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Incorporating Boat & Yacht Buyer November 2009
HUNDREDS OF BOATS FOR SALE - SEE INSIDE
www.boatmart.co.ukONLY £3.50
INSIDE YOU CAN BUY A BOAT FROM
£200
NOVEMBER 2009
A GREAT CATCHTHE BEST BOATS AT THE BEST PRICES – FIND YOUR NEXT CRAFT INSIDE
BUDGET BOATINGFOUR FANTASTIC £20K BUYS
RESTORED PRIDEINTERIOR DESIGNS TACKLED IN OUR READER REBUILD
GEEK CHIC FIND OUT WHAT’S
NEW IN MARINE ELECTRONICS
BOAT SHOW REPORT TOW CAR OF THE YEAR ANGLING GUIDE BUYING SECONDHAND
ALL THE NEWS LOAD LUGGERS TESTED WHAT YOU’LL BE CATCHING LARSON SENZA 186
PLUS ALL THE LATEST NEWS, PRODUCTS AND EVENTS INSIDE
EVOLUTIONARY AMPHIBIANBEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE NEW SEVEN-METRE ‘SEALEGS’
EditorialEditor: Keith Moody
Email: [email protected] Editor: Mark HydeEditorial Assistant : Sarah CesekContributors: Peter Caplen, Angela Clay, Simon Everett, Adrian French, David Greenwood, Susan Greenwood, Colin Jones, Phil Pickin, Irving Stewart, Ted Tuckerman, David Webber
AdvertisingTel: 01223-460-490Jody Bratley: Group Sales Manager Tel: 01223-444-087Senior Sales Manager: Samantha BroomeSales Executive: Claire BroadmoorePrivate Advertising Queries: 01223-460-490
Designers: Flo Terentjev, Sarah Garland, Ben Ingham
Production Studio Manager: Sal LawProduction Controller: Anthony GibbonsTel: 01223-460-490 Email: [email protected]
SubscriptionsSubscription Hotline: 01223-444-081Fax: 01223-315-960Email: [email protected]
Managing Editor: Keith MoodyManaging Director: Sue BaggaleyWeb: www.boatmart.co.uk
Published by:CSL Publishing Ltd, Alliance House, 49 Sidney Street, Cambridge, CB2 3HXTel: 01223-460-490 Fax: 01223-315-960 © 2009 CSL Publishing Ltd CSL Publishing also publishes All At Sea, Sports Boat & RIB, Jet Skier & PW and Boat & Yacht Buyer magazines.
Printed by Garnett Dickenson
Distributed by Comag Specialist
Tavistock Road, West Drayton UB7 7QE
DISCLAIMERThe views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every care is taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements, the publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. They will however investigate any written complaints. CSL prints advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warrantee and makes no representation as to truth, accuracy or sufficiency of any description, photograph or statement. CSL accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relied either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph or statement contained herein. The advertiser warrants that the advertisement does not contravene any Act of Parliament nor is it in any way illegal or defamatory or an infringement of any other party’s rights or of the British Code of Advertising Practice.
For artistic purposes lifejackets are not shown in all of the photographs. Boat Mart strongly advises that lifejackets are worn at all times for watersports.
COPYRIGHTNo part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the prior written permission of the publisher. Photocopying or other reproduction without the publisher’s permission is a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs.
This magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper
BOAT MART REGULARS
Throw Us A Line ............... 09
Newsline ........................... 13
Subscribe ......................... 74
Courses ..............................78
Boats & Yachts For Sale .. 111
Classifieds ...................... 120
Next Issue ...................... 128
BUYING ADVICE
SEALEGS 7.1 .................... 22
We put this flagship amphibian to the test
DEALER PROFILE ............ 28
Meet the good people at
Samspeed Marine
NEW BOATS ...................... 31
A special look at Humber’s
SportsPro 1000
SUZUKI DF9.9 .................. 32
Irving Stewart puts this new RIB and
engine through its paces
BUYING USED ................... 36
Everything you need to know about the
Recreational Craft Directive
WHAT CAN I BUY? ............ 40
The best boats in the £20,000
price bracket
GETTING HITCHED ........... 46
Adrian French gets behind the wheel of a
Peugeot Partner Tepee
TOWCAR AWARDS ............ 50
This year’s best load-luggers go
head to head
EQUIPMENT
TOP GEAR ......................... 54
Reviews, news equipment
and buying advice
GENERATOR GAME .......... 62
Fancy a bit of onboard power? Don’t part
with your cash until you’ve read this guide
INSHORE SKIPPER ........... 67
Why boating in France is an option worth
considering
ELECTRONICS
MADE EASY .......................71
Colin Jones looks at alternative power
sources for boaters
LIFESTYLE
CLASSIC CORNER ............ 77
Find out how to lay up your classic craft
SOUTHAMPTON REVIEW .. 80
All the news from this year’s boat show
ANGLING GUIDE ............... 83
Looking forward to a month of fishing
GREEN BOATING .............. 89
Eco-friendly boat cleaning
A QUESTION OF BOATS .... 91
How much do you know about boats?
DIARY DATES ................... 93
A preview of the Northeast Sea Angling
And Boat Show
PRACTICAL
TECH TALK ....................... 95
Why it’s important to care for your kit
over winter
PRACTICAL MONTHLY ...... 98
New kit plus some useful
maintenance jobs
PRACTICAL BOATING ....... 92
How to handle heavy weather
READER REBUILD .......... 103
Steve tackles the interior of his boat
PROJECT NO.96 ............. 105
Our handy guide to laying up your boat
BOAT MART FEATURES
32
FIND YOUR DREAM BOAT
PAGE 111
40
SUZUKI DF9.9
9799
22SEALEGS 7.1TESTED
WHAT CAN I BUY?
PRACTICAL PROJECT
EditorialEditor: Keith Moody
Email: [email protected] Editor: Mark HydeEditorial Assistant : Sarah CesekContributors: Peter Caplen, Angela Clay, Simon Everett, Adrian French, David Greenwood, Susan Greenwood, Colin Jones, Phil Pickin, Irving Stewart, Ted Tuckerman, David Webber
AdvertisingTel: 01223-460-490Jody Bratley: Group Sales Manager Tel: 01223-444-087Senior Sales Manager: Samantha BroomeSales Executive: Claire BroadmoorePrivate Advertising Queries: 01223-460-490
Designers: Flo Terentjev, Sarah Garland, Ben Ingham
Production Studio Manager: Sal LawProduction Controller: Anthony GibbonsTel: 01223-460-490 Email: [email protected]
SubscriptionsSubscription Hotline: 01223-444-081Fax: 01223-315-960Email: [email protected]
Managing Editor: Keith MoodyManaging Director: Sue BaggaleyWeb: www.boatmart.co.uk
Published by:CSL Publishing Ltd, Alliance House, 49 Sidney Street, Cambridge, CB2 3HXTel: 01223-460-490 Fax: 01223-315-960 © 2009 CSL Publishing Ltd CSL Publishing also publishes All At Sea, Sports Boat & RIB, Jet Skier & PW and Boat & Yacht Buyer magazines.
