Welcome to "Sail Ties"

Southwestern Yachts FREE Newsletter

Welcome to Sail Ties, our free newsletter with service tips, industry news, new sailboat and powerboat models, customer photos, upcoming events and more! An archive of past newsletters is available at the bottom of this newsletter! Enjoy! -The SW Team

• Boating Proven to Raise Quality of Life!

• The Lagoon 420 Hybrid, Leading the Way Into the Future!

• Boat of the Year Judges Can’t Keep Pace!

• Living the Dream - The Jeff and Annette Denning Story

• Maintenance Tips!
A Dozen Ways to Keep Odor OFF Your Boat!

• Beneteau 49 is named "Best Full Size Production Cruiser"

• Anchors Away!
A Refresher Course in a Heavy Subject

Boating Proven to raise quality of life.

We all know that boaters have more fun.  That’s why we do it!  Now, a recent survey administered by Discover Boating and Russell Research gives statistical support to the claim that “boating will raise your quality of life”.  This should not really come as a surprise to anyone as an afternoon on the water all but forces you to relax and spend quality time with those you care about most.  The survey polled an equal number of boaters and non-boaters and then compared the results from the two different groups.  The study covered topics such as: individuals’ happiness with their marriage, individuals’ satisfaction with their sex life (whoa), whether or not the individual thinks they exhibit strong leadership skills, if individuals thought their families were closer due to sharing a common hobby, and whether or not individuals considered themselves to be physically fit. Boaters scored higher than non-boaters in all of the above categories.
Take a moment to think about how busy your life is…the hustle and bustle of everyday activity, the routine that you find yourself in (and you constantly wonder if you control the routine or if the routine controls you), all of the people that you have time to say “hi” to but that you don’t have the time to actually stop and have a conversation with…I could go on and on.  When you go out on your boat - whether it’s for a few hours, an evening, or the occasional overnight trip - you escape from all of that.  You get outside of your routine and you rid yourself of life’s greatest ailment, busyness.  All of that hustle and bustle gets replaced with relaxation and rejuvenation.  The hollow “hello” takes a back seat to a meaningful conversation with family and friends.  You lose stress and you find joy.  We don’t need a survey to tell us this…but for anyone who is still a skeptic (which probably means that you have never experienced an afternoon on the boat) the evidence is in and it sides with the Sailor.  

So the next time that you find yourself overwhelmed, or if you are just looking for a way to improve the quality of your life, the answer is easy – gather your family together, call up your friends, and then go enjoy a day or an evening on the water!  Happy sailing!

The survey results were found at www.discoverboating.com

The Lagoon 420 Hybrid, Leading the Way Into the Future!

Open House on the new 420, This weekend, Saturday, May 12th. See the 420 that motorsailed on her Electric hybrid system all the way from Miami to San Diego!

