Nov 25, 2021This one?????
Once our boat comes out of the water, I take the annual fall tour of the hull so I can determine what to worry about all winter. The first thing I note is that the sacrificial anode I had intended to replace prior to launch last spring remains un-replaced.
I recall, as I look blankly at it, that my plan was to attach a brand new anode that I got from the previous owner many years ago, but when I removed it from its packaging, it was clear it wasn’t the correct match for my drive. Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t installed it. And why I went no further.
That leads to a series of thoughts that get increasingly existential-y. Yes, the boat needs a new anode, but where do you get it? It’s not like a car although there exists yards or mobile mechanics who perhaps could find the replacement anode or is it now a discontinued thing. But who gets to fret about anodes – certainly not car owners. Nor cottagers or golfers.
And here’s where my thinking gets weird. Do those of us do so because we get to go on searches for parts that virtually no one else knows or cares about? Do we like boats because they don’t run on rails or roads and the path ahead is a pulsating mystery?
We obviously all love boats because you can go for a moonlit ride through nature or sit in a sunny cockpit with close friends and snacks. But is the real appeal derived from the unpredictability, the unknown and bafflement. I can read Ask Andrew 20 times about batteries and wiring, but I know if the cabin fan doesn’t work, I am on a route that is part explorer, part scientist and part gambler. Get that fan running and it’s beyond exhilarating. Go on a cruise and tie up safely in a new port and I feel like Vasco da Gama.
Getting there is fun, but the real draw is, perhaps, not knowing how to get there. Traffic rules, office rules, social mores run our real lives; there are so few opportunities in our daily routine to safely feel lost in space. But, with a boat you’re on a new, only-vaguely understood path a lot of the time. Like sourcing, changing and understanding a new anode. Perhaps this spring?
John Morris
Online Editor
Canadian Yachting Magazine
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Boat Reviews
Video Gallery
X Shore EELEX 8000
By Andy Adams
100% Electric performance available now
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There has been a lot of media attention around everything electric lately, especially electric vehicles, but so far, most electric boats are a concept, not yet a reality. The X Shore Eelex 8000 is a reality and a very impressive one at that.
Beneteau Oceanis 34.1
By Zuzana Prochazka
Boats have been in high demand for the past two years and there’s no sign of this easing. Sailboats, that can move with the power of the wind, have made an especially significant comeback probably because of the high prices of fuel.
Even more interesting is the increased interest in smaller models that have been doing well at recent boat shows. These compact cruisers have definitely held their own even among the 50-foot behemoths at the docks. A good example of this is Beneteau’s new Oceanis 34.1, the second smallest in the line.
Destinations
Cowichan Bay—A Slow-Living Escape to Marine Heritage, Food and Local Artisanry
Text and Photos by Marianne Scott
Cowichan Bay is a waterfront village with a row of shops, artisan products, marine supplies and a variety of places to eat. It also has a delightful Maritime Centre. You can easily spend a day or more here at one of three marinas hosting transient moorage. The place feels like an old-fashioned fishing village.
We arrived at this quaint hamlet on a calm day when the sun burned off twists of mist and created undulating oval diamonds on the wavelets. From the water, the village looks enticing with its dense jumble of colourful character buildings, float homes and houses-on-stilts lining the coast.
Lifestyle
By Sarah Hurst
Photo: Nadine Bastien | Instagram: @ravensfeatherphotography
Last month, Canadian Country Singer Brian John Hardwood, released his new single “Rich”, featuring fellow Canadian artists Alli Walker and Chris Labelle. Brian describes his new single as a 2022 Summer Anthem for everyone- including those who also daydream about getting “rich”! He said in our interview, “You know, I should be rich by now but I’m not, and life is still great.”
We were especially excited to hear that Brian who directed the music video with AJ Astle, decided to film at Centre Island on a luxurious Pilot House Carver 59’, which he rented from a local charter in Toronto.
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Marine Products
SeaKits now available in Canada via Canadian Yachting Ecommerce Store
Don’t let offshore emergencies turn into disasters. SeaKits help to prepare you for emergencies at sea so you can take on the challenge with confidence.
There are three SeaKits available at www.canadianyachting.ca/store:
• SeaKits Expedition - Offshore emergency damage control and repair kit. Be prepared to save your boat - SeaKits Expedition gives you the tools to fight the battle. Each kit comes with more than two dozen emergency tools in a waterproof PelicanTM 1500 case. Retail - $1399.99
News
SailGP, the international racing series featuring high speed F50 wingsailed catamarans, is partnering with RS Electric Boats – sister brand of sailboat manufacturer RS Sailing – to use the Pulse 63 electric RIB as chase, coach and support boats.
RS Electric Boats will supply SailGP with four Pulse 63s, which were designed to be electric boats from the outset. The unique aerodynamic hull form is designed to support the weight of the batteries while allowing rapid acceleration, functional speeds up to 23 knots and ample range.