Boat Forum / Cruising / February 2005

I was looking at the new Beneteau 345 pamphlet for this year.
The new 2005 specification is showing  a 1 X 12 V electric (4.5 cuft) front
opening fridge.
I wonder what is the advantage to have a front opening fridge on a 34 foot

I'm fishing for tax deductions. Can the loss from the sale of a boat used
as a second home legally be deducted on federal income taxes? Just
wondering?
Ed

Following on from my last post, can anyone suggest where to seek advice on
the subject line?
I'm doing sums at the moment and need to work out annual maintenance costs
etc.

It's really miserable in Charleston.  40, raining like hell, wind gusting
to around 25 here on the river.  
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=41004
and it's gittin' worse.....

Cooling problem even Merc techs can't answer.
Engine temp at 200-210 F, exh manifolds port, 140-160 F, Stbd over 200 F.
Unit has new intake water pump and engine circ pump. Standard sea-water cooling.
Manifolds boiled out with acid, rodded, flushed. Equal water flow thru both on ...

I flew down to Hobart on the 30th December 2004, my head glued to the
plane window. I wanted to get a look at the coast line I was about to
sail up, and maybe catch a glimpse of Rollercoaster from 30 000'. I got
a good look at Babel, Flinders, Cape Barren and Clarke Islands, and ...

We are working on a Power Squadron study of the "cruising lifestyle".  We
need estimates of the absolute number and percentages of cruising boats
carrying weapons. That is firearms, not flare pistols, starter pistols,
sling shots or spear guns.

After reading hundreds of cruising logs, in-, near- and offshore, on
the net over the past several months, I have been struck by how often
and for how long cruising sailors report they are under engine power.

I had a chance to spend a couple days at Strictly Sail and the
International Boatshow in Miami, checking out the new gear and gadgets.
And I've begun posting some of the items at www.navagear.com, a daily
weblog for this sort of thing. And I'd be delighted to take requests

My girlfriend plans to buy a Hurricane deck boat.  She swears by these
boats.  I am a newbie to boats and cruising.
I would like to hear some pros and cons about the Hurricane boats.  Are
there any web sites that are dedicated to Hurricane boats?

Like many YCs, we have a locker where old gear goes to die after being
banished from boats in favour of the latest and greatest hardware.
Members are invited to scavenge, and I've scored lots of decent gear.
Today I found a small satchel containing a Trimble Flightmate PRO GPS

What are regarded as sound principles regarding the rigging of a safe
preventer so far as blocks, shackles and line ?
Am I overlooking anything here ?
Appreciatively,

Anybody have any experience using a Northern Hemisphere compass as far south
as say New Zealand?  I *know* you're supposed to have a s. hemisphere
compass in an ideal world, but I'm wondering how much the card deflects i.e.
is it still useable, even if tilted.

I have a couple of questions about changing the bulb in an Aqua-Fit
series 40 tricolor/anchor light.
First of all, how do you get to the bulbs to remove them? There's a
metal plate on the top. removing it doesn't seem to do anything. The top

we have a 24 foot power boat in Boston which we pay to have trailered
to places for a couple of weeks every year (as far as montreal, erie
canal, hudson river etc.), and
we use it almost daily during the april thru dec. season in the boston