Indice dei contenuti per March 2016 in PassageMaker

Subtech Sports 45-Litre Drybag Perhaps the equivalent of a drybag Humvee, Subtech Sports’ 45-litre, do-it-all offering is built to extremely durable standards and features several ergonomic handles, including backpack straps, to make carrying a snap. Should you manage to drop it overboard, the bag is able to remain waterproof up to a jaw-dropping 164 feet below the surface. What sets the Subtech apart from other drybags is a built in air bladder that, when inflated, provides a 360-degree protective barrier, rendering the bag shockproof against falls or drops. A wrap-around side zip allows the bag to open fully, avoiding the Achilles heel of other toploading drybag variations. Thanks to its soft construction, the bag can be rolled up and easily stowed when not in use, yet still provides more storage…

We had just left the Apostle Islands and, after a smooth, uneventful cruise of a few hours, were heading into port for the night at the remote wilderness marina at Black River, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. My husband, Mark, captained Mazurka from the flybridge as I hopped down to the foredeck to ready the lines and fenders. Ahead of us, the narrow Black River emerged from the thick combination of forest, wildflowers, and thimbleberries. To our starboard, a few sailboats and small charter boats were tied to the wall. There was electricity, fresh water, and not much else. Just inside the breakwall, a big stick stuck straight out of the water. In my head, I thought, “I bet somebody put that stick there because that’s where it gets shallow. I…

BROMPTON FOLDING BIKE Brompton has worked hard to create a supremely portable bicycle that doesn’t sacrifice classic looks and rideability. Designed for urban life, the Brompton thrives on being able to compress to carry-size in order to navigate public transit and store in small apartments. All of this translates to superb stowage on cramped boats without having to sacrifice riding a real bicycle when you hit the shores. The factory offers over ten colors, and can be fitted with a smorgasbord of seats, frames, handlebars, and gear ratios to suit any rider. Head over to their website and build the landcruiser of your dreams. As our fitness gurus, Jay & Karen Campbell, can attest: Going for a ride during your time in port can go miles for your health and…

Thirty-two Norhavns and counting. That is the number of participants scheduled to attend an owner-organized rally in southeast Alaska, taking place from July 8 through 10, 2016. All Nordhavn owners are invited to attend the festivities in Petersburg, Alaska, situated on Mitkof Island. Petersburg splits the distance between the commonly known southeast Alaska ports of Juneau (120 miles to the north) and Ketchikan (110 miles to the south). Nordhavn expects this rally—they have dubbed it “N2AK” for Norhavns to Alaska—will represent the largest organized Nordhavn meet-up since the successful 2004 Atlantic Rally from Florida to Gibraltar. Three days of events will commence at Sons of Norway Hall, and will include a host of seminars and plenty of socializing. Owners will also have plenty to discuss, as N2AK is anticipating boats…

WHAT IS DIGITAL SWITCHING? Digital switching allows boaters to control electrical and electronic systems such as lighting, air-conditioning, navigation lights, wipers, horns, entertainment systems, security systems, and more from networked multifunction displays, dedicated touchscreen control modules and traditional looking switches, as well as smartphones, and tablets. This emerging technology replaces traditional mechanical circuit breakers and switches with a digital power distribution. Despite digital switching being one of the most intriguing aspects of modern marine electronics, but it’s also one of the most mysterious. At the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, for instance, I wasn’t the only boater jealously admiring the sexy screen running on a Raymarine gS15 multifunction display, and others like it. But when you try figuring out how you can get this elegant level of system control and…

The name you choose for your boat is often a wellthought-out reflection of who you are, where you’ve been, and how you want to be recognized as you engage in the cruising lifestyle. Your chosen name is special—it has value. This is why Burr Yacht Sales (BYS) relies on the craftsmanship of Howard Rogers of Raven Maritime Studio for carving the teak nameboards on all Flemings sold from their Edgewater, Maryland, location. For the past 20 years, Rogers has hand-carved more than 250 nameboards for BYS. The process starts with Brendon Brandon of Designs & Signs, who creates the name graphics for the transom. Once a name is chosen, BYS helps the owner pick out a style and font for the lettering. After creating the graphics, Brandon passes the project…

EN-LIGHTHOUSE-ENED I read with interest the article on the Lennard Light at Tofino (“The Last Sentries,” October 2015). The article states [Lennard is one of ] the only manned lights left in the world. The Bahamas has the only hand-wound, kerosene-burning lighthouse in the world, which has two full-time keepers. It is now looked after by Elbow Reef Lighthouse Society, a volunteer group. We agree lighthouses are important and should be saved. Thank you. —Frank Kenyon CUBAN UPSIDES I found it interesting to read the contribution on Cuba (“ShopTalk,” January/February 2016). Flying a flag that did not prohibit cruising the waters of that nation, we took our sailboat to this fascinating Island in 1982. Coming from Haiti, our first stop was Salvador at the southeast end, a wonderfully protected harbor,…

> Simrad TripIntel Simrad Yachting, the power-boating element of the Navico electronics empire, has announced their latest navigational software interface: TripIntel. Released as a free software upgrade, TripIntel consists of two main factors: a Cruise Performance Indicator and a History tab, both aimed at providing boaters with at-a-glance cruising vitals. The History tab allows boaters to compare the vitals (range, fuel burn, speed, tides, and distance traveled) of their current cruise with logged data from previous trips. With a focus on fuel and range, the Performance Indicator is essentially a combination fuel gauge, digital economy readout and bar graphs indicating both instantaneous fuel burn and long-term fuel economy. The bar are cleverly designed with targeted “green zones,” which indicate how the captain can adjust throttle or trim to maximize economy.…

One of the wonderful benefits of power cruising is the comfort provided by the boat’s electro-mechanical systems, and there aren’t many better definitions of comfort than a generous supply of fresh water. Yet, one of the most commonly asked questions I hear when helping someone build or specify a new boat is still: “Should I install a watermaker?” Most modern power cruisers carry a generous supply of fresh water in sizeable tanks, so the question to ask yourself is how much effort do you want to invest in replenishing that supply? This will largely be determined by how you use your boat. If you are a coastal or inland cruiser traveling short distances and primarily staying in marinas, then a watermaker may not be a good investment. After all, stretching…

Chicken Bruschetta DIFFICULTY HOW HEALTHY TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes SERVES: 4 When cruising and living in the outdoors, you tend to do more with other people. Whether it’s a hike or beach stroll, a day in town, or an afternoon of snorkeling, there seems to be far more opportunities to cross paths and make new friends. And what a diverse group. We’ve become friends with people from all over the world, all stages of life (where else are unrelated 70-somethings and 20-somethings going out for a beer together?), those with bare-bones boats to luxury yachts, single-handers, and even a family of ten. When we moved ashore for six years to deal with medical issues, we missed both the ease of making new friends and the diversity that comes along with…

Cruisers tend to store a ton of gear aboard their boats, and cockpit lockers absorb much of that burden. It is no secret that space is at a constant premium aboard cruising boats and keeping that gear secure when you’re away from the boat can present a challenge. This Grand Banks Europa addresses the challenge of security with a simple latch mechanism, which is engaged from the main cabin. After opening this hatch, a stainless pin can be pulled to release the other cockpit hatches. The hatch also features a gutter that’s wide enough to be cleaned out with a sponge, and a drain hose large enough to minimize the chance of a clog. Boat owners, builders, and tinkerers, send photos of the right stuff on your boat to stevez@zimmermanmarine.com,…