Marine Equipment Technology » support http://www.supermar-diesel.com www.supermar-diesel.com Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:55:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Yacht Economical Sailboat for Blue water Sailing http://www.supermar-diesel.com/yacht-economical-sailboat-for-blue-water-sailing/ http://www.supermar-diesel.com/yacht-economical-sailboat-for-blue-water-sailing/#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:04:41 +0000 http://www.supermar-diesel.com/?p=32 Whether used for ocean cruising or family vacations, the Yacht is a sturdy, easy to sail pocket cruiser.
The low topsides, narrow beam and 27-foot length of the Yacht, Vega certainly do not fit the image of a typical ocean-going yacht. Nevertheless several Vegas have successfully circumnavigated the globe. Dozens, perhaps hundreds more have crossed at least one ocean, and one Vega, The Berzerk, sailed through 40-foot seas to Antarctica. Designed after Swedish FolkBoats
Designed in Sweden by Per Brohall in 1964, the fiberglass-hulled Albin Vega is modeled after the narrow-beamed Nordic folkboat. Like the folkboat, the Vega was built to be a sturdy, simple, economical, and easy-to-sail family boat.

Design Features
• Solid Fiberglass hull, with cored fiberglass decks and coach roof for lightness.
• Relatively shallow draft at just under four feet.
• Keel about half the length of the water line for stability, and reduced drag.
• Hull and deck caulked and bolted every 5 inches for a strong, water-tight seal.
• Though topsides are lower than most modern cruisers, the cockpit remains dry and comfortable even in high seas.
Below Deck
Though compact, the Vega has nearly six feet to headroom in the main cabin. There is a small galley with an icebox, sink, and cooktop. A removable table fits between the main cabin settees for dining or charting, and the two settees also serve as 6 foot bunks. The V-berth sleeps two comfortably. With only eight feet of beam, the boat would feel cramped with four adults aboard for any extended period of time, but is well-suited to a small family,

The Sailing Rig
This Yacht is sloop rigged, and can be easily single-handed. The sail area is somewhat conservative for inland waters, but excellent for off-shore. Though the boat doesn’t point exceptionally high, it handles beautifully off the wind, is well balanced, and heels at a comfortable angle even in heavy winds.

Despite it’s popularity, the Vega does have a few issues:
• Random Reversing: The prop is located aft of the rudder, making backing up a bit of a challenge. Many owners have found creative ways to compensate for this quirky flaw.
• Deck Compression below the mast: The Vega’s mast is stepped on the cabin roof, and supported by a beam below deck. Some Vegas have experience sagging of the support beam. Several owners have beefed up the bulkhead and support beam over the years, eliminating the problem, but potential buyers should check the support carefully.
• Weakness of the Rudder Post:The rudder is attached to the aft end of the keel rather than a skeg–normally this is a very solid way to support a rudder, but some Vegas have had problems with the rudder post. Again, this problem has often been corrected by previous owners. To test the rudder, hold the tiller still, and try to move the rudder. If it flexes, it probably needs to be rebuilt.

]]> http://www.supermar-diesel.com/yacht-economical-sailboat-for-blue-water-sailing/feed/ 0 Marine DSC Radio http://www.supermar-diesel.com/marine-dsc-radio/ http://www.supermar-diesel.com/marine-dsc-radio/#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:56:06 +0000 http://www.supermar-diesel.com/?p=13 Search and Rescue (SAR) professionals know that many mariners incorrectly identify themselves or provide an accurate position for their vessel during distress situations. Many vessels now carry marine radio that have Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capability or they are required to use Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) equipment. This progressive gear has the ability to identify you and your craft to rescuers using a nine digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) Number.
MMSI Numbers – The Coast Guard has serious concerns with boaters failing to register for a MMSI number or properly entering the number in devices capable of using the information. A MMSI number provides SAR controllers with a vessel description, owner name, and contact information. This is all very useful information for those people trying to assist you in an emergency. Boaters can obtain a MMSI number from BoatU.S. or Sea Tow for free. Once registered, it is important to keep your contact information current.
Safety Recommendations – Many new marine radios come equipped with Distress Alerting Capability (DAC) that broadcasts your MMSI information by pushing a single button. If your vessel is equipped with a GPS receiver and it is correctly connected to a DAC capable radio, it will also provide rescuers with your actual position automatically. Safety officials encourage boaters to transition to the newer DSC capable radios and carry a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) for trips beyond twenty miles from shore.
AIS Equipment – Automatic Identification Equipment (AIS) is carried by select commercial vessels as a requirement to operate in Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas operated by the Coast Guard. AIS is backward compatible with DSC radio equipment and provides a weath of navigational data to a ship operator. Using a radar display with an electronic chart overlay, AIS shows every similarly equipped vessel on the screen. Clicking a vessel displayed shows its name, length, route of travel, speed and more. Safety information like closest point of support and time to closest point of approach are shown graphically. Information previously only available to Coast Guard vessel traffic controllers is provided by AID shipboard.

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