For faster, more comfortable and more economical boating, equip your vessel with the most advanced power options available.
In addition to boat builders, marine equipment manufacturers—from propulsion to stabilization to desalination—utilize boat shows to debut their new power products.
Some are kept under wraps so manufacturers can launch them with great fanfare and buzz at shows like the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. But if you couldn’t make it, here is a showcase of some of the latest power products introduced in 2018.
Propulsion
Yamaha V8 XTO Offshore
The Yamaha V8 XTO Offshore features a first-of-its-kind electric steering system. Rather than the typical electro-hydraulic setup, the integrated steering system directly moves the outboard to deliver secure, precise and responsive steering that is leak free, consumes less power and with its streamlined rigging, reduces maintenance. The 425-hp, 32-valve, 5.6-liter, four-stroke engine utilizes a direct injection powerhead to maximize power and efficiency, and its three-stage fuel pump system incorporates two independent, rpm-activated fuel pumps to create high injection pressures to maximize atomization. The XTO Offshore is compatible with the Helm Master Setpoint suite of functions that includes the ability to adjust heading and position while in StayPoint, FishPoint or DriftPoint modes, as well as troll below standard in-gear troll, speeds with the new Pattern Shift function. It’s also compatible with Yamaha’s CL7 7-inch touchscreen display that monitors vital boat functions and performance. yamahaoutboards.com
MAN Engines
MAN Engines introduces the MAN V12-2000, the only twelve-cylinder V engine with
2,000 horsepower (1,471 kW) to date, and the V8-1300 (956 kW), the strongest for yachts and sportfishing boats. The installation dimensions are compact (5’8” L x 3’9” W x 4’ H for the V8-1300), and the dry weights of 2,380 kg (V12-2000) and 1,880 kg
(V8-1300) contribute to a lower power/weight ratio. Through a series of modifications,
MAN engineers managed to add 100 horsepower compared to the previous, most powerful V12 and V8 engines from their range. An improved injection system, new turbocharger, newly developed cylinder heads, an adjusted cooling system, and a new crankcase ensures high performance throughout the engine’s long service. The engines run quietly and with low fuel consumption. Both engines meet the currently applicable emissions requirements U.S. EPA Tier 3 as well as IMO Tier II. engines.man.eu
Mercury Marine
Mercury Marine unveiled a new V6 3.4-liter outboard engine system earlier this year. In one of the largest, single new-product development programs in Mercury’s 80-year history, the Wisconsin-based company set a new benchmark with the recent introduction of the V8 4.6-liter platform. Available in the 250- and 300-hp Verado and FourStroke models and the 225-300-hp Pro XS and SeaPro models, as well as their racing engines, the new outboards, offer the performance, fuel efficiency and ruggedness demanded by professional anglers, the commercial segment and the avid boater. The Verado is equipped with Adaptive Speed Control for increased throttle response, noise, vibration and heat reduction for an ultra-quiet ride, an advanced midsection that delivers minimal vibration, and is compatible with the Mercury Joystick Piloting system. mercurymarine.com
Seven Marine
Seven Marine introduced its new line of outboards this past spring that takes the aluminum engines to a greater power. The new 527, 577s and 627sv each have supercharged, smallblock V8s with water-cooled stainless headers that deliver powerful acceleration and improved fuel economy. The outboards have a choice of gearcase setups to optimize cruise efficiency and low speed control based on the boat’s speed range—the new CR gearcase incorporates two contra-rotating propellers for boats with top speeds less than 60 mph, and the CT is for boats with top speeds greater than 85 mph. A new Quick-Start technology allows rapid automatic fuel system priming at the turn of a key, and the ZF Marine transmission includes inboard-style wet disc clutches, integrated trolling functionality and smooth, progressive shifting. seven-marine.com
Generators
Phasor Marine
