Category: Technology
Outfitting the Nordhavn 55 with Computers
With this article, we are beginning a new series that illustrates how the Nordhavn 55, one of the most popular of the globe-girdling Nordhavns built by Pacific Asian Enterprises, might be equipped with computers for navigation and other chores. Earlier this year, OceanLines ran an extensive series of articles on outfitting the Kadey-Krogen 55′ Expedition [...]
Fleming Enthusiasts Get Their Own Magazine
Fleming Yachts has published the first edition of a company-sponsored magazine featuring the brand’s yachts, cruising articles and technical stories. The Fall/Winter edition of Venturer is available online at the Fleming website. Readers familiar with Nordhavn’s Circumnavigator magazine will find Venturer an opportunity to get the same kind of detailed product and “real world” use [...]
Ocean Racing World Mourns Roy Disney
Roy Disney, whose family legacy is forever etched in the memories of generations of children, and whose accomplishments as an open ocean sailor were truly remarkable, died last week at the age of 79. The colorful Disney built and helmed a number of open class racers, all named Pyewacket, the name of the witch’s cat [...]
Propane for the Dinghy Outboard Part 2
In a recent article here on OceanLines, we described a brand new development effort by a company called Marine Green to adapt smaller outboards for propane fuel. Since that article, I have been able to talk with the co-founder of Marine Green, none other than Bill Parlatore, the founder and current Founding Editor-at-Large of Passagemaker [...]
Got Propane? Run Your Outboard Motor on It
Well, soon maybe. In my apparently Quixotic quest for a single fuel for vessel, tender and toys, I keep looking for new ideas. Using propane as fuel for an internal combustion engine is not new, but it is for a modest outboard application. A company I can only identify so far as Marine Green (more [...]
From FLIR Comes Night Vision You Can Afford
You may actually be able to afford the practical Navigator series, or the seriously capable M-Series night vision systems, both from FLIR, but the new First Mate™ thermal monocular from FLIR is the night vision system you canNOT afford to be without. The same advanced thermal detection technology and signal processing from the higher end units [...]
Fort Lauderdale 2009: First Stop – Toys for the Boat
The 50th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show opened Thursday to a relatively good VIP turnout and a cautiously optimistic mood among the exhibitors. By Monday we will know if any boat buyers showed up, but just from the first day, it seems like component and accessory suppliers might do fairly well. I spent the [...]
KVH Solves HDTV Problem For Boaters
KVH says its goal is to bring the same quality and ease of operation to boat owners that they experience at home ashore. With its new TracVision HD7 satellite antenna, the gap is fundamentally closed.
Intellian Offers All-Americas LNB For Easy Western Hemisphere Sat TV Reception
Intellian this week announced a new, dual-band “All-Americas”tm Low Noise Block (LNB) for satellite TV. According to the company, a simple press of a button will now allow boaters to switch between DIRECTV, Dish Network or ExpressVU in North America and DIRECTV Latin in Central and South America. The All-Americas LNB eliminates the hassle of [...]
Still Got Brightwork? Interlux Has Some New Poly Varnishes
An obvious trend in recent years has been to minimize exterior brightwork as a way of reducing the maintenance burden on owners and crew. But it’s still out there and you have to deal with it. Interlux this week announced three new polyurethane varnishes for natural wood, including one two-part coating that promises an 80 percent gloss retention over a year, even in the Florida sun.
iPhone for the Boat? Jeffrey Siegel of ActiveCaptain Says “Yes”
I recently talked with Jeff Siegel about some of the issues related to mobile phone service for coastal cruisers. I asked Jeff whether the data rates for the iPhone and others were really good enough to rely on for a typical coastal cruise such as theirs. I think you’ll find his reply, as usual, not only informative, but definitive.
Lowrance Endura Handhelds Serve Several Roles
The handheld GPS I’m looking for has to serve multiple roles because I can’t buy and manage more than one. So, whatever I get has to be an effective backup for my hardwired navigation system on the bridge; a reasonable navigator for the dinghy in crowded harbors and anchorages, and if possible, a good tour guide [...]
ActiveCaptain Could be the Wave of the Future
Telling you that ActiveCaptain “could” be the wave of the future is probably a little bit like saying the Internet will “probably be a big thing.” The truth is, ActiveCaptain already is a fantastic resource for cruisers and passagemakers, but it might actually become something huge — a source of real-time, up-to-the-minute information that your [...]
