Advantages of Manual Marine Navigation Tools

Modern electronic marine navigation tools are easy to use and accurate but it is easy to become dependent on them however is important to learn how to use the manual tools as the electronic marine navigation tools may not be 100 % reliable.

All modern marine navigation tools depend on electricity, and are susceptible to shorting of current by seawater or lightning strikes. Even with the elaborate backup systems and rigorous insulation, there is a risk of water shorting out the electrical system. To prevent all the issues that, you can address while on board we recommended to learn how to use manual tools like chart, magnetic compass, pencil, rulers among other as there is little that affects their functionality.

Recognizing those tools will help you to be become a skilled human navigator able to sail professionally even though the marine navigation equipment on board fail. 

Manual Tools to Navigate 

Chart Table

A secure place to work on navigation is to have a permanent [ chart table] with a horizontal surface large enough for a chart to be laid out at one fold. A chart table should either have a lifting top with chart storage space underneath, or a drawer allowing the charts to be stored flat.

Some navigators prefer to stand at a chart table arranged fore and aft, but commonly chart tables are place athwartships with a seat. Shelf space for reference books and bulkhead for marine navigation instruments and communication equipment. a small compass mounted so that the navigator can keep an eye on course.

A flexible stalk-light is ideal for lighting the chart and allows the navigator to work on charts without disturbing sleeping crew or affecting the helmsman's night vision fitting it with a low-power red bulb which minimizes loss of night vision should be considered.

Parallel Rulers

The parallel ruler is used by the navigator to transfer a bearing from the chart's compass rose to the section of the chart which is being worked on. Depending on the design, the ruler is rolled or "walked" across the chart to the selected area where the replicated bearing is drawn indicating the course or the bearing of an object. choosing a parallel ruler, try out a range of both roller and walking designs at sea.

Log - LogBook

The elements of dead-reckoning are course and distance; the compass tells you the course steered, and a 'log' measures distance sailed. The common type of log is an electronic instrument that shows speed and distance run, much like the speedometer and milometer in a car.

For recording position, course, distance run, and other crucial information, a logbook is used. There is a requirement to keep one by maritime law, because it in the event of an incident at sea, it may have to be produced. Record key data at half-hourly or hourly when close to shore and less often when offshore. 

Plotters

A plotter achieves the same result as a parallel ruler and easier to use on a small boat. Plotters are used in conjunction with the latitude and longitude grid lines marked on the chart, rather than using the compass rose.

Dividers

Dividers are usually made of brass with steel tips and used to measure distances on the chart. Purchase a pair of dividers at least 15cm (6in) long as this gives a useful span. The [single-handed typ] with the bowed top is more manageable than the straight type, which requires two hands to open and close it.

Nautical Publications

Nautical Almanac - The principal reference book is a current copy of the nautical almanac covering the sailing area which provides tidal information, harbor plans and details.

Pencils - The use of soft pencils, such as 2B, on charts prevents permanently marking them. Hexagonal pencils resist rolling off the table when the boat heels. Along with the pencils, is a requirement for a pencil sharpener and a soft eraser.

Boat Compasses

A compass is the primary navigation tool on board a yacht and is the means of identifying direction, enabling a course to be steered and to plot a chart position by the means of bearings of navigational marks and shore objects. Choose from a variety: conventional compass, fluxgate Boat compass, steering boat compass, hand bearing compass.

Get Ready for your Boat Trip

Pilot Books -Tidal Atlas - Instruction Manuals - Lights and Radio Signals – Marine Binoculars among others, Shearwater Marine Supplying you 4519 SE Commerce Ave. Stuart, FL 34997, Contact us (772) 781-5553 or reach out us at: adolf@whiticar.com

Tool Buying Guide for the Cruising Sailor

One of the things we all love about boating is preparing and keeping the boat in perfect condition. Performing good maintenance to your boat minimizes the potential for serious breakdowns. You assume you will never have problems with your boat, but then reality hits. Things break, get blocked, oxidize, etc., etc., etc. 

Nowadays, boats are much more complex machines than they were a generation ago. Having a spare part aboard for everything that could break, is almost impossible, regardless of the size of your boat or the depth of your pocket.

Fortunately, an astonishing number of common repairs can be made with just a few basic tools.There are a few specialty items that will make fixes and routine maintenance so much easier.  In this article we will offer a short list of the most important tools to keep on board before heading out to open waters.  Having the right tools makes boat maintenance or repair jobs a lot easier and can make all the difference in your boating experiences. 

