EPIRB RECALL

There’s been a limited recall on ACR GlobalFixlM iPRO EPIRBs. Here’s the notice:

Posted December 5, 2008

ACR has discovered that a small percentage of GlobalFix™ iPRO™ EPIRBs may not activate manually and has decided to issue a limited recall notice. The condition could exist in a maximum of 400 units built within serial number range of 1000 to 1688. If you own or have a GlobalFix™ iPRO™ that falls within this serial number range you should contact ACR's Customer Service department immediately at +1-854-862-2110 or at NBuckle@ACRelectronics.com.

ACR discovered that some of the witness seal tabs require the application of excessive force to put the switch into the correct position when manually activating the EPIRB. The water activation feature works separately and is not affected by the manual switch. The manual switch assembly needs to be reworked on a maximum of 400 units to insure that the switch and witness seal will activate as designed and intended. The 400 units potentially affected by this problem fall into the serial number range of 1000 -1688. If your GloblaFix™ iPRO™ serial number falls outside this range, then your GlobalFix™ iPRO™ is not affected by this notice. The 400 units could be of either the PIN 2846 Category I (automatic deploy) or PIN 2848 Category II (manual deploy) model.

This condition does not occur in any other ACR EPIRB model. This recall is limited to only the GlobalFix™ iPRO™ units falling within the serial number range of 1000 to 1688.

For more information or to obtain a Return Authorization contact:
ACR Customer Service
Telephone: +1-854-862-2110 (in the USA: 1-800-432-0227, ext. 2110)
E-Mail: NBuckle@ACRelectronics.com

Boat Blaze on the Hudson

A vessel caught fire this morning Lincoln Harbor Marina in Weehawken, New Jersey, says news station NBC New York. Emergency crews arrived around 7:30 a.m., and although early reports noted one body aboard, subsequent interviews with deputy police chief Jeffrey Fulcher stated no one was injured (the latter is correct). Black smoke billowed over the Hudson River and could be seen for miles. Traffic slowed in the nearby Lincoln Tunnel as drivers watched the flames.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. More information to come.

Charity Cruise for the Holidays

Yacht owners in Tacoma, Washington, got into the spirit of the holiday season with a Christmas Cruise for charity. According to an article in Tacoma’s News Tribune, dozens of boat owners from two local yacht clubs, as well as the U.S. Army, donated sea time to people with disabilities. Some 200 guests boarded the flotilla in Gig Harbor for a few hours of sightseeing. The largest vessel in the fleet was the Army’s 174-foot Malvern Hill, a landing ship.

The endeavor, which is in its 25th year, cost about $4000; the funds were pooled together by volunteers. For more on the story, click here.

Splashdown!

Nordhavn’s 56-foot Motorsailer (see “The Return of the Motorsailer?” July 2008) splashed this week at the company’s headquarters in Dana Point, California. The boat was unloaded in San Diego Harbor after being shipped from it’s construction in Taiwan. The sailing rig will be added later.

According to Jim Leashman, Pacific Asian Enterprise’s chief of design, ““She’s more slippery and sleeker than what we’re used to. With the sailboat underbody she effortlessly and quietly motors along at nine to ten knots.”

The vessel will be make it’s debut at the San Diego Boat Show in February. For more information, visit Nordhavn’s Web site here.

Mumbai Terrorist Attacks Claim Life of Yachting Mogel

Andreas Liveras, owner of the Liveras Yachts and one of England's richest men, was a victim of the terrorist attacks that took place this past week in Mumbai, India. He was at the Taj Hotel for a meal, according to the BBC. The hotel was one of the primary targets of the terrorists.

Liveras Yachts owns the 280-foot Alysia and 295-foot Lauren L (see PMY's World's 100 Largest Yachts, numbers 27 and 22, respectively). They each charter for around €500,000 a week. More information on his boats is located at the company’s Web site. For more on the story, click here.

He is survived by his four children.

The Amazing Dolphin Trick

We all knew dolphins are playful, but blowing bubbles? And then turning those bubbles into spinning rings? See the footage below:


And here's an explanation someone sent, "these silver rings...are 'air-core vortex rings'. Invisible, spinning vortices in the water are generated from the tip of a dolphin's dorsal fin when it is moving rapidly and turning. When dolphins break the line, the ends are drawn together into a closed ring. The higher velocity fluid around the core of the vortex is at a lower pressure than the fluid circulating farther away. Air is injected into the rings via bubbles released from the dolphin's blowhole. The energy of the water vortex is enough to keep the bubbles from rising for a reasonably few seconds of play time."

