MAILPORT TIPS ON SPECS For 35 years, I’ve been wearing glasses (or contacts and sunglasses) while on the water, but I have yet Do $20 glasses offer the same UV protection as a $200 pair? PS hopes to to discover an end-all solution to answer this and more in our upcoming report on polarized sunglasses. crusty lens-itis. In light spray, I keep a couple After successfully campaigning It is indeed frustrating to the boat sheets of paper towels in my jacket my J-120 for 10 years, I decided owner that bottom paint prices pocket to periodically wipe the to change my sailing and racing seem to quickly rise with copper lenses. In medium spray, licking approach to fit my new emerging prices, but never fall. The explana- the lenses actually improves vis- lifestyle (retirement). I bought tions from paint makers that we ibility if they are heavily crusted. an Alerion Express 28 (hull No. got for this are many and varied: In heavy spray, I occasionally 337) and have thoroughly enjoyed The raw materials that manufac- dump a 1/4 of my water bottle over sailing and racing the boat. Don- turers buy on the commodities my face and shades. na and Garry Hoyt winced when market are normally purchased I now race a Melges 24, and in a I ordered lifelines. However, I several months in advance. Raw breeze, the freshwater rinse is fair- sail on Lake Michigan and safety material prices also don’t include ly effective. I was curious if any for my grandkids overrode the the additional charges to convert of your staff or readers have any aesthetic theory. The crowning the raw commodities into a us- experience with lens products? glory, to me, was your side article able form. Hurricanes along the on the Cape Dory Typhoon. My Gulf Coast in recent years caused Morgan Dale first sailboat was a Typhoon (hull the price for other raw materi- St. Croix, USVI No. 199 in 1971). What a fun boat. als to rise, and those high prices Via e-mail I admired Carl Alberg’s designs so much that I eventually bought We talked to the folks at sunglasses- a Pearson Ariel, followed by a PRACTICAL SAILOR ONLINE maker Costa del Mar, who offered Pearson Triton. this advice: If all you have are your ow are the older automated hands to clean with, a dab of neu- Jack Kelley Hsteering systems like the Ray- tral ph soap and water are excel- C.C. Rider, Alerion Express 28 marine ST4000 wheel pilot holding lent cleaners. Paper towels are too Grand Haven, Mich. up? More importantly, how are their abrasive; use moist lens towlettes “smarter” descendents surviving or micro-fiber cloths instead. Many BOttOM PAINT PRICES in the real world? A reader survey glasses makers offer their own Do you have any recent survey on focusing on the reliability and per- cloths laced with isopropanol. It is the price of bottom paints. One formance of autopilots has been worth noting that some sunglass supplier shows an increase in posted online at www.practical-sailor. makers, like Maui Jim, recommend price of 25 percent over the past com. The data will accompany our only glass lenses for saltwater, pre- year, and meanwhile the copper upcoming reports on automated sumably because of the potential for price has dropped from $3.50 steering systems. A link to the sur- scratched lenses. per pound to $1.50 per pound, so vey is posted at the top of the home what is the excuse now? Are the page, and we hope that readers will DAYSAILERS boat owners being held ransom by share their views on this topic. Read- I read your “Trophy Boat” article greedy paint manufacturers? ers are also encouraged to check out in the January issue of Practical some classic tests, PS Advisors, DIY Sailor. This excellent article was Jens Bagh tips, and special reports resurrected very descriptive in highlight- There You Are, BCC 28 from the archives in our “Tools and ing a new culture of sailboats. Edmonton, Canada Techniques” section. praCTICal SailOR APRIL 2009 3 M AILPORT Weiss and Dr. said to be able to recharge the Michael Jacobs, batteries. I was skeptical of that or “Medicine but an hour of sailing regenerates for Mountain- all the amps used during the trip eering and from the slip to the big water (I other Wilder- haven’t yet measured drag in this ness Activi- mode). The other reason I chose ties,” by James the electric over a new diesel Wilkerson. was that I was able to install the The latter is entire system by myself with the available from help of a good friend who welded Mountaineer up the frame to attach to the ex- Falling copper prices haven’t impacted the bottom line Books. Both isting