Is Your Boat Well Maintained?

What can be more satisfying to the eye than a well-maintained boat that shines and sparkles under the sun.  Hey, there’s a reason certain aspects of boat maintenance are called “bright work.”  We'll show you how to maintain features of your boat:

Fiberglass and gelcoat, which needs to be regularly cleaned, waxed, and polished for both protective and cosmetic purposes.

Marine canvas and Eisinglass or Strataglass, which deteriorate quickly without proper treatment. 

Upholstery and vinyl which need to be cleaned several times a season—but if you use the wrong type of cleaner, you can accidentally destroy the materials.

Bright work, which, includes all wood surfaces and trims that are exposed to UV rays.  They require quite a bit of upkeep to keep them in good shape. 

We'll show you how to refinish dull-looking wood, and explain the seasonal maintenance you'll need to do every spring.

Gelcoat, in good condition,is the tough, glossy exterior finish that protects the underlying fiberglass from salt, sun, and everything else Mother Nature can throw at it.

To keep your gelcoat in good condition, you’ll want to spend time maintaining it throughout the course of a season.  Essential gelcoat maintenance begins with waxing and/or polishing. What’s the difference between wax and polish? Waxes are designed to protect and seal gelcoat, with a coating that repels water, dirt, salt, and the harmful rays of the sun. Polishes, on the other hand, generally contain a cutting agent to remove oxidation from the gelcoat and make it shine.

To keep your boat’s gelcoat in great condition, this maintenance should be performed at least twice a season. Consider performing this task before you launch in the spring.

“Canvas” is the generic term used for the durable fabrics used to create cockpit and console enclosures, Bimini tops, boat and sail covers, line and gear pockets, and more. You may have heard the trade name “Sunbrella” used to describe some of these materials as well.

Keeping canvas clean is Essential. Don’t wash or dry your canvas in a household washer or dryer this will destroy the fabric very quickly. Instead, use a light brush, mild soap and lots of fresh water to remove dirt, salt, bird droppings, and other abrasive materials. 

Vinyl, which has been around for decades, is a tough and extremely durable material, but using the wrong cleaners can ruin it. Clean it with a sponge and a bucket of mild, soapy water, followed by a thorough rinsing. Never use strong cleaners that contain bleach or ammonia. 

At some point you’ll likely have to contend with mildew staining of your vinyl. You can find cleaners for this at your local Whiticar Boat Works. 

The easiest way to make vinyl last is to keep it covered or stowed away.

Though it’s less and less common on most boats, many still have some woodwork to take care of. Common woodwork you might find on a boat includes handrails, toerails, caprails, steps, and decking.

Most of these components are made of teak, which is a durable tropical hardwood.  The easiest solution is to simply leave uncoated teak uncoated, and let it develop a silvery gray patina. No matter your preference, maintenance of your boat need not be a nightmare. Simply investing a weekend or two a year can go a long way toward keeping your boat’s wood looking great year-round.

LAY BACK, RELAX, AND ENJOY THE SHINE!

Whiticar Boat Work

3636 SE Old Saint Lucie Blvd

Stuart, FL 34996

Office (772) 287-2883

Fax (772) 287-2922

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/

HAULING OUT CATAMARANS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

By Capt. Jeff Werner



After spending almost a quarter century under sail, cruising catamarans are my favorite boats. As a professional captain, I have crossed oceans and seas on monohulls, catamarans and trimarans of all sizes, but it is always aboard a cat I am most happy to be at the helm. 

With the ownership of a cruising catamaran comes the responsibility of maintenance, and that responsibility includes annual haul outs. Finding a boatyard or marina with the capability to lift a wide beam vessel can be a daunting task. My unscientific survey of sailing catamarans 40- to 45-foot LOA revealed the average beam is 23 feet, with a loaded displacement of 17 tons. From 45- to 49-foot LOA, the numbers average 25 feet and 18 tons. And 50- to 54-foot LOA are 26 and a half feet and 25 tons in weight. You get the picture. Hauling out a sailing cat is not about weight; it's all about beam. 

