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Boat Towing Tips
October 29, 2007 - 4:09pm — Katie OLeary- Boat Handling
Tow ratings can be a confusing subject, as there are several kinds of ratings and many things to consider when estimating the weight of your tow. Start by referring to your vehicle’s operating manual for maximum ratings. Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) is the maximum weight a specific vehicle can tow. When estimating the weight of your tow, be sure to include fuel, water and any additional gear you have stowed aboard. The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is most important because it combines the total weight of your tow vehicle, including passengers, fuel, luggage, gear, etc. and the weight of your tow. For your safety and trouble-free towing, do not exceed the ratings listed by your tow vehicle.
Volvo IPS 850
August 8, 2007 - 4:52pm — Dick Aarons- Boat Handling
- Diesel
- Propeller
The Volvo Penta IPS system is now offered by more than 60 builders worldwide and is installed on approximatley 450 different models. There will continue to be naysayers who gripe that having a forward facing prop will expose the propellers in case of a grounding or water debris. However, this magazine has conducted several tests (See “The Future of Power,” April, 2007) and has concluded that the benefits far outweigh this one issue. In fact, we’ll be following up with a story of a boat with IPS hitting a log in New York Harbor. Yes, the boat had to limp home on one engine, but chances are that log would have damaged a conventional boat as well. However, the best part is that the next day Volvo service changed the entire unit within two hours! No struts to remove, or shafts to align.
Making a Better Bilge Float Switch : The Water Witch 101 is put to the test.
August 8, 2007 - 4:48pm — Dick Aarons- Maintenance
Traditional bilge pump float switches are inexpensive and are usually reliable when working in clean bilges under moderate operating conditions. However they can be troublesome in messy bilges where the float can hang up or pump large amounts of spilled oil overboard. Their lightweight mechanical construction also can cause trouble for boats operating in rough, jarring seas.
Drilled, Not Sitrred : The BoatBlender combines a drill and blender to make party favorites.
August 8, 2007 - 4:42pm — Brad Roberts- Maintenance
My kids love jokes, so here’s one for you. What do you get when you use a little ingenuity to cross a traditional Osterizer-like blender base, a plastic sport bottle, and a cordless drill? A BoatBlender of course!
Anchors Aweigh : Technology makes it easier to get that anchor back in the boat : Windlass manufactures
August 8, 2007 - 4:02pm — John Brownlee- Boat Handling
- Products
I’m often accused of carrying an anchor one size too large for my boat, usually by whoever gets stuck with dropping or raising it. I’m guilty as charged, and make no apologies for it, because when I drop the hook, I like it to stay where it’s dropped, and there’s nothing more frustrating than having to reset a dragging anchor again and again.
So You Want to Be a Coast Guard Captain? The Real Boaters Six Pack
June 15, 2007 - 4:54pm — Anonymous- Boat Handling
- MAY 2007
When you think of getting a six-pack not everyone in boating knows it can mean something other than reaching for a cold one. I don’t profess to have known the difference for more than a couple of years. I do know that earning a U.S. Coast Guard Six-Pack or Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) captain’s license made me a better captain.
What Lies Beneath : Understanding the basics of hull design is the key to finding the right boat
June 15, 2007 - 4:43pm — Ken Fickett- Boat Building
- MAY 2007
I had been in the Bahamas for about six weeks doing pretty much nothing other than some fishing and cruising the island of Abaco, by boat and motorcycle. I was on my second Five Star Barbancourt, a rich Haitian rum, using the free WiFi at Curlytails Bar in Marsh Harbour when I saw the “Hello from Boat Digest” in the subject line of an e-mail. Uh-oh, he found me. I always feel guilty when I get an e-mail from George, our Editor at Boat Digest. George started the e-mail with a few pleasantries and then moved on to the more serious “hey Mr. Technical Editor, do you think you could find it in your busy day, between naps maybe, to do a piece on hull design?”
True Colors : Proper Flag Etiquette is a Tradition Worth Preserving
June 15, 2007 - 4:27pm — George Sass Jr.- Boat Handling
- MAY 2007
I knew a captain who had two rules, or you could be removed from the boat. The first is you always had to wear a knife on your belt while on board. This was a safety measure more than anything. I think with the introduction of the multi-tool, it also became a matter of convenience. If you see a loose screw, you’re more apt to tighten it if you have a screwdriver on the hip.
Docking Fundamentals : When backing into a slip in heavy winds, it pays to remember the basics.
June 15, 2007 - 3:59pm — George Sass Jr.- Boat Handling
- MAY 2007
Have you ever screwed up a docking approach so much that you continue to ponder it for a few weeks afterwards? This one blemish seems to taint all the joy of the boating experience you had just moments before. Well, if you haven’t stopped reading, you can move to the head of the class. If you have and want a few more tips on docking, specifically when backing down into a slip around pilings, read on.
Extending Battery Life : Battery Equaliser Is Put To The Test
June 15, 2007 - 3:50pm — Brad Roberts- Maintenance
- MAY 2007
For cruisers who like to spend more time swinging on the hook and less time plugged into shore, a long battery life is essential. However, the resulting charge-discharge cycle is hard even on deep-cycle batteries specifically designed for this purpose. Replacing your boat’s batteries every few years is a very costly exercise.
