Sailboat/Marine Equipment
Reviews
Here are pages of marine, boat
and sailboat reviews. None of these are paid, reimbursed, or
brought to you covertly by any manufacturers. I paid full price for
each and every item. I have used everything in these reviews
personally, offshore, and review this equipment based on my own
experiences only. OK, enough disclaimer - marine equipment reviewed
here favorably has withstood a hammering offshore, marine equipment
panned has not. On with the reviews...
Yamaha 9.9hp High Thrust Outboard POS
(Written in 2000) This
outboard is marketed and sold specifically to be used as a sailboat
auxilary motor. Too bad the Yamaha engineers don't sail. The Pirate
has been using outboard motors his whole life and has never had a
worse motor on the stern of his boat. In theory, everything about
the Yamaha sounded great - higher thrust for the larger boat, 4
stroke power, bigger prop for efficiency. In practice, the motor is
an overweight (109 pounds) fuel guzzling dog. It burns twice as
much fuel as my last outboard (Honda 8hp) at 1 gph, and pushes Maru
a full 1.5 knots slower at 5.5 knots. As if that weren't bad
enough, it fouls plugs regularly (good luck finding hotter plugs to
fit this motor), it will choke on ANYTHING, and it is impossible to
revive at sea. I filter my fuel, have brand new plastic tanks, fill
them at seperate locations to minimize fuel problems, and take much
more care about what I burn than most. Not enough for the Yamaha.
Every other motor the Pirate has ever owned, when forced to burn
too much water or dirt, could be brought back to life by draining
the fuel bowl, switching tanks and pulling the cord. Not the Cursed
Yamaha. When it chokes (and it chokes ALL THE TIME on stuff my
Tohatsu happily burns) it is off the air until the carberator is
cleaned and rebuilt at the next stop, costing about $200 a pop.
Trust Yamaha engineers to design a carb so delicate and parts so
fine as to require tools and supplies the average boat owner can't
keep on board. The pirate's rating for the Cursed Yamaha is TOTAL
POS. The Pirate feels so strongly about the unsuitability of this
motor for marine use that he wouldn't put it on his ex-wifes lovers
boat (well perhaps...)
(2005 Update) Spanky, my new Gemini Catamaran came equipped with
not just one but two of these motors, brand new ones to boot, on
the stern. No doubt the thinking was that at least one of them
might run on any given day? One of the two, with less than 50 hours
run time, does not start anymore. And the bloody thing weighs so
damn much I don't even want to muscle it around to a dealer, or pay
the money to have it looked at even if I did. I learned before that
the Yamaha warranty is a completely useless thing, a piece of paper
that does not cover the defects that make the trouble in the first
place.
That said, on the 60 nm trip I made with them when I bought Spanky
they both ran fine (but burned a lot of fuel). The prior owner
complained to me that he had trouble with the one that won't start,
so I am just counting myself lucky it took me the distance it did.
You know, you spend a premium price on something and you expect
much better than this kind of thing. At least I do. In 5 years
Yamaha still has not worked out the bugs. I don't know about you,
but Spanky is never going offshore with a Yamaha 9.9 on her. Call
me prejudiced if you like, but realistically I cannot afford to be
carrying a motor that breaks down constantly, requires a budget for
constant expensive repairs, and burns a lot of fuel. I am buying a
Tohatsu at the upcoming Lauderdale boat show.
Tohatsu
9.8 HP Outboard
Now this is
one great little motor. She is the lightest 10hp on the market at
56 pounds, and is thoroughly reliable. This little beauty just
pulls and runs. No choking, no stalling, no hard pulling, just
running and running and running. So far, at wide open throttle (is
there another setting?), she burns about 1/2 gallons per hour,
3/4gph when towing a fully loaded Maru (when the Cursed Yamaha dies
- and that would be all the time - this baby comes out and I tow
Maru from the dingy with her). My friend John, the Tow Boat US guy
at Cape Fear (who calls them Tomatoes) reports he has seen them on
a lot of boats but has NEVER towed one in. I believe it, as mine is
a true gem. If you need an outboard, go spit on a Yamaha and then
buy one of these - you won't regret it! The Pirate HIGHLY
RECOMMENDS this motor.
