needs.

Boat Surfaces and Their Care

• Fiberglass: Your boat head experts share how fiberglass is one of the most common and easy to clean surfaces on a boat. Your marine parts depot suppliers continue discussion of how much like the exterior of a car, a good paint job, regular washing, and periodic coats of wax are all that is needed on a normal basis to keep the exterior looking good. 

• Aluminum: Aluminum needs little done to continue to look good. A regular wash is most of what is needed. The real risk with aluminum is wear due to galvanic corrosion (the kind of corrosion that boat zincs are placed to protect).

• Other Metals: Brass, chrome, stainless steel, and other metals can be cared for on a boat if you follow a few simple rules:
  • Consider the marine habitat when using corrosive polishes to refinish. If you want to use something very toxic on something like a propeller, it would be better to remove it from the boat and relocate it to a place where the substance will not end up in the water.
  • Do not mix metals, and ensure that the more active your metal, the better protected it is (and stays).
  • Protect from galvanic corrosion with zincs. Ask a marine mechanic for help if you do not know how to place these yourself. 

• Glass: Glass is one of the most likely surfaces to show spray after you take a ride on your boat, but one of the easiest to clean. Marine rated glass cleaner works well, and many a sailor swears by saltwater and newspaper for a high-polish shine. 

• Isenglass: Though this thin glassy substance serves the same purpose as a glass window, cleaning it with anything ammonia based will ruin it forever. Instead, water and mild dish soap or boat soap is enough to keep your canvas windows looking shiny and new, and to protect your canvas from premature wear due to chemicals.

Boats are one of the best ways to spend a spontaneous weekend away on a romantic cruise or fun trip with the kids. However, unless surfaces are properly maintained, a carefree jaunt can quickly become a long work weekend.

Click here to get your boat head from us at Raritan Engineering, where you can find all the answers to your marine supply questions.

via Proper Maintenance of Marine Displays

via How to Care for Surfaces on Boats

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Marine Products Specialists Appreciate That Sailing Is One of the Best Sports

Your Marine Products Analysts See the Joy of Being Out on the Water

Raritan Engineering your marine products experts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how sailing is one of the best sports ever.

Your marine products specialists feel that whether you sail competitively or not, there’s very little that can beat the sensation of being out on the water, wind filling the sails, harnessing the power of nature and relying on your skills and expertise. 

Sailing lets you find some peace and quiet

Sailing is a great way to bring peace and quiet into our busy lives; the simple sounds of the wind as it fills the sails, or the water as it flows past the boat can be very relaxing and centering, a perfect antidote to the stresses of the modern world. It gives busy people the understanding that they can relax, whilst at the same time focusing on sailing.

Sailing lets you get away from it all

As you step onto the boat, the busy world that you’re so used to starts to fade away. As you sail away from the shore, the things that happen on land become small, background concerns. 

Being a sailor teaches you lots of technical skills and expertise

A large part of sailing is about experience, self-confidence and learning the right skills. Moment to moment, you develop an understanding of what needs to happen to keep yourself, your crew and the boat safe and get to where you need to be.

Sailing is a great way to feel connected to nature

Sailing is a very pure form of being with nature. Whether that’s capturing the wind in the sails to propel you along, feeling the currents in the river or the sea or understanding how the weather is going to affect the boat, you learn a tremendous amount of respect for the natural world. 

So don't forget to browse our marine products selection here at Raritan Engineering.

Sailing rewards focus, effort and competition

Sailing needs a good, consistent, constant focus; it demands your attention. Your marine parts depot specialists know that the wind and water are dynamic, and understanding any changes that you need to make, especially if you are sailing competitively, is vital to doing well. 

In closing

Sailing can bring you closer to others, enhance your own experiences and deepen your connection with the world around you. It demands attention, creates challenges and helps you understand your own strengths.

1) Biggest (and most beautiful!) playing field in the world: the ocean

2) Everyone from elementary schoolchildren to grandparents and even great-grandparents can learn to sail!

3) Sailing can be relaxing, adventurous, competitive, thrilling… No matter what you make it, it’s always fun.

4) With a vast array of boats and different kinds of sailing, you’ll never get bored!

5) Sailing is a great way to rediscover your hometown and adopt a new perspective

6) … And it’s hard to beat the opportunities for travel and exploration across the globe.

7) It’s a perfect activity to share with family and friends of all ages

8) The sailing community is fantastic, and you’re bound to meet wonderful sailors no matter where you go

9) You’ll get both a mental and physical workout on the water!

10) Finally, sailing will without a doubt bring more happiness into your life.