Fortuitously, from Fort Pierce to Key West there is quite a election of full service locations to haul out a cat of at least a 23-foot beam for repair and maintenance. Owners of increasingly popular power catamarans, or sailing cats'with air drafts less than 54 feet, can take advantage of the boat yards tucked away behind low bridges.

Harbortown Marina in Ft. Pierce is located along the ICW just north of downtown. For sailing catamarans with masts taller than the ICW fixed bridged clearance of 65 feet, Harbor­town Marina has direct access to the Atlantic Ocean through Ft. Pierce Inlet, less than three miles away. Their 150-ton Trav­elift will haul out cats with a maximum beam of 26 feet. 772- 466-7300 harbortownmarina-fortpierce.com

Head south along the ICW to Manatee Pocket at Stuart to find the South Florida boat yard for Hinckley Yacht Services. It has easy access from the ocean via St. Lucie Inlet; just watch out for the strong currents and shifting sandbars at the junction of the inlet and the ICW. Although Hinckley's heritage embraces building fine monohull cruising sailboats, the Hinckley brand has grown in the past 20 years to include jet drive picnic boats and runabouts with classic lines and superior craftsmanship. The maximum beam Hinckley's 150-ton Travelift can accommo­date is 25 feet. 772-287-0923; hinckleyyachts.com

Cruise west from Manatee Pocket along the Okeechobee Waterway to American Custom Yachts. This boatyard is located at marker Red "46" just east of the St. Lucie Lock, and sits between two fixed bridges. There are several fixed bridg­es on the way from Manatee Pocket, with the lowest_ vertical clearance being 54 feet. If your mast is short enough to clear that Palm City Bridge, American Custom Yachts can use their 150-ton Travelift to put the straps around catamarans of up to 27-foot beam. 772-286-2835; americancustomyachts.com

The north end of the Gold Coast is the home of Rybovich. Their marine centers in West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach are located just south and north of Peanut Island along the ICW. Entering the ICW from Lake Worth Inlet avoids any bridge clearance problems. The newer Rybovich yard at Riviera Beach (561-863-4126) will accommodate cats up to a 26-foot beam on their 150-ton Travelift. The original West Palm Beach yard (561-844-1800) has a massive 660-ton Travelift, capable of handling cats up to 35-foot beam.

Heading up the New River past downtown Fort Lauderdale offers a variety of haul out possibilities. Before heading up river, however, one must remember the bascule drawbridges are locked down during morning and afternoon rush hours from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Once through the William H. Marshall Memorial Bridge, just beyond the bend on the river that is home to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, continue on and choose the South Fork of the New River. 

Just before reaching the I-95 fixed bridge, note the Lauderdale Marine Center on the south bank. Lauderdale Marine Center is a combination full service and do-it-yourself boat yard encompassing 50 acres of land. It is a popular superyacht repair facility and its 300-ton Travelift can haul out catamarans up to 30-foot beam. 954-713-0333; lauderdalemarinecenter.com

To go upriver beyond the I-95 bridge, sailing catamarans must first negotiate the vertical clearance of 55 feet for that bridge. If your mast fits under that bridge, access to the boat yards along Marina Mile (State Road 84) is open.

Billfish Marina is the first haul out facility on State Road 84, and also has the smallest Travelift with catamaran capabilities. At 70 ton, it will lift a maximum of 23.5-foot beam, which is more than adequate for a 40-foot LOA cat. 954-587-6226; billfishmarina.com

Continuing west find Roscioli Yachting Center, a shipyard that has been in existence for 40 years and was completely renovated in 2008. It now has a 352-ton mobile lift capable of hauling out a catamaran with a maximum beam of 28 feet. 954-581-9200; rycshipyard.com

Source: Hauling Out Catamarans in South Florida, All At Sea - The Caribbean's Waterfront Magazine

Safety Equipment Required for Class “A” Recreational Vessels

 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission communicates boating regulations in the state. This applies to vessels lesser than 16 ft. long, Canoes and Kayaks:

Carry personal flotation devices (PFDs):

The boat must have an approved Type I, II or III for each person on board or being towed on water skies etc. The flotation device Must be USCG-approved, in serviceable condition, and properly stored.

