Patrick's Sailing Blog

Gear

• MAC Sailing Forum

  If you're a MAC (not me) or an iPhone (me) user you should head over and check out MacSailing.Net. It's a good forum about sailing software for the MAC and iPhone including Mr. Tides and iNavX the iPhone version of GPS NavX. Only about 800 users, but nonetheless if your a MAC or iPhone user who sails it seems like the place to be. Posted Aug 28 2008, 02:00 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Technology, Gear, geek

• Safety Glasses with the cool auto-tint

  These are pretty stylin as safety glasses go and they will also auto-tint which is perfect for those above deck\below deck kind of projects. Apparently they are $45 which isn't too bad if you'll actually wear them! This come your way via ToolMonger. Posted May 28 2008, 12:50 PM by Patrick with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Gear, Safety and Rescue

• So-so-so-so-something from the comments...

  Gene writes.... Googled "Spin-Tec" and a comment in your blog showed up. I'm looking at this furling system and was wondering if you'd purchased one or have received any comments about them from locals? Gene S/V Mardalee Bremerton, WA Wow, that post about Spin-Tec was back from January 2005 (Sorry photos were not moved during a site upgrade) I've not heard any more about Spin-Tec nor have I purchased any of their products. If I do buy a new furling system though, I think I'd check out a continuous line system as opposed to a drum system like like the Spin-Tec. I'm not convinced one-way or another yet, but in my little head, I like the simplicity of the continuous line as opposed to that drum of line which can over-ride on itself. Hope that helps... Posted May 06 2008, 09:31 AM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, Rigging

• LED floating light show

  I stumbled on this via the Maker blog, the video looks like someone waving them around not having them float on water, but it would be pretty awesome looking to float a bunch of these around your hull at night and MUCH better (IMHO) than putting more holes in your boat to install those lighted through-hulls. This could be especially awesome on say the 4th of July or on a day to day basis on your anchor buoy. Bubble Bobbles are water-resistant floating globes each imbedded with a tri-color LED. Tilt sensors are placed in each Bubble causing it to change colors depending on which direction it's tilted. Used in multitudes Bubble Bobbles can be placed in a pool or lake, causing ripples of colors with each splash and wave. (see movie) Posted Apr 24 2008, 10:43 AM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, geek

• SSB and HAM Radio Fleamarket - Mike and Key Club

  The Mike and Key Club is a big Amateur Radio club here in the Pacific Northwest. They are having their 27th annual electronics show and fleamarket 8 march 2008. The whole thing kicks off at 0900. Just like the Marine gear equivalents I'm sure all the good used stuff goes early so get there at the crack of 9 and run. They will also be holding exams onsite so its also a good time to check out some of my posts about HamTestOnline, study and show up to pass your HAM test!   Share this post : del.icio.us it! digg it! live it! magnolia! reddit! technorati! yahoo! Posted Jan 17 2008, 06:45 PM by Patrick with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Gear, Radios of All Kind, HAM radio, SSB

• Small Vacuum Sealer

  I saw the Oliso Frisper in Popular Science, its a pretty small vacuum sealer that uses bags with ziplock openings and punches a hole in the bag, sucks out the air and then seals the hole. Makes the bags reusable and allows you to use them for storage until you need the contents for use. I think this would be great for storing bulk dry food items in smaller quantities like flour. Its smaller than other systems and its pretty cute. Posted Nov 15 2007, 07:23 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear

• Dolphin Cleat

  I've not posted any sexy pictures of cleats in a while. Here's a new one from Creative Cleats (http://www.creativecleats.com) who also has a Bass cleat. I've left that picture out on purpose. ;-) Posted Oct 23 2007, 10:15 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, Boat Design

• Shore Spike / Anchor

  ok, the website is a little obnoxious, but the Shore Spike from SlideAnchor.com (http://www.slideanchor.com/spike.asp) looks pretty handy. Basically its a spike with a sliding handle that allows you to pound it in to the ground for shore ties. I would prefer something like an entire forest if I was leaving my boat unattended but the smnaller version look pretty handy for the dinghy. Posted Jul 27 2007, 12:21 AM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, anchoring

