It’s been a long time coming but we now see tangible progress emerging to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. If the U.S. Navy can prove that it works, isn’t it about time the concept of the modern cruising boat includes hybrid forms of propulsion?
The end of the year is time to renew subscriptions and replace older apps with new ones. New technology and improved functionality promise a safer, faster, and easier user experience. In this case it is from Navionics, a Garmin Company. And General Motors.
The fear and mystery about sea monsters and rogue waves goes back to the early seafarers. With much improved technology, computers, and satellites, we know much more about this phenomemun today…and they are much more common than previously believed.
Susie Goodall had a really close call, but she is safe after losing her Rustler 36 in the Southern Ocean. The 29-year-old was knocked unconscious when her boat pitchpoled end over end in rough seas and high winds.
She was eventually picked up by a cargo ship on its way to Argentina.
If you are an “experienced” cruiser (aka old person) you probably remember the days of Selective Availability (SA) and intentionally reduced GPS accuracy. The military only let us know our location within 100 meters. This continued for years, despite ongoing pleas from the FAA and USCG to provide everyone with the accuracy available from the GPS satellite system.
It took a jetliner being shot down to turn off this reduced-accuracy SA.
Today we could not live without accurate GPS information. At home, on the road, and on the water.
The struggles of many of today's young parents are quite a contrast to the families who choose to take the family and go cruising. The dynamics of living and working together on a boat are more intimate and focused than the hurried routines of family life ashore.
Perhaps more people could benefit from the synergy of living together aboard a boat.
Rather than guess what speed you should run your boat, it is important to develop real-world numbers of the speed and burn consumption your boat reaches at various engine speeds in open water. Depending on how your boat is equipped and loaded, and the propeller(s) you have, it is a straightforward process to develop a speed/fuel burn performance curve that will identify the sweet spot for running your boat at cruising speed.
Along the way of determining this ideal speed envelope, you will also get an sixth sense of when the hull and engine is in harmony as she glides through the water with maximum efficiency and reasonable fuel burn. This is a satisfying project every boat owner should create for his or her boat.
We've heard the unbelievable reports of Navy warships colliding with merchant ships, with loss of life among the Navy crew. How can this happen in our modern world, with all of the technology and control systems at our disposal!?!
Here is a comprehensive review of the four recent incidents in 2017, which reveal amazing issues and problems to be addressed at all levels. Reading these summary review findings gives insight into the complexity of today's warships.
And please take away from this that the initial fears of Russian cyberattacks did not occur, yet such a threat adds a chilling, what-if component to the reported scenarios.
This is serious business in a world that is increasingly dangerous, with threats we have yet to experience.
In this final piece on the Adventure Series, Scott and Mary wrap up their discussion of this very different kind of cruising motorboat, specially designed to voyage in higher latitudes. Hopefully someone will step forward to take this design into production, and the rest of us can witness the dawn of a new concept of adventure boating.
Blue Angel's helm is compact but I added some great utility with the NEMA 2000 network. If your engines can be connected to a network, you can monitor so much more than having a few analog helm gauges.
On my last two boats, I created an onboard NEMA 2000 network, as the engines were contemporary enough (aka electronic) to allow me to connect their electronic control modules (ECM) into a network through one of Maretron's excellent gateway interface and bridge modules. While I have not yet fully expanded on the potential possibilities of this network beyond engine information on a small Maretron display, I have the basic essentials to create some pretty neat control and alarm functionality.
Whether you have a sailboat or cruising powerboat, if your engine is electronic, you have the opportunity to create a vastly useful network over which all sorts of useful information can be tracked and monitored. Even some older engines can be successfully connected. Check out Maretron's website to learn all about information networks. https://www.maretron.com/
Steve Dashew showed me an example of what is possible on his FPB 78, Cochise, which also has a NEMA 2000 network. He was especially happy to explain how great a particular Maretron product is and how he takes advantage of its ability to keep an eye on his engine room.
He installed Maretron TMP100 black box modules (https://maretron.com/products/tmp100.php) into his boat's network, and each TMP100 can monitor temperatures using up to six accessory temperature sensors.
