Most Recent Blog Posts
March 24, 2012
Tiara 4300 Test Drive
Just completed a nice test on a Tiara 4300 Open. This model replaces the 4200 and gains a foot of length as well as some beam. This is quite possibly the nicest handling boat I've tested in a while. It took turns at 24 knots without so much as a ski or a weird digging in. With Zeus pods, joystick control and Skyhook - this is a kick in the pants to drive. This was the very comfortable cruising version but you could fish it too. Price as tested - $1,150,000.
This is what top speed of 34.1 looks like - could get to Catalina Island in a hurry.
And you've got to love the garage where the whole upper cockpit lifts up to show off excellent engine access.
That's four drawers of refrigeration - the two on the bottom are feezers.
Great foredeck for anchoring.
February 18, 2012
Innovation Awards at the Miami Boat show
Fifteen marine products were honored for innovative achievement by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Boating Writers International (BWI) at the 71st annual Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail. (Yes, that’s a longer name for the Miami boat show.)
I had the pleasure of working with six other judges from BWI and we ran ourselves ragged as we saw 68 products two days before the show opened. Although I gave a much more colourful presentation at the industry breakfast on Thursday – here are just the highlights of the winners as per NMMA’s release and a few of my blurry behind-the-scenes shots of the crazy judging process.
Thirteen companies took home 2012 Innovation Award honors and two others received honorable mention during the NMMA’s State of the Recreational Boating Industry Breakfast this morning at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
The Innovation Awards, organized by NMMA and judged by BWI, recognize products that best meet the following criteria: innovative distinction from other products currently being manufactured; benefit to the marine industry and/or consumer; practicality; cost-effectiveness; and availability to the consumer within 60 days of award receipt.
“The number of entries this year exceeded our expectations, and all of the products we reviewed paint a bright future for boating industry evolution,” noted Zuzana Prochazka, Innovation Awards judge chair, editor of TalkoftheDock.com, technical editor of Latitudes & Attitudes and president of the BWI board of directors. “The winners recognized at the boat show today are a testament to the ongoing commitment to boating ingenuity necessary to the future of our industry and we’re excited to see how these products adapt in the marketplace.”
Applications and Mobile Software: Beneteau Toucan Dealer App by Jester Communications
Runabout and Fishing Craft to 24 feet: Pro Skiff Series by Mako
Cruisers (25' to 60' including fishing craft): SLX 250 by Sea Ray
PWC & Jet Boats: Sea Doo RXP-X 260 by Bombardier
Sailboats: Oceanis Series 48 by Beneteau
Docking and Fendering Equipment: V-Lift by Sunstream Boat Lifts
Honorable Mention: Eel Shore Power Cord by Marinco
Consumer Electronics and Software: InReach by Delorme
Honorable Mention: MS-AV700 Audio and Video Entertainment Package by Fusion Electronics
Consumer Installed Non-Electronic Hardware: Scuba Donning Assistance System by Dive Mate
Water Sports & Equipment: Battle Saddle by Release Marine
Outboard Engines: DF300 AP by Suzuki Marine
Consumer Safety Equipment: AIS Watchmate Vision by Vesper
Pontoon & Deckboats: Ambassador by Avalon
Environmental Award: Propane Outboard by Lehr
February 14, 2012
Lagoon Catamarans Online Configurator
Like the old Burger King commercial said – “Have it your way.” And now you can, with Lagoon Catamaran’s online configurator. With a few clicks, you choose the model you’re interested in, the color of the cabinetry and flooring, the color and kind of upholstery, and the interior layout.
For example, I chose the 421 model with 3 cabins, Alpi teak cabinets and bleached oak flooring with a nice chocolate colored leather. Once you make your choices, Lagoon sends you a PDF with one photo of the saloon with your colors, a large layout drawing and an exterior shot of the model under sail. You can print the PDF and take it with you to a dealer or boat show. Just don't try to save a jpeg - you'll only get portions of the picture which is why the colors in the photo below are not what I actually chose.
It’s a simple little tool but kind of fun to play with on a winter evening when you’re dreaming of tradewind breezes.
February 09, 2012
Broken Seas Book Fun
Here's a blast from the past - in many ways. Marlin Bree's book Broken Seas isn't new on the bookshelves - just new on mine - and it's a great disaster book to curl up with on a February weekend. Marlin is an award-winning author who has scooped up quite a few writing honors over the years for magazine articles and complete books. He's also quite the adventurer who has traveled extensively with his boat Persistence which is also featured in the book.