The new Lagoon 420 Hybrid Catamaran is the first sailing yacht to be built with electrical engines as a standard feature.  The 420 Hybrid could very well be leading the way into the future of sailboat auxiliary propulsion and has been hailed as “one of the most important boats to come out of the boating industry in many years!”  The new technology uses a very old idea that has already proven itself in locomotives and city busses, so it is battle tested and works great!  It’s a wonder that no one thought of moving this already proven technology into the yachting world sooner, but no one did – so well done Lagoon!
            The way the new system works is that there is a pair of 8-kilowatt electrical motors that are connected to the propellers, providing a silent propulsion system.  Two sets of 6, in series, 12 volt batteries are the main power source for these engines.  Each motor and set of batteries can be isolated.  When fully charged this system can run the catamaran for approximately 2 hours under power.  At 80% charge, the 21-kilowatt diesel generator will automatically turn on to charge the batteries and provide electricity to the motors.  When under sail, the ocean works as a watermill by turning the propellers, which recharges the batteries!   In 20 knots of offshore sailing wind, with the props spinning, the full battery banks can be recharged from 60% to 100% in 8-10 hours.  That is “Green Sailing”!  
The diesel generator is in a compartment at bridgedeck level and along with recharging the batteries to supply electricity to the motors it also meets all of the DC electrical needs of the catamaran.  Traditional electric propulsion systems have been very heavy and cumbersome.   However, the diesel electric system is both lighter and less expensive.  Also, diesel electric systems are very reliable.  Electric motors have almost no moving parts allowing the motors to run for thousands of hours per year without having to be replaced or fixed.  This system will typically require only one simple bearing change every 20,000 hours.  (When was the last time you heard of a diesel with 20,000. hours??!)  The time you spend performing maintenance on your motors will be greatly reduced.  This type of diesel electric propulsion system has been around for many years now in locomotives, just not in yachts, which eliminates the concern of trying out untested technology.
This system is also a very silent propulsion system!  The only noise is the spinning of the propellers.  It is truly amazing to have this silent of a system on a 40+ foot yacht!  Whether you are under sail or under electric power you will always enjoy nothing but the sounds of the sea as you make your way up and down the coast, to the islands, or wherever else you might be cruising at.  When you aren’t under sail you will definitely turn heads as you silently power by in “stealth” mode.
Turning the propellers with electric motors will greatly enhance your maneuverability at slower speeds.  There is now an unrestricted minimum propeller speed, unlike a traditional system, while still having 100 percent torque available at all times.  The propeller synchronization is automatic making it very precise and responsive.
Your fuel economy is greatly increased with this system, saving your pocketbook and the environment!  It drastically reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.  The ongoing affects of pollution and the traditional diesel system’s contribution to that pollution were part of Lagoon’s motivation for making this new system standard on the 420 Hybrid.  Moving into an environmentally conscience era, Lagoon is leading the way in making a change.
While going a completely different route with the propulsion system, in every other aspect this cat is a classic Lagoon!  It stays faithful to Lagoon’s creative features and above all is a user-friendly and a particularly spacious boat. 
The 420 is being offered in a 3 or 4 cabin layout.  Each of the 4 cabins boasts a queen size berth, and a washroom with a separate shower!  The 3 cabin layout has the entire port hull making up the owner’s suite, including a queen size berth, a sofa, a desk, a large washroom as well as multiple walk-in wardrobes and lockers.  Whichever layout is chosen, the salon is large and well lit including an L-shaped galley with ample storage space.  Never before has this much space been offered on a 42 footer!

Beneteau: Boat of the Year Judges Can’t Keep Pace!

The judges of the European Yacht of the Year Awards could not keep up with the ample amount of award-worthy yachts that Beneteau sent their way!  In fact, the judges ended up creating a whole new award category with which to honor Beneteau as a company.  Beneteau was the first company ever to receive the European Boatyard of the Year Award in recognition of its commitment to Innovation and Development.
            The creation of this new award was spurred on due to different Beneteau models ending up as finalists, competing against each other for the same award!  The First 36.7 and First 50 models were both nominated for the accolade of European Yacht of the Year, but the judges could not decide which of these two exceptional yachts to crown with the title.  This dilemma was the main factor that led the judging panel to create the new award, instead of choosing between the two beauties the judges decided to give an award to Beneteau as a whole.  Other factors contributing to the award were the judges desire to recognize Beneteau for its ongoing commitment to offer its customers a range of yachts that continue to deliver more visual appeal, greater comfort and higher performance.  The Chairman of the judging panel stressed the strength demonstrated by Beneteau’s ability to introduce 4 new 40’-50’ models within the space of one year.

Living the Dream - The Jeff and Annette Denning Story

In 1995 I began a new job in California.  My number two guy was George.  We were about the same age – early fifties.  No sooner than we finished with introductions George announced his retirement.  What??!!  I took the job knowing I could rely on George to carry the department until I learned the ropes. 

I asked George about his retirement.  You know, the silly “how will you occupy your time” questions.  George planned on building shelves in his garage.  What about the second week of your retirement, George?  Well, Rick needed shelving in his garage, too.  When I pressed him for activities during week three of his retirement, George got defensive.   “I don’t know.”  Bellowed George.  “Who knows what they want?  If you’re so smart, what would you do?”   With that, I launched a descriptive tour of my future.  There was a 36’ sailboat.  It carried me aimlessly throughout the Bahamas, a place where thousands upon thousands of deserted islands sing the songs of sirens.  I pictured myself on the lee side of a sandy island at sunset watching the moon rise as my damsel and I sat in the cockpit of our boat drinking mint juleps as the last breaths of the day blew zephyrs in our ears.  George pointed out a flaw in my vision – I had no damsel.  Ops!  Small detail.

George awaked the sleeping giant within.  My dream came alive.  It grew arms and legs and a face.  And a soul.  I could feel the sensation of its freedom and the gentle swaying made by Planet Ocean.  All I needed was the willing damsel.  She came later.