JRC 1000
Radar
(Written in 1999) The
Pirate knows ZIP about Radar. I have no business comparing,
contrasting, or saying one unit is better than another. All the
Pirate can say is that he bought the least expensive radar on the
market as his first one. The Pirate can say that you would have to
kill him to get it off his boat. Janice (named for our favorite
weathercaster) is #2 (after Aunt Bea the refrigerator) in
importance on the Pirate's ship - #1 in electronic geejaws. Janice
has steered Maru around thunderstorms, let's the Pirate sleep a bit
more at night, has alerted the Pirate to ships in the fog and has
found unlit bouys at night. I am absolutely in love with Janice!
Now, would another radar be as good? I am sure, probably better as
they cost more and claim greater range. I know this unit claims to
have a 16nm range. I also know it really only works well out to
8nm. And Janice is high maintenance - she sucks down electricity at
an alarming rate (still less than almost all other units on the
market). I don't care, I love her and will give her anything she
needs - and 8nm is further than I can see in the dark by about, oh,
8nm so I am VERY happy with that. You can spend more and get a
better radar, you can't spend less though. The Pirate will say this
about radar: If you buy only ONE electronic device for your boat,
buy a radar (and a lot of solar panels!) If you are poor like the
Pirate buy this one, because I can assure you it works great for
me! The Pirate HIGHLY RECOMMENDS this (or really any) radar.
(2005 Update) The Pirate knows a whole lot more about radar now!
And boy howdy, I sure think NO cruising boat should ever venture
offshore without one. I have outgrown my JRC 1000 these days, but
still recommend it for those looking to get a really good entry
level radar at an incredibly low price. I have moved on to a
Raymarine integrated chartplotter/radar because of all the bells
and whistles, but it really does not show me anything more than the
JRC 1000 at way less money. I had the JRC briefly mounted on Stinky
Maru, my 25' flybridge powerboat, and it was lovely there too, even
though I mostly did inshore travel on her. It made night time
travel in the ditch a dream (there are an alarming number of unlit
markers in the ICW, and radar shows them all), and I even was able
to spot water police before they could catch me speeding. Actually,
now that I think of it, the JRC would be a great addition to any
boat. Who couldn't use accurate weather information, night-time
navigation, and a heads-up on other boats for under a thousand
bucks?
UniSolar
64, 48 & 32 watt Solar Panels
Back when I outfitted
Maru in 1999 I looked at all the brands, models, efficiency, and
features and settled on the Unisolar panels for the simple reason
that they were supposed to stand up to more abuse than any of the
others on the market (that they weigh much less was a big bonus).
Sure there are more efficient panels, even less expensive panels
(though not by much), but these beauties have stood up to some
serious abuse without any loss of output (I have dropped winch
handles, tools, and I walk, and fall, on them all the time). The
solar farm on Maru (two 32 watt panels, two 48 watt panels and one
64 watt panel) put out at least 3 amps during a completely cloudy
day, still over 1 amp in moonlight, and on a fine tropical sunny
day I will get anywhere from 10 to 18 amps. The Pirate likes free
electricity. The Pirate also really likes these light weight,
durable panels on his multihull and HIGHLY RECOMMENDS them for your
boat (or RV or home!)
Rutland
913 Windcharger
Wind
generators always made me uneasy on boats. Big, sharp blades
spinning around at high speed just above my head never filled me
with happiness. Still, offshore one needs electricity to run all
the cool modern doohickies, so I sucked up my fears and took a
plunge. At the Miami Boat Show, I looked at them all, listened to
the speals, and listened to the generators run. Every marina I
sailed into for a year I watched and listened to every generator I
saw. And do you know what I found? This is the only one that is
silent, the rest are not neighborly at all. What's more, the
Rutland does not need to be braked, ever, like all the rest do. You
just let it run - in ANY breeze (or blow).
