Least popular modern gadget?

I'd like to say chart-plotters as I think they're the most dangerous new gadget, but I won't as they do work the way they are supposed to, and used by somebody sensible they are great fun and remove a few seconds tension now and again, when you'd otherwise be plotting a GPS point (or bearing to a point) onto a paper chart. Alas they're attracting their own version of the radar-nutters - "It's unsafe to cross an ocean/sea/bathtub without one, blah, blah."

Barbecues - yes very annoying if you're anchored downwind - the sparks are flying off THEIR stern but onto MY boat, but again - they're fun and do the job.

Has to be through hull logs - what a joke. If they do read accurately when motoring in a flat calm you're lucky, but in any other conditions on most boats I've owned or hired they read erratically or not at all. Looking over the side every hour and guessing has always (genuinely) been more accurate even when on longish passages pre-GPS.



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The root of the problem

Good point! (Like you, I learned on a boat without one.)

Abolish the engine and electric gadgets get pruned very fast!

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
 
Re: The root of the problem

I disagree about the engine being the most useless gadget, it is probably the watch. Without time the removal of all the gadgets would be sensible 'cos we would have an infinity to do all those things that take longer without the gadget.

Me, bring on the gadgets, gives me more time to do other things in my life rather than make lists of useless gadgets.

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Nigel\'s nomination(s)

Anything that needs a cable and also needs to be high up ....

I loathe absolutely anything that has me trying to fit up the mast or anywhere where I cannot run a cable sensibly ..... when I mean sensibly - I mean easily without cutting / gouging / destroying good fittings etc.

As to actual gadget themselves .... difficult one as I have a few, but generally they are "OFF" ....

Oh the Paddle wheel log .... for those interested - there is a solution to this one apart from binning it. Pass cable through plastic pipe and fit log into the end. Now suspend log over transom well into the water ..... clip onto rail / tie off whatever .. so that log stays submerged during trip. If log should foul / stop - lift and clean - stick it back in again ....
Good candiadte though !!

<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/
 
Re: The root of the problem

Come back Ned Ludd, all is forgiven...
<4 Yorkshiremen>
1st Yorkshireman
Of course, when I were a lad they 'ad none of these 'ere gadgets and gizmos. We was reall sailors, going sailing out in all weather wi'out benefit o' GPS or plotters or engines...
2nd Yorkshireman
... or fancy radios that know where you are. We 'ad no phones no automatic lifejackets...
3rd Yorkshireman
...and boss made us pay for permission to use compass and charts, mind you, we 'ad to mek us own charts then, no paper, we used a slateand some chalk...
4th Yorkshireman
Chalk? Luxury. We 'ad to use us blood on t' deck. And skipper would flay us if we made a mess.
1st Yorkshireman
Of course, when I said "sailing" we didn't 'ave a sail as such, our Mam knitted us one out of wool she bought.
2nd Yorkshireman
Bought? Luxury. Our Mam unpicked us sweaters and sailing socks to me us a sail...

etc

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.
 
I like my paddle wheel, it is a relief from the sowester log propeller that used to sit proud under the hull. I preferred the analogue read out, but it would work for about the first three trips of the season end then become useless from a single barnacle or a tiny bit of weed. The paddle wheel does foul, but so far has always cleared by the time I am leaving the harbour.

My nomination would be pressurised hot and cold water systems and electric winches. Both of these rely on the boat being plugged into a marina. The first induces people to waste water and run the engine to heat the calorifier. The second, is IMO just nuts, I upset the man on the sweden yacht in Excel by asking how the boat can sustain offshore sailing if you have to rely on electric sheet winches. Seems nuts to me.

The winches might make things easier, but as also said modern yacht designs seem to fit 75Ah batteries, from this you musty run their 'deep fridge freezer', eberspascher, 2000W of halogen lights (ooh there is another one). Halogen lights which focus the light into beams so you need hundreds of the little buggers killing your vision if you look up. Modern boats never seem to fit red lights, why is that?

I can't agree with wind gens - It is an essential for me as I like my Eberspacher and fridge. I am not on a marina.



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>
 
Re: Easy one!

"They do also not contribute to safety at all "

I would disagree with this point as many ports and marinas insist that you have at least engine running when entering/leaving ports.

Also in a MOB situation - agreed you can sail back but with a couple on the boat Husband or wife over the side - what is the best most likely way of returning to the MOB and getting them back aboard? Not using the Engine or not having one in a MOB incident what would you tell the inquest?

And finally crossing TSS's at 90 degrees... how would you do that in the event of the wind being on the nose?

Guess I agree with you sailing is fun without engines but as a backup/safety feature and a means of getting you home before midnight on Sunday, when the wind drops, they are invaluable.

ML
 
Marina berths

Having 24hr mains has brought on a whole new breed of yacht with daft equipment that 12hrs away from a pontoon renders them useless without big back up generators.

Looking around the boat shows, boats are now leaving the factory designed to be stored on a marina, even down to the woefully undersized bow cleats.

So there is my nomination for room 101, pontoons with mains power.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>
 
Re: Easy one!

I was not entirely serious about that. Engines do come handy some times and I admit having one, too. However, I still think it does not improve my sailing skills and I am also quite convinced that it would never work properly in a real emergency.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.sail.to/alacrity
 
Not strictly true:

You don't need to know the precise wind directon when you're racing, unless you get embarrassed at coming last.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Re: Not strictly true:

Ah yes but would you sail to the wind instruments at night? I've got the ST60s but still prefer a wee torch for the luff and tell tales.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Re: Easy one!

I do like to sail onto moorings and into anchorages when possible have also had to sail into marina berths when the charter boat I was skippering failed to start - due to the battery terminal having dropped off!!
ML

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