Printed by Garnett Dickenson
Distributed by Comag Specialist
Tavistock Road, West Drayton UB7 7QE
DISCLAIMERThe views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every care is taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements, the publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. They will however investigate any written complaints. CSL prints advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warrantee and makes no representation as to truth, accuracy or sufficiency of any description, photograph or statement. CSL accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relied either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph or statement contained herein. The advertiser warrants that the advertisement does not contravene any Act of Parliament nor is it in any way illegal or defamatory or an infringement of any other party’s rights or of the British Code of Advertising Practice.
For artistic purposes lifejackets are not shown in all of the photographs. Boat Mart strongly advises that lifejackets are worn at all times for watersports.
COPYRIGHTNo part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the prior written permission of the publisher. Photocopying or other reproduction without the publisher’s permission is a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs.
This magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper
BOAT MART REGULARS
Throw Us A Line ............... 09
Newsline ........................... 13
Subscribe ......................... 74
Courses ..............................78
Boats & Yachts For Sale .. 111
Classifieds ...................... 120
Next Issue ...................... 128
BUYING ADVICE
SEALEGS 7.1 .................... 22
We put this flagship amphibian to the test
DEALER PROFILE ............ 28
Meet the good people at
Samspeed Marine
NEW BOATS ...................... 31
A special look at Humber’s
SportsPro 1000
SUZUKI DF9.9 .................. 32
Irving Stewart puts this new RIB and
engine through its paces
BUYING USED ................... 36
Everything you need to know about the
Recreational Craft Directive
WHAT CAN I BUY? ............ 40
The best boats in the £20,000
price bracket
GETTING HITCHED ........... 46
Adrian French gets behind the wheel of a
Peugeot Partner Tepee
TOWCAR AWARDS ............ 50
This year’s best load-luggers go
head to head
EQUIPMENT
TOP GEAR ......................... 54
Reviews, news equipment
and buying advice
GENERATOR GAME .......... 62
Fancy a bit of onboard power? Don’t part
with your cash until you’ve read this guide
INSHORE SKIPPER ........... 67
Why boating in France is an option worth
considering
ELECTRONICS
MADE EASY .......................71
Colin Jones looks at alternative power
sources for boaters
LIFESTYLE
CLASSIC CORNER ............ 77
Find out how to lay up your classic craft
SOUTHAMPTON REVIEW .. 80
All the news from this year’s boat show
ANGLING GUIDE ............... 83
Looking forward to a month of fishing
GREEN BOATING .............. 89
Eco-friendly boat cleaning
A QUESTION OF BOATS .... 91
How much do you know about boats?
DIARY DATES ................... 93
A preview of the Northeast Sea Angling
And Boat Show
PRACTICAL
TECH TALK ....................... 95
Why it’s important to care for your kit
over winter
PRACTICAL MONTHLY ...... 98
New kit plus some useful
maintenance jobs
PRACTICAL BOATING ....... 92
How to handle heavy weather
READER REBUILD .......... 103
Steve tackles the interior of his boat
PROJECT NO.96 ............. 105
Our handy guide to laying up your boat
BOAT MART FEATURES
32
FIND YOUR DREAM BOAT
PAGE 111
40
SUZUKI DF9.9
9799
22SEALEGS 7.1TESTED
WHAT CAN I BUY?
PRACTICAL PROJECT
BUYING ADVICE ORKNEY 592BUYING ADVICE SEALEGS 7.1M
www.boatmart.co.uk www.boatmart.co.uk Buy & sell for FREE with Boat Mart’s private classifi ed ad service Boat Mart I November 2009 I 23Please mention Boat Mart when replying to advertisements22 I November 2009 I Boat Mart
SEALEGS 7.1MT
he Sealegs concept has been
going for over five years now,
just to confound the early
doubters who poo-pooed the
combination of a RIB with
its own carriage wheels. The
intervening years have seen the Sealegs not
just prove its worth, but also provide positive
feedback on the longevity and reliability of the
land legs. The quest for amphibious vehicles
has been around since the days of the Vikings,
when they used to portage their longboats
overland on rollers, to save a long passage
around a peninsular, there are many instances
of these regular portages in Scotland. Military
amphibious vehicles have also been part
of the defense inventory from the 1939-45
conflict when they played a vital role in various
invasions around the world, including, of
course, D-Day.
There is less need in civilian life, but there is
certainly convenience provided by the simplicity
of launching, recovery, beaching and storing,
especially for those with waterside properties
and their own access to the water. Even if you
don’t have the luxury of a boathouse on the
shore and you use a park and launch facility,
imagine the simplicity not to mention the safety,
of not having to hitch up a trailer and run it into
the water, then the same again on your return.
Just start the land gear motor and drive off
into or out of the water. That is precisely how
the Sealegs came to be designed. A couple of
wealthy New Zealanders decided they wanted
a boat that they could do just that with, so they
designed and perfected the Sealegs system.
The new, 7.1m version provides greater deck
space and seakeeping to provide a wonderfully
stable ride and the ability to deal with bigger
sea conditions more comfortably by dint of her
longer waterline length. It is amazing how much
more volume an extra metre of length provides,
with the increase in beam and freeboard that
comes with it. Don’t be misled into thinking
that this is just a stretched version of the
6.1m, it isn’t the 7.1m has been designed from
scratch for her length using the same, saltwater
corrosion resistant aluminium, 5083 shate. This
is the same material, only not as thick as the
plate, used in shipbuilding such as fast ferries
and warships.
This particular boat is the last of what
they call their “light” build. In future each
Sealegs is to be built to a commercial standard
of 600 hours per year for 10 years. That kind
of usage would see even a heavy a leisure
user through for life. The hull is left bare, as
aluminium is self protecting with its own coating
of oxide and does not require antifouling. The
remainder of the aluminium construction is
powder coated and customers can specify
their own colour, white is the default colour. The
aluminium structure makes for a very strong,
stiff boat that is inherently lightweight. The
inflatable collar is made from Hypalon 828 to
complement the rugged build and is fitted so
that the last metre or so sits on the water at
rest, in conventional RIB format. If you took
the wheels off, you would have a pretty
conventional, utility RIB made from long
lasting materials and built like a warship, literally.