The following is a list of supplies we recommend you have to keep your boat in great working condition, and also in preparation for unexpected mechanical failures while out in the water.

1. FUSES

Blown fuses are a common problem.  It’s important to keep your spare fuses away from water, and safe from vibration or shock damage.

2. JUMPER/BOOSTER CABLES 

3. WRENCH SET

A set of wrenches (some metric and some SAE) that covers both systems with no overlap.These wrenches are invaluable for tightening nuts and battery connectors.

4. RATCHETS AND SOCKETS

Should you need to change a fuel filter, or repair the hatch on your boat, these are always a good idea to have around.If you own a small boat, you’ll do just fine with an 11-piece set, which will still give you options, yet save space.

5. TELESCOPING MIRROR AND CLAW RETRIEVAL TOOLS

A telescoping mirror will help you fix what you can’t see, and the claw retrievals can help you reach deep and come back with the lost loot.

6. ASSORTED PLIERS

An assortment of pliers is also recommended to have on hand, including locking pliers and snap-on pliers. Pliers can solve most problems a wrench won’t.

7. ELECTRICAL TAPE: 

A few rolls of electrical tape can be used to make emergency repairs to wiring, as well as having many other uses.  Gaffer tape is stronger than electrical tape, but isn’t suited for use on wiring repairs.  This is why electrical tape is a must.

8. FOLDABLE KNIFE

9. A FEW LARGE, HEAVY TOOLS

Also recommended are a 3-pound sledgehammer, a set of 16-inch arc-joint pliers, and a giant screwdriver. If traveling afar, add a full set of 1/2-inch drive sockets (with a long-handle U-joint ratchet), and an open-end wrench big enough to fit the flexible mounts on your engine(s).  Remember, if you have a mechanic flying in, send him or her an accurate list so travel can be as light as possible.

Please remember to always keep these tools on board the boat, even for the shortest trips. It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.  Even if you are handy with the tools, an engine that is experiencing, electrical issues or some other major mechanical issue will more than likely require major surgery in a marine repair hop. Luckily, the increasing popularity of recreational boating has led to the widespread growth of specialized service centers along popular world cruising routes.

Whether you are on your way north, or sailing down south to the Bahamas, you can access our location at Harbortown Marina through the convenient and easy navigational Fort Pierce Inlet.You can rest at ease knowing you are leaving your boat in the hands of the only fully staffed, sail rigging department in the Ft. Pierce area. 

Can’t get to us? 

No problem. We will quickly come to you and safely deliver your boat to our top notch marine facilities.

Whiticar and Shearwater Marine also offers all of our professional services remotely. We will actually come to your dock or marina to service your vessel. We will provide, deliver, and install the quality OEM parts your vessel requires.

For larger repairs, we can remove engines, generators, or other miscellaneous systems. We will bring them back to our facilities for full repair, and then reinstall them to maintain the highest quality service for your vessel.

Our technicians have extensive knowledge and training to assist you with your boating needs.

For more information, feel free to contact Whiticar Boat yard at (772) 287-2883 or visit our website http://whiticar.com/

The Importance of Properly Addressing Leaks on your Boat

It's a fact that sooner or later most if not all boats will leak if not properly maintained. It's also true that as boats age, leaks tend to increase for the simple reason that sailing and all related weather conditions put a lot of stress on all vessels.  

Nowadays some of these problems with leaks accentuate as result of emphasis on speed and lightweight which lead builders to use laminates that are not as thick and work with hulls that are not as rigid as they used to be. 

As most boat owners know, leaks are not only inconvenient and aggravating, but also cause damage to personal gear and the boat itself. The source of a leak is usually hard to find and even harder to stop. On most occasions we find the water enters at point “A” but shows up at point “B”, which may be six feet away from point “A” where the owner spends weeks attempting to find the source in order to repair it. 

These are usually instances where inner liners work to distribute the leaks to points far from the source of entry, and are often the subject of many wry jokes. 

When a leak occurs many people take the easy way out ( at least they seem to belief so) and instead of assessing the damage, they put some caulking on the outside of an open seam, joint or ridge. This is something we see happen very frequently and most of the time leads into a bigger mess and a complete waste of time.  