NOTE: A Type V hybrid may substitute for any Type I, II, or III device, but must be worn whenever the vessel is underway and the person is not in the cabin or other enclosed area.

When navigating in a vessel class A every person on board under the age of 6 must wear an approved Type I, II, or III while the vessel is underway.

If you have a personal watercraft (PWC) everyone on or operating it must wear an approved Type I, II, III or V PFD. The inflatable PFDs are prohibited.

Also, every person skiing or aquaplaning must wear an approved Type I, II or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs are prohibited.

 

Fire Extinguishers:

Make sure your fire extinguishers are USCG-approved - Must be in serviceable condition. An USCG-approved B-1 type fire extinguisher is required for all recreational motorboats except outboard-powered motorboats less than 26 feet long if constructed in a manner that will not allow gas fumes to accumulate.

If your boat has a built-in fuel tank, an inboard engine, compartments where portable fuel tanks may be stored, or open areas between the hull and deck where flammable or explosive gases could accumulate, you must carry a fire extinguisher. Non-motorized boats are exempt from the fire extinguisher requirements.

NOTE: When an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in the machinery space(s), it may be counted in the place of one B-I type hand-held portable fire extinguisher. Some fire extinguishers require specific mounting brackets for approval. Read the label on your fire extinguisher for this information.

Visual Distress Signal:

It is required on the high sea and coastal waters only, and it has to be carried for nighttime use.

NOTE: Coastal waters means the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc. where any entrance is over 2 miles wide to the first point where the distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles.

Sound-producing Device:

It could be a bell, horn, whistle etc. The regulation rule says that every vessel less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) in length must carry an efficient sound-producing device. They don’t have any particular specifications; the vessel just needs to produce signals required by the navigational rules.

Backfire Flame Control:

There is a need to control backfire flame of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors. These backfire flame arrestors must be USCG approved.

Ventilation:

For boats built prior to Aug. 1, 1980 you must have at least two ventilator ducts fitted with cowls or their equivalent to ventilate the bilges of every closed engine and fuel-tank compartment on boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940, using gasoline as fuel or other fuels having a flash point of 110 degrees or less.

For boats built after Aug. 1, 1980 you must have at least two ventilator ducts for the purpose of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and every closed compartment containing a gasoline tank, except for those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside the boat and contain no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine having a cranking motor must contain power operated exhaust blowers which can be controlled from the instrument panel.

Vessel Lighting:

If you own a recreational vessel, remember that is required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and during periods of reduced visibility (fog, rain, haze, etc). The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules specify lighting requirements for every description of watercraft.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Boating Activities

Boating is a very rewarding pastime that everybody can enjoy. But, while out on the water, there are several things those boating can do. Everyone can find something they enjoy while boating. Here are some of our favorite boating activities:

• Relaxation: Being out on the open water, floating along, can be very relaxing. You’ll be surrounded by the sounds of the ocean: lapping waves, a breeze, some birds squawking overhead. These all make for a very peaceful time.

• Fishing: Everyone can enjoy fishing every now and then. You can even get yourself some nice dinner while fishing. Or, you can catch and release the fish. Either way, fishing is an activity that will for sure be an enjoyable experience

• Swimming: Of course, while boating, you can cool off by taking a dip in the water and swimming around. Whether you’re on a lake or in the ocean, a swim is sure to be very refreshing.

• Water Skiing: If you love to feel the spray of water and wind on your face, water skiing is an activity you’ll love. You can ski on the water and feel the exhilaration of zooming by wave after wave

• Tubing: Water skiing isn’t for everyone. But if you still want the experience of zooming through the water, tubing could be your solution. Children also will enjoy tubing if they are not able to water ski.

• Sightseeing: The Ocean is a beautiful place. No matter where you go, you’ll have a nice view of the water or the horizon or the land in the distance. You may even see some fantastic animals while out on the water, like dolphins or whales. 

• Bonding: The experience of boating is one you can share with friends and family. You’ll be sure to have a great time, made better by spending it with those you love. It can be a great bonding experience for all of you.

Next time you’re planning to go out boating, remember all these activities you can do. And always remember that for any boating concern you may have, Whiticar Boat Works will be there for you to help you in every way we can.

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