Tabla de contenidos para November - December 2015 en PassageMaker

A customer called the yard recently to discuss an incident going through a lock on the Erie Canal. The fiberglass anchor platform overhung the end of the lock just enough to rest on the lock’s gate. When the water went out and the boat lowered, the pressure increased on the anchor pulpit until the fiberglass cracked. These things happen, and something similar could happen to you. Luckily, despite its many vices, fiberglass can be repaired in the field. Armed with some knowledge, the right materials, and protective gear, you might be able to perform a repair that will keep the cruise going. If you intend to have the repair professionally redone or refinished at a later date, make it strong and reliable first and take care of the aesthetics when…

Weather makes winter the most challenging time of year to be cruising the Bahamas. On the other hand, with understanding and preparation, it can be a safe and enjoyable way to avoid the cold months ahead. As benign as cruising the Bahamas may appear, every experienced Bahamascruiser will admit that the boat, its gear, and its crew must be up to the task. No matter how short the distance is to get there, it still requires offshore passage. Not only that, but once there, passages between island groups should also be considered as offshore passages. A limited number of well-stocked chandleries and qualified marine services make the cruising even more of a challenge if something goes wrong. Here are some helpful tips. TEMPERATURES Although you will see more fireplaces on…

When Dave Abrams went house-shopping in San Marino, California, he never considered paying a premium for turn-key, Martha Stewart-level perfection. Instead he opted for less. Much less. According to Dave’s 16-year-old daughter, Allison, the home was in such a state of disrepair—and perhaps, even, disrepute— that she begged him not to pursue it. Dave’s wife, Amanda, and son, Daniel, stood behind Allison; three-quarters of a family united in protest. Despite the threat of mutiny, Dave closed on the property. And now, years later, no one seems to fault him for it. “That’s just him,” says Allison, “we’ve started calling him The Turnaround Guy.” Dave is just that. He is a value-seeker and an unabashed investor who is only intrigued by the out-of-favor, forgotten, and forsaken. Real estate, like their summer…

Every now and then an unexpected power cruiser makes its presence known. The Mikelson 43 is one of those pleasant surprises that, while known on the southwest coast of the United States, is rarely seen east of the Rockies. No wonder she hasn’t popped up on PassageMaker’s radar before now. Since 1997, Mikelson Yachts in San Diego has launched over 75 of their seaworthy 43 Sportfisher. However, in this case, model names don’t tell the whole story. Take a serious look at this candidate for inclusion in the category of power cruisers that can move comfortably at nine knots all day long, be fired up to cover major distances in minor time, or even used to drop a line to catch the evening’s dinner. FAMILIAR UNFAMILIAR Let’s start by revisiting…

The pitch is compelling. The $100 Sirius Signal SOS C-1001 LED “flare” isn’t just a floating SOS flasher that is visible at night, “up to 10-plus nautical miles...for at least 6 hours.” It is also the only such device that meets the U.S. Coast Guard requirements for an electric distress light. This means that the C-1001 can replace the three pyrotechnic flares that the Coast Guard requires on all U.S.-flagged recreational vessels over 16 feet operating in coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and many major rivers. Given that the cheapest flare set costs about $33 and expires 42 months after manufacturing (and you might not want the cheapest since pyros are inherently dangerous to you and the environment), the Sirius substitute may be a no-brainer. In addition, the Sirius Signal…

Removing an engine from a boat doesn’t happen everyday, but the need arises more often than you might expect. Engines under 500 horsepower can usually be disassembled and extracted through a door. Larger engines, however, often don’t have that option, and unless the builder has made other provisions, removal might require cutting a large hole in the structure. Some boats, such as this one, have a soft patch built in for this purpose. With the patch removed, a crane hoist can be positioned directly over the engine for a relatively simple lift. The patch must be engineered to remain watertight and be able to support normal flex and loads. The installation over the engine room on this boat includes a support for a center-console tender. The weight of the tender…

When Glenn Tuttle was asked to join the Board of Directors at the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA), he thought to himself, “how could I combine my passions, cruising and radio communications, and serve the SSCA?” Tuttle realized that perhaps he could make useful contributions to the organization and the cruising community by promoting the use of radio communications among cruisers. A full-time liveaboard for over 30 years, who’s cruised in remote areas of the southern and southwest Caribbean, spending months at a time at anchor without cellular service or Internet access, Tuttle realizes the importance of having HF/SSB radio aboard cruising vessels. Although a satellite phone is a great resource (he used an Iridium phone during his cruising in the Caribbean), it is not a replacement for an HF/SSB…

Powered by the same Cummins QSB 6.7 common-rail engine that drives the Helmsman Trawler 38, the newer 43 improves upon its brethren with upgrades to accommodations and storage capacities, providing an additional cabin and greater range for owners. For anyone familiar with the Helmsman Trawlers line, the boats feature tried-and-true design qualities that are shared with an entire history of working boats: a low-rise pilothouse with reverse-rake windshield, substantial freeboard, and a high bow. The freeboard is apparent as you tour from stem-to-stern while enjoying headroom clearances throughout of 6-feet, 10-inches. The 43 features a full-beam saloon and galley combination that can be converted into private sleeping quarters. The saloon table drops to become a queen-size berth and owners can hang a privacy curtain (provided by the manufacturer) that divides…

“ACHARNÉ IS THE BEST DAMN BOAT I’VE EVER HAD,” Sam Conor said. Conor owns Ocean Voyager, a boatbuilding company in Newfoundland, best known for converting existing commercial designs to long-range power cruisers. This boat, however, is something different altogether. Acharné began life as a racing sailboat, christened, Sagamore. Designed by the late Bill Langan while he was chief designer at Sparkman & Stephens, she was built of carbon fiber in 1999 by New England Boatworks in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Sagamore competed in the IMS Maxiboat World Championship against the well-established alpha-dogs of the era. She took line honors in the 2000 Bermuda Race, won the Middle Sea Race in 1999, and placed first (1999) and second (2000) at Antigua Race Week. Her owner campaigned hard, and after a dismasting during…