When working on boats, in order to applying an effective seal, the caulk has to go between the two parts that are mated. This process is called bedding. Achieving this is not easy, but it is the only way to effectively stop leaks. Furthermore, with the way many boats are rapidly built today, parts are often never bedded properly from the beginning. If that is the case, then you have to go back and do what the builder did not do correctly. 

It is important to know that every material in contact with the sea and the weather elements has a certain life span and durability. At Whiticar we’ve mastered all the process related to proper leak maintenance and repairs.  Our team has the knowledge, expertise and we ensure that all maintenance and repair work is done correctly to have your boat ready as soon as possible and avoid unnecessary waste of time and money. 

Whiticar boat works is your one stop shop for all your boat maintenance, service and part needs. We stand behind the work of our professionals and courteous crew. 

For additional information, please visit www.Whiticar.com.

You can also contact us via email at info@whiticar.com or call us (772) 287-2883.

WHITICAR has 2 locations for your convenience:

- STUART: 3636 SE Old Saint Lucie Blvd. Stuart, FL 34996

- FT. PIERCE: 2010 Harbor Town Drive, Suite K, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946

Thinking about Stabilizers?

Tossed around on your boat it’s not a big problem anymore. Nowadays there are more ways than ever to keep your boat from rocking.

Marine stabilization systems are a big business, and many manufacturers set the competence on to keep your boat stable and able. However, with a large number of options, all demonstrating different advantages, choosing the right one for your boat/yacht can be difficult.

To help you simplify the decision on how to select the best stabilizer option for your yacht, we’ve grouped stabilizers on two main types for a simple comparative analysis:

• Fin stabilizers: Fin or small wing mounted on a ship that emerge laterally in such a way as to oppose unwanted rolling motions and contribute to its stability.

• Gyroscopic stabilizers: It is a computer controlled gyroscope, which iscomprised of a flywheel that spins at speeds of up to 10,700 RPM and is tilted fore and aft in a range of up to 140 degrees to counteract the wave motion imposed on a yacht. 

Benefits of Gyro Stabilizers:

• Greatly reduces the rocking motion of the boat and it comes in applications from 30′ to over 100′.
•  Gyros supplies much greater stabilization per pound than inert counterweight. 
•  Gyros are always located inside the hull where there is no risk of damage.
•  Comes in many different sizes and will work in multiple configurations depending on a yacht’s layout.

Things to consider about Gyro Stabilizers:

•  They take time to speed up.
•   Pan and tilt speed is limited.
•   Due to size, it could take a considerable amount space in the yacht.
•   Its cost is high due to  its advanced system

Benefits of Fin Stabilizers:

• They take up minimal interior yacht space.
• They don’t need warm up time, they can be turned on and start working immediately.
• They don’t run out of energy, but once the rams involved have reached the full extent of their travel, they can’t extract any more energy until the boat starts to roll in the other direction. 

Things to consider about Fin Stabilizers:

•  Fins are submerged and this makes them a lot more difficult to repair, which generally means an increase repair costs.

Which stabilizer suits you?

• High speed sports yachts: Gyro systems are good because they don’t require mounting external fins and usually need only electrical power and room to mount.
• Trawler type boats: These will most likely suit active fin stabilizers as their first line of stabilization technology. 
•  Boats at anchor: Zero–speed stabilization could fit perfectly this kind of boat, because this system uses the paravane rigging to deploy a special piece of gear that will sink easily and without resistance. A gyro system, which can also be used at speed; might be adequate enough for smaller boats in quieter anchorages.

Advances mean that stabilizers are improving at all the time. With a little more exploration, you can find the perfect system for your boat that will keep her steady, ready, and raring to go. Depending on the type of yacht you own, its layout and its intended use, – fin and gyro –should come out as the better option.

If you would like to install a Gyro stabilizer on your boat, please feel free to contact Whiticar, we can find and install your boat stabilizer, ship stabilizer, motor catamaran stabilizer, planning hull stabilizer, and a sport fishing boat stabilizer that effectively eliminates roll, list, and pitch motions.

Whiticar offers you a guaranteed product and services, we’ve partnered with Seakeeper Stabilizers, -the world leader in active gyro stabilizer technology for the leisure yacht and commercial marine industry- With Seakeeper we ensure you a pleasant navigation without the worry of spills and splashes, and the risk of motion sickness by simply eliminating between the 70 and 90% of exhausting and dangerous boat roll.

