Innehållsförteckning för August 2018 från Boating NZ

I generally try to maintain a happy, positive outlook on life, but three, seemingly unrelated events unsettled my equilibrium this week leaving me feeling more than a little despondent about our planet’s future. The first was the killing of an extremely rare blue whale – a seriously endangered species – by an Icelandic whaling crew. The International Whaling Commission outlawed the killing of blue whales in the 1960s. This was reportedly the first blue whale harpooned in half a century. Iceland, you will remember, is one of only three nations still involved with commercial whaling – along with Norway and Japan. Iceland’s whaling legislation permits the killing of fin whales (also an endangered species – bizarre, I know). Responding to mounting global outrage, Iceland’s whaling industry has offered a few…

Total global fish production in 2016: 171 million tonnes (marine fisheries: 79.3 million tonnes, freshwater fisheries: 11.6 million tonnes, aquaculture: 80 million tonnes) Production consumed by humans: 151.2 million tonnes Value of all fisheries and aquaculture production in 2016: $362 billion, of which aquaculture accounted for $232 billion. Number of people employed in fisheries and aquaculture: 59.6 million Number of fishing vessels on the planet: 4.6 million Largest regional fleet: Asia (3.3 million vessels, or 75 percent of the global fleet) World’s largest fish producer and exporter: China Largest consumer market of fish/fish products: 1. European Union 2. The United States 3. Japan Most unsustainable fisheries: Mediterranean and Black Sea (62.2 percent overfished stocks), the Southeast Pacific (61.5), Southwest Atlantic (58.8) Most sustainable fisheries: Eastern Central, Western Central, NE, NW and…

A turbocharged, 804cm3 two-cylinder engine with common-rail fuel injection, the Dtorque produces 50hp at the prop. Peak torque output (111 Nm) arrives at 2500 rpm – greater than the best-performing 70hp four-stroke petrol outboard currently available, says Power Equipment. The engine’s most unusual feature is its dual, counter-rotating crankshaft configuration which contributes to its smooth and vibration-free performance. By generating opposing forces, the two crankshafts cancel out most of the vibrations. Miserly consumption – 10-12 litres/hour – means fewer refuelling stops and lower running costs. At full throttle, a comparable petrol outboard consumes around 2.5 times more fuel than the Dtorque. Diesel – with its low flammability – is especially useful for boats working in areas where there is a serious fire hazard, such as in the offshore oil industry.…

The CXO300 V8’s power-to-weight ratio is comparable to that of a modern, high-performing petrol engine, using only half the fuel consumption. Some 10 years in development, the engine was born following a contract from the British Ministry of Defence for a concept diesel outboard for its fast-response navy vessels. Cox Powertrain says the CXO300 has a 100 percent higher peak torque at the crankshaft than the leading petrol 300hp outboards, and some 60 percent higher when compared with a 350hp engine. The increased low-end torque will push heavily loaded hulls through rough waters with less strain on the engine. Larger vessels will benefit from the higher torque curves, both at the low and the high ends. The engine offers fuel savings of approximately 25 percent in comparison to a similar…

FIRST IYT SCHOOL IN NEW ZEALAND Great Escape in Opua, Bay of Islands, has been appointed an IYT Partner School for its recreational sailing courses up to International Bareboat Skipper Sail, with ICC (International Certificate of Competence). Through IYT, Great Escape has access to excellent training resources and support for instructor development. The IYT programme is an international modular format of standardised training. Sailors can commence their training with one school and subsequent modules can be completed at 250 IYT partner schools around the world. Recognised by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of Great Britain (MCA), to charter a boat in certain European countries an International Certificate of Competency is now mandatory. Great Escape Sailing School has been helping sailors develop sailing expertise for over 30 years. info@greatescape.co.nz www.greatescape.co.nz MAVERICK…

Len Gilbert, well-known author of the Diesel Diaries, wrote about the dangers of using modern oils in old engines – and these abound in yachts and vintage launches. These older models often had relatively ‘leaky’ bushings and seals, and they relied on the oil itself to compensate for fairly loose tolerances. Gilbert spoke of being able to tell the health of the engine by the amount of oil it leaked. Newer engines, on the other hand, have very fine tolerances, and modern oil additives often include dispersants, detergents, oxidation inhibitors, antiwear agents, extreme-pressure additives and viscosity index improvers. Putting a modern API-CJ4 specification synthetic oil into, for example, a 1968 Perkins 6.354 engine that called for a mineral-based SAE 30 API CC will almost certainly result in the engine starting…