When I first saw the Sealegs she was sat
proudly in the middle of the boat park in
Salcombe, gaining admiring glances from
passers by and the other boaters. We were
awaiting our turn to use the slipway while the
other people reversed their trailers down the
ramp, floated their boats off and then came
back to park their cars and trailers. Our turn
came round and Nick just started the inboard
motor which powers the fluid drive wheels, set
the hand throttle to provide adequate revs and
then pressed the joystick forward. The boat
gently trundled forward, down the slipway and
into the water. At this point the outboard was
trimmed down and started. The driven wheels
continued to push the boat forward until she
BUYING ADVICE ORKNEY 592BUYING ADVICE SEALEGS 7.1M
www.boatmart.co.uk www.boatmart.co.uk Buy & sell for FREE with Boat Mart’s private classifi ed ad service Boat Mart I November 2009 I 23Please mention Boat Mart when replying to advertisements22 I November 2009 I Boat Mart
SEALEGS 7.1MT
he Sealegs concept has been
going for over five years now,
just to confound the early
doubters who poo-pooed the
combination of a RIB with
its own carriage wheels. The
intervening years have seen the Sealegs not
just prove its worth, but also provide positive
feedback on the longevity and reliability of the
land legs. The quest for amphibious vehicles
has been around since the days of the Vikings,
when they used to portage their longboats
overland on rollers, to save a long passage
around a peninsular, there are many instances
of these regular portages in Scotland. Military
amphibious vehicles have also been part
of the defense inventory from the 1939-45
conflict when they played a vital role in various
invasions around the world, including, of
course, D-Day.
There is less need in civilian life, but there is
certainly convenience provided by the simplicity
of launching, recovery, beaching and storing,
especially for those with waterside properties
and their own access to the water. Even if you
don’t have the luxury of a boathouse on the
shore and you use a park and launch facility,
imagine the simplicity not to mention the safety,
of not having to hitch up a trailer and run it into
the water, then the same again on your return.
Just start the land gear motor and drive off
into or out of the water. That is precisely how
the Sealegs came to be designed. A couple of
wealthy New Zealanders decided they wanted
a boat that they could do just that with, so they
designed and perfected the Sealegs system.
The new, 7.1m version provides greater deck
space and seakeeping to provide a wonderfully
stable ride and the ability to deal with bigger
sea conditions more comfortably by dint of her
longer waterline length. It is amazing how much
more volume an extra metre of length provides,
with the increase in beam and freeboard that
comes with it. Don’t be misled into thinking
that this is just a stretched version of the
6.1m, it isn’t the 7.1m has been designed from
scratch for her length using the same, saltwater
corrosion resistant aluminium, 5083 shate. This
is the same material, only not as thick as the
plate, used in shipbuilding such as fast ferries
and warships.
This particular boat is the last of what
they call their “light” build. In future each
Sealegs is to be built to a commercial standard
of 600 hours per year for 10 years. That kind
of usage would see even a heavy a leisure
user through for life. The hull is left bare, as
aluminium is self protecting with its own coating
of oxide and does not require antifouling. The
remainder of the aluminium construction is
powder coated and customers can specify
their own colour, white is the default colour. The
aluminium structure makes for a very strong,
stiff boat that is inherently lightweight. The
inflatable collar is made from Hypalon 828 to
complement the rugged build and is fitted so
that the last metre or so sits on the water at
rest, in conventional RIB format. If you took
the wheels off, you would have a pretty
conventional, utility RIB made from long
lasting materials and built like a warship, literally.
When I first saw the Sealegs she was sat
proudly in the middle of the boat park in
Salcombe, gaining admiring glances from
passers by and the other boaters. We were
awaiting our turn to use the slipway while the
other people reversed their trailers down the
ramp, floated their boats off and then came
back to park their cars and trailers. Our turn
came round and Nick just started the inboard
motor which powers the fluid drive wheels, set
the hand throttle to provide adequate revs and
then pressed the joystick forward. The boat
gently trundled forward, down the slipway and
into the water. At this point the outboard was
trimmed down and started. The driven wheels
continued to push the boat forward until she
BUYING ADVICE ORKNEY 592BUYING ADVICE SUZUKI DF9.9
www.boatmart.co.uk www.boatmart.co.uk Buy & sell for FREE with Boat Mart’s private classifi ed ad service Boat Mart I November 2009 I 33Please mention Boat Mart when replying to advertisements32 I November 2009 I Boat Mart
SUZUKI DF9.9Irving Stewart puts this new RIB and engine combination though its paces
Although all outboard
manufacturers constantly
strive to produce ever more
powerful engines in a bid
to gain prestige, kudos,
and let’s face it profits, the
fact remains that the majority of engines sold
worldwide are well under fifty horsepower.
In this less glamorous, but huge market, it
has long been agreed that the portability of
small engines for use on tenders and other
small craft is crucial to their success. With
this in mind a “glass ceiling” of around 10hp
became a rule of thumb beyond which the
weight of the engines generally ruled out most
ordinary mortals easily carrying them around
and fitting them to the transoms of small boats.
Of course there were always exceptions; as
the ultra light and very fast 15hp two-stroke
twins from Yamaha and Johnson, for example,
aptly proved.
Over decades the weight of outboards, in
relation to their power has constantly reduced
and at the end of the last century we saw a
plethora of engines that would have made the
pioneering engineers at OMC and Mercury
wince and cry into their beers.
But then politics entered the equation, logic
went out the window, and manufacturers opted
to follow the complex four-stroke route [as
opposed to the light and simplistic two-stroke
outboard which had sufficed for over a century
since Ole Evinrude first invented it]. Thus some
outboard engines reversed the trend and
inevitably became heavier.
When initially introduced, the ever popular
current crop of 4-stroke 9.9’s, from virtually
every manufacturer, hovered around 40kg.
Which as any big dog owner with a sick
hound will tell you, is a hell of a handful to
carry very far.
So, over the past decade, the battle
has been raging to reduce the weight of
“portable” engines.
It’s probably not wise, in this particular article,
to broach the emotive topic of why we need
to carry around numerous valves, camshafts,
chains, and other complex and expensive
components when simply fuel injecting a small
two-stroke [with its five moving parts] will result
in the same [or superior] performance, achieve
similar levels of fuel economy and emissions,
and provide much reduced engine weight!
WHEN THE BIKE BUILDERS INTERVENEDVirtually every major engine manufacturer
has four-stroke engines at around 10hp [or
8hp using the same construction] which are
within a few kilograms in weight. This is hardly
surprising for, apart from internal details,
they are virtually identical in concept and the
materials employed.
With apologies to Honda who led the
four-stroke revolution, we are now seeing a
second generation of four-stroke outboards
being introduced as manufacturers adopt new
technologies and materials [which simply did
not exist a decade ago] to replace existing
models with even more fuel frugal creations.
And so we come to the point of this article,
at long last you might unkindly say.
