Practical Sailor 09/2004 “Load on Your Rode”
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Volume 30 • Numbers 17 & 18 September 2004 $7.50 (US) DOUBLE ISSUE 6 LCD Radar Test Furuno's 1712 comes out shining in this test of entry-level LCD radar units. 12 Headings: The Ocean Academy After 25 years as a PS stalwart, Nick Nichol- son bids adieu with sage advice regarding navigation and seamanship. 16 Load on Your Rode There are no true authorities on anchoring, just common sense and appropriate gear. Etap 37...pg. 22 22 Boat Review: Etap 37s Touted as 'unsinkable,' this seagoing sloop offers numerous innovative features, but its high freeboard does have a downside. 27 Cabin Light Comparison We test a gaggle of lighting choices and turn up four strong options for interior illumination. Also in this Issue Anchoring Considerations...pg. 16 2 Editorial: Keeping Watch 3 Mailport: Sears and Co., Jacklines, AA Batteries, Motor Mount Innovation, Flares, Wa- terline Stains, Sportrak GPS, and Corrections 5 Credit Due: Foss Foam, Pope Sails, and Mystic Valley Foundry 33 Chandlery: Reintroducing Mr. Funnel, and the Keen Shoe 34 Update: McMurdo EPIRB 36 PS Advisor: LED Lights Cabin Light Comparison...pg. 27 EDITORIAL Keeping Watch ® Editor Not so long ago we received an e-mail With imminent sailing plans, Shea Dan Dickison from a reader—Michael Shea—who didn't want to wait for his unit to be sent Executive Editor shared a saga that speaks volumes about out, upgraded, and returned. He had Dale Nouse corporate responsibility and the con- purchased a GPS-enhanced EPIRB, and Editors at Large Nick Nicholson, Doug Logan sumer advocacy role that PS must play that's what he intended to use, so he on behalf of its readers. obtained one from a competing compa- Contributing Editors Ken Delavigne, Richard Greenhaus, Shea wrote to relate his particular ny and retired his McMurdo unit. Chris Landry, Ed Lawrence, circumstances regarding the McMur- It's encouraging that McMurdo react- Doug Ritter, Robby Robinson, Scott do EPIRB and PLB situation that we ed to the findings of those independent Rosenthal, Rick Strand, Dan Spurr reported on in our June 1, issue (Riprap, tests, ostensibly, by offering free up- Publisher "EPIRB Test"). After reading that piece, grades. We at PS are a little less san- Timothy H. Cole he contacted McMurdo via e-mail guine about the company's insistence Editorial Offices about his Precision 406 Mhz GPS that the beacons worked acceptably 2124 Wappoo Drive EPIRB. He wanted to express his con- even if the GPS aspect didn't function as Charleston, SC 29412 cern about the unit's GPS self-locating promised, and even less enthusiastic [email protected] problems (as mentioned in that piece), that these upgrades were characterized Subscription Department and he was also seeking advice: "What as optional. Though McMurdo "strongly 800/829-9087 action does McMurdo recommend...to encouraged" owners of these devices to [email protected] www.practical-sailor.com - click ensure our safety?" take advantage of the upgrades, the “Subscribers Only” Shea and his wife frequently cruise company stopped short of instituting a Box 420235 their Morris 40 out of Long Island recall. Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235 Sound, along with their infant son, Safety at sea is an extremely impor- for Canada and at the time he was planning on tant issue, about which there can be no Box 7820 STN Main participating in the Newport-Bermu- compromise. We know McMurdo takes London, Ontario N5Y 5W1 da Race. Safety, he told us, was his all this very seriously. Yet it's hard not to Web, Back Issues, Fax Service, No. 1 concern. agree with Mr. Shea—a GPS-enabled Other As PS readers recall, findings EPIRB that is advertised as more accu- Customer Service from the independent tests conduct- rate and having a quicker alert capa- PO Box 2626 Greenwich, CT 06836-2626 ed by the Equipped to Survive Foun- bility than one without this feature, 800/424-7887 dation prompted West Marine (a co- should deliver on that promise. We all [email protected] sponsor of those tests) to suspend put immense faith in the safety devic- sales of two McMurdo units and offer es we carry with us, and as technology Quantity Reprints Available a full refund or exchange for a com- evolves, that faith tends to deepen. A Minimum Order: 1,000 Contact Mona Kornfeld, Belvoir parable product. Shea had pur- manufacturer building devices upon Publications, 203/422-7343 chased his EPIRB from a smaller which people's lives depend carries The Practical Sailor (ISSN No. 0161-8059) is pub- local chandlery; unfortunately, he an added responsibility. lished twice a month (except March, June, Septem- ber, and December, which are combined) by Belvoir wasn't getting that kind of support To learn more about the status of