Broken Seas is a collection of true stories about notable vessels, voyages and sailors. I quickly skipped right to the story on the tragic loss of racer Mike Plant in the 90s. It filled in for me a lot of details I didn't know about one of America's most gifted sailboat racers. Also of particular interest to me were the final hours of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a ship sinking I've been infatuated with since hearing Gordon Lightfoot's 1970s song as a kid.
Pick up a copy and settle in. What else can you do about boating when it's snowing outside?
February 07, 2012
Liferaft Stowage Basics
Life rafts are our lifeline and storing/mounting them properly is critical for when you need to use one. Our guest blogger, Captain Frank Lanier, contributes another piece from his Sea Chest of Horrors for your amusement and education. Frank, now retired from the USCG, is a marine surveyor and writer for Practical Sailor, Lakeland Boating and numerous other marine magazines.
While the decision to buy a life raft is typically preceded by considerable thought, where it will be stowed or mounted once purchased is too often an afterthought. The best life raft money can buy will be more liability than asset if it is not easily accessed and launched when needed. Here’s a look at mounting and stowing strategies that will ensure your life raft is always ready, willing, and able.
Mounting goals:
The holy grail of life raft stowage can be boiled down into four basic requirements.
1. Protection from the elements.
2. Security against vandalism or theft.
3. Easy to access and launch.
4. Able to be deployed without becoming trapped or entangled.
The best scenario is the vessel that has a built-in life raft stowage locker, one that protects the raft, yet keeps it instantly available. A well thought-out raft locker ensures the unit is protected from the elements, less likely to be washed overboard in heavy seas, and (if the latching system accepts a padlock) more easily secured against theft while in port. If no dedicated locker exists, stowage options will be based on whether your raft is a valise or canister style.
Canister or valise?
Life rafts are available in two styles, those packed within a flexible valise (for below-deck storage) or those stowed within a ridged canister for mounting on deck. The valise style raft is a popular option due to its greater compactness, lighter weight, and the additional protection offered by stowing it inside, which also keeps the decks clear and the raft out of the way.
Although the above benefits are attractive, there are downsides associated with stowing a raft below decks. Smaller vessels may lack sufficient space near the companionway to stow a bulky raft without impeding the normal flow of traffic. Another issue is the need to lug the valise on deck to deploy – most rafts are heavy (even when deflated) and may be too much for smaller crew members to handle, particularly in rough weather. Ultra compact rafts offered by some manufactures (Survival Products for example) are lighter in weight to help mitigate this issue.
When selecting a below-deck stowage space or locker, choose one that’s accessible, convenient, free of clutter (lines, sails, etc) and that allows the raft to be easily launched by any crew member.
While some boaters may temporarily store a valise life raft above decks during offshore passages for easier deployment, rafts permanently stowed above decks should be housed within a canister. Canisters (rigid containers of molded fiberglass or ABS plastic) offer greater protection from physical damage and the elements than a fabric valise, allowing them to be mounted at most any suitable location above decks (i.e. one that provides easy access and deployment).
The cons associated with canisters include being larger, heavier, and more expensive than a valise container. The loss of valuable deck space can also be an issue. While they offer more protection against spray, canisters are also prone to flooding if submerged (such as while taking solid water over the decks) one reason the cockpit or upper decks may be a better mounting option than an exposed foredeck.
Canister rafts must be securely mounted to prevent damage (or worse) loss during heavy weather. Most life raft manufacturer’s offer metal or fiberglass cradles or mounts for use with their canister rafts. As with any heavily loaded piece of deck gear, when mounting make sure all raft mounts and cradles are secured with heavy nuts, bolts, and backing plates.
Finally
Regardless the style raft you have, inspect any possible stowage area or mounting location with a critical eye while trying to visualize potential problems. If mounted near that engine hatch, will you be able to reach and deploy the raft in the event of an engine fire or explosion? Will that spot beneath the boom allow the raft to deploy without becoming tangled in the rigging? Don’t be afraid to simulate a launch using the raft (or a cardboard box of similar size) to develop a launching procedure and ferret out problems beforehand – your life (as well as that of your crew) may depend on it.
The CLAM medications tray was designed for dental offices but it’s a great addition to your shipboard medical kit. This kit includes 7 must-have emergency meds that are in pre-measured devices and are easy to administer. Even if you’re not a physician, you can deliver key meds without loading syringes or guess at correct amounts. 
Check out Dick Simon, a boat broker in Dana Point, CA. But this is just the latest incarnation of a man who has practically done it all and kept a sense of adventure through repeated ups and downs. He and his wife, Dianne, have a terrific story. 
Having struck a chord with their innovative 445, Catalina brings a bevy of new features to her little sister, the Catalina 355. Targeting the mid-thrity foot market, the 355 is spirited but easy to sail and provides accommodations with details found on much larger vessels.