This spring Suzuki announced that they
would be introducing a replacement for their
existing DF9.9 engine, and also a new DF8
based on a common configuration. Just
what they could do to improve performance,
and decrease weight, was certainly going to
be interesting.
Boatmart was invited to be the first UK
magazine to get its hands on these engines
and the nice people at Suzuki kindly shipped
pre-production examples to Boating Sports in
Wales for us to try. In an equally brave display of
confidence Suzuki left us entirely to ourselves –
not a rep, PR man, or engineer in sight.
Obviously there is very little one can do to
improve on any piece of technology that has
already reached a pinnacle of design. But
as every racing car builder knows – “there’s
always something you can do to extract more
performance – however small.”
So what have the wizards at Suzuki done this
time? Let’s firstly consider weight…..
Well the most obvious changes are the use
of plastics for both the engine hood and the
lower casing – so weight saved there.
Then, in line with Suzuki’s far larger engines,
similarly advanced composites have been used
in the air inlet system and manifolds – so yet
more weight saved. As these are completely
new designs weight savings have also been
made in the precision engine castings, the
lower leg, and internal engine components.
In all Suzuki have managed to shave off just
over 4.5kg from their existing DF9.9 reducing
the weight of a short shaft manual start engine
to just 39.4kg [or 87lbs in English money] –
shedding more than 10% of the current
engine’s weight.
THE TILLER ARM CONTROLBut then, for reasons better known to Suzuki’s
design engineers, they also decided to re-invent
the wheel.
Taking the traditional simple gear lever from
the side of the engine they re-positioned it in the
form of a twist knob on the front of the tiller arm,
together with an additional section of the tiller
at the rear to adjust throttle friction. So you now
have three moving segments on the tiller arm
– quite confusing.
■ Let’s firstly look at the throttle section:
As opposed to most engines [and motor bikes]
the throttle works away from you [clockwise to
accelerate] as opposed to anti-clockwise. This
might well cause confusion with experienced
boat owners. A similar concept has been
adopted by Mercury and Tohatsu but they
use a single section twist grip which twists
towards you for forward and away from you for
reverse - arguably a more logical approach.
■ Then the gear change: Although this
works well its very position may make
the fitting of a tiller arm extension over
complicated.
BUYING ADVICE ORKNEY 592BUYING ADVICE SUZUKI DF9.9
www.boatmart.co.uk www.boatmart.co.uk Buy & sell for FREE with Boat Mart’s private classifi ed ad service Boat Mart I November 2009 I 33Please mention Boat Mart when replying to advertisements32 I November 2009 I Boat Mart
SUZUKI DF9.9Irving Stewart puts this new RIB and engine combination though its paces
Although all outboard
manufacturers constantly
strive to produce ever more
powerful engines in a bid
to gain prestige, kudos,
and let’s face it profits, the
fact remains that the majority of engines sold
worldwide are well under fifty horsepower.
In this less glamorous, but huge market, it
has long been agreed that the portability of
small engines for use on tenders and other
small craft is crucial to their success. With
this in mind a “glass ceiling” of around 10hp
became a rule of thumb beyond which the
weight of the engines generally ruled out most
ordinary mortals easily carrying them around
and fitting them to the transoms of small boats.
Of course there were always exceptions; as
the ultra light and very fast 15hp two-stroke
twins from Yamaha and Johnson, for example,
aptly proved.
Over decades the weight of outboards, in
relation to their power has constantly reduced
and at the end of the last century we saw a
plethora of engines that would have made the
pioneering engineers at OMC and Mercury
wince and cry into their beers.
But then politics entered the equation, logic
went out the window, and manufacturers opted
to follow the complex four-stroke route [as
opposed to the light and simplistic two-stroke
outboard which had sufficed for over a century
since Ole Evinrude first invented it]. Thus some
outboard engines reversed the trend and
inevitably became heavier.
When initially introduced, the ever popular
current crop of 4-stroke 9.9’s, from virtually
every manufacturer, hovered around 40kg.
Which as any big dog owner with a sick
hound will tell you, is a hell of a handful to
carry very far.
So, over the past decade, the battle
has been raging to reduce the weight of
“portable” engines.
It’s probably not wise, in this particular article,
to broach the emotive topic of why we need
to carry around numerous valves, camshafts,
chains, and other complex and expensive
components when simply fuel injecting a small
two-stroke [with its five moving parts] will result
in the same [or superior] performance, achieve
similar levels of fuel economy and emissions,
and provide much reduced engine weight!
WHEN THE BIKE BUILDERS INTERVENEDVirtually every major engine manufacturer
has four-stroke engines at around 10hp [or
8hp using the same construction] which are
within a few kilograms in weight. This is hardly
surprising for, apart from internal details,
they are virtually identical in concept and the
materials employed.
With apologies to Honda who led the
four-stroke revolution, we are now seeing a
second generation of four-stroke outboards
being introduced as manufacturers adopt new
technologies and materials [which simply did
not exist a decade ago] to replace existing
models with even more fuel frugal creations.
And so we come to the point of this article,
at long last you might unkindly say.
This spring Suzuki announced that they
would be introducing a replacement for their
existing DF9.9 engine, and also a new DF8
based on a common configuration. Just
what they could do to improve performance,
and decrease weight, was certainly going to
be interesting.
Boatmart was invited to be the first UK
magazine to get its hands on these engines
and the nice people at Suzuki kindly shipped
pre-production examples to Boating Sports in
Wales for us to try. In an equally brave display of
confidence Suzuki left us entirely to ourselves –
not a rep, PR man, or engineer in sight.
Obviously there is very little one can do to
improve on any piece of technology that has
already reached a pinnacle of design. But
as every racing car builder knows – “there’s
always something you can do to extract more
performance – however small.”
So what have the wizards at Suzuki done this
time? Let’s firstly consider weight…..
Well the most obvious changes are the use
of plastics for both the engine hood and the
lower casing – so weight saved there.
Then, in line with Suzuki’s far larger engines,
similarly advanced composites have been used
in the air inlet system and manifolds – so yet
more weight saved. As these are completely
new designs weight savings have also been
made in the precision engine castings, the
lower leg, and internal engine components.
In all Suzuki have managed to shave off just
over 4.5kg from their existing DF9.9 reducing
the weight of a short shaft manual start engine
to just 39.4kg [or 87lbs in English money] –
shedding more than 10% of the current
engine’s weight.
THE TILLER ARM CONTROLBut then, for reasons better known to Suzuki’s
design engineers, they also decided to re-invent
the wheel.
Taking the traditional simple gear lever from
the side of the engine they re-positioned it in the
form of a twist knob on the front of the tiller arm,
together with an additional section of the tiller
at the rear to adjust throttle friction. So you now
have three moving segments on the tiller arm
– quite confusing.