Phasor Marinehas been manufacturing generators for 28 years and introduces a new compact model at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The K3-15.0 kW is powered by a Kubota diesel engine, and the single bearing, direct coupled, brushless generator measures 37.5″L x 24″W x 28″H with a powder-coated aluminum, sound-attenuated enclosure. The unit includes a safety shutdown system, U.S.C.G.- approved fuel lines and Awl-Craft urethane finish. phasormarine.com
Stabilizers
Seaskeeper 2
Seakeeper now has a stabilizer for almost every size boat. Its groundbreaking Seakeeper 3 was a big step to stabilize boats in the 30-foot range, but now, they’ve made one that works on smaller boats. The Seaskeeper 2 became available in April and can eliminate up to 95 percent of boat roll on 27- to 32-foot vessels. The stabilizer weighs 414 pounds and measures 24x25x20 inches. The Seakeeper 2 runs exclusively on 12-volt DC power and because of its size can be installed almost anywhere, including as a leaning post replacement that can be integrated with no major structural modifications. A newly designed touchscreen control panel with an intuitive user interface allows users to capture real-time performance information. seakeeper.com
Refrigeration
Indel Webasto Marine
The Isotherm Clean Touch Stainless Steel Refrigerator by Indel Webasto Marine features a high-tech coating that remains clean to the touch, is scratch and abrasion resistant and provides protection from salt spray, sun, heat, UV light, and condensation in the marine environment. The Cruise 130 Elegance Clean Touch refrigerator is the latest in the line and has a thicker door than traditional refrigerators, so it better retains the cold and provides greater energy efficiency and performance. An innovative internal anchoring system allows flush or proud mounting with or without a flange for a wide range of design options. The new Isotherm Cruise Clean Touch Stainless Steel refrigerators are also available in the 42, 49, 65, and 85 models. indelwebastomarine.com
Water Treatment
Dometic
The new Dometic Spot Zero SZ Mobile Washdown System is a freshwater reverse osmosis syste. It’sdesigned for boats 60 feet and less that don’t have the space for a built-in, onboard system. The compact, portable design removes up to 99 percent of total dissolved solids (TDS) from freshwater dock sources from around the world that have varying water quality characteristics, pressures and temperatures. Dried dissolved solids in water leave water spots, so removing them allows for a spot-free washdown. The Spot Zero system takes water that’s typically a few hundred parts per million (ppm) down to 10-20 ppm. It utilizes the most advanced reverse osmosis technology for pure water from a potable source that can fill the water tank and also lets water-sprayed surfaces dry clean. spotzerowater.com
FCI
For larger boats, the FCI DTS+SOLO is specifically designed to treat dock water and can produce 2,000 or 3,000 gallons per day. The DTS (Dockside Treatment System)+Solo is a stand-alone dockside water purifying unit. It uses a granular activated carbon and sediment filter that produces purified drinking, cooking, and bath water from a dockside source. The system eliminates viruses, bacteria and cysts and removes up to 99 percent of total dissolved solids. The DTS+Solo uses utilizes FCI’s exclusive HMI/PLC touch control system and the DTS+SOLO’s compact, modular design allows it to mount almost anywhere. fciwatermakers.com
Climate Control
Webasto
Open cockpit, sterndrive boats can now have a fully integrated, engine-driven air conditioning with optional heating system. Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America and Volvo Penta of the Americas unveiled the modular Webasto Breeze system that provides ambient cooling and heating. The entire system is 12 VDC and eliminates the need for an auxiliary generator. Webasto Breeze puts out 7,000 BTU of ambient comfort at idle or slow speeds and up to 30,000 BTU at higher engine rpms. It is controlled by a simple dash-mounted unit with three fan speeds and a mode switch. The first U.S. boatbuilder to offer the system is Four Winns, which introduces it as an option on their HD270 model. webasto.com
It’s August, and summer is winding down. But before the beach trips, picnics, and pool parties end, stock up on these summer gadgets.
Summer is winding down, but that shouldn’t end the fun. Here are some summer gadgets to help with the last of the golden days.
For the swimmer:
We all know that ears can become sore and tender when water stays too long in the ear canal, especially in these later summer months.
