Marine Electronics

Speed-gauging tools developed for racing sailors have moved beyond a simple display of measuring knots, and now offer heading data, course over ground, distance-to-line, and GPS speed-tracking features. Velocitek is leading the marine electronics field of handheld speed tools with its ProStart, while Rock City Marine's RockBox, like the ProStart, uses GPS satellite signals to monitor speed and performance. Testers looked at each model’s ease of installation, performance on the water, and durability. Testers also rated their accompanying software.

The FLIR First Mate is a lightweight, easy-to-hold thermal-imaging monocular that allows users to “see in the dark” by reading temperature differences and displaying the infrared images in a digital viewfinder. Although its price tag keeps it from being a must-have navigation tool, the First Mate has real value as a man-overboard recovery aid. PS testers put the First Mate through its paces with a set of discernment tests on the water. Testers used the First Mate to spot crab pots, unlit beacons, unlit nuns, other boats, the shoreline, and a volunteer “man-overboard.” Setting the FLIR in the “white” hot mode, testers went about their infrared treasure hunt, ranking how well certain objects, all unseen by the naked eye, showed up with FLIR's thermal night vision.

Sailors who read George Orwells 1984 when it was first published 62 years ago probably wrote off being tracked as a technological feat that was about as unlikely as the discovery of a tiny black box that would replace the sextant. Six decades later, GPS-based navigation has become de rigueur, and the big question is not if, but how tracking technology will be used. The upside of being locatable 24/7 includes many safety and search-and-rescue…

All the test toilets had at least one electric pump to handle supply and flushing duties; some had one pump for each job. The best pumps pushed more water faster and didn’t hesitate when they hit solids.

Several of the units PS looked at came with what might be called “smart” flushing capability. Instead of a simple momentary switch—push to flush, release to stop flushing—these switches controlled flow and the timing of various filling and flushing functions. Most allowed for about a half-gallon of water for a full flush, and a five-second delay between rinse and flush.

Practical Sailor compared the style, performance, weight, and ruggedness of 7 electric-flush marine toilets from four manufacturers. Once considered a luxury made only for the megayacht crowd, electric marine heads today are more compact, more reliable, and less expensive than their predecessors, making them viable options for amenities-seeking cruisers. In tests, PS compared the flow rate of the supply pumps, the amps used per flush, the time it took each toilet to flush, and the efficiency of each toilet to manage the material flushed. The test field included the Raritan Sea Era, the Raritan Marine Elegance, the Jabsco Quiet Flush, Jabsco Deluxe Lite Flush, the Johnson Aqua-T, and the Groco Type K 12-volt marine electric-flush toilet.

I have always been a big fan of brass berth lights, but have never really liked the halogen bulbs commonly used in them. The little halogen bulbs run hot, use a lot of power, and are prone to vibrating loose. When Sailor's Solutions (www.sailorsolutions.com) introduced the Sensibulb, I quickly ordered a couple to test in our custom built boat Suzy. They worked so well that I converted all six of our berth lights. The original Sensibulbs were nice units, but the mounting system was iffy. I elected to bypass the mounting system by removing the ceramic bulb holder and directly gluing the bulb support post to the back of the Sensibulb.

The storage battery’s chemical reaction is reversible, which means that it can be recharged, and will be continuously, as long as the engine is running and the alternator or generator is functioning properly. Normally, we take these things for granted, and are surprised when they don’t work-a testament to the reliability of the devices.

Every year, a surprising number of boats are struck by lightning. Almost invariably, there is some damage to the boat or its equipment. The damage can range from minor electrical problems to serious hull damage.

The storage battery’s chemical reaction is reversible, which means that it can be recharged, and will be continuously, as long as the engine is running and the alternator or generator is functioning properly. Normally, we take these things for granted, and are surprised when they don’t work-a testament to the reliability of the devices.