■ Let’s firstly look at the throttle section:
As opposed to most engines [and motor bikes]
the throttle works away from you [clockwise to
accelerate] as opposed to anti-clockwise. This
might well cause confusion with experienced
boat owners. A similar concept has been
adopted by Mercury and Tohatsu but they
use a single section twist grip which twists
towards you for forward and away from you for
reverse - arguably a more logical approach.
■ Then the gear change: Although this
works well its very position may make
the fitting of a tiller arm extension over
complicated.
BUYING ADVICE
40 I November 2009 I Boat Mart www.boatmart.co.ukPlease mention Boat Mart when replying to advertisements
BOAT BUYING
Boat Mart I November 2009 I 41www.boatmart.co.uk Buy & sell for FREE with Boat Mart’s private classifi ed ad service
WHAT WILL BUY YOU? £20K
This is the last feature in this series before our “What can you buy” price rises above the teens. So we thought
that we should try and find some unusually good bargains – see what you think
VIKING 20
Next, we offer not only some lateral thinking but a excuse to visit one of Britain’s best
kept secrets, Tewkesbury Marina. Here you can discover great boats, relaxed inland
cruising, and a direct link to the sea via our greatest river. You could consider a brand
new Viking 20 cruiser, the country’s favourite waterborne alternative to a touring caravan,
and have enough cash left over for a couple of year’s moorings and a few weekends
away with the family, tempting.
But on the other hand, you could browse through the brokerage for a larger classic
boat – and an excuse to spend endless relaxed weekends simply “mucking about on a
boat.” How about a Seamaster 30 with its legendary vast accommodation or a Fairline
Targa 27, which is considered by many to be the most stylish classic Fairline ever built?
The choice is yours – both are within this month’s budget.
More info: Rob Carr, Tewkesbury Marina, 01684 293 737
www.tewkesbury-marina.co.uk
Firstly, we offer you the pretty serious and extremely
versatile Atlantis 20 from our good friend Patrick
Wheeler of Atlantis Marine in Guernsey. Patrick
designs and builds these craft specifically to
withstand the utterly horrendous conditions that can
spring up around the Channel Islands. All his boats
are, to say the least, both fast and furious as well
as being extremely safe and tough. For those who
want a craft to safely handle all conditions look no
further. We’ve been there and can vouch that Atlantic
Marine’s boats do precisely “what it claims on the
box” and more.
How about an Atlantis 20 CC with Suzuki’s new 80
or a Honda astern at virtually spot on our budget, or,
if you can loose the VAT with 150hp on the transom –
an awesome and serious machine – BM’s boat of the
year 2005.
More info: Patrick Wheeler, 07781 158 514
www.atlantismarine.biz [email protected]
What Else You Could Buy…Here are some more boats we spotted in a recent issue for around £20,000.
SECOND HAND
Please note offers and prices are subject to change. Pictures are representative only and may not be the actual boat for sale.
MAXUM 2500 SCR from Boroughbridge Marina - £19,995
FAIRLINE MIRAGE 29 from Boroughbridge Marina - £19,950CROWNLINE 8M from Northern Powerboats - £21,995BAYLINER 2655 from Riverside Boat Sales - £20,950SANDERSON LADY CLASS from Riverside Boat Sales - £19,995HARDY 20 with 60hp 4 stroke Marina outboard from Essex Boatyards - £19,950
STARCRAFT C STAR 2100 with road trailer from Ash Marine - £21,905YACHTLINE 530 DL RIB from Pennine Marine - £20,878GLASTRON GT185 from Essex Boatyards - £21,950QUIKSILVER 580 PILOTHOUSE from Simpson Marine - £19,300
■ Boroughbridge Marina Ltd: 01423 323400 / www.bbmarina.co.uk■ Ash Marine: 01392 877800www.ashmarine.co.uk■ Northern Powerboats: 0114 2611222 www.northernpowerboats.co.uk■ Pennine Marine Ltd: 01756 792335 www.penninemarine.com■ Riverside Boat Sales: 01692 631170 www.riversideboatsales.co.uk■ Essex Boatyards: 01702 258885www.essexboatyards.com■ Boating Sports: 01686 414814 www.phileas-uk.comSimpson Marine: 01273 612612www.simpson-marine.co.uk
ATLANTIS 20
BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW
This month our budget hits a milestone £20,000, so we thought it might be interesting to bring a little lateral thinking into the equation. Whilst
many buyers will be seeking a brand spanking new shiny boat straight out of a showroom others might fancy something larger than the
budget suggests, more unusual, or be seeking to get a bargain by buying a craft that’s nearly new and thus saving some hard earned cash.
So, with the help of our ever helpful advertisers, see if anything in this months selection takes your fancy.
Fairline Targa 27 [1988]
LARSON SENZA 186
Finally, we couldn’t resist mentioning a couple of absolutely stunning offers from our old
friends at Littlehampton Marina, who are Larson specialists. They frequently have on offer
almost new Larson craft offering considerable savings over a new ex-showroom model -
these are stunning deals. For example a 2008 Larson Senza 186 (identical to the 2009
version) with a 4.3-litre stern-drive, on a trailer, at a penny under this month’s budget
is truly tempting. If you want fun afloat and want to impress your friends a Larson is
certainly a good way to go.
More info: Nick, Littlehampton Marina, 01903 713 553
www.larsonboats.co.uk
FURTHER INFORMATION
BUYING ADVICE
40 I November 2009 I Boat Mart www.boatmart.co.ukPlease mention Boat Mart when replying to advertisements
BOAT BUYING
Boat Mart I November 2009 I 41www.boatmart.co.uk Buy & sell for FREE with Boat Mart’s private classifi ed ad service
WHAT WILL BUY YOU? £20K
This is the last feature in this series before our “What can you buy” price rises above the teens. So we thought
that we should try and find some unusually good bargains – see what you think
VIKING 20
Next, we offer not only some lateral thinking but a excuse to visit one of Britain’s best
kept secrets, Tewkesbury Marina. Here you can discover great boats, relaxed inland
cruising, and a direct link to the sea via our greatest river. You could consider a brand
new Viking 20 cruiser, the country’s favourite waterborne alternative to a touring caravan,
and have enough cash left over for a couple of year’s moorings and a few weekends
away with the family, tempting.
But on the other hand, you could browse through the brokerage for a larger classic
boat – and an excuse to spend endless relaxed weekends simply “mucking about on a
boat.” How about a Seamaster 30 with its legendary vast accommodation or a Fairline
Targa 27, which is considered by many to be the most stylish classic Fairline ever built?
The choice is yours – both are within this month’s budget.
