Boat U.S. - May 2008 - (Page 26) ask chuck AskChuck@BoatUS.com why are we buying new flares every three years? Herb Dollinger Dast Hampton, NY ment is pushing for TV manufacturers to develop low-cost digital TV converters, but these are targeted at lower-income analog TV owners who do not subscribe to cable TV or satellite (which will not be affected by the change). Users of portable TVs such as those installed in many sport cruisers will have no way to receive the new digital TV broadcasts. I have contacted my boat manufacturer, Sea Ray, and they do not have a solution for the issue yet for older boats, including my 2006 Sundancer. Their newest boats come equipped with flat panel TVs capable of receiving digital TV channels. Lou Ward Oak Hill, VA A: “Ask Chuck” encourages a two-way communication and an ongoing dialogue between longtime BoatU.S. Magazine Technical Editor Chuck Husick and BoatU.S. Magazine readers on a wide array of questions involving gear, the latest equipment and the best technology for use on your boat. Chuck is a sailor, pilot, engineer and former president of Chris-Craft Boats. He is a wellknown expert and lecturer on diesel engines and is a member of the federal Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Sciences. If you are looking for a credible expert to guide you through some of the more complex and arcane aspects of boating, Ask Chuck is your answer. We invite your questions by e-mail. Address your inquiry to AskChuck@BoatUS.com. We look forward to hearing from you. Q: Is BoatU.S. tracking the issue surrounding conversion to digital TV in 2009 and the elimination of traditional analog TV channels? Many cruising boats equipped with television sets can only receive analog TV channels broadcast over the air. There will be no way to receive traditional analog TV signals after February 2009. Converting to satellite TV is a very expensive option, costing $3,000 to $5,000. The federal governBoatU.S. Magazine May 2008 It will be possible for you to continue to use your present analog tuner TV set to view the digital TV signals that will come into use early in 2009. You will have to obtain a digital tuner (converter box) that will be connected between your TV set’s external antenna and the antenna input connector on the TV set. The converter box will tune the digital channels and convert the received signals into the analog format required for your existing TV set. The converter box will likely come with a hand-held remote control for channel selection. Its output will be on either channel 3 or 4, therefore you will leave your TV set tuned to channel 3 or 4 and do all of the channel selection using the converter’s channel selector. You will have to continue to use the TV set’s control for audio and picture adjustments. The federal government will provide you with up to two $40 coupons. Information about the program and a way to apply for the coupon can be found at www.dtv2009.gov. Since the coupon expires after 90 days, you may wish to delay obtaining it until later in the year. Your cost for the converter after applying the $40 coupon will be about $10. For more details on this topic, click here. A: Federal law states that the expiration date must not be more than 42 months from the date of manufacture. This law was enacted in an effort to ensure that the flares carried on commercial and recreational vessels would work as designed and takes into account both possible variations in manufacture and storage conditions. My experience in test firing outdated flares is the same as yours, they all fired properly. However although the flares were stored in a dry location I had no way of determining if the altitude they would reach would be within specifications or if the luminosity of the flare would meet the spec. Best advice is to keep old flares in case you ever need more signaling capability than you can get with the in-date flares and consider the relatively low cost of new flares every three years an acceptable cost of boating. I am the proud original owner of a Newport 33 launched in 1985. My wife and I have been fair-weather sailors for all these years, so the Cara-Krisan has not been overly stressed. But for all these years, I have had a question in search of someone to ask. I was pleased to read in BoatU.S. Magazine that you welcome questions. The Cara-Krisan is powered by a Universal M25 three-cylinder diesel with about 27-hp. It has been exceptionally reliable — whenever it has fuel. But it seems to run hot, about 80° C, sometimes 85°. It moves the boat at 6.5 knots but it is turning only about 1,500 rpms. Seems to me that it should do more than that at top speed and it should run cooler. The water flow seems to be adequate. Am I wrong on my assumption? Minch Lewis Syracuse, NY Q: I just read the letter on “Fired Up Over Old Flares.” I recently decided to light an out-of-date flare to see if it would still light in the event of an emergency. Much to my surprise I was able to light it and it worked. I’ve been boating for almost 30 years and I’ve never seen one not ignite. So Q: A: The data sheet I have viewed for your engine states that it can deliver 21-hp at 3,200 rpm and should operate in the 2,100-2,600 rpm range when cruising. I do not believe your engine is running hot. 26 http://www.dtv2009.gov http://www.boatus.com/news/askchuck_0508.htm
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