Keep your ears safe from water and pressure during watersport activities with Pluggerz Swim Earplugs. The earplugs close the ear canal for protection but do not affect hearing. Flexible silicone and hypoallergenic material maintains its shape to keep ears dry.
How many pairs of sunglasses has your family lost to the sea this summer? Well, whatever the number is, that stops now. Don’t worry if you drop these shades overboard. The KZ Floatable Wayfarer Sunglasses float on water. Lightweight, impact resistant and able to repel water and oil, KZ sunglasses have polarized and anti-glare lenses to ensure crystal-clear views and provide full UVA, UVB, and UV400 protection.
It’s time for a cooler upgrade. Summer isn’t always nice to the thing Keep your drinks cold and the ice cream frozen in the Dometic CFX 75DZW Electric Cooler. The dual-zone portable cooler has independent temperature controls so you can cool one side and freeze (to -7°F) the other simultaneously.
This cooler is seriously cool. A USB port can charge small electrical devices, and you can control and monitor the temps with a Wi-Fi app.
If you are anything like me, summer means that your legs and arms are permanently itchy. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Whether tied stern-to, at the dock or anchored close to shore, prevent mosquito bites with the Thermacell Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent. Powered by a rechargeable, Lithium-Ion battery, Radius creates a 110-square-foot mosquito protection zone that lasts more than six hours on a charge, and its scent-free, DEET-free refill lasts up to 40 hours. Sounds like a good idea.
Perfect for when you just want to be alone on the water and also have an extra 25 grand laying around. Enjoy skiing or wakeboarding fun without the boat with SOLO, The Personal Ski Machine that uses a 150-hp, 4-stroke Rotax propulsion system and wireless technology to connect the rider to the machine.
Safety features include GPS retrieval that brings SOLO back to within 10 feet of a fallen skier. The boat stays on course even with the tightest cut across the wake. You’ll be the coolest kid on the lake with this boat.
Our popular stem-to-stern feature is a collection of gifts, gear, and gadgets you need for a successful cruising experience. Below is Southern Boating’s recommended products from March. Enjoy!
Dometic’s Avalanche Coolers
Dometic’s Avalanche Coolers are built tough to take the abuse that comes from the way you play. These coolers have a sturdy handle and wheels for easy maneuverability and are built to withstand any situation. Extended ice retention will keep your beverages cool for hours. MSRP varies; dometic.com
Taco Marine’s Rub Rail Kits
Taco Marine’s Rub Rail Kits are suitable for all sizes of boats and include all necessary components for replacing the rub rail, including stainless steel fasteners and end caps. Each kit is available in one-piece continuous coils of flexible or semi-rigid vinyl. MSRP varies; tacomarine.com
MagicEzy UV Shield
A simple application of MagicEzy UV Shield protects a wide range of surfaces including glass, hard and flexible clear acrylic windows and vinyl from the harsh effects of the sun. A three-month guarantee ensures peace of mind for you and your boat. MSRP $27.49; magicezy.com
SuperMAX Anchors
SuperMAX Anchors hold strong in most any seabed or wind conditions; they’ve even held in hurricane-force winds. Sturdy, hot-dip galvanized construction provides years of use. Manufactured in the U.S., they’re available in rigid, pivoting and shank models. MSRP $99 and up; maxmarineproducts.com
Leatherman
A Leatherman tool comes in handy anytime, anywhere. With no limits to functionality, each tread combines Allen wrenches, screwdrivers and box wrenches at a moment’s notice. It’s fully customizable with the links you’ll need the most. MSRP $165;
leatherman.com
McMurdo’s SmartFind M5
McMurdo’s SmartFind M5 is compliant with the U.S. Coast Guard Mandate and a flexible, low-cost, easy-to-install AIS Class A transponder. It incorporates a fully comprehensive AIS MOB and AIS SART alarm to aid in MOB recovery. MSRP $2,499; mcmurdogroup.com
Gyro-Gale
Gyro-Gale offers several gyrostabilizer models that are slim and compact enough to even fit under a bunk. With a minimalist design that’s both sleek and intricate, each stabilizer produces minimal drag and reduces pitching motion. Choose from a range of gyroscopes and a variety of fin models. MSRP varies; gyrogalestabilizers.com
