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Docking With Grace And Skill If you're like most boat owners, you have probably suffered the embarrassment associated with a docking job gone wrong. And if so, you've probably learned that when done well, docking can be a quiet display of proper seamanship, teamwork, and talent. You also know that when done poorly, however, docking can become a contact sport. As long as the only boat that you damage is your own, either is acceptable, but a well-executed docking maneuver is much preferred by skippers, crews, and insurance claims adjusters alike. Though it may sound surprising, docking is one of the more demanding maneuvers you can make aboard a sailboat. Therefore, if you're serious about perfecting your skills in this realm, you should invest in a sturdy boat hook, four long, spliced nylon bow and stern lines and two long spring lines. Notice that long is the operative word here. I recommend nothing less than 20 feet for each dock line and at least 25 for spring lines. Of course the length of the docklines should be commensurate with the length of the boat you have. If you take care that no lines go overboard and risk fouling the propeller, longer lines can make lassoing a piling easier, and they can be thrown farther, too. And once you've got a stern line wrapped around a piling and a bow line secured to shore, you're just about as good as docked. All you have to do is secure the vessel and then you can treat yourself and your crew to a well-earned libation. This article, “Docking with Grace and Skill by Michelle Potter, Contributing Editor of Sail Net e-Magazine http://www.sailnet.com/forums/learning-sail-articles/18882-docking-grace-skill.html Battery Charger Location Don Casey Tip #20 Battery chargers should be installed as close to the batteries as possible. Why? Because of the wire size. For example, a 30-amp charger mounted within 5' (wire distance) of the batteries can be connected to them with #10 AWG wire, but if battery and charger are 15' apart, you need #4 AWG wire. Not only is 10-gauge wire much easier to handle, but 10' of 10-gauge wire and four crimp terminals cost less than $8, while 30' of 4-gauge wire and four crimp lugs will set you back more than $80. Plus, you will need the tool to install those lugs; they are too big for a standard crimping tool. Soldering, by the way, is not an allowable alternative. Reprinted from Boat US Weekly Web Specials, November 6, 2007 http://www.boatus.com/email/nov06.htm Electrical Surge Suppressors by Chuck Husick Virtually anyone who owns a computer is already familiar with the need for an AC surge suppressor. Usually incorporated in an outlet strip or built into the system's uninterruptible power supply, the suppressor protects the costly computer from being damaged by a momentary surge of higher than normal voltage on the power line. The potential for damage to electrical and electronic equipment on board a boat caused by powerline voltage surges can be greater than for similar equipment used in homes or offices. In addition, damaging voltage surges can also occur on the boat's 12 or 24 volt DC supply. Although the types of AC line voltage surge protectors used ashore may be useful on a boat they are not specifically designed to function in the often harsh marine environment. In addition, these line current rated devices cannot protect equipment connected to the boat's low voltage DC power system. Charles Marine offers special marine rated, 12 or 24 volt DC or 120 / 240 volt AC, Underwriter's Laboratory approved surge suppressors specifically designed for use on boats. The devices contain Metal Oxide Varistors, solid state, voltage sensitive switches that react to a voltage surge in a fraction of a millionth of a second, short circuiting the input circuit, protecting the connected power consumers from damage. The operational readiness of these surge protectors is monitored and indicated by front panel indicator lamps. These high quality surge protectors are not cheap, except when compared with the value of the computers, entertainment systems and other electronics commonly installed on today's boats and yachts. Reprinted from the Boat US Weekly Web Specials of January 29, 2008 http://www.boatus.com/email/jan28.htm
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