You won't be surprised to hear about all the great features and capabilities available when you upgrade to a new suite of navigation electronics, but you might be surprised at how much functionality you can get at sweet deal prices.
When strolling the docks of almost any busy marina, a cruiser will see satellite domes atop boats of varying sizes and types. Some pull in live TV programming far from shore while others provide links, by way of VSAT technology, to the internet, data and worldwide phone service.
Dockmate®, manufacturer of advanced wireless remote controls for yachts, has announced expanded compatibility and new functionality for select engines.
Read more: Dockmate announces added compatibility and new...
Whether for news, weather or just to watch the game, onboard television reception is important. But switching between external antennas and cable or satellite, traditional marine equipment is painstakingly manual to properly adjust.
On the water audiophile-quality sound is attainable with the new JBL-R3500 source unit. The latest in the WAKE Series of stereo components from Prospec Electronics is loaded with user-friendly features and built to withstand the harshest weather.
A Bluetooth-enabled phone or tablet is ideal for streaming music, but it's often stowed safely away when on the water, road or trail. For ready access to the device's controls when on a boat, golf car, motorcycle or UTV, it's hard to beat the award-winning Infinity by Harman INF-BC4 Pre-Amp Bluetooth Controller from Prospec Electronics.
From streaming a repair video to downloading weather data, there are countless reasons to have Internet access 15 miles from shore. The new Glomex weBBoat® 4G Lite EVO, available from GA Communications, delivers stable, high-speed connectivity from a compact, lightweight antenna that's ideal for smaller boats with limited space.
Read more: New internet antenna offers impressive features...
For anyone with a limited amount of dash or bulkhead area, but a desire for high-quality sound, it's hard to beat the JBL PRV-275 from Prospec Electronics. The fully weatherproof Bluetooth-enabled stereo receiver has a 2-3/4" color LCD display and built-in amplifier, yet only takes up 4-1/8" of space—the same size as a standard small gauge. The cutout requires a 3-1/2" hole.
Turn your phone into a castable sonar; STRIKER Cast brings sonar to a mobile device to help anglers find & catch more fish – with & without a boat! Designed for use in freshwater and saltwater (and even for ice fishing), STRIKER Cast delivers excellent sonar performance in both shallow water and deep water.
Unlike cars and homes, boats can be difficult spaces in which to create a quality listening environment—unless Infinity by Harman Kappa 6-1/2" coaxial marine speakers from Prospec Electronics are included. They deliver audiophile-level quality sound and integrated RGB lighting to keep the party going all night long.
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OAKLEY 245 CC
By Andy Adams
The multi-generational island cottagers of Georgian Bay and serious fishermen are just two of the groups most attracted to the new Oakley Boats models.
Brad Oakley has been around the boat business his entire life and he said to me that he has long admired durable, seaworthy welded aluminum boats. His company WMW Vacuum Pumpout Systems in Waubaushene, Ontario on Georgian Bay, builds highly regarded vacuum pump-out systems and Oakley’s equipment is in so many marinas that he knows a lot of people in the business.
Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42
By Katherine Stone
On a beautiful summer morning in July, I hopped aboard a new-owner delivery from the Outer Harbour Marina in Toronto to the Port Credit Harbour Marina in Mississauga, with the President of Navy Point Yacht Sales, Steve McPherson. I don’t know if I have ever referred to a boat as pretty, but this adjective fits the Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 to a tee.
The transitions and communication from interior to exterior spaces are seamless and well-thought-out with functional ergonomics.
Destinations
Cruising the Rideau Canal
Following the War of 1812, a battle that Canada narrowly won against the United States, the boundaries of Upper Canada were held and the British army realized that the St. Lawrence River was no longer safe as a supply route. A more defensible route was needed to bring supplies from Montreal to Kingston and on into other Great Lakes settlements.
This new, more secure route revealed itself through the travel and trade of the Indigenous peoples. Surveyors learned that one of the Indigenous trade routes began at the mouth of the Cataraqui River in Kingston (Canada’s first national capital) and connected a series of lakes and rivers all the way through to where the Rideau River meets the Ottawa River in the heart of Bytown (known today as Canada’s national capital: the City of Ottawa).
Lifestyle
How a young woman who was encouraged by her father to enter a contest, became a member of the yachting fraternity (sorority?).
Encouraged by her father to enter, Jessika Patrick emerged the winner of the Yacht Solutions Schaefer Yachts contest. It took a little extra luck to get the prize though. Another entrant actually won but sadly, a medical issue forced them to decline the prize. Another entrant’s name was then drawn. This winner also declined, but for a happy reason; they had just bought their own new boat and were busy with that so, a third winner had to be drawn. The third time was the charm for prize winner Jessika Patrick.
DIY & How to
Keven Talks Sails: Crosscut VS Triradial Sail Cutting
Over the last decade, sailcloth weaving equipment has evolved and allowed the production of low crimp warp oriented woven cloth of medium to heavy weights. We have had light weight warp wovens of 200g/m2 (4oz) or lighter for much longer than that, but the finer denier weaves of light sailcloth allowed that with older looms and setups. Why is this important? This new loom technology is very important because it allows sailmakers to make better warp cut woven sails for boats 25-50’ long.
Let’s start by clarifying what a crosscut sail is. The crosscut panel layout aligns the fill (short) edge of the sailcloth roll with the leech edge of the sail. Most of the sail load goes from clew to head up the leech. Secondary sail loads go from corner to corner along the foot and luff edge.
Product news: Modern pull up cleats
Many boaters prefer the clean appearance and greater safety of modern pull-up cleats that retract flush into the deck when not in use. But depending on where they need to be installed, limited mounting room can make it difficult. Series 490 Rectangular Pull-Up Cleats from Accon Marine feature a sleek, compact design that allows use in even challenging spaces where other flush-mount hardware simply won't fit.
Made from polished, marine-grade 316 stainless steel for extreme durability and a lifetime of good looks, Series 490 Pull-Up Cleats feature a fresh, modern aesthetic that complements the contemporary profile of today's boats.
News
I filled up last week at $1.90. Pundits are suggesting that prices will stay high throughout the summer. Radio and TV news have been flooded with ‘man on the street’ interviews that show the impact on the average driver. How will these prices affect the average boater this year? Will we see more hours spent on the docks and fewer on the water? Will fuel efficiency become a top-of –mind selling point? Will we see a shift toward electric marine engines?
Time will tell – but for the majority of us, we’ll need to weather the storm as best we can. There are a number of tips and tricks we can employ aboard to make the most of our boat’s fuel. BoatUS published an excellent article this week that I’ll break down...
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