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October 2009

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AVON ADVENTURE

IS THIS 4.7M COMPACT RIB THE PERFECT FAMILY RUNABOUT?

FANTASTIC FOUR

THE BEST £19K BOATS REVEALED

READER REBUILD

FIND YOUR PERFECT NEW BOAT INSIDE

ONE MAN’S STRUGGLE AGAINST ROT, RUST AND THE WIFE OCTOBER 2009

KIDS’ FUN TAKE THE FAMILY ON THE WATER

TRAILER BOATING SPECIAL

� NEED A TRAILER? � ESSENTIAL BUYING ADVICE � BEST MAINTENANCE TIPS � TRAILERING MADE SIMPLE

HOW TO LAUNCH AND RECOVER YOUR BOAT EASY ELECTRONICS VHF TROUBLES SORTED ANGLING NEWS CONGER EELS

ON COURSE BOATING FOR BEGINNERS

Editorial Editor: Keith Moody Email: EditorBoatMart@Boatmart.co.uk Art Editor: Mark Hyde Editorial Assistant : Sarah Cesek Contributors: Peter Caplen, Angela Clay, Simon Everett, Adrian French, David Greenwood, Susan Greenwood, Colin Jones, Phil Pickin, Irving Stewart, Ted Tuckerman, David Webber

Advertising Tel: 01223-460-490 Jody Bratley: Group Sales Manager Tel: 01223-444-087 Senior Sales Manager: Samantha Broome Sales Executive: Claire Broadmoore Private Advertising Queries: 01223-460-490

4.7M AVON ADVENTURE Simon Everett tests out a stylish compact runabout.

Designers: Flo Terentjev, Sarah Garland, Ben Ingham

Production Studio Manager: Sal Law Production Controller: Anthony Gibbons Tel: 01223-460-490 Email: copy@cslpublishing.com

Subscriptions Subscription Hotline: 01223-444-081 Fax: 01223-315-960 Email: subscriptions@cslpublishing.co.uk Managing Editor: Keith Moody Managing Director: Sue Baggaley Web: www.boatmart.co.uk

Published by: CSL Publishing Ltd, Alliance House, 49 Sidney Street, Cambridge, CB2 3HX Tel: 01223-460-490 Fax: 01223-315-960 © 2009 CSL Publishing Ltd CSL Publishing also publishes All At Sea, Sports Boat & RIB, Jet Skier & PW and Boat & Yacht Buyer magazines.

Printed by Garnett Dickenson Distributed by Comag Specialist Tavistock Road, West Drayton UB7 7QE

FIND YOUR DREAM BOAT

PAGE 132

VALIANT DR520

DISCLAIMER The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every care is taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements, the publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. They will however investigate any written complaints. CSL prints advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warrantee and makes no representation as to truth, accuracy or sufficiency of any description, photograph or statement. CSL accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relied either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph or statement contained herein. The advertiser warrants that the advertisement does not contravene any Act of Parliament nor is it in any way illegal or defamatory or an infringement of any other party’s rights or of the British Code of Advertising Practice.

For artistic purposes lifejackets are not shown in all of the photographs. Boat Mart strongly advises that lifejackets are worn at all times for watersports.

COPYRIGHT No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the prior written permission of the publisher. Photocopying or other reproduction without the publisher’s permission is a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs.

This magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper

26

BOAT MART FEATURES BUYING ADVICE VALIANT DR520 ................. 26 Irving Stewart puts this RIB through its paces.

4.7M AVON ADVENTURE ... 30 Simon Everett tests out a stylish compact runabout.

NEW BOATS....................... 37 Looking at this month’s new boats.

30

BUYING USED .................... 38 Renegotiating after a survey.

WHAT CAN I BUY? ............. 40 This month, what you can buy for £19k.

GET HITCHED ................... 46 We test a Skoda Superb Greenline, plus some towing advice.

MARINE WISE ................... 53 We visit this specialist marine engineering outfit in the South West.