On March 2nd Annette and I took possession of our brand new shiny Beneteau 343.  It was a sunny San Diego day.  The burgundy bimini cover over the helm accented the morning colors.  The name of our boat, Ms Sera, gave life to a dream that began half a century ago. 

In a search for the right boat, we read a lot of magazines.  We created a manual of print-outs from the “how to buy a boat” encyclopedias on the Internet.  The more we read the more daunting it became.  There were stories of experienced sailors snookered by not-so-truthful brokers and saved by the trusted surveyor (and vice versa).  We read stories about leaks and cracks, and electrolysis, and clogs, and groundings, and sudden storms that turn boats upside down.  With each article came a plethora of more questions, more fear, and more uncertainty.  We became more convinced of the folly of our search. 

Annette questioned my sanity.  She even tried using logic and business sense.  She quoted warnings from former boat owners and tax accountants in hopes I would believe them.  I almost acquiesced.  But when a friend said, “You must follow your dreams” I became more obedient to the calling.

There were more used boats on the market than there were people who can sail.  We wanted to see how the notion of boat ownership would pencil out.  Save money – keeping chartering these beasts!  But the westward winds called.  We didn’t know much about boat maintenance.  But the sense of freedom was compelling.  We all have dreams, but this one had no ROI. (although the lifestyle advantage was yet to be calculated)   Friends advised me to visit a marine store for a reality check.  But the dream whispered softly, “Follow your heart - it is a trustworthy path.”   Life is about dreams.  Sometimes you got to close your eyes and just take the dare.  Eat a strawberry once in awhile.

When you’ve never owned a boat I suppose there’s a much smarter approach than what we took.  When you hear how we did it I’m sure you’ll call me downright foolhardy  Since my ever-frustrating dyslexia inhibits my reading ability, I have to rely on my gut to find trustworthy people.  When I found Tom Hirsh from Harbor Sailboats and Barrett Canfield from Southwest Yacht Sales, I knew the combination was the right fit.  Everyone who knew them told me I could not go wrong.

When we signed the purchase papers in August 2006, it was all about trust and faith in the integrity of other people.  Since that date, there has not been a sliver of regret.

With commissioning complete, they rolled out the red carpet.  We celebrated with champaign.  We drudged our way through three hours of detailed turnover about plugs and switches, and instruction manuals.  Then we went for an afternoon sail.  When the wind heeled us to the edge of losing control to weatherhelm, they snapped a picture of broad smiles across our faces. 

We found our slip on Harbor Island in San Diego.  We secured the boat and looked for the best place to hang a plaque made especially for those who would charter our boat.  It tells the rest of the story.

Welcome Aboard MS SERA

MS SERA began long ago on a sleepy summer pond in a flat bottom boat with a broomstick for a mast, a bed sheet for a mainsail, and a childhood fantasy for what could be.

SERA is SERENDIPITY

Serendipity is having the ability to find valuable
or agreeable things not sought for.

The adventures before you will come as you let them.
Set your dreams free to drift on a sea of imagination.
Obey the song of the western wind.
Become your own Ms Sera.

May soft breezes intoxicate your soul.
May fair winds be at your back.

JEFF and ANNETTE DENNING

PS – Please bring our boat back

Ms. Sera is a 2007 Beneteau 343, available for charter through Harbor Sailboats in San Diego.  Please email us for charter rates.  Thanks!

Beneteau 49 is named "Best Full Size Production Cruiser"

Cruising World Magazine proclaimed the Beneteau 49 to be the 2007 Boat of the Year winner for the Full Size Production Cruiser category.  This esteemed honor was awarded after the panel of judges toured all of the finalists at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland.  The judges were also able to spend four days sailing on the Chesapeake Bay during which they got to experience first hand how the yachts handled while under way.  The competition was tough, which only adds to the prestige of the title, but in the end the Beneteau 49 came out on top.
            Twenty-six boats were nominated in the following six categories: small production cruisers, midsize cruisers, multihulls, full size production cruisers, full size cruisers and “nothing quite like it” cruisers.  In the full size production cruisers category the finalists included the: Bavaria 46, Hunter 45CC, Morrings 51.5, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 Performance and the Beneteau 49.  This list of quality boats very well may represent the most competitive category for this year’s awards. 
            As the judges toured and sailed their way through this category two yachts consistently began to stand out above the rest, the Jeaneau Sun Odyssey 49 Performance and the Beneteau 49.  In the end the Beneteau 49 triumphed largely due to the superior interior that she boasted.  One BOTY judge commented that “a well organized topside combined with straight lines, lots of ports, and light colors below make this boat a standout.”  Another judge added, “First and foremost, these boats are sailers, so on the water sailing characteristics came to the forefront.  But they are also meant to be aquatic hideaways for their owners, so dockside charm also factored into a lengthy deliberation.  The Beneteau 49 offered lots of creative comforts to a cruising family or couple, making it the Best Full-Size Production Cruiser for 2007.”    Southwestern has 9 on order for our customers and two incoming for stock (for you.).

