June 2010
Datalux Tracer police car computer, good on a boat?
My search for Gizmo's navigation PC has taken a strange turn -- as you can see above, posed around a Furuno MFD12 -- and I'm blaming a Panbo commenter who recently crowed about scoring a 12v, fanless all-in-one Datalux iPix on eBay. I'm close to crowing myself -- and maybe a few of you will join me, as there are three left -- but I could use some geek help to better understand wh read more »
Maturing iPhone apps, troubled ENC edition
Pardon me if I use an entry on the improving state of marine iPhone apps to illustrate my concerns about NOAA's local chart screw ups, but it works. Navimatics Charts&Tides 3.6.2 was the first charting program of any sort I've seen that includes NOAA's first 1:20,000 ENC for Camden Harbor, but it will be confusing fog bound visitors soon! Those semi-invented channel buoys that read more »
Self-assembling boats?
Submitted by cac on Tue, 2010-06-29 11:19The Making of the Gerald R. Ford
Submitted by cac on Tue, 2010-06-29 10:59The first new U.S. aircraft carrier class since 1968, the Gerald R. Ford is one large, neat ship. And the technology and methods being used are interesting to check out.
The SS Robin arises and settles onto her new home – and Dylan Winter films it all
As I write, the last remaining steam-coaster SS Robin should have just been airlifted by two 600-tonne cranes and placed on a pontoon where she will become a floating museum.
Keep Turning Left film-maker Dylan Winter has been filming the event, and I hope his record will be made public at some point. In the meantime, the clip linked above offers a sense of the preparations involved. read more »
Good gear: Moonlite rail cleats & V-Lock mount system
Today I added a new Panbo category for gear I try which is not electronics related, but which is good enough that you might want to know about it. Like the Moonlite Marine rail cleat above. I'd never seen one in the aluminum and stainless flesh before taking read more »
5-gallon bucket...
Submitted by cac on Sun, 2010-06-27 21:16
DIY Boat Owner has a series outlining various uses of the everpresent 5-gallon bucket. Some good ideas here. Make use of that thing that will be sitting around anyhow :-)
Norman Fuller’s Ella skiff at the 2010 HHBR meet at Barton Turf
Rowing for Pleasure weblogger Chris Partridge and Norman Fuller demonstrate the Ella skiff under oars and with an electric outboard. read more »
Second cabin furniture
Submitted by cac on Sat, 2010-06-26 17:35There is much discussion about how you should lay out your boat, and obviously this is a highly personal call. For many years, it has seemed traditional to have a second cabin (often with a second head) for guests, even though many boaters find that they are usually alone (just two people, and no guests).
George Buehler (designer of the Diesel Duck and many other), has long espoused setting a boat up for two, making the spaces bigger and more comfortable, instead of keeping this extra space available for the rare guest. read more »
Furuno supports whale slaughter? Or Sea Shepherd BS?
I don't like what some Japanese companies, supported by their government, are doing to whales, but I'm smart enough to know that a reasonable alternative to Sea Shepherd's nasty headline above might be: "Furuno won't give (or sell) Sea Shepherd a new radar because its government asked it not to." Or: "Furuno won't support protesters who ram Japanese ships." Or maybe: "Furuno wants nothing to do with an arrogant jerk like read more »