So don't forget to buy your marine products here at Raritan Engineering where we take care of all your marine supply needs. 

via Sailing is a Great Sport

via 10 Reasons Why Sailing is the Best Sport

Marine Water Heaters Professionals Discuss Gelcoat Restoration Tips

Your Marine Water Heaters Distributors Talk About Cheap Ways to Keep Your Gelcoat Looking Great

Raritan Engineering your marine water heaters experts would like to share with you this week some amazing suggestions regarding how to restore your gelcoat. 

We’ve just wrapped up a test of aggressive rubbing compounds for heavily oxidized fiberglass hulls—now available to subscribers in the April 2014 online issue—and this also gave us an opportunity to look at the tools and techniques involved in resuscitating a neglected hull. Although this can be tedious work, it is one of those jobs, like varnishing, that offers instant gratification. 

Restoring old gelcoat is a matter of degrees. You’ll need to inspect the health of your gelcoat and decide which solution is best for you. If restoring the hull requires wet-sanding or rubbing compound, the general rule is to start with the least aggressive approach. 

If the gelcoat is deeply scratched, gouged, or looking thin in some areas, it may be time to sand and paint the hull (PS, December 2012, February 2011, August 2009). Remember that gelcoat is only a thin layer to begin with—it varies from boat to boat, and it’s thinnest at the bow, corners, and curves—and an aggressive buffing compound may take that layer down to fiberglass. 

Your Marine Water Heaters Suppliers Give Good Reasons to Invest In A Great Looking Gelcoat

Your marine water heaters specialists explain how if oxidation and minor scratches are your problems, a rubbing compound system (followed by a wax) should be enough to restore shine. However, if the rubbing compound is getting you nowhere (try a test patch), and after washing the rubbed area, the oxidation is still visible, it’s time to wet-sand the hull. Assuming, of course, you’ve got enough gelcoat to sand.

Follow the wet sand with a fast-cut, coarse-grit rubbing compound. This can be followed by a medium- or fine-grit compound; if the boat is less than three years old or the oxidation is only mild, you can go straight to a medium- or fine-grit compound.  

Boat Buffing Techniques and Tips

Wet sanding: Start with 600- to 800-grit wet-dry sandpaper. Pros we talked with prefer Sunmight (www.sunmightusa.com), 3M (www.3m.com), and Mirka (www.mirka.com) sandpapers; they don’t load up as quickly and last longer. While you can wet-sand by hand using a rubber block, we suggest using a pneumatic or electric, dual-action (DA) orbital sander to make the job faster. Nelson Roberts of Atlantis Boatworks (www.atlantisboatworks.com) in Sarasota, Fla., showed us his coveted sander, a pricey device made by Mirka, which has developed an alternative to pneumatic and heavy electric tools. 

Compounds: Apply the compound generously to the buffing pad, keep it wet, and go slowly. If you don’t feel any drag on the pad, and it’s sliding around during application, it’s time to clean or change the pad. 

Compounding Tools

A successful refinishing job is the result of using the right products and the right tools. We recommend using a machine polisher for applying rubbing compound. In PS Editor Darrell Nicholson's previous blog post, “Waxing and Polishing Your Boat,” he talked about a few tools, including the one he uses for big jobs: the DeWalt DW849, a Dewalt variable-speed polisher. 

Wool buffing pads are better than foam or cotton because they hold the rubbing compound better. Quality pads can last years. To reuse a buffing pad, wash it in a clothes washing machine using warm water; we suggest doing this at the laundromat. 

Click here for more information from Raritan Engineering regarding your marine water heaters needs.

via The Pro's Guide to Restoring Gelcoat

Marine Hose Distributors Talk About the Benefits of Changing Speeds

Your Marine Hose Experts Offer Great Tips On Knowing When to Go Slower or Faster When Out On the Water

Raritan Engineering your marine hose suppliers would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding the benefits of changing speeds.

Your marine hose specialists give explanation as to why the goal of a sailboat race is to beat your competitors to the finish line, so going full speed ahead is usually the best strategy. However, there are a few places on the race course where sailing slower may actually be faster. The leeward mark is one of them.

When you exit from the leeward mark, you want to be at least slightly to windward of the centerline of the boat ahead so you have the option to keep sailing straight ahead in relatively clear air. In order to do this you must:

• Be 100% ready to race upwind before your bow gets to the leeward mark;
• Swing wide before the mark so you can pass very close to it (you should be able to reach out and touch it);
• Be going fast (faster than your close-hauled speed) when you get to the mark so you can use this speed to pinch up slightly above the boat ahead.

1) If you misjudge your speed or if the other boat slows unexpectedly, you could hit them in the transom. Often the only way to avoid fouling is to bear off below them (which puts you right in their bad air).

2) The closer you are to the boat ahead, the more likely you are to be in (or fall into) their wind shadow.

There are several advantages to creating this gap.

First, it reduces the risk of catching up to the boat ahead, which means you won’t have to avoid them by bearing off into their bad air. Second, it allows you to accelerate as you approach the mark (rather than slow down which is often the case when you’re afraid of catching up to the other boat).

