Marine Electronics

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.

Beyond the text and photos contained in a sailboat manufacturing company’s brochures, and the words of a dealer or salesperson, and absent an understanding of yacht design, discerning the actual capabilities of today’s production boats is a major task. Gone are the days of Herreschoff et. al., when the conventional wisdom held that a long, deep keel was the best method of producing good tracking, displacement produced a seakindly ride, and performance (straightforward speed) was a simple matter of adding sail area. Prior to the age of fiberglass, most yachts used similar raw materials (wood and metal), and construction methods, so those variables were not generally a consideration.

The systems used to attach a mainsail to its mast have come a long way since the time of hoops and parrels, and the variety of options now available for retrofitting plays to the advantage of the consumer.

If the weather this time of the year is cold enough for you to give up sailing for a few months and curl up in a warm place, there’s a good chance that the electronic equipment on your boat would appreciate a little of the same treatment. A little extra care when the weather is cold can add considerably to the useful life of most electronics. Unless a piece of gear is totally sealed against the environment, the atmosphere on the inside of the unit will be pretty much the same as the atmosphere on the inside of the rest of the boat. In the middle of winter, this can mean a lot of cold and condensation. Needless to say, condensation on the inside of your delicate electronics is not the best atmosphere for long life.