Boat U.S. - March 2008 - (Page 42)

hottips Protect Your Gas and news you can use When the transmitter sensor is submerged, a radio signal is broken causing an internal actuator in the lanyard to eject itself from your boat’s kill switch, shutting down the engine and setting off an audible alarm. the boat. This also allows you to safely unload and take your time before hitting the “raise” switch. When launching, simply lower the lift. The boat always stays put in the floating cradle until you decide to motor off. The company claims the float fingers are easier on gelcoat than carpeted bunks, and the Cradle fits all pneumatic and overhead cable lifts. Perhaps the best part, says Curtis Brown of Bulzeye, is that customers have commented to him that they get more use out of their boat because it has made launching and retrieval easier. The Bulzeye Boat Cradle costs about $2,500 plus installation, which averages $300-$500, and can handle most V-hulled inboards, outboards and ski boats up to 8,000 lbs. Go to bulzeye.biz for more information. A fuel additive that has been a staple to recreational boaters for over 45 years has been reformulated. The new Marine Formula Sta-bil Ethanol Treatment and Performance Improver has double the corrosion inhibitors and four times the cleaning additive to help keep fuel lines, carburetors, injectors and intake valves clean, according to the company. Sta-bil also says the additive provides year-round protection against corrosion from ethanol-caused water buildup in gas tanks. Marine Formula Sta-bil Ethanol Treatment and Performance Improver starts at about $5 for an eight-ounce bottle that treats 80 gallons. Go to goldeagle.com for more information. Autotether helps protect everyone on board. A rescue mode allows the captain to immediately restart the engine for a quick recovery. The company says that unlike competing products that are “off” until someone falls in the water, the always-on radio signal feature makes Autotether 100% “fail-safe.” Captains wearing a sensor can move about the boat because there is no kill switch lanyard cord attaching them to the helm, and since no hardwiring is required, Autotether is portable. A two-sensor package starts at $295 with additional sensors available for $45 each. Go to autotether.com for more information. This Frisbee Saves Lives Getting a line or flotation device to a crew overboard can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have the arm of an NFL quarterback. However, a new life-saving personal flotation device, the Personal Retriever, borrows from the Frisbee playbook. Wireless MOB Alarm When someone — even a family pet — accidentally falls overboard, the sooner you know the better. One overboard warning system, Autotether, has taken a unique approach by designing a truly wireless lanyard and alarm system with two basic components. A battery-powered wireless receiver with lanyard clips into your boat’s ignition kill switch in place of a typical lanyard, while a wireless transmitter sensor is worn by guests or attached to pets. Easier Docking = More Boat Use Docking a boat in a boatlift exposed to waves or current isn’t easy. There’s always a tense moment waiting for the lift to come up. The Bulzeye Boat Cradle is a dealerinstalled bunker and guidance system that offers safer boat launching and retrieval. Existing lift bunks are replaced with a floating system consisting of two parallel rails, or “cradle,” outfitted with “float fingers” — foam-filled polyethylene floats that pivot on the rails. When the lift is down, the cradle floats in the center of the slip. A boater simply lines up the boat with the first two fingers and the boat cradle straightens and guides the boat home as you slowly motor forward, regardless of current, wave direction or wind. Once in, there is no need to hold The Retriever is essentially a 17-inchdiameter, aerodynamic, soft polyethylene foam flying disc (providing about 11 lbs. of buoyancy) that carries 100 feet of spooled floating polypropylene line. It is tossed like any flying disc and can be deployed in less than 10 seconds. According to the product’s manufacturer, Life-Safer, the to U.S. Coast Guardapproved device can be thrown accurately more than double the distance of your average ring buoy with just a little practice. It can also be easily retrieved and redeployed, and additional line can be added for higher-profile vessels. The Personal Retriever retails for $139. Go to life-safer.com for more information. BOAT BITS 2:31 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The time of day when most reported boating accidents (1,014) took place in 2006. Source: U.S. Coast Guard 2006 Boating Statistics Less than 6 inches The wave height when most reported boating accidents (2,648) took place in 2006 (“calm” water conditions). Source: U.S. Coast Guard 2006 Boating Statistics 42 BoatU.S. Magazine March 2008 http://bulzeye.biz http://www.goldeagle.com http://autotether.com http://life-safer.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - March 2008

Boat U.S. - March 2008 Contents Behind the Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum Cap'n Drew Sailing the Sidewalk Aviators Ahoy Docking and Duffing Waterfront Living: Charleston Waterfront Marketplace Grady Right 2nd Time Around DIY: Keeping the Water Out Hot Tips Boat Smart Ask Chuck Foundation Findings Tangled Line At Your Service Good Foundations BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - March 2008

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