Simrad-Yachting Launches New NSE Chartplotter Series
Simrad-Yachting, a division of Navico, yesterday announced the availability of a new series of fully integrated, networkable chartplotters — the NSE series. Available in both 12.1-inch and 8-inch displays (NSE12 and NSE8, respectively), the units purchased in North America come fully loaded with Nautic Insight HD high-resolution vector cartography. They are fully compatible with the [...]
Torqeedo Ups the Horsepower for Electric Outboard
Earlier this year I wrote a Wish List item about the advantages of a single, common fuel for all marine engines; the issue being the need to carry gasoline for a tender wile operating an otherwise diesel-powered boat. There may be another option and that is the one provided by Torqeedo, manufacturer of an innovative [...]
Time to Pay Attention to Hurricane Season
The 2009 hurricane season on the east coast of the U.S. has started just a bit later than usual, although it’s gone from nothing to a Cat 4 Hurricane (Bill) in what seemed like no time at all. A new resource will help you stay safe.
SeaKits MMS Stows Aboard Sea Spirit Yachts
Passagemakers purchasing a Sea Spirit yacht will now have the added value of the SeaKits Marine Maintenance SystemTM (MMS), following a Fleet Solutions agreement between the two companies.
John Deere Announces Three New Marine Engines
John Deere Power Systems announced today that it was beginning production of three new marine engines for the commercial and recreational marine market.
Boat Design: A “Maintenance Strake” on the Nordhavn 63
The new Nordhavn 63 features a unique hull feature that adds room around the engine and actually reduces drag. We examine this feature in some photos and learn what the inspiration for it was.
Product Roundup: More Stuff You Can Use on Your Boat
Our new products roundup has the life jacket for your keys; a key safety backup for your navigation, and the key to better wireless Internet aboard.
Product Roundup: Stuff You Can Use
Editor’s note — At least once a month we’ll publish a list of interesting new (and sometimes not-so-new) products on the market that you might find useful. We get dozens of press releases every week from manufacturers all over the world, but this is just a select few that seem especially worth bringing to your [...]
Seakeeper Gyro Stabilization for Trawlers
Seakeeper offers a sealed, interior-mounted gyro stabilizer that may obviate the need for complicated fin stabilization systems on trawlers.
Simrad Outfits the New Kadey-Krogen 55′ Expedition
Simrad proposes a state-of-the-art electronics suite for the new Kadey-Krogen 55′ Expedition trawler.
The Wish List: Auto-Updating Charts
What are the odds that your nav charts are out of date? Pretty high, if you’re like most boaters. Why can’t your chartplotter just update them over the Internet in real time? We take a look at that issue and the one solution, so far, on the market.
Raymarine Offers Trade-In Credit as Part of Sale Campaign
Wouldn’t it be nice to get even just a little bit for trading in your old marine electronics? Check out this sale from Raymarine. It’ll buy you more than just a cup of coffee.
Satellite Technology from KVH for Your Passagemaker – Part 1
Getting satellite TV aboard your boat is getting easier and cheaper. KVH is the industry leader and in Part 1 of this series on satellite-based services, we look at what’s available for passagemakers.
New Series: “The Wish List”
OceanLines introduces a new series, called “The Wish List.” In this series, the editors will describe their own wish lists for new boats, technologies, services and supplies, and solicit the same from readers. Please add your own wish list items in the comments. This first article in the series covers the wish for a “universal fuel” for all boats.
New Northern Lights M944T 38 kW Generator is Model for Full Line Upgrades
Northern Lights new 38 kW M944T generator is the first of a full line of upgraded products, with smaller size, higher power density and lower noise and vibration signatures.
Nautical Structures Offers New, Lightweight 1000-Pound Davit
Nautical Structures, with a factory in Largo, Florida and a worldwide network of sales and authorized service facilities, last week announced a new lightweight hydraulic davit, the TECH-1000-2. This davit can handle a working load up to 1,000 pounds in all boom positions. According to the company, the davit weighs in at just 165 pounds, [...]
Glacier Bay Adopts Yanmar for Diesel-Electric Base Power
Glacier Bay Opts for Yanmar diesels as power for its next-generation diesel-electric hybrids.
