Systems
Systems on cruising boats vary according to its size and its mission. Most cruising boats have propulsion, fuel, ventilation, fire suppression, electrical, steering, and plumbing systems. Optionally, some are equipped with heating or air conditioning systems, stabilizers, and bow or stern thrusters. Some larger boats also have hydraulic systems that power equipment like bow or stern thrusters, anchor windlasses, cranes, stabilizers, or adjustable swim platforms.
Add More Gear with Smarter Power Distribution
Understanding power distribution can help you make smarter choices when adding equipment.
Battery Installation Best Practices
A refit is a smart time to check batteries, connectors and cables.
Why the Seakeeper 1 Deserves Your Attention
Electronics Editor Ben Stein sounds off on Seakeeper's newest and smallest model.
A Hybrid Approach To Power Generation
Quiet hybrid power systems have manufacturers chasing the dream of noiseless, vibration-free setups.
Blow-By, Puke Jugs & CCVs
Manage these engine exhaust system components to keep your diesels firing on all cylinders.
Motor Mount Wisdom
Take a moment to think about what connects the thrust created by your vessel’s propeller to the vessel itself. Its very driving force. These small, simple components bear a heavy burden, so treat them right.
Cavitation Erosion
Cavitation erosion (and the related erosion or impingement corrosion) is an infrequently discussed yet frequently misunderstood phenomenon that can lead to metal damage and failure. It can afflict everything from engines and generators to plumbing systems and propellers. Cavitation is the formation of voids or bubbles in a liquid that are a result of forces that act upon the liquid. Its important, however, to distinguish these voids from common bubbles as the latter contain a gas, often air, while the former contain nothing. That is, they are vacuum bubbles. Interestingly, the formation of the cavitation void is tantamount to boiling because the boiling point of a liquid drops as the pressure drops. (Its why mountaineers use pressure cookers; at a high altitude and therefore lower atmospheric pressure, water boils at a temperature lower than 212°F.) Thus, cavitation bubbles are essentially a result of low temperature boiling induced by low pressure. Cavitation may occur as liquid moves swiftly around constrictions and through orifices, particularly when such orifices change shape from small to large, as in water moving past a gate valve, or worse, through a partially opened valve. These conditions create a Venturi effect and the rapid change in pressure is conducive to the formation of cavitation bubbles.
A Treat Of A Toot: Kahlenberg Air Horns Come Down In Size
Kahlenberg Air Horns Come Down In Size There is an informal tradition at boat shows, where at the close of the last day of the show, when its time to break down the exhibits and untie the boats, everyone blows their boats horns. It is a fun thing we all enjoy after days of talking to people walking the docks. At the fall Newport show some years back, my former trawler, Growler, was on hand representing the latest example of the Zimmerman 36. Steve Zimmerman was on board to show the boat and explain its value to potential buyers intrigued by the idea of a Downeast-style cruising boat. At the close of the show when the noisy bellow of horns began, Steve went to the helm and pushed the horn button. Nothing. The horn just clicked. Over the course of owning Growler I replaced that horn three times, finally removing it altogether, and I relied on a handheld air horn I kept at the helm. Lobster boats can be wet when the conditions are just so, and I guess it wasnt a horn-friendly platform.