EQUIPMENT TOP GEAR ........................ 58 Reviews, news and equipment buying advice

66

BUYING A TRAILER

97

PRACTICAL TECH TALK ..................... 107 How full should your tanks really be?

PRACTICAL MONTHLY ..... 110 New kit for DIYers, plus maintenance jobs for the month.

PROJECT NO.95 ............. 117 Looking after your trailer’s wheel hubs.

READER STORY .............. 115 The second instalment of Steve Elliot’s restoration diary.

PRACTICAL BOATING ..... 125 How to launch and recover your boat.

COMPETITION SCRUB ON THE THAMES .. 59 You can win a boat life, hold and scrub.

DINGHY WORLD

99

LIFESTYLE CLASSIC CORNER ............. 81 Choosing a trailer to suit your classic.

DINGHY WORLD................. 83 We look at the benefits of trailing a dinghy.

TAKING THE KIDS…………. 84 Angela Clay looks at making boating a family experience.

BOATING FOR BEGINNERS ... 88 The Boat Mart Team tackle a Powerboat Level One Course.

ANGLING GUIDE ............... 91 Catching the conger eel.

GREEN BOATING .............. 99 How to prevent fuel spills A QUESTION OF BOATS ... 101 How much do you know about boats?

DIARY DATES .................. 103 Spotlight on The Great Island Challenge, plus events for the coming month.

BOAT MART REGULARS EQUIPMENT ..................... 66 Buying and maintaining a trailer INSHORE SKIPPER ............ 71 Colin Jones warns you to be prepared before you make the big leap ELECTRONICS MADE EASY ....................... 75 What to do when your VHF burns out.

Throw Us A Line ............... 09 Newsline ........................... 15 Mystery Boats ................... 22 Subscribe ......................... 78 Courses ............................ 126 Boats & Yachts For Sale .. 132 Classifieds ...................... 150 Next Issue ...................... 160

BUYING ADVICE

VALIANT DR520 Irving Stewart puts this RIB through its paces. How will it fare? Read on to find out

W

hen compared to a family car, the average small RIB can accelerate in a very short distance and turn at speed virtually in own length. Bearing this in mind it never ceases to amaze me why, when photographing a boat on test, I ask the average guy at the helm to “simply come down our port bow, make a tight turn to port, then accelerate away – but don’t go far”. Hardly a difficult task you would think.

Inevitably a guy will do his best to sink the camera boat, take a quarter of a mile to turn, and needlessly head off to the horizon in a wall of spray whilst I twiddle my thumbs.

Perhaps it’s just a macho male thing – like wheel spinning in Tesco’s car park.

But ask a female, even a landlubber promotion girl, or a novice boat driver, to do the same thing and she will inevitably do precisely what is required – and be able to repeat the 26 I October 2009 I Boat Mart

manoeuvre ad infinitum until the shots needed are in the bag!

It’s rare indeed to do a boat test where the owner is female; even rarer to do so in Wales.

This is a short tale of a truly unusual young lady, a pleasant day, and an equally memorable RIB.

MEET ANGHARAD Perhaps it’s no surprise that the MD of Quadra Boats, in Neyland, has two daughters. Nor that they help him in his boating business. However it is unusual that Angharad, the eldest, decided (even before she left school) that she was more into boats [and hot hatchbacks] than the other “girlie” things that preoccupied her peers. In her early teens Angharad cut her teeth on a classic Fletcher sports boat - and simply got hooked.

Angharad then decided to do RYA powerboat 1, quickly followed by Powerboat 2, and then her instructor’s ticket to become, at the time, the youngest powerboat instructor in the UK. Inevitably, Angharad seized the opportunity to offer powerboat training in Neyland and started

looking for a suitable boat. Despite her dad’s showroom offering a tempting selection of new Saver and Quicksilver boats and a gaggle of other sports boats (which she drove at every opportunity) Angharad was a “lady on a mission” – she knew precisely what she wanted.

