End of season review

Last year, we ran an extensive feature on Dash 2's season with special emphasis on how her equipment had fared. Indeed, many of our readers commented on the value of our findings and the straight forward and frank manner in which the individual items were assessed. Mind you, it has to be said that a couple of those manufacturers whose products were criticized did not convey such enthusiasm for the published article. Nonetheless, we feel strongly that whenever a product is reviewed the reader must be told of our assessment in a manner which is both truthful and accurate. Such though, can nearly always be achieved in a positive manner as we wish to assist our industry and in so doing play, at least in a small way, a part in helping it grow and improve with age. Now, as we look back retrospectively at 1999, it gives us another opportunity to reflect on the performance of RIB International's faithful friend and report once again on the various items used on her by the team over the course of the past season.

Fewer items come under the spotlight this year because many were carried aboard Dash 2 for a second time round and hence have already featured in the previous review. Nevertheless, there remain several new products worthy of note and it these we would like to focus our attention on within this year's End of Season review.

Without a doubt, Round Britain proved an excellent forum for equipment evaluation, and besides the new stuff, you'll note we also include some observations on the not so new and how it stood up to our long distance adventures.

So without further ado, let battle commence .....

SeaStar Pro Hydraulic Steering
Let's ease into this with a non-controversial piece of kit. In fact, I'm sure for some of you this particular system needs no introduction. However, steering systems for single outboard powered boats, in some instances, rely upon the strong right arm of the user for performance. The whole enjoyment of helming even a good boat can be marred by a sub­standard steering system. I can never understand why a boat builder should ever present his boat for trial by a customer, or the press for that matter, with a system that enrolls the driver in a involuntary wrestling match with the motor. Skimping on the cost of good quality steering will lose the manufac­turer sales and give spoil the vessels' good name.

Apart from a few individuals who like a good fight, the majority of us prefer a more peaceful life and I for one hold the view that a good steering system is one you are not aware of. By that I mean, the matter of the steering mechanism should be the last thing occupying your mind when driving a boat. It should not impair the helming of the boat in any respect but merely serve to assist and aid control both at speed and off the plane.

Whilst there do exist a couple of good and inexpensive manual no feed back systems, the view of the majority is that a static hydraulic system is the best option. To that end, the SeaStar has largely established itself as the preferred choice. Coupled to the adjustable Sport Tilt Helm unit, this system provides very positive and sure helming with little play and virtually no 'wheel creep'. It also provides just the right amount of `feel' through the helm, neither being too light at speed or becoming subject to propeller torque at slower speeds. At idle speeds its inherent anti-feed back means the wheel won't tug or spin as soon as you relax your grip plus the 4 turns from lock to lock also results in physical exertion being kept to a minimum! In all seriousness, the matter of gearing is important particularly where high performance craft are concerned.

Designed by Teleflex for the North American Bass fishing market, the SeaStar's original prime function was to serve craft capable of speeds in excess of 70mph. It is however, perfectly suited to RIBs both commercial and leisure. As for our own experience, I can only say the SeaStar performed true to her maker's promise faultlessly. It is indeed a superior product to the one we carried last season.

Price: £ 655.50 excl. VAT Including tilt helm.

Manufactured by:

Teleflex (Canada) Ltd.
3831 No.6 Road
Richmond B.C.
CANADA V6V 1P6

Distributed by

Hypro Marine
P.O.Box 20,
Lymington
HANTS S041 3XB,
U.K.

Mercury 225hp Optimax
We have already said much about this engine over the course of the last year - its technicalities and the workings of the Optimax/Orbital means of propulsion. I stated in the Round Britain review, the engine performed faultlessly in every situation and in all conditions. It never coughed, spluttered, missed or broke wind once! In fact it was one of the politest engines I have known. Though somewhat nosier at idle than the Ficht equivalent, like its American cousin, it produces none of that typically blue smoke a two stroke engine normally pumps out when cold. It is indeed very clean and astonishingly economical for its size. With the traditional straight carburettor 225hp equivalent, one would expect to use around the 12-13 gallons an hour at cruising speed. With the Optimax on the other hand, we found we could cruise sometimes using as little as 6 gallons an hour. At idle speeds she drinks thimble fulls of petrol and does not appear to suffer from a tendency to oil up.

It appears to be a robust piece of engineering well suited to an offshore environment though I have heard a whisper that some of the early engines suffered from a problem whereby their on-board computer continued to cause the engine to remain operating in run-in mode well past the obligatory and automated 'running in' period. The new technology seems to turn out exactly the same amount of power and top end speed as the straight `carb' version, in other words, fuel economy has not resulted in overall performance being sacrificed nor weight being added. (Do be aware though, at full throttle the new technology presents little saving over the old.) The Orbital technology in my opinion is ideally suited to offshore cruising and the many other roles in which RIBs find themselves undertaking - both work or play.

