Garrett Lambert writes: >I want to use two navigation laptops. I have a Holux USB GPS. Can I >split the signal to feed both laptops and if so, how? You can't "split" a USB signal in this way, because USB is a bidirectional protocol. This is very unlike the older NMEA 0183 serial protocol, which may be easily split. To do what you want you will need some software on the machine with the GPS that will send the incoming USB GPS data out another port (typically a serial port). The good news is that almost all nav software allows you to do this, because this is how you send GPS data from the nav program to your autopilot. By the way, that's the technical answer. You can do it this way an make it work. But I would *definitely* go with a second GPS, in fact that's what I do on my boat. The primary GPS feeds the primary nav computer, which runs Nobeltec VNS 9 and feeds the primary autopilot via NMEA 0183. The laptop runs VNS 8 (because that does not need a dongle) and uses a $39 USB puck-style GPS. The backup autopilot is fed from a third GPS via NMEA 0183, which also feeds the VHF radios through a simple splitter. Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration Solutions Group www.firstclass.com "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

John Peters writes: >Local Knowledge A Skippers Reference - Tacoma to Ketchikan by Kevin >Monahan I can't recommend this book enough. He has detailed recommendations for how to transit the rapids around Johnstone Straight, including calculations on exactly how to calculate departure times and slack water for each set of rapids. When I took Island Eagle north from Campbell River to Alert Bay for the first time (summer 2007) I followed his calculations to the minute. We had a completely uneventful passage, leaving Campbell River about 0700 and arriving at Alert Bay about 1530. Coming back we overnighted in Kelsey Bay and again used his calculations to ensure we transited at the best water. If you have the time, you can arrange your trip so that you do it on a day when the slack water is in the early morning (in my case it was a fluke). Also, the marina in Campbell River is very convenient, you can take a shopping card from the big-box stores right to your boat. Here's a link to the book: http://www.shipwrite.bc.ca/localknowledge.htm Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration Solutions Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

John Akins writes: >I'll sleep better >tonight, after I get advice on replacing the 3 3/4 (?) Motorola tachs with >something that costs less than $250 per. I installed a VDO programable tach (model 333-152) on Island Eagle, driven off the tach send on my alternator. You do need a known good tach to do the programming, but I picked up a cheap digital handheld tach on eBay. I bought all of my VDO gauges from eGauges, here's a link. Cost is $77.50 plus shipping. http://www.egauges.com/vdo_mult.asp?Type=Tachometer&Series=Vision No connection except as a satisfied customer. Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration Solutions Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

Pascal Gademer writes: >I've anchored in crowded spots, downwinds of boats with gennies and i've >never noticed any smell. you'dl have to be really on top of them to smell In the PNW, where shore power is often iffy (15 amps 100 feet away is not uncommon) I have now twice experienced boats moored ahead of us on the dock running their gensets so they can watch the big screen TV. In one case the genset outlet was less than 20 feet from our aft cabin door, and directly upwind. Now that's noisy, stinky and just plain inconsiderate. Scott Welch 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

Jean-Francois Cardella writes: >I am a new member. I am very keen on an Alaskan 46 (built in 1969) which is >for sale in France. There is very little documentation on this trawler on >the internet and I would like to know where to find anything relevant. > >Also I have read somewhere that is a Freshwater trawler? Please advice if >you can. I have a mooring in Cannes, south of France and my intention is to >travel in the Med, Corsica, Sardinia etc. Does anyone has the pro and cons >about the Alaskan 46? Things to look at before buying? The DeFever Alaskan 46 was designed by Art DeFever and built of wood in Hong Kong by American Marine (the builders of Grand Banks). After the initial production run, American Marine acquired the rights and continued to sell them as Grand Banks Alaskans, in 46, 49 and 53 foot versions. The Alaskan line was dropped when American Marine switched to fibreglass construction. The Alaskan 46 are typically well-built, relatively heavy boats. You can contact other owners here: http://www.gbwoodies.com/member_boats.php?bm=2&bl= Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration Solutions Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

Robert Phillips writes: >I am looking for a welding / fabrication shop in the Toronto area to >make a set of davits. I've not used these guys personally, but they might want to look at Stainless Outfitters. They are in Barrie, about 40 miles north of Toronto: http://www.stainlessoutfitters.com/marine.htm Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration and Social Media Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