Nothing pretentious you understand because being Welsh, and female, she has no male macho urges to satisfy – or anything to prove. Neither did Angharad want a hugely overpowered fuel hungry craft with which to impress – she’s simply not that type of girl!

No, what Angharad wanted was a simple, bomb proof, stable, and easy planning boat with excellent handling. Unimpressed by pointless sun loungers, trendy seating or even on-board sound systems what she wanted was a sensible RIB with a basic double jockey seat set well forward making it simple to trim the craft – and surely getting close and intimate is always the best way to learn! So, in a nutshell, having set her sights set firmly on a RIB – the only question was which one to buy.

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VALIANT ORKNEY DR520 592

Now there’s a finite limit on how much a daughter can twist her dad round her little finger so anything exotic might be difficult to extract.

So, not being daft, our canny Welsh minx slipped an order for a new Valiant DR520 Pro into the system whilst stocking the showroom with inflatables from IBS.

A QUESTION OF POWER. The next question was what to bolt on the transom. The engine had to have enough power to be safe and interesting in all conditions and also be responsive and flexible.

Around 60hp seemed reasonable, but it also had to be economical and able to take the abuse expected from a school boat. The logical choice was a nice quiet four-stroke. But Angharad cut her teeth on a classic sportsboat and had other ideas.

It was no surprise, then, that a new Mariner 75 Optimax arrived in a crate a couple of weeks later – who needs valves and camshafts after all?

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It barely took a couple of Angharad’s inscrutable smiles and a quick spin on the forklift to slip the RIB into the workshop where the engine and hydraulic steering were rigged in a few hours.

Within days the new training boat was put to work - and this is where we came into the story. On a mission to test another boat, we “borrowed” Angharad and her RIB to be test crew and camera boat.

NO STRANGERS TO VALIANT Whilst many readers may not have had experience of Valiant RIBs, I’ve enjoyed myself aboard numerous examples over the years – and have never been disappointed. The last outing being a memorable trip on the Menai Straights pounding a little Valiant 4.9m through some absolutely horrendous conditions, with a huge grin. Oblivious of the fact that the Valiant and the Quicksilver camera boat were the only boats out, we were later branded “bloody English idiots” by wiser locals when we repaired

to the pub for lunch – but that’s a story for another day!

Briefly reverting to my opening comments in this article, it never ceases to amaze me how much time can be saved on a boat test when I have an experienced test crew and camera boat skipper. In Angharad I had both and with time to spare it seemed logical to moor the “official” test boat and have a play on the Valiant. My curiosity centred on whether the additional 0.3m over the 490 would make much difference in handling and sea keeping.

As any Essex girl will tell you, as you scrub her fake tan off your bow sun lounger, a bit of extra length and width is always a benefit.

This certainly proved to be the case in regard to the 510 Valiant. Whilst the brave little 490 coped and handled quite well the 510 gave the impression it was much larger.

Indeed the ride is very pleasant, with the barest hint of hull “thud” when attacking choppy water, or landing after a low level flight. The extremely light and effective

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Boat Mart I October 2009 I 27

BUYING ADVICE

4.7M AVON ADVENTURE

Looking for a compact runabout? Then the Avon Adventure 4.7m could be just the boat for you, says Simon Everett

T

he current trend for larger and larger RIBs has often meant that the smaller end of the market has been a bit, not exactly ignored, but not had the same level of input shall we say. There are plenty of cheap boats being punted about, but only a handful of makers have really put any effort into the starter end of the market. Avon have addressed that by bringing out an all new, 4.7m in

30 I October 2009 I Boat Mart

their Adventure range. We were promised the first go, so as soon as it was rigged. I went down to BHG in Lymington to get a ride.

Blue tubes on a white hull with grey patches for the fabric hand holds awaited me, powered by a Yamaha 60hp outboard, which is the maximum they recommend. The boat had only just finished being rigged and this was going to be her first time on the water. The engine had been run on the flushing muffs,

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AVON ADVENTURE ORKNEY4.7M 592 but still had only been run for less than an hour, so we had to be sensible.

