Features

Mid-Priced Fixed VHF Radios

The technology behind a marine VHF radio’s basic capabilities has remained relatively stable for the last few years. The primary recent advancements have been in refinements and added features. Purchasing a mid-priced VHF today can get you not only a top-quality transmitter and receiver with Digital Select Calling, but also features ranging from increased radio controls to hailers, auto-fog signals, compass readings, and waypoint navigation. Practical Sailor tested nine mid-price fixed marine VHFs priced between $150 and $270, including radios from Garmin, Icom, Raymarine, Standard Horizon, and West Marine. Testers compared bench-test performance, features, price, and warranty.

Sailing Shorts Update

Practical Sailor tested and compared the Camet men’s Rio sailing shorts to the field of sailing shorts reported on in the March 2012 issue, including the Best Choice Gill men’s performance padded shorts. Testers looked at style, price, UV protection, construction, abrasion resistance, dry time, comfort, odor, and pads.

Is Titanium an Everyman Metal?

Titanium is of particular interest to sailors due to its resistance to galvanic corrosion. It has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal and is non-magnetic. It is up to 20 times more scratch resistant than stainless steels. Practical Sailor contributor Patrick Childress takes an in-depth look at the metal and its use in the marine industry as his boat, a Valiant 40, is refitted with titanium chainplates and other rigging.

Y-valves Under Pressure

Continuing with our most recent evaluations of marine sanitation systems, Practical Sailor tested eight marine-grade diverter valves (Y-valves), the valves that control the flow of liquid from one source to two different outlets or from two sources to one outlet. The test field comprised seven manual diverter valves and one electric valve from seven manufacturers. Testers looked at construction, performance, ease of use and install, price, and warranty. The manual Y-valves tested included products from Bosworth Co., Jabsco, Forespar, Groco, Johnson, Whale, and Trudesign (distributed in the U.S. by Raritan). Testers also looked at an electric Y-valve from Trudesign.

Y-valve Installation Advice and Troubleshooting

All waste plumbing hoses should be kept as short and straight as possible with no dips where waste could collect. The diverter valve should be located for easy access to the selector handle and free of other stored “stuff” that could bump the handle. The handle positions should be clearly marked for no confusion as to tank or overboard. Before mounting, make sure there is enough room for all three hose fittings and hose bends. Use 120- or 90-degree hose fittings where necessary to prevent tight bends in discharge hoses, and make sure to use the correct reinforced hose designed for sanitation systems.

Funding the Dream

In the June 2001 issue, Practical Sailor looked at financing boats and recommended that prospective boat buyers “stick with the pros.” We recently set out to see what had changed in boat financing since the 2008 U.S. financial crisis. After interviewing industry experts and related organizations on the state of the marine lending and boating industries, we assumed a boat-buyer’s role and sought financing help from marine loan specialists, large banks, and small lenders. We looked at cash versus financing, borrowing against your home, finance products, rates on boat loans, collateral on the loans, insurance issues, pre-approvals, repossession, and borrower qualifications.

Antifouling for Aluminum Boats

When Achim and Erica Ginsberg-Klemmt upgraded to an aluminum sloop, they had to confront one of aluminum’s major pitfalls: copper-based bottom paints don’t like aluminum. After years of good performance from a foreign-made, expensive-to-import inorganic zinc-silicate coating called Inversalu, the couple sought an affordable option distributed in the U.S. Their research led them to a PPG Amercoat product, a hard two-part zinc-silicate paint called Dimetcote 21-5. Practical Sailor’s report covers their prep and painting experience, a look at how zonc-silicate paints works, and Dimetcote’s performance after eight months in Florida waters.

Anchor Testing and Rode Loads

Many published anchor tests focus on “holding capacity,” and most conclude that newer, concave fluke-design anchors such as the Spade, Rocna, and Manson anchors perform better than older, traditional anchors such as the plow-design CQR, claw anchors like the Bruce, and Danforth-style anchors such as the Fortress. But how useful is this data? Rather than just testing anchors to specific, fixed loads, PS’s recent evaluation raises questions about the various wind-induced loads placed on anchors in real-life situations and how future anchor tests should be carried out.

Lessons learned

Ron Trossbach, head of the US Sailing investigation into the Rambler 100 accident, offered the following lessons that sailors can take away from the capsize.

Safety at Sea Part III: Rambler 100 capsize

In our final review of three 2011 sailboat tragedies investigated by US Sailing, we offer a clear look at how even the best-equipped, most highly trained sailors can run into trouble at sea. Rambler 100—touted as the fastest monohull super-maxi on the planet and representing millions of dollars in research and design—lost its canting keel and capsized while competing in the August 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race. Sixteen crew struggled to stay on the overturned hull, while another five floated adrift in the Celtic Sea, trying to fight off hypothermia. Practical Sailor looks closely at US Sailing’s report, directed by retired U.S. Navy Captain Ron Trossbach, the Rambler 100 crew’s post-accident recommendations, and the safety lessons we can all learn from the accident.

Rambler 100 Recommendations

The crew of Rambler 100 made the following recommendations/observations regarding safety equipment. The recommendations were taken from crew statements provided to US Sailing and do not represent US Sailing’s own recommendations.

US Sailing Investigator’s Recommendations

Ron Trossbach, the lead investigator for US Sailing in the Rambler 100 incident, recommended the following changes to US Sailing’s Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) and US Sailing Prescriptions. He also recommended that these be forwarded to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to be included the ISAF Special Regulations Governing Offshore Racing for Monohulls. The items in parentheses reflect the OSR section that would be amended.

Holding Tanks: Getting the Stink Out

The quality of onboard living suffers when each flush of the head becomes public knowledge within minutes, and a boat that smells bad won’t be a part of your family for long. Practical Sailor tested three vent filters for holding tanks, from makers Big Orange, Vetus, and Dometic, and tested one homemade vent filter. When sanitary wastes are allowed to biodegrade in a closed tank, particularly with poor mixing and inadequate oxygen, anaerobic bacteria dominate. These bacteria particles can make a boat unpleasant or unlivable unless they are eliminated or contained. Carbon filters are one solution to the odor problem; they are simple, dependable and absorb a wide variety of odors.

Useful and Fun Nautical Apps for iPad

In the February and March 2012 issues, we looked at navigation software that allows sailors to use the Apple iPad as a functional chartplotting device. With more than 140,000 apps available, there are hundreds more apps suitable for onboard use. Testers tried out more than 400 weather apps, knot-tying apps, several just-for-fun apps—like Trip Lingo Pirate Edition—and apps for document storage. This report covers more than two dozen of our most used and favorite sailing-related iPad apps.

PS Analysis: The 2011 WingNuts Capsize

This is the second article in a Practical Sailor series that takes a close look at US Sailing’s recent reports on three tragic sailing accidents last summer. The first article covered US Sailing’s report on the Severn Sailing Association accident involving the drowning death of 14-year-old Olivia Constants in Annapolis, Md. This report focuses on US Sailing’s investigation of the tragedy involving the light-displacement sloop WingNuts, which capsized during the Chicago Yacht Club’s Chicago to Mackinac race. The US Sailing report focused on four key elements that might have been factors in the accident: crew experience, weather, boat design, and safety equipment. Practical Sailor’s own investigation and reporting fills in some gaps in the US Sailing report, particularly regarding safety gear—tethers, harnesses, and PFDS—and its role in the event.