More info: Rob Carr, Tewkesbury Marina, 01684 293 737
www.tewkesbury-marina.co.uk
Firstly, we offer you the pretty serious and extremely
versatile Atlantis 20 from our good friend Patrick
Wheeler of Atlantis Marine in Guernsey. Patrick
designs and builds these craft specifically to
withstand the utterly horrendous conditions that can
spring up around the Channel Islands. All his boats
are, to say the least, both fast and furious as well
as being extremely safe and tough. For those who
want a craft to safely handle all conditions look no
further. We’ve been there and can vouch that Atlantic
Marine’s boats do precisely “what it claims on the
box” and more.
How about an Atlantis 20 CC with Suzuki’s new 80
or a Honda astern at virtually spot on our budget, or,
if you can loose the VAT with 150hp on the transom –
an awesome and serious machine – BM’s boat of the
year 2005.
More info: Patrick Wheeler, 07781 158 514
www.atlantismarine.biz [email protected]
What Else You Could Buy…Here are some more boats we spotted in a recent issue for around £20,000.
SECOND HAND
Please note offers and prices are subject to change. Pictures are representative only and may not be the actual boat for sale.
MAXUM 2500 SCR from Boroughbridge Marina - £19,995
FAIRLINE MIRAGE 29 from Boroughbridge Marina - £19,950CROWNLINE 8M from Northern Powerboats - £21,995BAYLINER 2655 from Riverside Boat Sales - £20,950SANDERSON LADY CLASS from Riverside Boat Sales - £19,995HARDY 20 with 60hp 4 stroke Marina outboard from Essex Boatyards - £19,950
STARCRAFT C STAR 2100 with road trailer from Ash Marine - £21,905YACHTLINE 530 DL RIB from Pennine Marine - £20,878GLASTRON GT185 from Essex Boatyards - £21,950QUIKSILVER 580 PILOTHOUSE from Simpson Marine - £19,300
■ Boroughbridge Marina Ltd: 01423 323400 / www.bbmarina.co.uk■ Ash Marine: 01392 877800www.ashmarine.co.uk■ Northern Powerboats: 0114 2611222 www.northernpowerboats.co.uk■ Pennine Marine Ltd: 01756 792335 www.penninemarine.com■ Riverside Boat Sales: 01692 631170 www.riversideboatsales.co.uk■ Essex Boatyards: 01702 258885www.essexboatyards.com■ Boating Sports: 01686 414814 www.phileas-uk.comSimpson Marine: 01273 612612www.simpson-marine.co.uk
ATLANTIS 20
BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW
This month our budget hits a milestone £20,000, so we thought it might be interesting to bring a little lateral thinking into the equation. Whilst
many buyers will be seeking a brand spanking new shiny boat straight out of a showroom others might fancy something larger than the
budget suggests, more unusual, or be seeking to get a bargain by buying a craft that’s nearly new and thus saving some hard earned cash.
So, with the help of our ever helpful advertisers, see if anything in this months selection takes your fancy.
Fairline Targa 27 [1988]
LARSON SENZA 186
Finally, we couldn’t resist mentioning a couple of absolutely stunning offers from our old
friends at Littlehampton Marina, who are Larson specialists. They frequently have on offer
almost new Larson craft offering considerable savings over a new ex-showroom model -
these are stunning deals. For example a 2008 Larson Senza 186 (identical to the 2009
version) with a 4.3-litre stern-drive, on a trailer, at a penny under this month’s budget
is truly tempting. If you want fun afloat and want to impress your friends a Larson is
certainly a good way to go.
More info: Nick, Littlehampton Marina, 01903 713 553
www.larsonboats.co.uk
FURTHER INFORMATION
EQUIPMENT
Boat Mart I November 2009 I 55
TOP GEARENGINE NEWS � KIT & ACCESSORIES � BOOK REVIEWS � BUYING ADVICE
TOP GEAR
www.boatmart.co.ukPlease mention Boat Mart when replying to advertisements
WI-FI WONDER
Digital Yacht’s WL400 is a new high-power, long range wifi access system, designed to allow boat owners to connect to wifi hot spots so that their on board computers can access the internet. Most harbours now have either free or subscription based services available and with the extended range of the WL400, it should be possible to tap into hot spots from local cafes, bars and restaurants. The system comprises a rugged metre-long antenna, which connects to a PC via a standard plug and play USB interface. All the electronics and modem are contained inside the antenna so it is easy to install and there is no need for an external power supply. Wifi range depends on various local factors but testing has apparently seen ranges of up to two miles. If you plan to access the internet while on board, the WL400 could be the solution
NEW HORIZONS
Tritech has launched what it describes as “an exciting product for multibeam seabed survey”. Horizon is a multibeam echo sounder system in a compact and robust single housing. It uses the very latest advances in acoustic time delay beamforming techniques to deliver high quality survey data at an affordable cost. In shallow water Horizon can be mobilised on a vessel to gather survey data sets at depths down to 120m. For deep-water survey operations the system can be deployed on an AUV or ROV platform. Horizon has a wide swath coverage of 120 degrees – where required, two Horizon sonar heads can be linked together to form a dual head setup for maximum swath coverage. Extremely fast ping rates of up to 100Hz allow Horizon to be used for higher speed survey operations, without compromising along-track resolution.
Digital Yacht has launched a new dual channel
AIS receiver called the AIS400. AIS receivers
pick up signals from any vessel equipped
with an AIS Class A or B transponder and
send the vessel’s identity, position, course
and speed over VHF frequencies. Hook up
an AIS receiver to a compatible plotter and
you’ll see an overlay of nearby targets typically
at ranges of between 20 and 30NM. It’s like
adding radar to your chart plotter with the
added bonus of positive identification and it’s
al;so a hell of a lot of fun. The AIS400 has
connections for both a regular chart plotter
via NMEA and also a USB connection for a
PC-based plotter system such as Maxsea,
Seapro, Maptech and Nobeltec. The
AIS400 also incorporates its own GPS
receiver, which means it can act
as a GPS sensor and position
information can be combined
with the AIS target data
onto the USB and NMEA
outputs. This allows
it to act as a position
sensor for navigation
systems as well as an
AIS receiver. Digital Yacht has also offered an
upgrade route for the receiver to a full function
Class B transponder, which means it will send
data too. You can send back your receiver
and for a £150 upgrade fee you get a full type
approved, Class B AIS transponder. Good
thinking.
www.digitalyacht.co.uk
LOUD AND CLEAR
www.boatmart.co.uk Buy & sell for FREE with Boat Mart’s private classifi ed ad service
Standard Horizon’s upgraded FF525 black box
fish finder is packed with sophisticated electronics
to turn your plotter into a highly accurate echo
sounder.
The compact unit, which replaces the FF520,
features improved waterproofing and shock
resistance along with a higher power output for
deep-water penetration.