The layout of the boat is as you would expect: an across the stern bench with a double jockey seat and console. There is a stern well between the double seat and engine which could be utilised for further stowage of gear in dry bags. The space under the stern seat is used for the 25 litre fuel tank, with only room for a few small bits and pieces, such as a tool roll. The battery is within the console and there is more locker space under the jockey seat. In the bow there is a closed forepeak which will hold an anchor and warp plus the usual ropes, but there was no cushion for the bow provided, no doubt one could be supplied very easily.

The upholstery is very nicely done, with white and stitching in blue as a contrast making the overall look very smart. The blue tubes with the interrupted grey stripe being fresh and modern, with a retro look harking back to the tank

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Boat Mart I October 2009 I 31

EQUIPMENT

TOP GEAR

ENGINE NEWS � KIT & ACCESSORIES � BOOK REVIEWS � BUYING ADVICE

KEEP WARM AT SEA

The popular Gill Thermal Dinghy Top has been re-launched with fabric and design improvements to bring more comfort and warmth to dinghy sailing enthusiasts.

It’s made from a softshell fabric which is windproof, waterproof and breathable. In addition to its soft fleece lining and high protective collar, the Thermal Dinghy Top also features improved adjustable seals on both the cuffs and waist which give greater fit-flexibility and better protection against water ingress.

The PU cuffs, which are soft against bare skin, have Velcro adjusters with rubber tabs that are easily gripped with wet hands, while the neoprene waistband has twin Velcro adjusters at the front for ease of use. A drawcord is provided at the top of the collar to provide an efficient neck closure.

Available in a full range of sizes, the new Gill Thermal Dinghy Top offers exceptional warmth and wind chill protection. For more information, visit: www.gillmarine.com

WATERPROOF CAMERA CASE

OverBoard, a manufacturer of waterproof travel and sports gear and official kit suppliers to the RNLI, has updated its Waterproof Camera Case. The Waterproof Camera Case now has transparent PVC from front to back that enables digital camera users to take shots when in and around the water and then view the screen whilst safely sealed in the waterproof case. The PVC window also now covers the top of the camera making the on/ off and capture buttons easier to access. The Waterproof Camera Case is 100% waterproof and submersible to depths up to 6m/19ft, perfect for recreational and expert photographers alike.

The transparent window means the shots are not disrupted by the case and photographs will remain perfectly clear.

When dropped in water the Waterproof Camera Case will float. The case’s unique slide clip seal system also means not only does it protect the camera from water, but other elements such as dust, sand and dirt. The updated Waterproof Camera Case is now available at £14.99 from www.over-board.com.

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Chatham, a UK footwear and clothing manufacturer, is launching a new range of sailing and casual shoes which will be guaranteed for two years – a first in the UK footwear industry. The shoes will have rot proof threads and rust proof eyelets, allowing the manufacturers to believe they will last. To view Chatham’s full collection for both men and women visit www.chatham-marine.co.uk or call 0845 2700 217 for a free catalogue.

56 I October 2009 I Boat Mart

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TOP GEAR

COOKING UP A STORM The top-of-the range Alizé marine cooker boasts a host of additional unique features. For improved safety, the cooker is the first ever to feature multi-dimensional gimballing, allowing the cooker to cope with both heeling and oncoming waves.

For more information on the full range of galley solutions offered by GN Espace, visit www.gn-espace.com , call +44 (0)8707 481455 or email info@gn-space.com.

Falmouth-based yacht builder Rustler Yachts, builders of Rustler, Bowman and Starlight Yachts have chosen to supply future production of their Rustler 44 with the GN Espace marine cooker. The GN Espace marine cookers have a practical four-burner hob, an extra large thermostatically-controlled oven and a full width grill. The cookers have been designed to use a wide range of standard size gastronorm containers – more usually seen in catering kitchens – to optimise the efficient use of space.

ON YOUR BIKE XERO is launching a foldable electric bike that is the perfect travel companion for boat trips. The ePedal Traveller has all the green credentials of a traditional bicycle with the power and speed similar to that of a scooter.