Don't forget to look at your marine products choices here at Raritan Engineering. We always take care of your marine sanitation needs.

In most cases faster is better, but don’t be afraid to slow down when this tactic gives you more options and better control of your situation.

The basic concept of going fast-forward in a lift, or pinching in a header, has been around for as long as I can remember-or at least since my junior sailing days when my instructor passed along this tactical tidbit along. 

Understanding how to set up your sails to allow for a fast-forward mode is especially important in one-design sailing. This means understanding how to twist your sails, and knowing the difference between reaching and going fast upwind. 

When and where on the racecourse is it best to try and gain bearing? There are many different situations, but generally I'm looking to go fast-forward when I know I'm lifted and leveraged near a corner. 

A bearing gain comes from the twist and setup of the sails, but it also comes when the rest of the fleet is positioned on the outside of a shift or stuck in traffic. 

And here's another one: "Wind direction of 180. Target speed is posted target." In this case, the sails are set in a normal upwind mode with normal twist profiles."Wind direction is 175, 5 degrees left of average. Target is top speed. Happy to be two-tenths under posted target speed."

It's critical to be aware of what you're doing when you're going for a bearing gain because you do not want to spear off into a corner, potentially sailing extra distance for a shift that never materializes. 

When to sail high and slow

First and foremost, I try really hard not to sail in headers. Rule No. 1, sail the lifts, makes life much better. But if you find yourself out of phase, you need to know how to sail the boat two-tenths under target for a period of time. 

In a venue such as Long Beach, Calif., where the locals know to head toward the right side of the racecourse after the sea breeze fills, sailing in high mode is imperative. 

Understanding your tactical needs at the time should be the driving factors in selecting any given mode. If you make the decision to go fast-forward, everybody on the boat needs to understand what you're going for at the time and why. This will allow for a constant stream of feedback of performance versus competition so you will know when to change modes.

Purchase your marine hose here at Raritan Engineering, where we always take care of your marine sanitation needs.

via When Slower is Faster

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Macerating Pump Professionals Share Info to Help You Decide If You Need Polyester Sails

Your Macerating Pump Suppliers Discuss Advice That Could Affect Your Next Sail Purchase

Raritan Engineering your macerating pump 

The Arcona 400 trucks to weather under state-of-the-art load-path sails from UK Sailmakers. The durable crosscut laminate sails use a scrim of Spectra fibers with carbon tapes and panels that are glued together.

Arcona Yachts

One of the largest expenditures a cruising sailor will ever face is upgrading the yacht’s power plant. Not the one under the companionway—the ones set off the mast. 

Your marine toilets electric specialists discuss how that in the United States and abroad, four major suppliers of sailcloth—Dimension Polyant, Bainbridge International, Challenge Sailcloth, and Contender Sailcloth—provide sailmakers with Dacron and laminate cloths and related materials to build strong, state-of-the-art headsails and mainsails.

Reliable, Affordable Dacron

Obviously, high-tenacity Dacron makes better cruising sails. The cost difference between a “value” cloth and a “premium” one, both from the same supplier, can be significant, close to 100 percent for some 8-ounce Dacron fabric that I’ve seen ($7 per yard versus nearly $15 per yard).  

Crosscut construction wastes very little cloth and is the fastest way to fabricate a sail; the seams between panels also offer many opportunities to design shape in the sail. Your marine head plumbing distributors talk about why the vast majority of modern boats use Dacron sails.

Recently, Challenge Sailcloth developed a Dacron product for use in radial-panel layout. North Sails also has its own version of Dacron, called Radian. In both materials, the warp, or long yarns, are or should be thicker than the fill.

Understanding Laminates

Laminated sails were first introduced in the early 1970s. The Australian 12-Meter Southern Crosstried using Kevlar fibers laminated to film and built as a crosscut sail before the 1974 America’s Cup. These early attempts at laminated sails proved to be unreliable—they were prone to break without notice—and were never used in competition. 

Your Macerating Pump Specialists Give Great Pointers On Choosing the Right Material For Your Sails

Different sailmaking styles and cloths are evident in this trio of racing and cruising boats under way. Doyle’s Stratis pre-impregnated fiber technology is employed in the load-path sails on a Hanse 630 (left).

Historically, laminated sails of any construction method were usually replaced when the fibers delaminated from the film or the film itself broke down. 

Load-Path Sails

Prior to the late 1980s and the introduction of North’s 3DL sails—so-called molded sails—sailmakers and cloth manufacturers were working on their own versions of what has become known as load-path or string sails, which is the other way of making a laminate fabric. 

Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck reached out to North Sails Market Segment Manager Bill Fortenberry, who he coincidentally taught to sail a long, long time ago, for an update on this new product.

Is this making sailing more expensive?