The rugged module can be installed almost
anywhere by the owner without the need for
professional help. A single cable connects the
module to the plotter, with another cable to the
transducer. There are a wide range of transducers
to choose from, all designed for different
hull shapes and applications, which are sold
separately. However, some clever software in the
module called Transducer ID allows the plotter to
interrogate the transducer fitted, and then optimise
itself for the best results.
Once automatically tuned for beam width and
operating power, the fish finder gives a colourful
display of the water and seabed beneath the boat,
and makes full use of Standard Horizon’s quality
screens. Fish are represented either as icons, or
as a coloured echo, and those swimming close
to the bottom can be indentified with the use of
a white line, which makes them stand out against
the seabed. The module can also trigger depth
alarms, or alarms to signal the presence of fish,
and when operating at 200 kHz, the FF525 has a
range of up to 350m. For much deeper water, the
50 kHz frequency can give an impressive 1,200m
of penetration, making this a useful navigation aid
as well as a powerful fishing tool.
Price: £189.95 (transducers from £139.95)
www.standardhorizon.co.uk
LATEST NEWS
54 I November 2009 I Boat Mart
FISH FINDER
NEVER MISS A CALLLoud music, wind or engine noise can prevent boaters from hearing a
VHF radio call. Cobra Marine, a division of Cobra Electronics, offers its
MR F80B EU Fixed VHF radio with Rewind-Say-Again™, enabling users
to record and play back up to 20 seconds of a missed call.
A class-D DSC VHF radio, it sends a distress signal or exchanges
position information with other boats or stations at the touch of a
button. Similar to the caller ID function on a telephone, this radio’s DSC
Call Log captures an incoming DSC caller’s MMSI ID number and any
other data included in a DSC message for future reference.
A noise-cancelling microphone with controls blocks background noise
and offers buttons for instant access to channel 16, as well as the ability
to change channels and operate 90% of the radio’s functions. For ease
of use, the radio’s LCD display and function keys are illuminated.
Meeting JIS7 standards, this submersible radio carries a three-year
warranty. The MR F80B EU Fixed Mount VHF Radio with Rewind-Say-
Again from Cobra Marine is available in black and comes with flush- and
surface-mount kits, a GPS interface cable and a speaker/PA interface cable.
For more info call +00353-1-214-02-82, or email Jean-Louis Poot,
managing director, [email protected].
NAUTICAL ALMANACWiley Nautical’s Almanac provides access to port, weather, facilities
and tidal information for 150 primary ports and over 80 secondary
ports along England’s South and East coasts, the Channel Islands
and the Continent from Vlissingen to Brest. It embraces Western
Europe’s foremost cruising areas and racing centres.
The unique application can be taken on board on a laptop, or as
a hard copy of selected data. The most popular features are the
animated tidal stream graphics, seven-day marine weather forecasts
and the excellent detailed harbour plans. Navigational data is
automatically corrected from Notices to Mariners and other official
sources. The Wiley Almanac also features a link to an online store
offering a wide range of chandlery at attractive prices plus Cruising
Companions and books from Wiley Nautical and other publishers.
The Wiley Almanac is free, and easy to download
at this site: http://www.wileynautical.com/view/0/
almanac.html
TWO-FACED TUNES Kenwood’s new KMR-700U marine iPod/USB tuner is a clever
bit of kit. It features an internal docking iPod system, accessed
with the press of a button on the fascia of the unit. It will also
house a USB device with a simple dedicated plug. Slip the
iPod into the supplied neoprene cover and with the stereo face
closed, the KMR-700U becomes your iPod. Chunky buttons,
IPX5 water-proofing and a clear display make it particularly useful
for marine applications. It’s also Bluetooth-ready, allowing you to
store your mobile phone inside the KMR-700U and conduct your
calls hands-free. The fascia features easy ergonomics with rub-
berised buttons and a simple rotary commander to control most
of the popular functions, making the KMR-700U simple to oper-
ate even in turbulent waters. Best of all, the ‘dual zone’ function
allows you to listen to two different music sources at once. While
dad is at the helm listening to his favourite radio station, the kids
can listen to their iPod elsewhere on the boat. There’s plenty
more to this thing than that but we’ve run out of space. It’s very,
very useful kit.
Price: £329, www.servicegardiennage.co.uk
ADVANCED ADAPTER Dockside electricity poses significant hazards, especially when a boat’s
power system does not match that of the receptacle. To prevent a po-
tentially dangerous situation when a boat with 100-amp 125/250 volt
power arrives in a marina with only a 50-amp service, Hubbell
Marine’s newly redesigned YQ100PLUS Intelligent Y Adapter
offers two safe options. The intelligent 100 amp adapter
enables a 100 amp, 125/250 volt AC shore power cable to connect to
two, 50 amp, 125/250 volt dockside receptacles, achieving 100 amps
250 volts. Or, the boat’s 100 amp system can be powered from a
single 50 amp, 125/250 volt receptacle when only one is available.
For more information visit: www.hubbell-marine.com
EQUIPMENT
Boat Mart I November 2009 I 55
TOP GEARENGINE NEWS � KIT & ACCESSORIES � BOOK REVIEWS � BUYING ADVICE
TOP GEAR
www.boatmart.co.ukPlease mention Boat Mart when replying to advertisements
WI-FI WONDER
Digital Yacht’s WL400 is a new high-power, long range wifi access system, designed to allow boat owners to connect to wifi hot spots so that their on board computers can access the internet. Most harbours now have either free or subscription based services available and with the extended range of the WL400, it should be possible to tap into hot spots from local cafes, bars and restaurants. The system comprises a rugged metre-long antenna, which connects to a PC via a standard plug and play USB interface. All the electronics and modem are contained inside the antenna so it is easy to install and there is no need for an external power supply. Wifi range depends on various local factors but testing has apparently seen ranges of up to two miles. If you plan to access the internet while on board, the WL400 could be the solution
NEW HORIZONS
Tritech has launched what it describes as “an exciting product for multibeam seabed survey”. Horizon is a multibeam echo sounder system in a compact and robust single housing. It uses the very latest advances in acoustic time delay beamforming techniques to deliver high quality survey data at an affordable cost. In shallow water Horizon can be mobilised on a vessel to gather survey data sets at depths down to 120m. For deep-water survey operations the system can be deployed on an AUV or ROV platform. Horizon has a wide swath coverage of 120 degrees – where required, two Horizon sonar heads can be linked together to form a dual head setup for maximum swath coverage. Extremely fast ping rates of up to 100Hz allow Horizon to be used for higher speed survey operations, without compromising along-track resolution.
