BoatUS Report

SPOT Proves Invaluable With Two Recent TowBoatUS Cases
Far Out to Sea

“Calling” BoatUS Towing Dozens of Miles from Shore

Twice in the last month, SPOT Assist Maritime service with BoatUS Towing Services has proven invaluable for a couple of offshore anglers with disabled fishing vessels far out in the Gulf of Mexico. SPOT combines satellite messaging communications and GPS technology with the nation’s largest fleet of towboats for recreational boaters. By enrolling in SPOT Assist Maritime and pressing the non-emergency “Help” button on their handheld SPOT Satellite GPS Messengers, each angler was able to summon TowBoatUS assistance and safely return to shore.

Having SPOT Assist Maritime service aboard your boat brings peace of mind. If a motor breaks down or you run out of gas, BoatUS Towing Services can be summoned by pressing your SPOT unit.

In the first case, which occurred in the early hours of July 4th, Capt. Lee Eckler of TowBoatUS Tarpon Springs, FL, received a dispatch from the BoatUS 24-hour call center indicating a mariner was summoning towboat assistance from a location 25 miles offshore of Anclote Key — far beyond cell phone range. With the SPOT and BoatUS partnership, Capt. Eckler was immediately provided with precise GPS coordinates as well as name, contact information, type and color of boat, which was identified as a 17-foot center console. Upon arrival on scene, he found three anglers with a dead engine “loaded for fishing,” said Eckler.

Alone on the water, there were no Good Samaritans for miles around. Incredulously, Eckler learned the trio had broken down long before reaching their desired destination – a fishing spot some 60 miles out in the Gulf. “It was a textbook SPOT dispatch case. We knew exactly were they were, which greatly speeded response times,” said Eckler.

In the second case, an angler requested towboat assistance in the early morning hours of July 12th after his 30-foot power catamaran became disabled approximately 52 miles offshore of Tarpon Springs, FL. As with all SPOT cases, especially when contact via cell phone and VHF cannot be made, BoatUS call center dispatchers also notified the US Coast Guard, which elected to dispatch a helicopter and response boat to verify everyone onboard was safe. Capt. George “Red” Ingram, also of TowBoatUS Tarpon Springs, responded to the disabled vessel and towed it safely back to the owner’s dock by the early afternoon. A broken lower unit was the source of the angler’s troubles.

“When VHF and cell phones were unavailable, the SPOT satellite-based service was able to summon a towboat for non-emergency assistance miles offshore,” said BoatUS Towing Services Vice President Jerry Cardarelli. “That’s a valuable communications tool to add to any boater’s toolbox.”

BoatUS Towing Services offers towing plans for freshwater lakes and rivers for just $34 annually and just $125 for saltwater, plus BoatUS or BoatUS Angler membership of $24. SPOT units start at $99.99 plus a $99.99 annual basic SPOT service plan. To add SPOT Assist Maritime to a BoatUS membership, there is a one-time $10 SPOT Link connection fee. SPOT Assist for Maritime is available throughout the continental US as well as coastal British Columbia and select regions of Northern Mexico and the Bahamas.

BoatUS strongly recommends boaters have a properly registered and GPS enabled DSC-VHF radio aboard to be able to hail the closest potential rescuers — fellow boaters and the US Coast Guard — in an emergency. For offshore passages, BoatUS also recommends having an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). For more information on SPOT Assist Maritime, visit www.findmespot.com/assist

About BoatUS Towing Services: Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing over half a million members with a wide array of consumer services, including on-the-water towing assistance provided by TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist. Combined, these two towing fleets offer boaters, anglers and sailors the world’s largest network of towing ports with over 300 locations and over 600 towing assistance vessels — three times larger than the closest competitor.

 

Yacht Spotting and New Launches

187’ (57.0m) Lady Linda Delivered by Trinity Yachts

Already Successfully Crossing the Atlantic, Lady Linda is in the Med Enjoying the Summer Months

 Trinity Yachts is pleased to announce the delivery of the exquisite Lady Linda, the 187’ (57.0m) tri-deck semi-displacement custom-built aluminum superyacht. This is the third Trinity for a Florida couple who understand Trinity’s ability to custom build to meet personal requirements. She is every meter an example of Trinity’s trademark naval architecture, exterior styling and unfaltering engineering. Celebrated interior designer, Evan Marshall of London, has set her luxurious entertaining and accommodations tone within a contemporary design.