He put these sensors on his shaft logs, so he can monitor if the temperature increases if the packing gland nut is too tight. He has temperature probes on the engines' raw water pumps, Aqualift mufflers, and exhaust injection elbows. By having these sensors physically in contact with critical components, he knows real time when something is amiss, as any significant increase in temperature means something has happened, such a sudden loss of raw water flowing through the cooling circuit.
Temperature probes in the exhaust system of one of the FPB's John Deere diesel engines.
He also has temperature sensors on the engines' alternators, so he will know right away if one of the alternators is failing, as an alarm will sound through the ship's network.
I could have used this temperature monitor last summer, after I ran Blue Angel WOT for a brief time to check that it still hit the top speed of 42 knots. It did, but the high rpm caused a hose to came off the outlet of the heat exchanger. Raw water continued to pump through the heat exchanger, but instead of moving into the exhaust manifold to cool down the engine exhaust gases, it discharged into the bilge. Engine temperature remained normal, as it was being cooled just fine, but without raw water in the wet exhaust system, temperatures soared quickly. Before I realized there was an issue, a ECM alarm sounded as the exhaust gases were too high, and the rubber hose connecting the manifolds were already melting. The bilge pump ran all the while but there was nothing to alert me that it was on, keeping the boat afloat. The water stopped as soon as I shut down the engine, but not before I ruined three hoses on the Volvo Penta 8.1 liter gas engine.
Smoke and the smell of melting rubber is not what I planned for this day. Note the blown crossover hose. Very sad.
So an upcoming project will be to install a Maretron TMP100 temperature module, with probes located to notify me if something like this happens again, before I cause any damage. I believe I can set up alarms in my Garmin multifunction display so that any increases in temperature in an exhaust elbow or raw water pump are quickly detected and set off a specific alarm.
I already have a Maretron DMS150 multifunction display at the helm to provide engine information coming from the ECM, so perhaps I can duplicate this temperature information on this display as well.
I've been reading a lot recently about digital electricity and it seems we will soon be able to monitor most every system on a boat, including a ship's electrical system. Using new algorithms that sample and measure the flow of electricity, it will be possible to identify a piece of electrical equipment, even a lightbulb, before it fails because we will be able to detect a change in its digital footprint. Yup, pretty cool stuff on the horizon.
Have a great week.
Have a great week.
Brian Calvert shoved off in 2009 from Friday Harbor, Washington, headed south and then west into the Pacific on his Selene 48, Further. He documented his travels on a website and blog so others could follow along. Along the way he found crew to join him from 26 countries, using the crew finder website, findacrew.net.
An avid diver, Brian explores under all of the waters during his travels, and now that he is based in the Philippines, finds it the ideal place to cruise and dive. He recently came up with a charter and diving operation for those interested in exploring a different part of the world seldom visited, as it is off the traditional cruising routes. He explains why this is such a fabulous place to cruise, dive, and live.—BillP
The Philippines are one of the last great undiscovered cruising grounds on earth, so often passed by (or even avoided) by cruisers, and as a result, they miss the real pearl of the Pacific. We cruised from Seattle, leaving a lifetime of exploring the great Pacific Northwest, to cross the Pacific and wind up in the islands of the Pinoy.
So, what makes this often skipped over area so wonderful one might ask? Start with geography, over 7000 islands many formed by dramatic volcanic eruptions causing hardened rock to jet out of the sea. Others are the palm tree covered surfacing tips of massive coral reefs, abundant with life, forming iconic white sandy beaches the stretch for miles. The array of islands forms countless spellbinding anchorages, where you often are the only boat.
Add to the natural beauty, the almost perfect weather from December to June each year. Short burst of rain die off by January and the real “summer” is February to June. It took me a while to get used to never having the think about being cold!
Ask anyone who visits here often and they will tell you why it is such a magical place. It is the people. The Filipinos are simply a life changing experience. The openness, generosity, and frank friendliness is often alarming at first, but soon you learn it is genuine. They laugh constantly, always, and I mean always smile and are so eager to become friends. Celebrations are every present, each village has a Fiesta, there is a long list of holidays, events, and just about any excuse for a party...all enjoyed with vigor.