Price: £9871.49 excl. VAT

Marine Power U.S. product
supplied by: Sowester Ltd.
Stinsford Road
Nuffield Industrial Estate
Poole, Dorset BH170SW

Floscan Cruisemaster
This device was invaluable in monitoring our fuel consumption. The Cruisemaster gave that assurance whilst underway our cruising estima­tions were running to schedule and also enabled us to work out with some accuracy our consumption and fuel load requirements. With the small counter dial showing gallons used and the larger gauge showing GPH, one possesses an assembly of information which not only enables accurate forecasting and consumption but also affords the helmsman the ability to drive the boat to its optimum and in the most economical fashion. Fine tuning the rev meter to the FIoScan can save substantially on fuel and ultimately the pocket. This unit worked well throughout the season though I have heard some criticise it for being unreliable. I can only speak though as I find it. It is expensive in my opinion and this factor would probably be the stumbling block if there was one at all, other than that, it appears a very useful product - one wholly relevant to our market.

Price £281.20 excl. VAT

FloScan Instrument Co. U.S. product distributed in the UK by

Gaffers Mate Ltd
Kirkicraft Workshops
Steading
Strathaird
Isle Of Skye, IV49 9AX

Navico Axis Marine VHF Radio
This is an excellent product. It does possess one fault though but we'll come to that in a moment. This unit represents the latest in small ship communication technology. Compact for console fixed installation, flush fitting, and ergonomically designed, the Axis though available only in grey, would look good on any helm station. The control panel is twist button operated and therefore easy to use even on a lively boat. Small push buttons are not suited to boats like RIBS as operating the functions can turn into a game of 'hit the moving target!' I would say that the most impressive feature of this radio is its sound clarity. It remains crystal clear even when at full volume. This means even when wearing a helmet with the sound of the engine growling in the background the Axis can still be heard and understood.

Most sets require a waterproof housing in order to make them suitable for use on an open boat. This radio however is designed as a water resistant set and therefore the need for additional waterproofing should not be necessary. However, and here comes the negative, we did find that if subjected to a direct hit of water the set had a habit of not being able to transmit for anything up to 15 minutes. This could present a very real problem if in heavy weather one encountered a problem whereby the set was needed urgently but was found to be temporarily out of order. Safety could be an issue here as opposed to this weakness simply being an annoyance.

Price: £ 379.00 excl. VAT

Manufactured by

Navico Ltd
Star Lane
Margate
Kent
CT94NP

Ravenspring Mid-layer Fleece
Good clothing makes a huge difference to one's enjoyment and safety aboard an open boat. On a RIB, you are for the most part in the worst of circumstances from the point of view, (a) movement when underway tends be very limited, (b) wind chill and airflow are maximised by the speed of the craft and the limited protection an open RIB affords and (c) non breathable dry suits especially, suffer from internal condensation which speeds up temperature loss within the suit. Having the correct under layers is therefore essential in order to ensure your dry suit not only keeps you dry but also warm. There are many products on the market but the best that I have personally come across is the Ravenspring Mid-Layer Fleece. Made from Thermactive, this one piece garment in association with the corresponding Base Layer Thermal, provides an easy care, pre-piled, water repellent fleece that provides real warmth with minimum weight or bulk. The top of the garment is cut with a low back for additional warmth and is designed to fit under the sallopets when the conditions are really severe but can be left off leaving just the thermal underwear in milder weather. The high trousers have a full length double ended zip for ease of dressing and to act as a fly for when nature calls whilst both shoulder straps have hook and loop closures, that when combined with the elasticated back, provide a great fit. Not only excellent to wear on each long leg of Round Britain but also presentable and stylish enough to wear at the bar for that all important first pint once back in port! Good product.

Price: £105.00 excl. VAT

Manufactured by.

Ravenspring Ltd.
Ford Road
Totnes Industrial Estate
Totnes,
Devon. T09 5L0

Bosun’s Mate Big Pack
Dry storage and locker space is always at a premium on board any RIB and finding the best means to keep your clothes and other essentials dry and safe can be a problem. I have over the years owned a number of different 'stuff' bags but in my experience this particular bag is the best of the bunch. It is unlike much of the competition in the sense it comes in the form of a proper sports bag as opposed to a traditional sailors kit bag. It features 2 strong handles, 4 tough waterproof fasteners, a full 80 litre total capacity, and is fully constructed with high frequency welded seams in black synthetic rubber. This scuff proof black material is flexible and well suited to the rigours of life even on the wettest and most unhospitable of decks! Well priced and perfectly suited to our particular pastime, the Bosun's Mate Big Pack Dry Bag also now has the kudos of emerging from the Round Britain course with flying colours, ensuring the RIB International team always looked impeccable for every occasion ...ha, ha!

Mind you, after a week `on the road,' it didn't help us smell any better. Just one last point, and it is an important one, this bag is good to carry either by your side or by slipping your arms through the handles and carrying it on your back. Its shape and size therefore is not ungainly unlike the majority of dry bags hence that walk between the boat and the hotel lobby is made all the easier after a long day at sea.

