2018
NEW GEAR
with rupert holmes
McMurdo’s new generation of EPIRBs add an important
extra function that provides big advantages over earlier
units – an AIS transmitter.
With new technology increasingly replacing traditional
forms of communicating distress, one downside is that the
stricken vessel is often not easily identified to other craft
in the vicinity. This product changes that. In addition to
satellite signalling using the 406MHz frequency (plus a
121.5MHz homing signal) it will also appear as an AIS
target on the screen of any vessel within range that has
an AIS receiver. On most systems this will show as a red
circle that indicates a vessel in distress.
The G8 also has a more powerful battery bank, which
enables the unit to transmit for the regulated minimum
of 48 hours, even despite the additional power
consumption of the AIS unit. With around 80 per cent of
EPRIB activations being false alarms, the AIS
transmission brings a further benefit, as it’s immediately
obvious if your beacon has activated itself – the icon
appears on your plotter screen.
A further development that has potential to reduce
the time taken for the unit to communicate its position
is that, in addition to GPS, it also receives position data
from the GLONASS and Galileo systems.
The inclusion of AIS also goes some way to obviating
the need to carry an AIS SART in the grab bag. The unit
has a ten-year battery life and is on sale now.
Price: £715. http://www.mcmurdogroup.comAnyone who sails in the Mediterranean
will have experienced the mucky and
sometimes dangerous problem of tackling
dirty, barnacle-encrusted and weedy lazy
lines when berthing stern-to. The GHOOK
from Boatasy is a simple, though brilliantly
designed, product that massively simplifies
handling a mooring line encrusted in slime,
barnacles and mud.
The wide rotating sheave moves quickly
over even badly overgrown lazy lines. Itprevents the line needing to touch your hands
or the deck of the boat and keeps it well away
from your clothing.
In addition, it enables the lazy line to be
secured to the bow up to three times faster,
which is particularly important when berthing
stern-to with a crosswind. As the line is not
handled directly it also protects hands from
injuries or scratches from barnacles or
sea anemones.
Price: €69.95. http://www.boatasy.comThis smart digital switch panel system, which we
first saw installed on the new Elan GT5 last year, can
be controlled remotely from anywhere on the boat –
whether you are on deck or in bed – using a tablet or
smartphone. Being digital it also means pre-sets can be
set up, so that, for instance, only one switch needs to be
pressed to turn on all relevant systems when arriving at
the boat. Similarly a single switch can be set up for an
‘at sea’ mode.
The back of the panel has standard three-way
switches for on, off and digital options. The boat can
therefore be controlled manually in the event of a failure
of the digital system. There’s also a monitor screen
incorporated that can be used to monitor battery state
or water/fuel usage and holding tank capacity. The
system is suitable for installation in new builds or can be
retrofitted to an existing yacht.
Price: approx. €4,000-4,500. http://www.simarine.netGHOOK for stern-to mooring lines
SiMarine Nereide
Smart Power Panel
McMurdo G8
AIS-equipped EPIRB
From ¤4,000
£715
¤69.95
February 2018 89