Perfect for use on a boat, the Traveller can be folded into a compact size and then stored on board in a matter of minutes. After assembling with one hinge, the Traveller can then be used either by cycling or by utilising the electric mode

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to pick up speed, combat steep hills or go longer distances. With a range running up to 25 miles per charge and a speed of 15 mph, the Traveller is also economical, with electricity costs less than 1p per mile and retails for £599.

LATEST NEWS AMICA FIRST TO PLUG INDUCTION Amica, the leading Polish appliances brand, is offering a new product for boat users. The Plug & Play Induction Hob is an electric induction hob which, unlike any other, simply plugs into any mains socket. Being induction, the 60cm hob is without naked flames and is easy to clean. Its centrallylocated soft-touch controls feature timers, a child lock and residual heat indicators for additional safety. Likely to become a musthave for gadget-savvy, safetyconscious consumers who take regular holidays using their own accommodation. It is available for 349, and all Amica products come with a quality after sales service and a full two year parts and labour guarantee. For more information, visit www.amica-international.co.uk CURE THOSE ACHING JOINTS It seems that a relatively unheard of muscle and joint rub could be the best treatment there is for aching muscles and joints, having recently been named at the top of the pile in a review by the Daily Mail.

The paper looked at a number of different rubs including the brands Deep Heat, Voltarol and Radian B, but it was the small brand Blue Active Gel that came out on top, scoring the highest mark of 8/10.

Knowing how physical an activity boating can be, Blue Active Gel may be the ideal solution for those feeling the strain. For more information or to buy call the Pioneer Trading Company on 01526 344971 or visit their website at www.pion-tc.co.uk

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LIFESTYLE

When novice boaters Claire and Samantha announced their wish to get trained, they chose Absolute Aqua in Poole to do their Powerboat Level One course. Tim Spicer reports.

BOATING FOR BEGIN

D

riving a boat at speed is so exciting, said Claire Broadmore, following a blustery afternoon’s boating along Dorset’s Jurassic coastline. “I really enjoyed getting the knots up!” she added, after completing the powerboat course at Absolute Aqua in Poole.

The girls, Claire and Samantha Broome - both advertising managers for Boat Mart - have spent time on boats in the past but wanted to be able to drive a boat independently. Finding the right course for the right price was relatively easy, as the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) provides a benchmark standard of training in the UK. Absolute Aqua was decided on, following a recommendation, although a range of courses are available at RYA centres nationwide.

If you own a powerboat or intend to drive one, the introductory course is essential as it gives you the knowledge to carry out basic boat manoeuvres. The course suits those who have never stepped onto a boat before and, fortunately, it doesn’t cost the world. Group tuition, with one 88 I October 2009 I Boat Mart

instructor teaching three people, costs £135 per person at Absolute Aqua.

The centre is based in Cobbs Quay Marina in Poole Harbour, which is the second largest natural harbour in the world. The marina has a lively atmosphere and 1,090 berths, making it a favourite with yachtsmen and motor cruisers alike. Arriving, we rapped on the door of Absolute Aqua and were greeted by owner, Sharon Clarke, and our affable instructor for the day Terry McFall.

The girls settled down in the Cobbs Quay Yacht Club, a smart restaurant with white sails stretched across the roof and stunning views of the harbour, and ordered frothy coffees to kick start the day. Terry began by teaching them the basics of boating theory. He explained the rules of the road and bylaws, such as always passing a vessel to the right and keeping to the speed limit within Poole harbour. Then, he made it clear how important a lifejacket is, and explained how to activate it should anyone fall overboard.

The basics of launching and recovering the boat were also covered, as was the importance of carrying insurance and legal paperwork, such

as proof of ownership. Terry then explained how flares work, and how to set them off in the correct manner. He also covered the contents of the first aid kit and where to find it on board, stopping frequently to see if Sam and Claire had any questions.