Jeffrey Siegel writes: >What else should I be thinking about and what experiences does the >list have with these things? Jeff & others, I came to the conclusion that I needed a raw water washdown as well. I looked at a number of alternatives, many of which have been mentioned here. They all seemed (a) expensive and (b) a bit underpowered. Getting thick gumbo off of a 1/2 chain is a real challenge. My final choice was to avoid "marine" pumps altogether. Instead, I bought an el-cheapo stainless steel shallow-well pump from Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47906 It shows as $129, but when I bought mine, it was only $99. Go figure. Hard to believe that anyone can make money at that price. In any event, it looks like it should have the volume and pressure to do the job. Yes, it takes 1000 watts of AC, but by definition I always have the engine running when I am pulling up the anchor. I'll report back to the list after the summer about how it works out. By the way, just as an FYI, last year I rewired by windlass to use the start batteries instead of the house batteries. If you have been hanging on the hook for a few days, it makes much more sense to be using the start batteries at 27 (or 13.5) volts and a lightly-loaded alternator instead of the house batteries at 24 (or 12) volts and a heavily-loaded alternator. "Barry Kipnis" writes: > If anyone can invent a collar to go around >the chain with multiple spray holes to get the chain from every angle, that >would be better. I've thought a lot about this as well. I think that a semi-circular piece of plastic pipe with 1/8" holes on the inside would work. If you had the threaded fitting that broom & paint rollers use you could then screw it into most extensible boathooks. I'm going to try and whip something like this up before boating season this year. Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration and Social Media Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

dlegrow@yahoo.com writes: >Yes, be sure to have your installer get the dimensions correct as well as >the vessel type. I recently ran into (well not literally, we crossed two >miles behind) a Nordhavn heading into Wilmington or there about, that was >supposedly 6 meters long and 5 meters wide, and was designated as a fishing >vessel. Yes, I have a similar story to share, except in this case the embarrassment was mine: last summer I was cruising the Gulf Islands in BC, and spent a few days near Thetis and Kuper islands. These are served by a small car ferry (about 120 feet) from Chemainus. One day I happened to be watching the ferry on AIS and I noticed that the transponder had clearly been installed backwards. The arrow was pointing the wrong way, and the indicated speed was 9.5 knots in reverse. I thought that I would be a helpful kind of guy, so I called the ferry captain to let him know, and suggested that he let the maintenance guys investigate. You can imagine my mortification when he came back to remind me that he was piloting a roll-on / roll-off car ferry, and that every return trip was in "reverse". D'oh! Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration and Social Media Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out." - John Wooden

Steve Sipe writes: >I used some inexpensive silicone tub sealant to help with assembly of >the SeaLand hoses, it provided some lubrication to aid assembly, plus >I've learned that it also aids in removing them for service, etc. at the >same time providing an additional sealer. A trick I learned from a professional installer is to use KY Jelly. It is sli ppery when you use it, but then hardens up (glycerine is a sugar). Best of al l it's easy to get apart. Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration and Social Media Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out ." - John Wooden

Btlifes2short@aol.com writes: >I'm needing to replace the 4, 8-D batteries that have grown old & tired. >The current batteries are LifeLine 8-D's and I'm looking to see if anybody >has a good supplier (and good luck) > for any brand of AGM 8-D's ?? Please don't tell me about smaller, >lighter, more inexpensive batteries......I've been around long enough to kno >w >what I want, thanks! No sure how much room you have, but I replaced four Lifeline 8D AGM batteries with 12 Discover L-16 6-volt AGMs. I have mine wired for 24 volts (3 parallel X 4 series) You can fit 3 of the L-16s in the same footprint as a single 8D s o if you have the headroom you can fit 12 in the space used by the 4 8Ds. So far I have had excellent results. The only thing that I would change is that I would have used the 2 volt versions so that I could wire all 12 in series. Here's a link: 6 volt: http://discover-energy.com/files/datasheets/EVL16A-A.pdf 2 volt: http://discover-energy.com/files/datasheets/EV216A.pdf Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration and Social Media Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out ." - John Wooden