Hella Marine’s 10 Things to Consider When Purchasing LED Lighting
With its long lifespan, high efficiency and ultra-low battery drain, LED lighting is one of the easiest improvements boat owners can make. Hella Marine’s 10 Things to Consider When Purchasing LED Lighting helps cruisers navigate through a wide range of products to assist in choosing the best selection for your vessel. Download at hellamarine.com/en/blog/news/10-things-booklet.html[td_smart_list_end]
Imagine if you will, this fairly typical scene. You drive 30 minutes or so to the marina for an enjoyable weekend of boating with friends and family. Your boat has been closed up since the previous weekend and the air inside is hot, humid and stale. While you unzip the canvas and turn on the air conditioning, your boatmates wait on the dock with gear, groceries and bags of rapidly melting ice. Now, compare this scene with, instead, arriving at your air-conditioned boat, there’s ice in the icemaker, the water tank is full, and the refrigerator is cool and ready for cold cuts, fruit and beverages.
Dometic Marine, a division of Dometic Group—a global provider of leisure products for the marine, truck, caravan, motorhome, and automotive markets—introduces the Dometic Smart Touch Integrated Intelligence Control (STIIC), a revolutionary and user-friendly software that connects a boat’s Dometic systems—air conditioning, watermakers, ice makers, refrigeration systems, engine ventilation systems and more—to the STIIC network, and interactively communicates with the boat owner.
Accessible from a mobile app, STIIC allows boat owners—or their captains or technicians—to monitor all their Dometic systems from one location, such as a car, office or beach house, via mobile phone, tablet or computer using a Wi-Fi, Ethernet or an RS485 connection. STIIC can be used to check a system’s status, change settings, turn it on, turn it off, or diagnose a problem. “STIIC acts as a remote control for boats, bringing a whole new level of comfort and control to owners and their passengers,” says Ed Todd, Director of National OEM Sales at Dometic Marine. “For example, if you are about to drive to your boat, you can use STIIC to start your air conditioner, ensuring that your arrival is cool and comfortable. Or, use it to activate your Dometic Sea Xchange watermaker to ensure you have plenty of potable water.”STIIC acts as a control point between the boat owner and the Dometic equipment on board the boat. Products aboard the boat send Internet data to secure STIIC servers. The boat owner can access that data via a free STIIC app on a smart phone, tablet or computer.
Smart Touch Integrated Intelligence Control (STIIC) home screen on touch-display.
The STIIC system is easy to set up and understand, but if owners or captains do need help, the same system allows a technician to perform remote diagnostics and talk them through a troubleshooting process without a costly or time-consuming on-site visit to the vessel.The STIIC network automatically expands as new Dometic products are installed on board. Use of a product’s STIIC interface is always optional and can be bypassed at any time since each Dometic system retains its independent controls for hands-on operation on board. The Dometic STIIC mobile intelligence software also simplifies the integration to ship-wide network control systems. Instead of developing an interface for each Dometic product, third-party software developers only need one connection point to STIIC.
STIIC implementation is available now with Dometic Cruisair and Marine Air chillers, including the new Variable Capacity Chiller, and with Dometic Sea Xchange watermakers. In the near future, other Dometic products will also be STIIC enabled, including Dometic’s Eskimo Ice, KRA refrigeration, Dometic Livos Engine Ventilation systems, and others. Leisure boats from 20 feet to megayachts are users of the company’s premium brands which include Condaria, Cruisair®, Dometic, Marine Air Systems®, SeaLand® and WAECO. Their extensive product range includes marine air conditioning, engine room ventilation systems, sanitation systems, refrigerators, stoves, battery chargers, and other equipment for the leisure market. dometic.com/USA
Onboard water makers can extend your cruising comfort.