Price: £44.21 excl. VAT

Supplied by

Bosuns Mate Ltd
Units 9 & 10
Apsley Farm Ind. Units
Wilderwick Road
Dormansland
East Grinstead
W.Sussex

Tacktick Compass
We carried a total of three compasses aboard Dash 2 during Round Britain and it was interesting to note which of the three proved easiest to steer by and which most closely held to the information the Lowrance Global Map was displaying. On both these counts, the Tacktick electronic fluxgate compass scored very highly and proved itself most admirably throughout the whole of the course. Its strength is its simplicity. Big easy to read 17mm LCD characters, simple and straightforward function/command buttons, robust waterproof construction and best of all, solar powered, the Tacktick is a recent winner of a Business Innovations Award. We found it to be reliable and accurate, standing up stalwartly to the shock and jarring that came up through the heavy helm console. The styling is reasonable, its design is functional, and its price makes it competitive when compared to other fluxgate compasses. Though originally designed for the yacht market, this piece of kit has proved itself to be well suited to use on a RIB involved in both a working or leisure environment.

Price: £155.92 excl VAT

Manufactured by:
Tacktick Ltd
42 Main Road
Emsworth
Hampshire P010 8AL

KVH Azimuth 1000 Compass
This product was carried aboard Dash 2 during her 1998 season. We reported having problems with that particular unit in last year's end of season review hence Burmarc Ltd persuaded us to have another go and try it again over the course of the 1999 season. To recap: the Azimuth 1000 fluxgate compass electronically measures your boat's magnetic deviation and automatically compen­sates itself to 0.5 degrees accuracy anywhere in the world. If something significantly alters your boat's magnetic deviation, it will automatically gather new data as your boats turns and then re-compensate itself to assure accuracy for the new condi­tions. If ever you want re-initialise the Azimuth, simply steer in a steady and constant circle for a few minutes and the job will be automatically done for you.

The display is highly visible and also backlit. Push button controls provide a cross section of data including a steer to/cross track error display. With 10 selectable damping levels, the display remains stable and easy to read. As this is an electronic instrument we chose to run it in conjunction with a magnetic compass in case the former expired just at the wrong moment. To its credit it didn't, in fact it gave trouble free operation throughout the year. Though I have to say, if the Global Map GPS is anything to go by, the Azimuth was the least in sync with the GPS readings at any given time. As the priest said to the evolutionist, "Its all about what you choose to believe in"!

Price: £ 263.83 excl. VAT

Manufactured by KVH Industries Inc. of the USA and supplied by:

Burmarc Ltd.
Unit 12,
Beaver Industrial
Estate,
Liphook,
Hampshire GU30 7EU

Inflatable Camping Mattress
You might wonder why on earth we've included this item on the list. Well, we found it an absolutely ingenious product, one that proved superb at doubling as a poor man's portable suspension seat. The very thin, compact/fold away to nothing, self inflating inner cell construction of this high-tech sectioned travelling mattress makes it ideal for strapping folded or unfolded to virtually any seat you want to make more comfortable. We found that the 3/4 inch or so of pressurised air under the bum made all the difference in an uncomfortable sea state and what's more, the product stood the course - proving itself strong and well made. Easily stowed when not needed and instantly inflated when required, its a great bit of kit just to have on board in reserve. Highly recommended.

Price: £16.99 excl. VAT

Supplied by:

Milletts Camping Equipment Suppliers.
UK Nationwide High Street Camping Shop.

Notes

As stated in the Round Britain feature, (October 1999) most of the equipment now running its second season performed well without any major problems. However, it is worth noting the following points:

The Lowrance Global Map 2000 func­tioned very reliably but we did have fogging problems with the screen as we did with the Apelco GPS/Sounder screen. Lowrance, in fact, will retro-fit a small Goretex breather to the case of the unit if necessary to stop this from being a problem. Once again, we found that it was a mistake to mount the Lowrance GPS antenna to the arch mast via its fixing stem. Twice, in fact, the heavy antenna pod broke free and had to be re-secured. Finally, we removed the under section of the antenna case and fitted it flush to the flat cross section of the arch mast. The most basic of Vitronix's VHF antennas proved by far the most cost effective and long lasting when it came to withstanding the stresses and strains suffered by the boat's 'flying gear'. Dash 2's seats proved too spongy for very long distance cruising.

Firmer, more denser seating foam would be an improvement on Delta's current jockey seats. Also the boat's aft deck scupper was, as we suspected, far too small to cope with ridding the amount of water we took on when the boat buried itself beneath the waves off Cape Wrath. This potentially could have been a dangerous situation as the height of the water flooded over the batteries in the rear compartment and caused the metal work on the boat to become live as a result. A basic requirement for any RIB, no matter what its function, should be to have a near total unhindered escape for any shipped water. Shipping a sea on deck should never be a serious problem or impair the planing ability of the vessel for anything longer than literally a brief moment or two. The design of the console with its curved contours however, proved very effective in parting the wall of water that rolled up over the bow of the RIB when it buried itself in the following sea. It's possible a flat faced console may have been wrenched off its deck fixings if the same tonnage of water had struck it in similar style. We were also reminded of the fact that the standard plastic locker hatch is only splash proof not water proof. If you have the need for water tight compartments on a vessel of this type then its probably best to plump for the laminate panelled Lewmar hatches, (available from all good chandlers!) Well that's about it. I hope there a few good pointers amongst that lot for you and that our findings give you an edge on your equipment purchasing and fitting out capers at the start of the year 2000 season.

HMS