In ALL aspects, this is the most superior generator I found - and
it's six little plastic blades scare me a LOT less than the two or
three whirling scythes found on most of the others. She makes juice
in the slightest puff, and spins quietly in blows (making LOTS of
juice). There may be more efficient generators, but if you buy any
other unit and anchor next to me at night, you better put on it's
brake because I need my sleep and YOUR charger won't let me have
any if you leave it running.
However, all this good stuff said, I will never sail with one
again. I had mine mounted on Maru, on a fine stern pole. In 19
degree weather offshore of Savannah (with sleet and snow falling
from the sky) the wind picked up and I had to reef. The reefing
lines dangled their way right into the spinning blades. On an icy
deck, I had to climb a pole and cut loose the lines, all the time
hanging over the stern of a boat in big waves that was close to
broaching at every passing wave. The generator was removed the
first thing when I returned to shore, never to be remounted. I love
the free electricity, but can only think of these things now as
whirling scythes of death.
But if you have no wind generator issues as I have, or have a
better spot to mount them, then I still stand by my recommendation
of this unit. Today in my marina there is a fine breeze blowing,
and at least a dozen wind generators spinning. There are 2 Rutlands
here, and they are the only ones not making a din, and their
compact size makes them much more visually appealing than the
others with their huge, sharp, noisy blades.
Standard
Horizon DSC VHF Radio
(Written in 2000) Since
the plan was for Europe this year, the Pirate wanted a DSC radio
for Maru. Since it didn't cost more to buy the Intrepid DSC radio
than many other non-DSC radios, the Pirate was immediately sold on
it. Added benefits were it's waterproofness and the ability to add
remote waterproof microphones. On Maru, the radio is mounted below
by the forward hatch in the forward cabin, and a remote microphone
is mounted at the steering station. It has worked out wonderfully,
as the Pirate can get to the radio from the forward nets, when down
below, and while sailing Maru in the cockpit. What's more, on a
blustery day, the Pirate can communicate with his crew (invariably
hiding below) using the radio as an intercom. The only problem I
have had so far is that I have not been able to get the radio to
recognize my NMEA bus, so it is not getting the Lat/Lon data it
needs for true DSC usability. Hopefully we will get that worked out
soon. Still, since the radio works so well otherwise, the Pirate
RECOMMENDS this little radio (especially with the added remote
microphone).
(2005 Update) I have now owned 3 of these radios, and can honestly
say I love them completely. I had one on Maru, I had one on Stinky
Maru (my powerboat) and I have one on Spanky - my newer Gemini
catamaran. They have gone through name changes (originally
Intrepid, now Quest +) and cost a bit more than they used to, but
they are constant performers. I have mounted every one below decks,
with an external RAM remote microphone at the helm. My initial
difficulty getting the radio to work on my NMEA bus was due to a
Ratheon connection, not the radio - every one has been easy to set
up otherwise. In years of complete abuse, all three radios work
flawlessly even today. This is just a fine radio, at a good price.
The Pirate HIGHLY RECOMMENDS this radio!
Medical
Sea Pak Trans-Ocean Pak
The
Pirate contacted the manufacturers of no less than a dozen medical
kits; by phone, through the internet, and at boat shows. The few
that actually responded to the Pirates repeated inquiries promised
to call back with a quote, none did. Curse all of ye as scurvy
dogs. The Pirate, getting desperate, ordered this standard kit
available through many marine suppliers. Different level kits are
available depending on your needs, but if you want a serious
medical kit for your boat, it appears they are the only game in
town. The good news; my kit is very complete needing only a few
perscription medications and a good medical book like Dr.
Eastman's. It is well organized into easily used modules based on
type of injury or illness (they call this Problem Oriented
Packaging), and is stored in a lovely kit that is actually a marvel
to behold. The bad news; it is not in the least water resistant
(the Pirate calls this Bone Headed Packaging). The Pirate has lost
hundreds of dollars of supplies in his due to an unexpected locker
leak. What idiots make a medical kit to be sold for a boat that is
not waterproof? These idiots, obviously. Still, apparently they are
the only game in town if you need a medical kit. So, if you do buy
one, at least repack everything yourself into good zip-locks before
you take it aboard.