When your cruising plans call for long days at sea and anchorages far from civilized services, the conservation of ship’s stores is top of mind. Managing food and fuel is crucial—when they run out, your body and boat shut down. Potable water is also a concern. When the freshwater holding tank is empty, the vast, salty ocean cannot slake your thirst—water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.
Onboard watermakers have made the ocean your reservoir as reverse-osmosis systems turn raw seawater into drinkable freshwater. Processes have improved, equipment has become smaller and prices have dropped since these devices entered the marine market in the late 1980s. Whether or not you need a watermaker depends on your boating activities. If you enjoy coastal U.S. cruising and rarely stray from ports where freshwater is available, then the need for a watermaker is small. But if you have a sportfishing boat and are out for days at a time or cruising to foreign ports, then a watermaker is a necessity. At 8.35 pounds per gallon, water is heavy. A sportfishing boat embarking on a 50-mile run can save a lot of fuel by starting with minimal water in the holding tanks. Once you start trolling, the generator is turned on and the watermaker starts making freshwater while you fish.
Watermakers use a series of pumps, filters and membranes to turn raw seawater into freshwater. The current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for potable freshwater is less than 500 parts per million, and all the manufacturers’ products in this article meet that standard. The process is reverse osmosis, the same technique used on a large scale at desalination plants. At the heart of the process is the membrane, a filter with pores the size of a red blood cell. After the larger particles in seawater are filtered out, the high-pressure pump forces water through the membrane, which removes almost all of the dissolved solids. This method rejects up to 99 percent of salts, contaminants and pollutants from seawater until the water purity meets the EPA standard.
Biological growth when a watermaker is not in use can affect water quality. Heat and standing seawater is the ideal environment for biological growth, and that’s always been the bugaboo for watermakers. In the past, keeping biologicals from growing involved flushing the system with acidic chemicals, but today, freshwater flushing keeps the membranes clean and greatly reduces maintenance.
Most boats 40 feet and longer will use watermakers run with AC-powered pumps; however, DC-powered watermakers are available for smaller powerboats and sailboats. AC-powered systems deliver a more constant flow rate and higher pressure over a longer period of time, while DC systems are for boats with less demand and smaller water tanks.
Here’s a look at watermakers recommended for cruising boats 40 to 60 feet long from four U.S. manufacturers, including well-established companies FCI Watermakers, Sea Recovery and Watermakers Inc., as well as up-and-coming Sea Xchange.
Watermakers Inc.’s ISL400 operates conveniently from under the sink.
FCI Watermakers
The Aquamiser Plus and Max-Q lines are ideal for boats requiring 25 gallons per hour (600 gallons per day [GPD]) or more of freshwater production. Both are available in framed and modular configurations and include automatic freshwater flush. The Aquamiser Plus series offers outputs of 250 to 1,800 GPD, programmable settings and remote display capability. The Max-Q Series is more advanced and offers Universal Reverse Osmosis Controller (UROC) remote monitoring and control from a personal computer, with outputs of 600, 1,200 or 1,800 GPD. The Max-Q’s digital design is engineered for durability, and the need for pressure gauges and flow meters has been eliminated. FCI’s freshwater dockside system can also be incorporated into the Max-Q, and this helps create ultra-freshwater for a spot-free rinse.
Sea Recovery
The new Aqua Whisper Mini modular fits in tight spaces for easy access to main components. Water production ranges from 170 to 750 GPD. Low AC power consumption and its light weight (units range from 70 to 150 pounds depending on the model) makes it suitable for smaller boats. Simple touch operation on the unit, as well as from a remote location, makes it easy to use. The touch pad provides 16 illuminated LED status lamps that indicate system operation and water quality. Fault LED indication is also provided for easy diagnosis of required maintenance.
Watermakers Inc.
The ISL 400 offers reliability and simplicity in a “no-frills” desalination system, with an output of 432 GPD. Featuring a compact and rugged design, the ISL 400 is available pre-mounted on an L-frame or as a modular unit if space is limited and innovative installation is required. The product’s design uses no propriety components allowing the owner to find replacement filters, oil or parts nearly anywhere in the world. An available option is automatic flush of the watermaker every seven days.