Anchors Away!
A Refresher Course in a Heavy Subject

We are all familiar with the term “anchor”, but how much do we really know about them?  In many situations boaters have to depend on anchors to secure their vessel to the sea bottom in order to keep it from floating away.  This role that the anchor plays is an important one and so the savvy boater should make sure to have a firm grasp on the different types of anchors and how to use them.  Let’s begin to explore the history of and the different kinds of anchors that are steadfastly working for us out there in the deep blue. 
The earliest recorded anchors were made of rock!  Modern moorings still actually rely on rock as an important part of there design, simply because it works.  While still incorporating some of the oldest anchor technologies, modern anchors have advanced in their design and performance.  Today anchors are designed to use a combination of “setting, skills, and shape” to resist the forces of wind and current.
There are many different types of anchors out there and it is important to know each type as well as when to use it.  Types of anchors include the:  Fisherman (Kedge), Fluke, Grapnel (Hook), Plow, Bruce (Claws), plus a variety of other modern designs. You have a choice about which type of these anchors to keep aboard your vessel so let’s go into detail about each of them.

The Fisherman Anchor - This is the most traditional type of anchor and is also known as a Kedge.  Most people that are “non-sailors” think of this design when talking about anchors. This is a non-burying type design that works by one arm penetrating the sea floor while the other arm sticks up.  Although the design aspect is ancient, it still is reliable and holds a good reputation for holding in rock, kelp and grasses, but the holding power to weight ratio makes it the worst type of anchor available. Modern three-piece versions can be stowed easily, and some versions fold flat. (no, will not supply this as standard on your new Beneteau 40!)

The Fluke (or Danforth) Anchor – This anchor has a large fluke surface to create the resistance.  This design is very popular because of the lightweight design. The design itself allows the surface to develop a large resistance to loads once they are dug into the seabed. They do not penetrate as well as some anchors, but are easier to reset rather than turn.

The Grapnel Anchor – This is also known as the hook anchor an it has a small fluke surface on a heavier, narrower arm.   They are best to use with the more difficult problems such as a rocky bottom, dense underwater foliage, and coral. The design of this type anchor allows the arm to penetrate more deeply into the subsurface.

The Plow Anchor – This has a farming implement type design.  As the name implies this type of anchor plows itself into the Sea bottom by moving the seabed material until it is buried in the debris. This type of anchor is best to use for soft mud and loose rock.

The Bruce Anchor - This is also known as the Claw-type anchor and it sets quickly into most seabeds. This design was developed to solve some of the general purpose needs, and has a reputation of not “breaking loose” with tide or wind changes since it will slowly turn in the bottom to align with the forces. They generally offer low holding power to weight ratio, and usually have to be over-sized to compete with other types but will set relatively well.  (you will find this our anchor of choice on most of our new boat deliveries.)

Now let us look specifically into the anchoring process. Charts are an important element to “good anchoring,” and will be helpful to you in avoiding hazards.  Once you have selected a hazard-free location and have made the decision to “drop anchor”, the location should be approached from a “down current” or “down wind” position - whichever force is the strongest.  The vessel should be stopped and just beginning to drift back. Your anchor should then be quickly dropped to the sea bottom.  The vessel should be gently forced astern (by an auxiliary motor or by backing the sail) and the anchor line should now be felt by hand, to assess the success of the dropping. There will be a jerky movement if the anchor is “dragging”, or a smooth tension if the anchor is “digging in.” When the anchor digs in the engine may be throttled to get a thorough set, if it continues to drag you may want to pull up, and move the vessel back into the desired position before attempting to drop again.  In most anchorages and 6:1 or even 7:1 scope is acceptable.  In more windy areas, you can also set out another anchor at a 45 degree angle to the first set anchor, giving you the security of two anchors (and a great night’s sleep!)