motor bed. I know there are on bottom paints. texts give guid- potential problems, but I compare ance on stock- them to those of a diesel. have not retreated. Finally, some ing kits appropriate for your boat. states are raising their pesticide Remember, the victim may be the Dan Walker registration fees in an attempt to captain or medical officer, and a Alberg 30 make up for shortfalls in other tax novice may be the one rendering Indianapolis, Ind. revenues. For instance, the fee for treatment. A medical guide is an a two-year pesticide registration invaluable resource. GALERIDER in the state of Florida more than RELIABILITY doubled in 2009. The bottom line Curtis Edwards, MD, FACS I do not think the February 2009 to all of this is no surprise: We will General surgeon PS article on drogues supports the probably not see any significant FAA Aviation Medical Examiner conclusion that the Galerider is price reductions in bottom paint reliable. [The wire hoop that keeps pricing this spring. THOOSA FIELD TRIALS the drogue open] broke in two of In the September 2008 issue, PS the very few real-world uses cited. FIRST-AID FACTS discussed electric power, and I’d That is not reassuring for a piece I read with interest your evalu- like to share my own experience of equipment intended for use in ation of first aid kits, which with this technology. I installed extreme conditions. Perhaps you wrapped up with the final install- an Asmo (Thoosa) system in my should seek a wider information ment in the December 2008 issue. Alberg 30, which weighs around base by asking your readers to I’d like to add a couple of points: 10,000 pounds. I need propulsion comment on their experiences. Weekend, cruising, and bluewater to get in and out of my slip and up sailors should invest in a good up- the river to Lake Michigan, about Ray Smith PRODUCT UPDATE to-date first aid and CPR course. 3/4 of a mile. I do not plan on long Jeanneau 43 It is as important as a functional motoring trips. Chesapeake Bay bilge pump. So far, the Thoosa has done ev- The responsible sailor can erything the dealer (NGC Marine) Any reports of the wire hoop in outfit a substantial and superior said it would. When the lake level the Galerider breaking would, of first-aid kit for much less money was low, my boat would bottom course, interest us, as well as the than a commercially available out in the river, and each time the maker Hathaway, Reiser & Ray- kit. The kit should be appropri- Thoosa had ample mond. As noted ate for the expected duration a power to get me in the article, the victim will need treatment prior through the muck. Galerider has been to evacuation. Most commercial In addition, around for a long kits contain a lot of fluff and are the system was time and these re- unnecessarily redundant—a lot ports are very rare. of Band-Aids. I stress to distance It is also worth not- sailors stocking a few prescription The Thoosa 6000 ing that in the two items and aggressive treatment takes up a frac- cases we cited, the for seasickness, beyond Bonine. tion of the engine drogue still slowed I favor a solid medical text such space required the boats (although as “A Comprehensive Guide to for the diesel it it behaved errati- Marine Medicine,” by Dr. Erick replaced. cally in one of the 4 APRIL 2009 WWW.praCTICal-SailOR.COM M AILPORT incidents). Like any piece of safety HEAVING TO AND THE SHARK equipment, the Galerider needs Regarding your February 2009 to be maintained and inspected. article on drogues and heavy- Stowing the Galerider wet or in a weather tactics: Heaving to is a damp locker and keeping the hoop technique I practice every season. tightly coiled could contribute to My yawl has a shallow draft and weakening of the wire over time. nearly flat bottom sections. I tried Signs of weakening, such as a military surplus parachute as a broken strands or corrosion, sea anchor, but the lack should be noticeable upon of a deep keel allowed inspection. Unfortunately, the my boat to yaw un- wire runs through a Dacron comfortably. The chute sleeve that prevents visual spun, tangled the bridle inspection, so the user must feel and created 200 feet around inside the Dacron sleeve of hockles in the rode. Photo courtesy of Fiorentino of courtesy Photo and inspect the sleeve for rust Drogue and sea-anchor stains. PS encourages sailors to maker Fiorentino sug- routinely uncoil the Galerider gested I deploy their 6-foot Para- and closely inspect the wire Anchor from a bow cleat rather The Shark drogue from Fiorentino hoop and Nicropress terminals.