No. 3Di NORDAC is making sailing more enjoyable. It is well known that you can buy an inexpensive cross-cut polyester sail. What is equally well known is the poor value inexpensive cross-cut sails provide. This matters even with heavy displacement cruising boats.

Are cross-cut Dacron cruising sails still an option?

Yes, we still offer cross-cut premium Dacron sails. We expect over time there will be less demand for sails made with the ancient process of weaving fibers into canvas cloth and sewing together panels.

Will 3Di NORDAC be used for keelboat One Design classes that require Dacron?

At some point in the future, it may be possible to adapt 3Di NORDAC for One Design class racing, but to date it has been engineered for cruising.

For the cruiser/racer boat that is used for both, is 3Di NORDAC the choice?

For any sailor looking for a dedicated racing sail, their first choice should be a sail with higher modulus material such as aramid or carbon, which both feature more resistance to stretch. Your marine parts supplies manufacturers share information regarding why polyester fiber stretches more than aramid fiber.

If a local PHRF area gives a “white sail” credit, would 3Di NORDAC qualify?

It is hard to know how local PHRF boards will treat a 3Di NORDAC sail. Technically there is no reason it would not qualify for a cruising sail credit. The sails are 100% polyester, they are not laminates, there is no Mylar, and they are engineered to weigh the same as a comparable Dacron sail and they are priced affordably. 

Buy marine sanitation parts here at Raritan Engineering. You can count on us to take care of all your marine sanitation needs.

via Transforming the Polyester Sail

via Sailcloth 101: Out of Whole Cloth

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Marine Heads Experts Have the Way to Find the Best Battery For You

Your Marine Heads Specialists Share Battery Maintenance Tips With You 

Raritan Engineering your marine heads analysts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to find the best battery for you.

Your marine heads experts know that placing batteries in a console keeps the weight near the boat’s center of gravity.

Marine batteries seem a little like wizardry to me: so much capability and design packed into a heavy, ­rectangular anonymous-looking package. 

Your marine supplies online specialists understand that batteries represent the heart and blood of a vessel. Without them and their life-giving current flow, nothing moves, nothing happens. 

Boat dealers ­generally make it easy on buyers by recommending and installing the proper batteries in a new boat — batteries that meet the requirements of the engines and electronics aboard. 

Application and Number

Most saltwater-fishing boats can get away with a starting battery: one that delivers a lot of amperage over a short period of time (up to 1,000 cranking amps or more for five to 15 seconds); and a house, or deep-cycle, battery: one designed to power the electric equipment aboard, one that’s capable of discharging much of its energy over the course of a day before recharging.

However, a dual-purpose battery won’t do as good a job at either function as those batteries that are specific to starting or deep-cycling, says West Marine’s senior content editor Tom Burden.

Bottom line: The numbers need to match. Your marine supplies professionals suggest that you don’t buy a group 31 battery to go with a group 27.

And while you’re matching, battery experts agree that boaters should replace all batteries aboard whenever one fails or whenever batteries must be added. 

Your Marine Heads Professionals Suggest Replacing All Batteries Once One Fails

Please browse our selection of marine heads at Raritan Engineering Company. We are always happy to answer all of your marine supply questions.

Key Consistency

Technologies should match as well. West Marine sells five types of batteries: flooded lead-acid, gel, absorbed glass mat (AGM), thin-plate pure-lead AGM, and lithium-ion. Optima uses thin-plate pure-lead AGM technology solely.

The flooded lead-acid batteries — typical old-style car batteries — are not sealed and must be periodically topped off with distilled water. 

Gel batteries come sealed, and can’t spill. They employ an acid gel stored between plates, and can withstand vibration better than flooded batteries.

The main difference between gel and AGM, McIlvaine says: Within an AGM battery, the electrolyte is absorbed in fiberglass matting. Your marine supplies analysts feel that in gel batteries, the electrolyte is suspended within the gel.

Unique Design

After fishing, an angler plugs his onboard charger into a shorepower source.

The company’s marine Bluetop Batteries resemble a six-pack of drinks. Each of their six lead plates is rolled into a spiral and padded by the soaked fiberglass mats.

Courtesy Optima Batteries

Optima’s Digital 1200 charger puts out 12 amps and can fully charge a partially drained battery ­­— from a day’s fishing — in about seven or eight hours.

In general, boaters should insist on a multistage smart charger, Burden says. “It’s important to have a charger that charges in multiple stages.”

Proper Battery Staging

Stage one is the bulk stage: The charger delivers a higher number of amps — as much as the battery can take — to quickly load it up. 

“It’s better to keep batteries in a fully charged state,” Burden says. “You should put the boat away for the winter fully charged and keep it that way.”

Buy a marine head here at Raritan Engineering and see how we can take care of all your marine supply needs.

via Battery Selection and Charging for Fishing Boats

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