Outside, it was a pretty rotten day with spatters of rain and a gusty wind, but that wasn’t going to stop the Boat Mart girls, who were determined to get on the water. On the pontoon, Terry asked Sam and Claire to untie the mooring ropes then he lowered the outboard into the water, put the boat into reverse, and carefully edged us out. Our ride for the day was a Boston Whaler motorboat, with a 115hp Yamaha outboard engine – perfect for beginners.

Exiting the marina, we entered Poole harbour, which is a beautiful stretch of water to learn on.

Drawing up parallel with Brownsea Island, which is owned by the National Trust, Terry began explaining the controls to the girls. First, he explained the importance of the safety lanyard, or kill cord, and that in the event of the driver going overboard the engine would be cut. Then Sam got used to using the throttle, easing the boat from idle

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BOATING FOR BEGINNERS

A precision mould for new 5m RIB is nearing completion

NERS

up to more power, until it was planing happily on the water’s surface.

Both girls took it in turns, getting a feel of the handling of the boat in a straight line, until they were comfortable controlling it at low speeds.

Throughout Poole harbour there is a speed limit of 10 knots (11.5mph) so, the girls couldn’t get too carried away. Claire said: “At first, I found it quite hard to maintain a consistent speed and stick to the speed limit, but after a few sprints around the harbour my confidence picked up.”

Turning the boat was the next discipline, and Terry instructed both Sam and Claire how to steer into a turn and increase the power as the boat rotated, in order to keep it on the plane and maintain a consistent speed. After a couple of attempts, where they didn’t give quite enough power to stay on the plane, both of them achieved successful turns that Terry was happy with.

Leaving the confines of the harbour, Terry encouraged the girls to increase the power and take the boat up to 20-knots. With the wind blowing their hair, the girl’s smiles grew and their eyes opened to the joys of boating.

“Driving the boat at speed is the most fun,” said

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Sam with a grin. “I was nervous to start with, but Terry ensured us that we were doing a good job and my confidence grew with his instruction.”

Soon, our stomachs were growling so it was time to head back to Cobbs Quay. Terry parked the boat for the girls, but ensured that they helped drop the fenders and secure the mooring ropes.

Then, following a fantastic and leisurely lunch in the Yacht Club, it was time to head back out and pick up the pace with more speed and aspects of boat control and safety.

The drizzle had laid off, so the girls practiced handling the boat at speed again, as well as learning to park the boat alongside a pontoon. Claire said: “The parking was quite tricky, however I have that problem on the road anyway!” Fortunately, after some practice, she got to grips with mooring and Terry moved on to anchoring and the procedures of dealing with the event of a man overboard. It was very thorough and both girls were pleased with what they learnt. Following a few more laps to ensure Sam and Claire were totally comfortable with controlling the boat, Terry took them back to dry land for a debrief to complete their course.

Absolute Aqua is a well run RYA centre, and

you can see why it is such a popular choice for those starting out in boating, as well as more experienced people. Sam said: “The course was intense and thorough but extremely enjoyable and informative. Terry is a very good instructor. I would definitely recommend Absolute Aqua, as I enjoyed the whole day and am excited about doing my Powerboat Level Two next!” ■

FURTHER INFO � Absolute Aqua is based in Cobbs Quay Marina in Poole Harbour. � Run by Sharon Clarke, the RYA approved centre offers courses from Powerboat Level One up to Day Skipper. � In 2005 and 2006 it won awards for powerboat and personal watercraft training.

01202 666118 / www.absoluteaqua.co.uk PRICES � Group tuition (1:3) - £135 per person � Private tuition - £350 � One to one tuition - £250 � Own boat tuition - £225

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PRACTICAL

PRACTICAL MONTHLY

The next few pages are packed with maintenance, upgrade, restoration and DIY news, tips and advice from David Webber, Peter Caplen and Jane Rickard. Let us know what projects you’re currently working on!

RESTORATION ESSENTIALS equipment and materials to use.

What to do, how to do it and the right

PLYWOOD Plywood is one of the staples of the boat renovators art. There is probably more plywood used in renovating a boat than any other single material.