New Direction

Admittedly, this video of the new SolarStar 21 isn’t the most heart-pounding footage you’ve seen, but it’s interesting for another reason. Solar Star International has teamed up with Kachina, who has been building high-octane racing boats for 45 years, to develop this fully-electric boat (i.e.: fossil-fuel free). The vessel is being built in Arizona, and should be available for purchase this upcoming January. No word yet on her top speed. For more information, visit Kachina’s Web site.

Batman Boat Stops Smugglers

What does the Navy do with a $6-million boat? Well, according on article on Gizmodo.com, it petrifies drug runners with it. After a two-hour chase, part of which was over 5-foot-deep flats, the Navy apprehended the drug runners when they ran out of fuel. On their capture, the befuddled criminals said, “it was like being chased by a UFO.”
The futuristic design by builder M Ship Co. uses a proprietary method for reusing the bow wave to create an air cushion between the sponsons in order to achieve less drag while running, her Web site says. She measures 80-feet LOA, with a 40-foot beam with a draft on merely three feet. The carbon-fiber hull has a purported top speed of 60 knots.

QE2 Retires

The New York Times reported today that the QE2 made her last visit to New York after nearly 40 years of transatlantic service. She reached her berth at pier 90 in Manhattan at 6:00 AM Thursday morning, initiating her 710th visit to the Big Apple. The Cunard line has sold the QE2 to investors from the United Arab Emirates, who will make a hotel out of her in Dubai. The four-year old Queen Mary 2, which is more than twice long as the QE2, was followed her predecessor into New York Harbor. For the full article, which has lots of information on the historic QE2, click here.

Newport: Vicem V52 Video

The Turkish builder Vicem had its new V52 on display at Newport. This hull doesn’t have the flying bridge (see below) but it does come with the optional twin 800-hp Cummins diesel inboards (640-hp power plants are standard). The company states that her WOT speed is around 30 knots, while she should cruise at 25 knots.

As with the Sabre video I posted earlier, the camera work is rough, but it gives you a feel for the interior layout. For better videos, check out Vicem’s Web site.

The Passing of Olin Stephens

The legendary naval architect, whose designs changed the face of yachting, passed away this past Saturday in Hanover, NH. Stephens celebrated his 100 birthday on April 13th, and was the senior member of the New York Yacht Club.

His work in the yachting community (both in sail and in power) was beyond exceptional; he designed eight America’s Cup winners including the famous Dorade, which lit off the success of the Sparkman & Stephens design firm (see our article “Engineering Tradition“). He retired from the firm in 1978 and moved to Hanover, NH, where he continued his studies of fluid dynamics, and occasional guest lectured in Dartmouth College’s engineering department.

He is survived by his sons, Olin Stephens III and Samuel R. Stephens; his sister, Marite Sheridan; and his grandson, Olin J. Stephens IV. He will be missed by the entire yachting community.

Newport: Sabre 38 Hardtop Express Video

Here's a video of the Sabre 38 Hardtop Express that I shot it Newport. The camera work is shaky, but you should get a good feel for the boat—enjoy:

Newport: Sabre 38 Hardtop Express

The 21,500-pound vessel was launched in Maine earlier this year, and made her public debut in Newport. She sports two standard 380-hp Yanmar 6LY3A-UTP diesels, a ZF 220-A transmission, and four-blade nibral wheels to help propel her through the water. Teleflex hydraulic steering and Bennett trim tabs comprise her steering and trim systems, respectively. A deep-V planning hull with shallow prop pockets combined with a 16-degree deadrise should help her performance, and her 38’6” LOA means you probably won’t have trouble finding room for her at your local marina. You can learn more at Sabre's Web site, and while you're there, check out the new 42 Express—another head-turning Downeast boat.

Newport: Hinckley 37T Picnic Boat

The United States boat-show season is underway. Our first stop: Newport. Here are some first looks at some of the newest boats coming your way:

Hinckley 37T Picnic Boat
The Maine-based builder has updated its trademarked Picnic Boat with the new 37T, giving buyers another fine way to take wicker baskets and tables clothes to their favorite coastal islands. The vessel has a 38’7” LOA, 11’3” beam, and a 2’11” draft thanks to her twin HJ274 Hamilton jet drives. Hinckley estimates that she has a 32-knot top speed and cruises around 28 knots. She holds 220 gallons of fuel and 35 gallons of fresh water.

TWIC at FLIBS

The Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) deadline is approaching (April 15th, 2009), and it’s time to get registered. If you’re attending this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, it should be easy.

The not-for-profit MIASF (Marine Industries Association of South Florida) is registering licensed captains for their TWIC cards at this year's show. The cost is $132.50 per person (same as the government price), and should only take a few minutes if you pre-register. You can do that here or by calling 1-866-347-TWIC (8942).