Digital Yacht has launched a new dual channel
AIS receiver called the AIS400. AIS receivers
pick up signals from any vessel equipped
with an AIS Class A or B transponder and
send the vessel’s identity, position, course
and speed over VHF frequencies. Hook up
an AIS receiver to a compatible plotter and
you’ll see an overlay of nearby targets typically
at ranges of between 20 and 30NM. It’s like
adding radar to your chart plotter with the
added bonus of positive identification and it’s
al;so a hell of a lot of fun. The AIS400 has
connections for both a regular chart plotter
via NMEA and also a USB connection for a
PC-based plotter system such as Maxsea,
Seapro, Maptech and Nobeltec. The
AIS400 also incorporates its own GPS
receiver, which means it can act
as a GPS sensor and position
information can be combined
with the AIS target data
onto the USB and NMEA
outputs. This allows
it to act as a position
sensor for navigation
systems as well as an
AIS receiver. Digital Yacht has also offered an
upgrade route for the receiver to a full function
Class B transponder, which means it will send
data too. You can send back your receiver
and for a £150 upgrade fee you get a full type
approved, Class B AIS transponder. Good
thinking.
www.digitalyacht.co.uk
LOUD AND CLEAR
www.boatmart.co.uk Buy & sell for FREE with Boat Mart’s private classifi ed ad service
Standard Horizon’s upgraded FF525 black box
fish finder is packed with sophisticated electronics
to turn your plotter into a highly accurate echo
sounder.
The compact unit, which replaces the FF520,
features improved waterproofing and shock
resistance along with a higher power output for
deep-water penetration.
The rugged module can be installed almost
anywhere by the owner without the need for
professional help. A single cable connects the
module to the plotter, with another cable to the
transducer. There are a wide range of transducers
to choose from, all designed for different
hull shapes and applications, which are sold
separately. However, some clever software in the
module called Transducer ID allows the plotter to
interrogate the transducer fitted, and then optimise
itself for the best results.
Once automatically tuned for beam width and
operating power, the fish finder gives a colourful
display of the water and seabed beneath the boat,
and makes full use of Standard Horizon’s quality
screens. Fish are represented either as icons, or
as a coloured echo, and those swimming close
to the bottom can be indentified with the use of
a white line, which makes them stand out against
the seabed. The module can also trigger depth
alarms, or alarms to signal the presence of fish,
and when operating at 200 kHz, the FF525 has a
range of up to 350m. For much deeper water, the
50 kHz frequency can give an impressive 1,200m
of penetration, making this a useful navigation aid
as well as a powerful fishing tool.
Price: £189.95 (transducers from £139.95)
www.standardhorizon.co.uk
LATEST NEWS
54 I November 2009 I Boat Mart
FISH FINDER
NEVER MISS A CALLLoud music, wind or engine noise can prevent boaters from hearing a
VHF radio call. Cobra Marine, a division of Cobra Electronics, offers its
MR F80B EU Fixed VHF radio with Rewind-Say-Again™, enabling users
to record and play back up to 20 seconds of a missed call.
A class-D DSC VHF radio, it sends a distress signal or exchanges
position information with other boats or stations at the touch of a
button. Similar to the caller ID function on a telephone, this radio’s DSC
Call Log captures an incoming DSC caller’s MMSI ID number and any
other data included in a DSC message for future reference.
A noise-cancelling microphone with controls blocks background noise
and offers buttons for instant access to channel 16, as well as the ability
to change channels and operate 90% of the radio’s functions. For ease
of use, the radio’s LCD display and function keys are illuminated.
Meeting JIS7 standards, this submersible radio carries a three-year
warranty. The MR F80B EU Fixed Mount VHF Radio with Rewind-Say-
Again from Cobra Marine is available in black and comes with flush- and
surface-mount kits, a GPS interface cable and a speaker/PA interface cable.
For more info call +00353-1-214-02-82, or email Jean-Louis Poot,
managing director, [email protected].
NAUTICAL ALMANACWiley Nautical’s Almanac provides access to port, weather, facilities
and tidal information for 150 primary ports and over 80 secondary
ports along England’s South and East coasts, the Channel Islands
and the Continent from Vlissingen to Brest. It embraces Western
Europe’s foremost cruising areas and racing centres.
The unique application can be taken on board on a laptop, or as
a hard copy of selected data. The most popular features are the
animated tidal stream graphics, seven-day marine weather forecasts
and the excellent detailed harbour plans. Navigational data is
automatically corrected from Notices to Mariners and other official
sources. The Wiley Almanac also features a link to an online store
offering a wide range of chandlery at attractive prices plus Cruising
Companions and books from Wiley Nautical and other publishers.
The Wiley Almanac is free, and easy to download
at this site: http://www.wileynautical.com/view/0/
almanac.html
TWO-FACED TUNES Kenwood’s new KMR-700U marine iPod/USB tuner is a clever
bit of kit. It features an internal docking iPod system, accessed
with the press of a button on the fascia of the unit. It will also
house a USB device with a simple dedicated plug. Slip the
iPod into the supplied neoprene cover and with the stereo face
closed, the KMR-700U becomes your iPod. Chunky buttons,
IPX5 water-proofing and a clear display make it particularly useful
for marine applications. It’s also Bluetooth-ready, allowing you to
store your mobile phone inside the KMR-700U and conduct your
calls hands-free. The fascia features easy ergonomics with rub-
berised buttons and a simple rotary commander to control most
of the popular functions, making the KMR-700U simple to oper-
ate even in turbulent waters. Best of all, the ‘dual zone’ function
allows you to listen to two different music sources at once. While
dad is at the helm listening to his favourite radio station, the kids
can listen to their iPod elsewhere on the boat. There’s plenty
more to this thing than that but we’ve run out of space. It’s very,
very useful kit.
Price: £329, www.servicegardiennage.co.uk
ADVANCED ADAPTER Dockside electricity poses significant hazards, especially when a boat’s
power system does not match that of the receptacle. To prevent a po-
tentially dangerous situation when a boat with 100-amp 125/250 volt
power arrives in a marina with only a 50-amp service, Hubbell
Marine’s newly redesigned YQ100PLUS Intelligent Y Adapter
offers two safe options. The intelligent 100 amp adapter
enables a 100 amp, 125/250 volt AC shore power cable to connect to
two, 50 amp, 125/250 volt dockside receptacles, achieving 100 amps
250 volts. Or, the boat’s 100 amp system can be powered from a
single 50 amp, 125/250 volt receptacle when only one is available.
For more information visit: www.hubbell-marine.com
EXPERIENCETHE UTMOSTEXHILIRATION
Discover the 150 Speedsterultimate performance featuresand enjoy the thrill
Choice of 255 hp SCIC, 215 hp SCIC or 155 hpLegendary Rotax® 4-TEC™ engineDepth fi nder19 functions, easy-to-read digital information centre
•
•••
150SPEEDSTERTM
BM0904 BRP 150 Speedster
BM0904 BRP 150 Speedster.indd 1 26/2/09 9:10:21 am