SERIOUS SONAR Raymarine’s new RVX1000 high-performance 3D CHIRP sonar module offers the sonar performance and features of Raymarine Axiom Pro in a remotely mounted black box. The versatile five-channel RVX1000 simultaneously delivers Raymarine’s RealVision 3D sonar technology (complete with GPS track), CHIRP Side and DownVision, as well as high-powered 1kW dual-channel CHIRP sonar. The RVX1000 easily identifies structure and locates fish with RealVision 3D’s lifelike clarity. Using its GPS Track feature, RealVision 3D sonar constructs the most accurate 3D model of the underwater world, in real time. Sonar Scroll Back feature lets skippers rewind, pause and playback up to 10 minutes of recorded sonar history, enabling them to take a closer look at fish and structure and easily plot waypoints. TruZoom magnification amplifies additional target detail, without any loss of…

It all began when 15-year old Neil Surtees left school to start work. “I was never good at reading or writing, so I left school to work for Teddy Koia Motors in Kawerau, the local chainsaw guru,” says Neil. His next job was with Best Insulation, where he learned to weld sheet metal and became the company’s best welder by age 18. After completing a three-year boilermaking apprenticeship with McKenzie and Ridley, Surtees moved back to Kawerau. There he started building steel jet boats as a part-time venture. Steel-hulled jet boats were popular as they tended to slide over the rocks rather than puncturing. But steel is heavy and, to keep his boats as light as possible, Surtees used the minimum thickness – a 6mm centre strip, 3mm for the…

I’d hesitate to call Bartlett a Formula 4000 specialist – it’s too narrow a definition. Still, he has developed something of a reputation for transforming these old stalwarts from the 80s into modern-day gems. He’s lost count of the conversion projects he’s tackled over the 30-odd years he’s been in the game, but the latest iteration to roll from his shed takes some beating. Only a seasoned eye will recognise Rusty Bullet as a former Formula – though her vibrant colour scheme does perhaps hark back to the era of mustard bell-bottom trousers and handlebar moustaches. The boat belongs to Auckland’s Richard Ryan. He’s known Bartlett for some 25 years and has always marvelled at the magic emerging from his boatshed. Ryan is an experienced trailer boatie and when –…

Prize was built from the top materials – a triple diagonal heart kauri hull in the best Auckland tradition, the finest workmanship from Bailey’s shipwrights, boatbuilders and riggers, the top grade of Oregon spars and a superb suit of Ratsey & Lapthorn sails made for her in Cowes, Isle of Wight bearing her registered number, A15. She was the consummation of Bailey’s skills as a designer, constructor and business man, and the consummation of Endean’s need to replace the lost Onelua with an equivalent treasure. Prize’s debut race was to be at the Combined Opening Day on 17 November 1923, sailing for the Squadron, Devonport Yacht Club, Akarana Yacht Club and Ponsonby Cruising Club on almost identical handicaps to Rawene, and with only Iorangi giving her time. There was a…

TRAILER BRAKING New Zealand’s brakes-on-boat-trailers legislation is notoriously confusing. Our in-depth feature explores the issue and provides some pointers for those keen on retro-fitting brakes. RIVIERA 395 SUV A newcomer to the Riviera stable, this beauty delivers the marque’s legendary style, finish and performance in a sporty package – and you won’t be saddled with the burden of finding a large berth. PELORUS SOUND If you’re looking for a fun family holiday this summer, visit Marlborough’s Pelorus Sound for its rich diversity of activities – stunning scenery, sublime food and wine, fascinating history – and, of course, the friendly locals. ZINC ANODES They’re designed to save your boat from electrical malfeasance, but when grouped in great clusters – as in a marina – they might not be doing the local…

Extend your boating season Enjoy luxuriously warm passage making Keep the family toasty warm during mid winter excursions “The only reason I am not crying right now is because we have a Stella Systems Airtronic diesel heater” said Sasha, as she and Mike came to terms with the fact that their departure from Auckland to the warm azure waters of Fiji would be delayed a further two weeks. Cosy and warm inside their sailing yacht, nursing commiseration beers they replayed the day’s events; a cold June morning had turned into warm celebrations as their brand-new Stella Systems Airtronic diesel heater (top left) was switched on for the first time. Warm, dry air filled the boat, transforming the saloon and their sleeping berth (right) into a cosy homely abode – this…