Sea Xchange
The SX600 features an all-in-one compact design for conversion from a framed to a modular system in a few easy steps in outputs from 600 to 2,200 GPD. Non-proprietary components such as a 316 stainless-steel boost pump, high-pressure pump, automatic freshwater flush, and a remote control come as standard features. A one-touch interface makes operation simple, and the system can be coupled with Dometic’s Spot Zero freshwater system to provide true double-pass reverse osmosis freshwater.
Clear the air after months of layup when marine sanitation systems and air-conditioning ducts may be filled with stale, foul air. Ridding the boat of trapped odors ranges from the first step of simply flinging open all the doors, ports and hatches, to inspecting and cleaning the wastewater lines and holding tank with eco-friendly treatments, and installing an air filtration system.
A physical inspection of sanitation lines, valves and vented loops ensures there isn’t a major problem brewing. The sanitation system may have been neglected and not properly winterized, so it’s important to start off fresh. “Over the course of the boating season and in down time the vent valve can get stuck, an air pocket gets trapped and the head won’t work,” says Dale Weatherstone, Raritan’s managing director of Fort Lauderdale operations. “Check your discharge line vented loops to make sure the valves are functioning correctly. The lubricant used may be silicone-based, which is awful for valves. What you want is a Teflon-based kind of grease. Also, if you can increase the ventilation within your holding tank, do so. Most boats have three-eighths or half-inch lines, but one-inch vent lines are recommended.”
Raritan makes three biodegradable, non-toxic liquid treatments that can help rid the boat of sanitation odors: K.O. for holding tanks, C.P. for cleaning the head, and C.H. for cleaning lines and hoses. “K.O. helps facilitate the breakdown of solids to make pump-out easier,” Weatherstone says. “When re-commissioning, start with that prescribed mixture and then the boat is ready when people start using the heads. The aerobic bugs in K.O. consume the anaerobic foul-smelling bugs in the holding tank and break the solids down to more liquid contents, and that eliminates odors.”
Raritan’s C.P. is a bio-enzymatic treatment for cleaning the head and works in conjunction with K.O. Raritan’s C.H. cleans up the hoses and holding tank by removing calcium carbonate that builds up from using salt or brackish water for raw-water flush toilets. “The calcium carbonate buildup gets so bad a one-and-a-half-inch discharge line can have the opening the size of a pencil,” Weatherstone explains. “C.H. dissolves that and eliminates it.”
While you are checking the boat’s internal lines and valves, it’s a relief to finally air out the boat after months of layup. The saloon, cabins and heads may be musty from the lack of fresh air, so on a nice day open everything and let the breeze flow through. However, unpleasant cooking odors, molds, viruses, and more can fester and linger, and Dometic’s In-Duct Breathe Easy Purifier can help.
In-Duct Breathe Easy can be installed anywhere within the air conditioning system’s ducting. Cut into the ductwork at the desired location, insert the Breathe Easy tube and re-connect the ducting (it is available in all common duct diameters). Dometic recommends installing it in a section of the ducting that’s easily accessible for servicing, as the UV bulb must be replaced annually. The Breathe Easy works silently within the ductwork using the air conditioning system’s blower to move air through the purifier.
Air-purification systems utilize the purification power of UV light, and it is important to make sure the system’s UV light does not produce ozone. Ozone—an unstable molecule—creates free radicals that may irritate the lungs and deteriorate rubber seals. The UV bulb in Dometic’s Breathe Easy air purifier operates at a frequency that does not produce ozone.
UV light sterilizes biological contaminants that pass close to it and also activates the photocatalytic coating inside the purification device. Biological or chemical contaminants that come in contact with the coating are molecularly reconfigured into harmless elements such as water vapor or carbon dioxide. For best results, boat owners should consider systems that maximize air contact with both the UV light and the photocatalytic coating.
