Sustainable Boating - Solar Powered Boat Turanor is traveling around the world

I recently ran across the PlanetSolar project to sail the boat Turanor around the world.  51 days into the voyage they have crossed the Atlantic, leaving from Monaco and are currently in the Caribbean near the island of St. Maarten.  The expedition crossed the Atlantic in 25 days. 

The Turanor is a 31 meter catamaran with a 23 meter beam including the solar "flaps"  weighing 95 tons, she carries 537 square meters of solar panel that offer 18.8% efficiency.  It's a pretty amazing undertaking, circumnavigating the world on solar power, stopping in major ports along the way to spread the word on solar power and sustainable options.  Their two major stopovers in the US will be in Miami and San Francisco.

You can check out the project at  http://www.planetsolar.org/index.en.php.  The site offers a lot of information, some great pictures, videos and interactive tracking applications.  It's well done and worth a visit.

Savvy Boater is now on Facebook. We'd love it if you'd like us!

Savvy Boater is now on Facebook. We'd love it if you'd like us!
By liking us on Facebook you'll find:

• A community of boaters and fishermen
• Entertaining articles
• Helpful tips
• Boating news
• Demonstration videos
• Exclusive Facebook coupons!

To like us, visit our Facebook Page and press the "like" button at the top of the page.

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Fighting Mold and Mildew on Stored Boats

Most boat owners have had to deal with condensation and the subsequent mold and mildew that can quickly grow in damp conditions. Put your cover on your boat when the carpet is damp and you’ll trap in moisture. When the air under the cover cools at night, the moisture precipitates out and makes the perfect habitat for molds.

The first line of defense is to have a good boat cover made of a breathable, marine grade polyester or acrylic. Breathable fabrics will allow water vapor to escape through the cover. Some covers come with built in venting, or aftermarket vented support poles can be added. These provide an additional way for warm moist air to escape from under the cover.

The second line of defense is to install a boat air dryer or dehumidifier. These products are designed to reduce humidity in an enclosed area and work on a couple of different principles.

Chemical Boat Dehumidifiers

Chemical dehumidifiers come in a couple different forms, including disposable tub and packets, and reusable silica gel cartridges. Chemical air dryers are popular because:

• They don’t require electrical power to operate
• They are not particularly temperature sensitive
• They are fairly inexpensive.

Their limitations include:

• The need to monitor and replace or recharge regularly
• Each unit generally handles a smaller space

Tubs of calcium chloride or similar chemicals are sold under a variety of brand names. They are fairly inexpensive, but they have to be emptied and have a limited life span before they are thrown away. The potential for mess is there as the water can be spilled or overflow and may be somewhat caustic. In addition, care must be take to keep it located where pets and wildlife won’t be exposed or tempted to take a drink of collected moisture. See the No Damp Dehumidifier

Silica gel based options like the Eva-Dry use silica gel enclosed in a protective casing. (Think of the little “Do Not Eat” packets in your vitamins or other moisture sensitive products.) Silica gel absorbs water, transforming the crystals from a hard grain like consistency to a glob of clear heavy gel. Silica gel can be dried back out and used again. The Eva-Dry De-humidifiers tell you when the gel is saturated. You can then take unit to a well ventilated place, plug it in and dry out the crystals in about a day. Once dry, it is ready to be re-installed and go back to work. The Eva-dry Dehumidifiers will last up to 10 years and the gel is enclosed where it doesn’t pose a threat to animals or furniture.

See the Eva-Dry Dehumidifiers 

Electric Boat Air Dryers

Electric Boat Air dryers are special low wattage heaters designed to gently raise the temperature in an enclosed space and reduce the humidity. Because they are heating the air, they are effective through the temperate and coastal parts of the country where cool, wet winters prevail. They are not effective in extreme cold, or temperatures much above 60 degrees. Electric boat air dryers typically draw about as much power as a light bulb, and while very warm to the touch, the element is protected inside the unit. With no moving parts the units are designed to be safely used for extended periods of time without direct supervision (when properly installed and used) 

These are popular:

• Where temperatures are between 33 and around 55 degrees Fahrenheit
• Electric power is available
• It is inconvenient to access the air dryer on a regular basis

2 of the most popular brands on the market are the Davis Air Dryer and the DryWave Boat Air Dryer by Ironwood Pacific Outdoors,

For more information on Boat Air Dryers and Dehumidifiers, check out our Boat Air Dryer and Dehumidifier Resources at SavvyBoater.com.

Thanks Coast Guard!

Today marks the 220th year of service for the US Coast Guard, and a great time to say thanks for all they do, day in and day out.


President George Washington and the First Congress created the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790.  In 1915 it merged with the US Lifesaving Service and was christened the Coast Guard.  In 1939 the US Lighthouse Service was added and the Steamboat Inspection service in 1946.  In 1967 the service was transferred from the department of treasury to the Department of Transportation, and in 2003 it move to the Department of Homeland Security.