Unfortunately there is a huge difference in the quality of ply and this can lead to problems later on if an inferior grade is used. I do not advocate the use of true marine ply (BS1088 standard) for use inside the boat. The only time I would recommend using marine ply is where the timber is permanently immersed; for example when building a ply hull.

For interior use high quality exterior grade WBP ply is fine. Cheap shuttering ply used by the construction industry has no place on a boat! (WBP stands for ‘water-proof bonded ply’) WBP exterior ply should be constructed to the same standard and using the same glues as marine ply except that there may be voids within the laminates.

Marine ply should be totally void-free.

This all sounds very straight forward

110 I October 2009 I Boat Mart

except there is a huge difference in the quality of exterior plys. As a very rough guide the quality can be gauged by the weight of the sheet. The heavier it is the better the quality. The very best ply I have bought locally came from RGB Builders Merchants. The last lot cost about £22 per 12mm sheet but was excellent quality and when cut up I never discovered any voids. The worst

was from the local timber merchants and weighed about half that of the RGB ply. It was also about 40% cheaper and delaminated as it was being cut. So price is another indication.

Some of the so-called Superstores also sell rubbish ply so be careful when buying in bulk. Consider getting one sheet and using it to see how it performs before spending out on a big order.

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PRACTICAL MONTHLY

RADAR TRAINING COURSES

CLEVER KEY RING PREVENTS SINKING

Following on from its recent radar training events, Raymarine has announced four new dates for the autumn.

The first courses will take place on October 30th and 31st at Mylor Yacht Club in Falmouth, Cornwall. Further courses are scheduled at The Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club on November 13-14th.

The courses focus on helping attendees gain a greater understanding of radar. The training days are being offered to a maximum of 15 people per course and must be pre-booked online at www. raymarine.co.uk/training

Water can be a black hole for boaters’ keys and small tools, so Davis Instruments has designed the Key Buoy to try and tackle the problem. If the Key Buoy should fall into the water, the patented, self-inflating key ring automatically pops open, inflates its air tube and rises to the surface.

In as little as 60 seconds, owners can get back their keys, small tools or deck plate keys weighing up to 80g. A bright orange 36cm air tube makes the versatile Key Buoy easier to spot and retrieve and it maintains buoyancy for over an hour.

BOAT POLISH A boat’s surfaces need to be protected from damaging UV rays. To safeguard their craft, as well as prolong the life of a wax or polish job, owners are being encouraged to do the twist – rotating their boat in its resting place every two weeks to even-out sun exposure and keep their boat like new.

Along with turning the boat, owners should apply a coat of high-quality polish. Serving as a cleaner, sealant and polish with UV inhibitors. Shurhold’s Pro Polish is formulated to protect fibreglass, gel coat, clear coat and aluminium. Pro Polish repels water and provides a glossy sheen, while protecting the surface from the harsh effects of the sun, saltwater and other environmental elements.

RAPID WRINGER We all know that the hardest part of washing a boat is drying it, but now help is at hand. Frost Marine has developed a foot-operated leather wringer to make drying your boat a little bit easier. For more information or to buy the product, visit their website online at www.frostmarine.co.uk/prodinfo.

ITT RULE RELEASE NEW BILGE PUMP RANGE ITT Rule has launched a new updated range of their automated Rule Mate bilge pumps. The new eco-friendly Rule Mate series has improved reliability plus a host of new features, including an antifouling impeller, thermal overload protection and solid state water sensing technology that eliminates the need for a separate float switch.

When water in the bilge reaches a height of 60mm the automatic sensor switches the pump on and then shuts the pump off when the water is pumped out.

The sensor’s unique “field effect”

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technology detects only water and will not operate if motor oil is present, helping to preserve our environment.

For more information visit www. rulenews.com

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Boat Mart I October 2009 I 111

BM0905 NASA Marine

Clipper cockpit instruments

All prices + VAT

New website with secure spare parts order facility: www.nasamarine.com