If you want to learn more about Whiticar’s work, we invite you to check out the stabilizer work done on the Boomer at https://youtu.be/8RHy6YUyMbU. This was the first major sea trial of the Seakeeper Model 26 gyro stabilizer newly installed on the Whiticar 76' Sportfish "The Boomer".

For more information, feel free to contact Whiticar Boat yard at: (772) 287-2883 or visit our website http://whiticar.com/

Tips on Cleaning Your Boat

Boating is a fun activity that anyone can enjoy. But, to get the most out of the experience, you want to make sure that you have a clean environment to enjoy it in. Here are some great tips to remember about keeping your boat clean:

Exterior:

• Keep all materials handy, including a brush with a long handle and bristles that won’t scratch finish, large bucket, sponge or washcloth, towels, and chamois cloth to dry boat

• Only brush and scrub boat when wet

• Rinse boat with fresh water

• Lather areas with sponge and soapy water, starting high then gradually moving downward to avoid getting suds on already cleaned areas

• Avoid allowing suds to dry by only cleaning one area at a time

• Use brush to scrub away dirt and grime then rinse

• Use chamois cloth to dry the boat so the water won’t form spots when it dries 

• Wax fiberglass boat’s to protect the shine of its finish.

Interior:

• Vacuum carpets to remove loose dirt

• Use stain removers for any stains found on the carpet

• If possible, steam clean starting from one area and moving back to avoid stepping on cleaned areas before they dry 

Otherwise, clean with a brush and soap still avoiding stepping on cleaned areas Use vinyl cleaners with protectants for upholstery to clean and protect against sun exposure

• Remove mildew stains and use mildew preventative sprays

Hopefully, these tips will help you out next time you clean your boat. Remember, a clean boat is your best boat!

To learn more about boats, boat sales, repairs, services & accessories, please contact Whiticar Boat Works. We have two locations in the Treasure Coast for your convenience:

STUART, FL location:  3636 SE Old St. Lucie Blvd, Stuart, Florida, 34996.

FT. PIERCE, FL location: 2010 Harbor Town Drive,Suite K,               Ft. Pierce, FL 34946

Give us a call at: (772) 287-2883 or email us anytime at: info@whiticar.com

Cleaning Tips to Keep Your Boat Looking Its Best

If you are a boat owner you know that your boat was a big investment and it’s important to take a good care of it. For most people, cleaning their boat is not an enjoyable thing to do but it is necessary to keep your boat looking like new which will help maintain its value for longer time than if you didn’t keep it clean and well maintained.

Many new boat owners think that cleaning their boats takes a long time because some of them spend so much more time scrubbing and polishing their boats than actually sailing or fishing in them. But cleaning your boat could be a simple task if done right.  You just need to have the right products and tools. It is also important to clean it regularly and efficiently.

The following tips will help you preserve your boat and keep it as clean as new.

Cleaning Equipment and Products

Before you go ahead and start cleaning your boat you first have to select the right cleaning equipment taking into consideration the type of boat you have. You have to pay special attention when selecting cleaning brushes because an inadequate brush can damage your boat’s finish. It is also imperative to pay attention to other tools needed to get the job done. This may sound obvious but we often see how many people don’t even have a long handle on a scrub brush that allows them to reach hard-to-reach areas.

It is important to select a good soap or cleaning product to clean up your boat. Make sure you look for products that will help you to remove the corrosive salt that can remain on your boa boat. If you care about the environment, you should also consider using cleaning products which are environment friendly and have a neutral pH factor (biodegradable).

Always rinse with Fresh Water

If you boat was in a saltwater environment. You should rinse your boat with fresh water after every trip. This habit will prevent the salt residue from eating away the boat’s finish.   Keep in mind, this should always be the first step when cleaning up your boat because you should never scrub a dry boat or you will risk damaging the finish. When you start cleaning we recommend you to start at the top and work all the way down. It is better to do it by sections to avoid missing any spots, this way you avoid that some sections dry before you can scrub them.

Dry the Structure

When drying your boat you should use soft drying clothes, these are highly absorbent and will soak up water without stripping or scratching.

Clean the Windows and the Upholstery

Besides the regular glass cleaner, many boat owners recommend using a water and vinegar solution because it works well and also is environment friendly. For the upholstery you can first clean using a damp cloth to remove dirt and salt and then you can apply a quality vinyl treatment to protect and preserve your boat upholstery.

For more tips and information on how to maintain your boat please go to: http://whiticarboatworks.com/