If you’ve got a license, you need to get a TWIC card. To make sure there is no confusion about what MIASF is offering, I’ve pasted their press release below.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 15, 2008) - During this year's 49th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) will host a Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) Enrollment Center. The purpose of the Center is to facilitate registration of United States Coast Guard (USCG) licensed mariners and others who are required by recent changes in USCG regulations to have a TWIC and to also serve as a source of information and outreach for the program.

Marine Industries Association of South Florida, owners of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, recognized the important opportunity the world's largest boat show offers and is working in collaboration with the USCG to organize the enrollment center that will be located in the Marine Professionals, Inc. (MPI) headquarters in the South West corner of the Seabreeze building at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center. The EnrollmentCenter will open on Wednesday, October 29th through Sunday November 2nd from 10 am to 6 pm and on Monday November 3rd from 10 am to 4 pm.

TWIC is an identification credential for all personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of Maritime Transportation Security Administration (MTSA)-regulated facilities and vessels, and all United States mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials. "All U.S. Licensed merchant mariners need to get a TWIC regardless if they access a port or a secure facility," says Steve Krivdo, Port Security Specialist with the U.S. Coast Guard. "Many licensed mariners don't realize they need to get the TWIC." The TWIC compliance date for mariners and facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zone of Miami, which encompasses the Northern Keys to Fort Pierce, is January 13, 2009.

The cost of the TWIC is $132.50 and is payable by Credit Card, Money Order or Certified Check. Pre-registration is encouraged as it will reduce the enrollment process to approximately 10 minutes when the applicant is prepared with approved identification.

Those mariners planning to utilize the FLIBS TWIC Enrollment Center are encouraged to visit
Transportation Worker Identification Credential or call 1-866-347-TWIC (8942) and take advantage of the pre-enrollment opportunity.

The MIASF is a not-for-profit marine trade organization created in 1961 to promote and protect the sound growth of the marine industry in South Florida for the benefit and education of its members, the community and the environment. The Association has 850 members in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties and is the owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Pirates Rob Yacht in the Med

It’s not a powerboat, but it’s still worth mentioning. According to RTL, a French Web site, the 55-meter sailing yacht Tiara was robbed at gunpoint last night in Corsica. Reports say that four masked men sneaked aboard the vessel and got away with around €138,000 (roughly $203,600). Here’s the link to the translated story. More on the story can be found here at the Super Yacht Times.

Delivery Men Make Mistake

Here’s an unfortunate accident that made for some dramatic pictures. A brand new Sealine 37 was on its way from Southampton, England to Ireland but never reached the Emerald Isle. Instead, the delivery crew of two hit a ledge at 16 knots, holing the hull. The crew was unhurt, and subsequently rescued, but the brand new 37 was not so lucky. The Falmouth Lifeboat Station attempted to tow the Sealine to a nearby beach, but the vessel sunk before it made it to the shore. The owner had yet to set foot on his American-made vessel.

As for the crew, an official from the Lifeboat Station had this to say, according to the Daily Mail paper, “They didn't hang around and they got the first bus to Southampton and looked very worried.” I bet. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Octopi

We’ve all seen and heard a great deal about Paul Allen’s yacht Octopus over the years. But the other day I stumbled across this video of her on YouTube, and shockingly, it was one I hadn’t seen before. The video shows her passing through the Panama Canal. Note the ship that accompanies her in the lock for a size reference. Will she still be #2 on PMY’s America’s 100 Largest Yachts coming out this November? You’ll have to wait and see…



Here is are two other interesting videos of the 8,000-nm range vessel.

Solar-Powered Hybrid

Island Pilot has announced its newest model, the DSe Hybrid 12m, will debut in October at this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The plans have been on the books for years, and we wrote an article on her back in 2006, but now it appears that the electric-motor powered vessel finally exists. The solar array catches the majority of her power, but a diesel genset can give her additional electricity if the clouds have been out too long. You can't walk on the solar panels, but they do double as a bimini to protect your body from the sun's radiation.

Even the dingy’s outboard is electric, recharging from the solar panels of the DSe Hybrid. For more on the vessel, check the boat’s Web site here.

Best 4x4 By Far

Need a new exploration toy to match your yacht? The car manufacturer Land Rover and Edmiston yacht brokerage have joined forces to make a special edition 4x4 SUV.

Seven top yacht designers competed in the contest: Martin Francis, Redman Whiteley Dixon, Terrence Disdale, Andrew Winch, Tim Heywood, Ken Freivokh, and Bannenberg. The winning car will be announced and displayed at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show. If a buyer wants one of the other designs, he or she can purchase them as well. Prices are predicted range from $300,000 to $1.2 million depending on the design and options. For more on the story, click here.