Raytheon
ST 4000 Plus Wheel Autopilot
(Written in 1999) Ted,
Maru's Raytheon autopilot is a highly valued crewmember. Without
Ted, Pirate Steve would have to spend his time in Maru's cramped
cockpit instead of on her lovely nets. Ted steers in the rain, the
heat, under power, under sail, and with the Raytheon ST60 Wind
System, by the wind. Ted was purchased to replace the Navico
Wheelpilot that came with Maru and had needed repair. The Navico
was still working except the engage switch had gone bad (Radio
Shack provided a non-marine switch that worked just fine for a bit,
but I stupidly sent the unit to Navico for an original replacement)
After verifying on the phone that they could do the job, the Pirate
shipped it out. A call from Navico a month later informed me that
the unit was not repairable (they no longer stocked the switch) and
the return of the unit would require a steep diagnostic fee. The
Pirate HATES being misled and ripped off. (PS Navico - you can kiss
me exactly where I suggested your technician shelve my now dead
Wheelpilot).
Anyway, determined not
to support the Evil Navico, I bought the Raytheon. The Pirate has
been very happy ever since, as the Raytheon is far superior in
every respect. The unit comes with a remote electronic compass that
auto-corrects and is lovely to steer by (on the few occasions that
manual steering is actually done). Ted is twice as good as the
Navico, built much better, uses less electricity, and cost only a
couple hundred dollars more. As with other entry level autopilots,
the ST4000 tends to wander quite a bit in seas from the stern
quarter. The poor thing works itself silly making course changes
with each swell (using not a little electricity, I might add).
Raytheon take note, dampen the system when the wind vane shows
quartering winds! Despite this, the Pirate usually lets Ted wander
a bit because it beats steering himself. The Raytheon ST4000 Plus
gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by Pirate Steve to anyone who is looking
for a good, reliable, entry level autopilot.
(2005 Update) OK, I have now owned several of these units, and a
couple others as well. Bottom line, I just bought one to install on
Spanky. What I have learned in a few thousand sea miles is that
this unit is wonderful for the price, it is easy to install, it
draws less power than most any other autopilot, and is fairly
robust. I have
blown one
up, in BIG quartering seas (the waves were breaking on the
masthead) she just could not take the heat and blew apart.
Raymarine warranted it and sent me a new one in less than a week.
My father once broke the drive motor off the unit by using it as a
hand-hold, so there is a bit of delicacy in the design (Raymarine
warranted that too!) I now always buy an optional rudder angle
sensor to get a better steered course, a NMEA wind vane so she can
steer a wind course (always the best choice offshore) and a remote
control so I can steer from anywhere aboard. These accessories do
tend to drive the price up a bit, but are completely worth it in
actual use. These units do a fine job on most days - just do not
press it in heavy weather conditions (which in my experience is
less than 10% of the time anyway).
Amcor
ALW12000EH Portable Air Conditioner
In
my never ending search to find usable alternatives to built-in
marine air conditioning units, I did some research and came up with
this little beauty. Spanky had no AC on her when I got her, and
living aboard without AC was not an option for me. Marine AC units
give me trouble for several reasons. First, they pump prodigious
amounts of water through the boat to cool the heat exchanger coils.
I don't know about you, but I have no small worries about a hose
splitting when I am asleep or away from the boat and having 800
gallons of sea-water pumped aboard in under an hour. Add to that
the water filter has to be cleaned and replaced regularly, at no
small cost. Oh, and it does not work at all on those days, weeks,
or even months you have the boat hauled out to work on it. So I do
not like marine AC, not one little bit.
OK, so I saw these portable AC's. They require a 4" outside vent
and an electrical outlet - nothing else. I bought this 12k unit
that also has heat and a remote control for under 500 bucks -
including shipping. When it came I was ecstatic. Easy install (it
sits just inside my companionway), one 4" deck plate vent to the
outside. In every way, shape and form this unit is perfect for my
onboard needs - except for one. It does not cool anywhere near 12k
BTU's. I figure it gets no more than half that. I think the problem
is in the fan, it just does not blow enough air through the coils
to do any more cooling. But despite this, I am keeping it. It cost
hundreds less than the cursed Carry-On that cools about the same,
and it does not pump water through my boat like a marine AC. And it
draws less amps than the Carry-On too.