MATT FLANAGAN STEVIE WEST RAYGLASS BOATS Increasing demand and the build-up to the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland has seen Rayglass Boats add Matt Flanagan and Stevie West to its sales team. Both are experienced boaties highly familiar with Rayglass’s Legend powerboats and Protector RIBs. “Matt is an experienced superyacht crewmember and qualified dive instructor, used to spending time with high profile guests,” says Rayglass sales director Scott Little. “He is a keen fisher who virtually grew up on board his family’s Rayglass Legend. “Stevie spent five years with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, running events, liaising with members and spending time on board the club’s Rayglass Protector. She loves powerboating, sailing and fishing.” With the America’s Cup looming, the expanded sales team is now dealing with increased interest…

And yet most of us hardly consider this hardworking component of our engine’s health, only occasionally checking the level or getting worried when a warning light indicates it’s a bit low. The most important function of the oil is, of course, lubrication. Metal surfaces wear each other down, and it’s only the very thin layer of lubricating oil between them that prevents this. To achieve this feat requires two conflicting properties: It must be ‘runny’ enough to get between every moving surface, but also sticky enough to stay there even under the enormous pressure that is found on components such as crankshaft bearings. These primary requirements are measured in terms of viscosity (how runny it is) and lubricity (its ability to reduce friction). The viscosity is the main oil specification…

Modern fishing lines are fantastic, but they have some peculiar properties that make tying knots in them problematic. And different types of lines have different properties, which often means they require different knots. The two most popular materials for fishing line are nylon and polyethylene. Nylon (and fluorocarbon, used as fishing line as well as trace) is extruded to form a single filament that’s uniform in diameter, thus the name ‘nylon monofilament’. Polyethylene (PE or GSP – ‘gel-spun polyethylene’), which has become increasingly popular in the last 15-20 years, is used for styles of fishing where low stretch and fine diameter with high strength are desirable properties. To make PE lines, fine filaments of gel-spun polyethylene are either woven into a braided line or fused together using a special heat…

The two-litre OXE – available in 150hp and 200hp versions – is also a turbo-charged engine, but it’s horizontally-mounted with a belt-driven propulsion system coupled to a hydraulic multiplate clutch transmission. This design eliminates the traditional outboard’s vertical shafts and bevelled gears and allows the full torque of the diesel to be transferred to the propeller shaft. A major advantage of the horizontal configuration is that all service points are on the front of the engine – maintenance and servicing can be done on the water. The configuration also allows crash-stop capability. The smooth gear engagement and precise control is ideal for mooring or carrying out low-speed manoeuvres and trolling functionality. By switching the orientation of the primary belt housing, it is also possible to change the gear ratio to…

Although oil will definitely create smoke if it gets into the combustion chamber, it is very seldom the cause of an engine smoking. A number of things can cause the engine to produce smoke – especially with diesel engines. Most often smoke is caused by fuel that hasn’t fully combusted, and this can be caused by: Cold: Many mechanically-regulated engines smoke when they are cold because the wrong amount of fuel is being injected. Modern common-rail diesels generally don’t smoke as the computer calculates the exact amount of fuel needed. Solution: After starting, run the engine under a light load (low revs but above idle) before opening the throttle. Fouled exhaust outlets: Engines need to breathe in and out, and years of carbon build-up in an engine’s exhaust outlet can…

You never know when things will turn to custard – but you can pretty much guarantee that when something goes wrong on your boat, it will be at the worst possible time. It’s called Sod’s Law. This is exactly what happened to Paul – a yachtie on his way from Auckland to Dunedin. Things started out fine, but as he entered the Bay of Plenty the sea started churning, and next thing he knew his steering suddenly failed – 70km from shore. Paul needed help urgently. He triggered his rescue beacon (EPIRB), and hundreds of kilometres away the Rescue Coordination Centre picked up his distress call and raised the alarm. Coastguard Tauranga set out immediately and kept in contact with Paul via his VHF radio. It took the crew three-and-a-half…