The Filipinos love their children and have lots of them, families of 6 are average. Even the poorest parents send their kids to school in crisp clean uniforms, smiling and ready to learn. I have often said, if they could bottle a Filipino kid’s smile it would put Prozac out of business.
For many it is what lies beneath the sea that attracts us here, some of the best diving on the planet. From expansive coral reefs, unique wildlife experiences and historic ship wrecks, diving in the Philippines is incredible.
We have explored almost all of the Philippines and now center much of our time in our favorite area, Coron, Palawan. It is the archipelago that is named in most diving lists as “the world’s most beautiful, world’s best island, world’s best diving.”
The terrain, hidden lakes, endless anchorages, and, of course, the diving draws us back for the past four years. The geothermal gods smiled here leaving several natural hot springs and a “wonder of the world” lake where the temperature rises to 40C (105F) at 10-meter depth. Other areas benefit with more moderately warm water. Geography gave us another wonder, Apo Reef. Only surpassed by Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, it is the second largest coral reef in the world. Steep dropoffs attract an array of sea life along its walls.
History laid a golden egg in Coron, on one morning during WWII, when U.S. planes sank seven large Japanese supply ships in a small shallow bay. Today they form some of the best and easiest wreck diving one can find. And like most things here, there are no crowds. We might find one or two boats on a wreck or often by ourselves, which is such a relief after diving in other SE Asian hot spots.
For less “deepening” experiences the kayaking, hiking, snorkeling and exploring is endless, the terrain and remoteness combine to make a great deal of choices
Brian and Donna celebrate the kindergarden graduation of her son, Piam.
Nothing makes me more excited about a place I love than sharing it with others. This year we are offering limited adventure experiences. Also we can provide a Trawler School type experience for those considering this lifestyle with hands-on learning.
For more information, see www.furthuradventures.com/charter
In this third article of the new Adventure Series motorboat, Scott Flanders walks through some of the features and design elements that came up from a meeting with his builder, a naval architect, and Bill Parlatore. The rough edges softened into more specific design spiral elements, and the design continued to evolve.
The scene around Annapolis is crazy when it is boat show season. Every serious boater comes to town for one of the shows and we celebrate boating on a scale that is almost overwhelming. Friends, old and new, share stories, food, and wine. This is what cruising is all about.
It is my favorite time of year, and I wish I could share it with everyone I know.
Weems & Plath introduced a new safety device at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis. I think it is pretty creative as it uses Bluetooth connectivity to link a smartphone to a wearable transponder. If the signal is lost, or the unit is immersed in water, the smartphone sounds the alarm with sound, strobe, and vibration.
It is a new application of Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
The end of the year is time to renew subscriptions and replace older apps with new ones. New technology and improved functionality promise a safer, faster, and easier user experience. In this case it is from Navionics, a Garmin Company. And General Motors.
The fear and mystery about sea monsters and rogue waves goes back to the early seafarers. With much improved technology, computers, and satellites, we know much more about this phenomemun today…and they are much more common than previously believed.
Susie Goodall had a really close call, but she is safe after losing her Rustler 36 in the Southern Ocean. The 29-year-old was knocked unconscious when her boat pitchpoled end over end in rough seas and high winds.
She was eventually picked up by a cargo ship on its way to Argentina.
If you are an “experienced” cruiser (aka old person) you probably remember the days of Selective Availability (SA) and intentionally reduced GPS accuracy. The military only let us know our location within 100 meters. This continued for years, despite ongoing pleas from the FAA and USCG to provide everyone with the accuracy available from the GPS satellite system.
It took a jetliner being shot down to turn off this reduced-accuracy SA.
Today we could not live without accurate GPS information. At home, on the road, and on the water.
Let’s take a look at some ways to cut expenses, and conversely, how to make money while cruising. They both contribute to allow you to keep enjoying the lifestyle.
Not many couples can get by making video vlogs on YouTube of their adventures, and expect others to pay for their experience through donations and Patreon.
It’s been a long time coming but we now see tangible progress emerging to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. If the U.S. Navy can prove that it works, isn’t it about time the concept of the modern cruising boat includes hybrid forms of propulsion?