This unit has run continuously, without one single day's rest,
since I bought it 6 months ago. It may not give out the 12k as
advertised, but what it does do is lovely. If I had room for more,
I would buy 2 more of these and that would be my entire AC system
aboard. Perhaps another brand of portable would cool better, I
don't know. I sure encourage you to try them out though. I like
mine a lot, I just wish it cooled better, or that I had room for
more of them.
April 2006 Update: The Amcor died. Didn't even make it a year. But,
for my money, she was worth the price as she kept me cool all
summer. And I liked the concept enough that I replaced her with
another portable model by Everstar I picked up at Home Depot.
Carry-On
Portable Air Conditioner
OK,
living in Florida one needs AC on the boat. Or at least I do. I
have tried everything, from marine built-in AC systems to cheap
window units sold at Wal Mart. This summer, on my new boat Spanky,
the built in 5k unit plus the portable 11k unit I bought just did
not do it during the day - so I bought one of these Marine Air
Carry On portable units that sits in a deck hatch. The idea seemed
good, and it sure is convenient. Plus, I will admit it cools every
bit of it's rated 7k BTU capacity. So it actually IS a good AC
unit, except for two drawbacks. First is cost. This thing was way
more than the $88 one can buy a window unit at Wal Mart for (I paid
$799 for mine at Boaters World - a full $100 less than at West
Marine). Second drawback is more serious - the unit constantly
drips condensate all over my boat. Inside & outside, I have
water everywhere.
Now I could live with the water outside, despite the deck
discoloration. But the constant dripping inside is taking it's toll
on my cushions and wood cabin sole (that would be the floor to you
lubbers). It is
fun to sit
guests under it and watch them get dripped on, but frankly I have
at my disposal other ways to torture them that are more satisfying.
My friend and marina neighbor, after seeing my unit, decided to buy
a Wal Mart window AC instead. He spent an hour cutting some wood
and making a nice frame for it to fit on his deck and blow down
through his hatch as my unit does. Then he spent an afternoon
making up a nice sunbrella cover (unnecessary, but pretty). Total
cost under $150. Cooling is just as good as the Carry-On, interior
dripping = none. He still has condensate running down the deck as I
do, but at least there is no condensate in the boat.
So, I cannot in any conscience recommend the Carry-On AC. Go to
Wally World or Home Despot and get a nice window unit for a whole
lot less. Even if you pay a canvas guy money to make a custom cover
for your hatch instead of fabricating your own from plywood, it
will cost WAY less than 800 bucks. And it will work just as good,
and will not make your boat wet on the inside.
Everstar
MPA-08CR Air Conditioner
I
made it almost to May before my cooling needs resurfaced here in
central Florida. I have a beautiful built-in marine air unit just
waiting to be installed - but I need to haul the boat to install a
through-hull before it will cool my old hide. I am hoping to get to
a haul out in a month or so, but it got just hot enough I was
forced to take some cooling action in the interim since the Amcor
portable died. So, off to the local Home Despot where I found this
lovely unit for only $299.
The Everstar is rated 8000 btu's but I have to report it cools
better than anything I have ever had on the boat. It is no larger
than the Amcor, but the fan blows harder and has double (maybe even
triple) the surface area. And it oscillates! So the Everstar is a
wonderful AC that blows hard and spreads it's lovely cold air all
over the boat. Do I love it? Yes I do. My Precious. It is far
superior in every way to the dead Amcor (may she rest in
peace).
And it confirmed my thoughts on the Amcor too. It just did not have
enough air forced through it to cool to it's rated capacity. But
the Everstar sure does! I am absolutely chilly as I write this
today. I still hope to install my built-in marine AC in the next
month or so, but I am going to keep this lovely for my backup -
that way I can get rid of the nasty Carry-On and it's evil drip,
drip, drip all over my boat. Now, the only remaining question is
how will the Everstar hold up? Stay tuned...