Publications, Inc, 75 Holly Hill Lane, Box 2626, Green- from his retailer. The people there this important issue, turn to our EPIRB wich, CT 06836-2626, (203) 661-6111. Robert Englander, Chairman and CEO; Timothy H. Cole, Executive Vice told him that the unit was fine, "only update on page 34. President, Editorial Director; Philip L. Penny, Chief Operating Officer; Greg King, Senior Vice President; the GPS portion is defective," they On another note, this issue marks the Marvin Cweibel, Senior Vice President, Marketing said. Astounded, Shea then sought Operations; Michael N. Pollet, Senior Vice President, final regular contribution from Editor-at- General Counsel. Periodicals postage paid at Green- assistance from McMurdo. Large Nick Nicholson, who after 25 wich and at additional mailing offices. Copyright © 2004, Belvoir Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Via a lengthy and cordial e-mail years with PS, is departing to join marine Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibit- ed. Printed in USA. Revenue Canada GST Account correspondence with McMurdo's Sales industry legend Ted Hood at Portsmouth #128044658. Canada Publishing Agreement Number and Marketing Director Kevin Robert- Marine, where Nick will be coordinating #40016479. Subscriptions: $84 annually. Single copies, $7.50 son, Shea learned that the manufacturer the development of a new line of long- (U.S.). Bulk rate subscriptions for organizations and educational institutions are available upon request. would offer free software upgrades for range, offshore cruising boats. Fear not. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Practical the units in question. Robertson de- Sailor, Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142. Practical Nick isn't getting off the hook that easily. Sailor, P.O. Box 39, Norwich ON, N0J 1P0 Canada. WDS scribed this "collection and return" pro- His name will continue to sit on our return address in Canada: Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5. gram as customary, something a re- masthead, and from time to time, his sponsible company should offer its con- work will grace these pages. So, it's not sumers, particularly one operating in a good-bye, it's good luck. PRACTICAL SAILOR ACCEPTS NO fast-moving technological field. —Dan Dickison COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING PRACTICAL SAILOR 2 SEPTEMBER 2004 MAILPORT Sears and Co. [Re: "Trickledown Safety, July 1, 2004] give you confidence when going for- ward in a rough weather. It is always interesting to read Where Going forward to the foredeck under Credit is Due in PS. Sad to say, no credit sail can be risky even in light air. You Roger Marshutz is due to the Sears Company and their normally wear a harness and you clip Via e-mail Craftsman tools. Although the company on to a jackline. You typically clip on guarantees that "if a Craftsman tool fails to the opposite side of the deck you Both Mr. Solberg and Mr. Marshutz's to provide complete satisfaction, it can plan to work on. But if you are knocked suggestions are interesting. Regard- be returned for repair or replacement," off balance by a wave and fall over the ing the former, Nick Nicholson voiced apparently this does not extend to tools lifelines, getting back on the boat can two prinicipal concerns about using used by sailors. be problematic. line cover as jackline material: 1. In December of 2002 in the ARC, a Would a polyester line cover be My Craftsman tools were purchased rally for cruisers racing across the strong enough and still offer the right two years ago, and last week when I Atlantic from Las Palmas to St. Lucia, degree of stretch that's needed in opened the plastic molded storage two brothers were sailing when one jacklines to diminish the chance of box, I noticed that three Craftsman fell off the boat while working on the internal injury from shock loading tools were severely rusted. Apparent- foredeck. He was hooked on to the while still not letting the user fall too ly Craftsman will not warranty its jackline, but his brother could not get far from the point of attachment? 2. products against rusting if they are him back on board as he was being Would this option be cost-effective? stored in a dry place on board a boat. dragged by the boat. If the line is short We checked in with some line Since your magazine has evaluated you might be left hanging over the side experts to get their take on this. Andy Craftsman tools in the past, I think like this, and there might not be enough Howe at Yale Cordage told us: "There your readers should know about this. time to attach the spare halyard and are pros and cons to making jack- Martin Gruss winch you up. This was a tragic event lines from standard polyester cover New York, NY that might have been avoided if the material.