How to set up the Parasailor for use in light winds The parasailor loves light winds. If you take care to set it up properly, you will enjoy using it. According to ISTEC, the manufacturer, this sail can even cope with very strong winds. They claim 10 knots higher than usual spinnakers. So unlike the Gennaker, it can still be safely used after 18 knots. However, we do know of one case where a parasailor was not able to be…
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So why do we have to maintain the aircon? A/C Sea_Strainer_Evaporative_Filter. This video shows anyone who owns Dometic Air con, how to keep it working optimally. The unit uses seawater to keep the motor cool. Hence cleaning the seawater strainer is one of the monthly jobs you will need to schedule as a new boat owner. Over time, the evaporative filter will become dust and grease filled. The unit does not work efficiently if the filter is blocked. This also…
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The problem The clove hitch is a nice easy knot to do, but under the pressure of mooring can be difficult. I have to forget the Girl Guides method of 50 years before, and learn to tie it to a stationery line. This can be too slow for immediate needs. Also, clove-hitches are not so easy to undo because of the weight of the hanging fender pulling against the simple knot. If the fenders have to be moved to the…
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Purpose of the tri-sensor The ‘Airmar smart multi tri-sensor’ measures three things: boat speed, water temperature and depth. We notice that we need to clean it when the apparent wind and true wind readings were the same value when seen at the helm wind display. Although this device reads the depth and water temperature, we are most concerned with the boat speed detector to calculate apparent wind speed. We need apparent wind speed to decide which sails to use. Other…
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The Problem When taking on a new project, it takes time to notice when things don’t work very well. We left La Rochelle in France at the end of autumn. During the days when we were having sailing lessons, we struggled to roll up the factory bimini clears efficiently. After a while, we noticed that the screens produced by Christophe from Voilerie Klien, were far easier to roll out of the way. When we carefully compared the FP product against…
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1. How to set up the Gennaker First, tie the top of the sail using a bowline, or use a shackle to clip to the Gennaker halyard. Attach the bottom of the sail furler to the bowsprit, ensuring the direction for the furler is counterclockwise ( Note the arrow). Clip the endless furler lines to two pad eyes on the starboard part of the front crossbeam, then onto a stanchion of the guardrails. Now both ends of the sail are…
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Yacht-master Veronique Claus takes us on our first tender lesson It was so good to finally have “Gumnut” united with Eucalyptus. Our Yacht-master instructor, Veronique Claus was keen to see us competent to use this means of transport, so our first lesson began. Shelley (who is writing this) was needing instruction from scratch. An early near-miss of another stationary boat was nearly a casualty. The lesson continued with more control. Jill had been in tenders previously but never driven one….
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I saw an advertisement somewhere about a tender that was made in New Zealand. I saw the post and I wanted a tender just like that one. OCTenders are a New Zealand company located in the beautiful Bay of Islands. Each tender is made by hand to order. octenders.co.nz Karin was wonderful to deal with, I knew nothing about tenders and she was very patient with me. They cannot compete on price with a RIB but I wanted a tender…
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Why Options? The base boat does not come equipped with all you need to go bluewater cruising, not even an anchor; according to the opening paragraph of the contract appendix ‘Standard Equipment’, imaged immediately below. That is not a big inclusions list. To see what we added please read on…. The inclusions in the base boat You must fit out the boat to suit your needs. We have chosen the Comfort Version as per the contract, and below this list,…
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