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.
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.
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.
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.
A special hurricane relief event is scheduled for the first day of the sailboat show in Annapolis. For those who donate $75 or more to several relief organizations, the Donor Appreciation Party will be held at the close of the show, with free food and drinks. The donations will go directly to relief efforts in the BVIs.
The Recovering Warrior Sailing Regatta took place this weekend in Annapolis. It takes disabled military out for a day of sailboat racing with midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy, put on by the USNA, National Sailing Hall of Fame, and Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB).
I got a chance to spend time with Admiral Phil Cullom, who shared his approach to commanding a Navy destroyer.
When elbow-tiring, hand-rubbed compounding and waxing no longer does the job, it may be time to paint your boat. Gelcoat is not intended as a forever finish, and 11 years was perhaps waiting too long. No worries, striking beauty is only a paint job and $$$$ away. And it is the start of the effort to take this great Hunt design and make it into the great boat it should be.
Our first Monday Minute, sharing a piece of useful information from traveling around the world, visiting boat builders and suppliers to our industry. Due to the enormous diversity of the global marine world, spanning commercial, recreational, and military segments, many of these professionals know much more than we will ever experience during our boating years.
I find their tips and comments worth considering.
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?