While that outlines a long history intertwined with the growth of our nation; what that doesn't tell you is the daily heroics and around the clock vigilance that marks the Coast Guard's contribution to boaters and mariners in US waters.     I grew up in Newport, Oregon's fishing community where tales of the local commander who only took his cigar out of his mouth if the surf boat was about to roll, were a staple.  We watched from the cliff side while they raced boats across an impossible bar to pluck the crew off a sailboat just before it drifted into the surf and disintegrated.  When a faulty diesel injector turned the exhaust system of our fishing boat into a blast furnace, they saved family and friends that were aboard and helped recover the vessel and on more than one occasion, they have evacuated friends with life threatening injuries.  These are the smaller stories that mean everything in the world to those involved.

Happy 220th Coast Guard, We're glad you're here.

Hot June Savings at SavvyBoater.com

We've got a lot of exciting specials to help you kick off the boating season without breaking the bank. Stop by our Current Specials page to see our full line up of specials

Our Free Shipping special on all Solas Boat Props has been so popular, we've decided to continue the special through June. Just buy a prop from our extensive inventory during June and we'll ship it to you free*.

Now is the time to pick up that new Bimini Top you've been wanting and enjoy protection from the sun all season. We are offering Free Shipping* and a 5% savings on all Carver Bimini Tops with coupon code GOTYOUCOVERED.

Save 5% off any of our extensive line of boat ladders with coupon code UPANDOUT. This includes quality stainless ladders by DiveNDog, Crone's popular Underdeck Pontoon boat ladder and the many great value Boater Sports Ladders.

If you're shopping for a Dad or Grad that loves boating, check out our selection of boating gift ideas. Whether you're looking for quality nautical clocks and weather instruments by the craftsmen at Weems & Plath, or a fantastic high performacen marine cooler we've got ideas for you. We are offering express 3-day shipping on all Weems and Plath Gifts and even better, it's free on items over $100.

Mentioning Marine Coolers reminds me that we are offering free shipping on many of Engel's popular Portable Electric Fridge Freezers.

Last but not lease, we are offering case discounts on the leading boat fenders by Polyform and Taylor.

*Free Shipping via ground to addresses in the lower 48 united states. Alaska, Hawaii, US Possessions and international orders excluded.

Measuring to Get the Correct Bimini Top For Your Boat.

If you're thinking of buying a bimini top, take a few minutes to measure before you start shopping.

There are a number of Bimini Top Finders on-line, designed to recommend a bimini top based on the make, model and year of your boat.  They provide a good way to narrow down the options, but the best way to be sure of a good fit is to take your actual measurements..

Figure out where you plan to mount your bimini top.  Remember that the mounting point will be in the center of your top, so if you have an 6' long top, you'll have 3' of cover forwards and 3' backwards from your mounting point.  Mark that spot with a piece of masking tape.

Width is the most critical factor on getting the right size.  Measure in a straight line between the two mounting points you marked.  Bimini tops are adjustable in width so you'll want to select one with a width adjustment that will accommodate your measurements.

To get the correct height, measure up from your mounting point in a straight line.  The total clearance of you top will be the height from the deck to your mounting point and from the mounting point to the height of your selected top.  For example, if you mounted your 46" Bimini top on the gunwale where it is 24" above the deck, the total height would be 70" or 5'8" above the deck.  Make sure this will give you ample head room to move about under your cover.

With a good idea of the Width, Height and Length you'll need, you be quickly able to select the Bimini Top that is correct for your boat.

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After you've made your measurements, check out our full line of quality bimini tops for your boat by Carver.  These Biminis feature double walled aluminum main bows for strength, and Sunbrella fabric, the best bimini material on the market.  standard fittings are marine grade nylon, or you may choose to upgrade to stainless steel fittings.  We offer Free Shipping on all Carver Bimini Tops!

Tips on Towing

I ran across an interesting site on hitches and towing today.  Hitchinfo.com is an informational site offering a lot of good information on hitches, towing and related topics.  They include, guides, articles and a towing related blog.  There is a Message Board tab, but it doesn't appear to be live yet.  While they are not directly selling anything, they also offer email and live chat to discuss hitch questions and issues with an expert in the field.

One of their articles, Trailer Maneuvering Basics offers tips on handling your boat like a pro on the ramp.  It also includes videos How to Launch a Boat and Boat Launch Manners.

All told, this site has a lot of great information for anyone towing or using a hitch mounted cargo application, and it looks like we can expect a lot more from it.  It's on my bookmarks list.

Check out my adventures in outfitting our new Nissan Xterra to handle our kayaks and gear.  I'm now waiting for a Boat Roller system to arrive so loading up our canoe will be less of a chore (and less of a menace to the Xterra too). It will also accommodate a car toppable punt we are thinking about adding to the armada.  The boat rollers should arrive Friday and I'll keep you posted on how it works after I've had a chance to try it out. (Hopefully with a fishing trip to Hagg lake this weekend if the weather permits.)