 

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Maintenance Tips!
A Dozen Ways to Keep Odor OFF Your Boat!

1. Put cedar blocks or chips in drawers and lockers to help keep them smelling fresh.
2. Use an all-purpose deodorant such as Nodor, whose principle commercial use is getting rid of dead-fish odors in bait wells and on board boats that take people day fishing.  Nodor can also get rid of sour-milk smell in the refrigerator as well as fish smells.  It can also been used to get rid of fuel and holding tank odors.
3. Pour white vinegar into the area contaminated by diesel fuel.  The vinegar clears out the diesel odor.
4. You can use a toilet bowl brush to scrub the area between the water tank and the engine with bleach solution.  Do this roughly once a month to help prevent bilge odors from forming.
5. You can put chlorine bleach in sink drains and shower sumps to prevent or get rid of odors.  For sink drains, close the seacock and pour a quarter cup of bleach into the drain, then add water up to sink level.  Let it sit about fifteen minutes before reopening the seacock.  For shower sumps, pour about half a cup of bleach into the sump (add water if the sump is empty) and pump it clear after fifteen minutes.  The bleach will kill any odor-causing bacteria.  DO NOT use any sort of bleach or chlorine solution in sanitary hoses (hoses attached to the head).  These hoses have an odorless coating that actually prevents odors from seeping through them, the bleach will scar these coatings allowing them to seep stench.  To clean sanitary hoses do not use harsh chemicals; instead use natural cleaners or simple green.  So, it is safe to use bleach solutions in sink drains or shower sumps but NEVER in sanitary hoses. 
6. To get rid of bilge odor you should start by turning off the automatic bilge pump.  Add a quart of liquid chlorine bleach to a bucket of seawater and pour it into the bilge, followed by one or two more buckets of seawater.  Allow the bleach-seawater mixture to slosh around in the bilge for several hours, and then pump the bilge dry.  Add two or three more buckets of seawater and pump that clear.  This is best done on a breezy day with a bit of wave action in the anchorage so that the boat motion will help move the bleach mixture around the bilge. 
7. Whenever you use bleach in a confined area (i.e. on a boat) it is very important that you open every possible ventilation port as well as run a blower fan. 
8. Make sure that all of your sanitary hoses are a black reinforced rubber and are marked as a certified sewage hose.  The sanitary hoses on many older boats are white PVC spiral-round wire-reinforced hoses.  These PVC hoses deteriorate quickly making them permeable, which allows them to seep stench.  Replace any white PVC sanitary hoses with the proper black rubber ones.  This can be expensive but will go a long way to getting rid of that smell
9. Pour a cup or two of holding dank deodorizer into the tank pumpout connection each time you pump out.  It is also good to drain the holding tank with the pumpout unit, and then to flush the toilet several times to force clear seawater through the head and into the holding tank.  Let it slosh around for a while and then pump it out before you add the tank deodorizer.
10. The salt water that sits in your toilet bowl contains many marine organisms and plant life.  These life forms cause much of the smell that stink up your toilet bowl.  There are two actions to be taken in regards to this issue.  First, pump a lot.  The more you pump the more flow volume moves through your head.  This helps to keep the tiny marine life forms from making their permanent residence in your toilet bowl.  One pump is not good enough; you need to pump multiple times every time the head is used.  Second, you should clean the toilet bowl daily with a scrub brush that is designed to get under the lip of the bowl.
11. A very effective way to combat toilet and holding tank odors is to pre-treat your flushing water with a chemical feeder in your saltwater supply piping. This will stop odors and help prevent buildup in your sewage pipes.  One great system that can be easily inserted into the seawater intake line with a couple of hose clamps is the Head-O-Matic Tank-ette.  It installs in an hour and can be found at alexmilne.com
12. Many times the anti-siphon vent is not piped outside and is instead allowed to vent right into the toilet compartment, producing a less then pleasant odor.  The solution is to route this pipe to the outside of the hull.  You can do this by installing a new fuel tank vent fitting just below the deck edge on the side of the hull.  Then, you connect the anti-siphon vent to it with an approved black rubber hose. 

ARCHIVE OF PAST NEWSLETTERS

Sail Ties - Fall 2006

Sail Ties - Summer 2006

Sail Ties - Spring 2006

Sail Ties - Fall 2005

Sail Ties - Spring 2005