• Nobeltec Solid State Heading Sensor Change in Design

  This is straight out of the Nobeltec newsletter, and if you're not hooked up correctly it looks like you could easily end up on the beach, so I thought I'd share it.  Nobeltec Solid State Heading Sensor Change in Design   The Nobeltec Solid State Heading Sensor has changed in design. It is imperative that if you need to receive NMEA 0183 data [and all Nobeltec customers do], that **BOTH** the connectors are wired properly. In the past only the NMEA 0183 connector was required -- THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE.   The new version of the hardware requires the following wiring be exact for any data to be sent to NMEA0183 cable.   NMEA2000 Connector: VDC+ = Pin 2 VDC- (Gnd) = Pin 3 NMEA0183 Cable to Sealevel RS422 Only! (Other mfg RS-422 will differ!!) Brown = Pin 1 Gray = Pin 2 Blue = Pin 3 White = Pin 4 Black = Pin 5   If you're calling our Technical Support Department, it's important for one of our team members to understand which version of the hardware you currently use. Our Technical Support Department will work with you to determine this information -- for customers with the original design or the updated hardware – and we appreciate your patience. Additionally, there is no outward indicator to discern which version of unit you may own.   Here's some additional assistance in attempting to discern if you currently use the new design: The old wiring doesn't provide data to the PC The unit was purchased from Jeppesen Marine after May 2007 The unit was shipped with both the NMEA0183 cable and an additional NMEA2000 connector Unfortunately, some new Solid State Heading Sensor units shipped with incorrect documentation; we apologize for this inconvenience. A new manual will accompany the updated hardware just as soon as it's available. You may feel that you have everything wired according to the manual; however, this may not be the case.   After successfully powering up either unit, information similar to the following can be seen in a terminal window. This may help if you feel you may have everything wired correctly and it still doesn't work:   Old:   New:   Please contact our Technical Support team if you have questions and/or concerns:   Telephone: (800) 732-2800 Mon - Fri 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM MT excluding weekends and holidays   Email: support@jeppesen.com Posted Jul 26 2007, 02:10 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, Navigation, Marine Industry News

• Forward Osmosis Desalinator - Sea-Pack

  you may have seen the Sea-Pack written up in Blue Water Sailing or Latitudes and Attitudes but I wanted to pass it along for those who haven't seen it because quite frankly I think is pretty dang kewl. It seems like the perfect thing to stuff in your life raft case when its being serviced or to carry in your ditch bag. Here is a very technical description of forward osmosis, I think of it as water moving through a membrane from an area of HIGH water concentration to an area of LOW water concentration, and as this happens the membrane seperating the two areas filters everything else out. That's probably not 100% accurate, but I think its a good lay description.  The packs can last from 3-5 years unopened which I think is very reasonable shelf life for safety gear like this. I think it would make sense to by one while your still coastal cruising (and can be saved quickly) and then buy another one each year until you have 3 and then you can rotate replacing them only having to buy one each year instead of replacing all of them all at once like you do with your flares.  Anyway, I think its a great product and it seems like something I will have aboard my vessel.   Posted Apr 30 2007, 09:00 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, Safety and Rescue, Desalination

• Wind generators

  There was a good article in Cruising World in February 2007 (yeah I get behind on my magazines quite often) about Hugh Merewether the inventor of the Ampair. He sadly passed away in September of 2006. The article is a really good story about his career evolution from test pilot for the Hawker Aircraft Company to retiree to inventor.   Some great links in the sidebar as well:   Ampair: http://www.ampair.com Air Marine Air X Wind Generator: SW Windwpower, http://www.windenergy.com Aerogen Wind Generators: http://www.unlimited-power.co.uk Ferris Windpower 200: http://www.hamiltonferris.com Four Winds II, Red Barron: http://www.fourwinds-ii.com KISS High Output wind generator: http://www.svhotwire.com Rutland Windcharger: http://www.marlec.co.uk Posted Apr 28 2007, 12:35 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, wind generator

• 7 April Fisheries Boat Swap

  48 North is having its Spring Swap Meet on 7 April. Rumor has it you need to get their VERY early to catch the worm http://www.48north.com/swapmeet.htm Fisheries Supply Saturday, April 7, 2007 Mariner’s Square Parking Lot (across from, but not in, Gasworks Park) 1900 N. Northlake Way, Seattle WA 98103 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (206) 632-3555   Posted Mar 27 2007, 11:27 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, Swap Meet

• Practical Sailor Renewal Cheaper Online

  I don't like to use mail for much of anything, seems liek there's little to need for it with the internet, so when I noticed it was time to renew my Practical Sailor subscription I wnet online. Well it turns out the 2 year renewal is $68 online and $86 if you use the renewal return slip they send you. PS Customer Service link: http://www.practical-sailor.com/customer_service/  Online Rawks! Posted Feb 22 2007, 07:47 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear, Practical Sailor

• 12 Hour Sale @ West Marine

  West Marine is having an online 12 hour sale Friday 10 November from 5am-5pm PST. All you need to do is enter the code 12HOURS at checkout and you will receive 10% of all products. Posted Nov 09 2006, 08:38 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear

• Get your flags and save some money

  FlagStuff.com is having a sale! They have a variety of Nautical Flags, including 75 international flags, race committee flags, yacht club flags, US yacht ensign and the old standard Jolly Roger! They have a regular discount of 10% if you buy 2 flags. They also have a a 5% discount for the total purchase. To take advantage of the 5% discount, enter this code: 41472226. Posted Oct 03 2006, 11:54 PM by Patrick with no comments Filed under: Gear