Of paramount importance to the owners, Lady Linda needed to be built for berthing behind their Florida residence, to be capable of handling the shallow waters of the Bahamas and to provide guests matching accommodations. By designing her with an expansive 33’4” (10.2m) beam, Trinity Yachts accomplishes these critical requests. Her wide beam allows for a shallow 8’ (2.4m) draft—allowing access to shallow-water berths, ports and destinations which are generally unavailable to yachts of similar length and size—and creates enough space for equally sized guest cabins.

Lady Linda’s forward main deck full-width king master suite is ensuite his shower/her shower and Jacuzzi. More, her roomy size includes a large owner’s office as part of the master suite. The owner also specified a half-beam gym aft of the pilothouse which—with Trinity’s design ingenuity —easily converts into the fifth guest cabin.

The four half-beam equally sized guest staterooms are located amidships below. Stunning in their design, the staterooms are oriented to the ocean; incredible sea view vistas are available in each. All are ensuite, roomy and exquisitely detailed with granite, marble and soft, earthy colors.

The main deck features an elegant entrance foyer and voluminous socializing space in the main and dining salons. Advanced electronics include auto lifting television systems, total surround sound and networked computer equipment with uninterrupted power sources. Lady Linda’s galley, skylounge and sundeck are outfitted with the finest makes and models from Wolf to Miele, Viking and Subzero. Lady Linda’s crew quarters—including a spacious lounge—are also equipped with top-of-the-line utilities and comforts.

The pilothouse deck with air-conditioned aft exterior deck provides abundant space with a full-beam skylounge and large aft deck. Featuring design unique to Trinity, her sundeck is outfitted with floor-to-ceiling glass doors to deflect wind. The sundeck also features a large bar and seating, a hot tub, is “touch and go” heli-ready and is equipped with a davit suitable for rescue tender, jet skis and water toys.

As with all Trinity superyachts, collaboration between owner, owner’s rep—Mr. Ingo Pfotenhauer—builder and interior designer creates a truly custom yacht built to exacting specification. The result is the delivery of a truly magnificent yacht: Lady Linda.

www.trinityyachts.com

 

Maintenance

HOW TO PROPERLY CLEAN MARINE ELECTRONICS

A boat’s dash can be filled with electronic instrumentation, including touch screens that can easily be marked up with fingerprints.  Many boats with a more open design get a lot of salt spray on their dash as well.  Shurhold shows owners how to properly clean these products with a step-by-step guide and video at www.shurhold.com/tips

To begin, owners should have a hose nozzle that can do a soft mist, PVA chamois towel, microfiber towels and Shurhold’s Serious Shine.  Then, turn off all the gear.  While most electronics are all-weather rated, it doesn’t hurt to check the specific user’s manual for cleaning recommendations and warnings.

Hard pressure or forced water should not be used on electronics, no matter how weatherized the gear.  When doing a full wash down of the boat, owners should be sure to only use a light mist when rinsing electronics.  These areas should be quickly dried with a PVA towel to remove all standing water.  This will help prevent water spots and remove any other foreign particles.  Shurhold’s PVA Towel absorbs 50% more water than natural chamois, making for faster and more effective drying.

Once the dash is dry or if owners are starting with a fairly clean and dry dash already, the area should be sprayed and wiped with Shurhold’s Serious Shine.  The perfect one step detailer, Serious Shine cleans, polishes, and protects virtually any solid surface in one easy step, leaving no greasy, artificial residue.  It also contains UV inhibitors.

Only a fine mist is needed and the product should be worked using a clean microfiber towel with light pressure.  This is going to clean and remove all the finger prints from the touch screens and provide an antistatic protection that will help reduce finger printing in the future.  This product is safe to spray on the screen, frame, buttons and the surrounding fiberglass and steering wheel, too.

Owners should always use a clean towel.  Using a dirty towel might scratch the screens with grime that may have already been in the towel.  Also, microfiber towels can be washed in laundry machines, as long as fabric softeners aren’t used.  This will clog the fibers in the towel and make it less effective.

Shurhold’s Microfiber Towels lift and trap dirt, moisture and grease, unlike regular cotton towels, which just push contaminants across the surface.  These towels are extremely soft, gentle, and super absorbent so they won’t scratch.

A boat’s dash and instrumentation is one of the most important parts of a vessel.  Clean electronics are easier to see, last longer and run better.

Dedicated to educating boat owners, Shurhold provides key tips for boat value preservation at www.shurhold.com  Inventor of the One Handle Does It All system, Shurhold manufactures specialty care items and accessories to clean, polish and detail.

            Contact Shurhold, 3119 SW 42nd Ave., Palm City, FL 34990.  800-962-6241; Fax: 772-286-9620.  www.shurhold.com