The US  still fears attaccks from someone!!

New York City orders US$5m bulletproof boat against terrorist attack

The 72ft performance boat, with a pressurized cabin to keep out contaminated air, can carry 30 officers

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has bought a 72ft bulletproof boat designed to thwart Mumbai-style terrorist attacks for US$5.2m. A firm in Somerset, Massachusetts, is building the boat.

NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the performance vessel can carry up to 30 officers, plus gear to respond to an emergency. The boat will also have satellite, fax, Internet, video and infrared camera. It also has sealed doors and a pressurized cabin that can keep out contaminated air.

Kelly said he decided to order the boat, which is being paid for by a Homeland Security grant, after studying the Mumbai massacre in which 164 people were killed in 2008 in a raid by sea. He told New York City Commissioners yesterday that the “high speed ballistic-protected vessel will be used to respond to a suicide or live shooter attack in a port area.”

The boat is expected to be delivered in about a year.

Ocean Marine were extremely lucky and the flood water only came 1 mtr from front door. Many businesses were not so lucky. We are open for business again and staring to bring stock back into shop.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those people and families that have suffered losses through the floods.

Hi all, just completed a very stressfull couple of months moving the business from Capalaba to woolloongabba the reason, to be nearer the cricket!!!! No better location for business.

Have opened the shop and still trying to get it shipshape and working ok. New address is 68 Deshon street Woolloongabba call 07 31616870.

Betting on Electric

The world is running out of oil. We know that, though at times it’s hard to tell, given the way we continue to buy and behave. When National Geographic magazine published a cover story titled “The End of Cheap Oil”—in June 2004—it was right on. Only a few years later, regular unleaded gasoline at the station had jumped to more than $4 per gallon in the United States, and nearly a buck higher than that at the dock. It’s been estimated that half the world’s oil supply has been consumed in the last 50 years. If true, the end predicted is in sight, if not for all of us, then for our children.

The big question, of course, is: What will replace oil? Natural gas could be a short-term answer. So-called biofuels derived from plants are renewable, but aren’t about to meet the world’s total energy needs. They seem likely to be relegated to supplemental status. The consensus: new technologies must be developed as alternatives to oil.

And that brings us to electric-powered boats. They’re not new, but Nimbus Boats, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, claims to be the first to take a “large electrically powered boat from the drawing board to the market.” So says Nimbus managing director Magnus Andersson. The Nimbus 27 E-Power is a stock fiberglass cruiser fitted with a power plant manufactured by Electroengine AB (Uppsala, Sweden), which partnered with Nimbus on the project. The drive is a Duoprop from Volvo Penta. Current performance is said to be a cruising speed of 23 knots and a max speed of 27, a range of 20 nm, and a recharge time—of the lithium iron phosphate batteries, from a three-phase 32-amp 400V source—of around four hours. Bump that to 28 hours with standard European 16-amp 230V. A small internal-combustion generator will get you home, albeit slowly, should the batteries run down. According to Nimbus, anticipated advances in battery technology are expected to soon double performance by some measures.

Professional BoatBuilder No. 111, Feb/Mar 2008.)

Andersson says the 27 E-Power is the result of a strategic company decision to create a market for boaters who feel strongly about protecting the environment (and are willing to pay a 30%–40% premium). “We see a big market generated by the European inland waterways system, where there is an enormous boat population and where environmental regulations are strict,” he writes

Nothing would ensure the company’s success as surely as government legislation restricting emissions and offering incentives to firms manufacturing clean boats—as well as to their customers. At some point, that seems likely, and Nimbus plans to be ready to take advantage. The boat company hopes to install electric power plants in others of its models, along with those of its Swedish sister companies, among them Storebro, Ryds, and Paragon.

Basking in the glow of such seemingly good news, one hesitates to raise the point, but it needs to be made: Yes, electric motors emit no nasty gases, but how are the batteries that run them charged? By electricity, which is largely (54% in the U.S.) generated by burning coal—one of the absolute worst polluters, responsible for 40% of CO2 emissions, 96% of sulfur dioxide, 99% of mercury….

Getting 400V at 32 amps out of solar panels ain’t going to be easy.

 Although sailors had to endure light winds for the first two days, the spectacular scenery and lively parties at some of the finest island resorts in Thailand made up for it. This allowed crews to savour the pristine environment as they wound their way between the steep sided limestone karsts. The breeze picked up on Day 3 and today they made fast work of the short windward beat then a nice long downwind slide to finish of Ko Yao Yai. Finishing early meant they could quickly disperse and return to their home marina berths or anchorage to prepare for the final presentation and windup party at Kan Eang Seafood 2 sponsored by Silolona and Diva Andaman. John Vause’s Ruby Tuesday broke through to score first place today in the Racing Class but when Mike Downard’s Switchblade sailing under Team Turkey posted second place they have done enough to secure the Overall title

The tough conditions of the Southern Ocean over the past week have continued to confront Jessica today, as she battled six metre plus swells, cold stinging rain and wind gusts of 50 knots.

After sailing south east in 25-30 knot winds earlier today, sudden gusts of 50 knots hit Ella’s Pink Lady, creating two large tears in the mainsail. Fortunately conditions have eased to 25 knots, but it has been another very challenging day for 16 year old Jessica.

This follows numerous electrical storms in her vicinity over the past 72 hours which have prevented her from getting much sleep and tested her endurance. So despite being closer to home, it’s been a difficult week so far.  

As usual, Jessica has a positive attitude and reports that all is well, as she has a spare mainsail and the prediction is for better weather over the next week as she heads east to Tasmania.

We are all wishing Jessica a fine run home over the next few weeks, as the anticipation of her arrival back into Sydney builds.

Electrics are the hidden but essential part of any cruising boat.

Nothing will work without a good electric system. So many problems occur during an extended cruise because of breakdowns in electrics. If you cannot start the motor, it is usually an electrical problem. The navigation instruments go on the blink and it will be found to be a power problem. Other items, such as refrigeration, lighting and communications, will not operate without a steady supply of sufficient power.

The quality of the original build, including wiring looms, determines how well everything works of course.

Often one of the problems is that the original power designer never dreamt of the size and number of extra electrical units that will be put into the boat. These “add ons” can often be the cause of flat batteries as time goes on. If you take up the cruising life and do not know much about 12v electrical systems then it will become a steep learning curve. To keep a cruising boat operating requires constant attention to the power supply. I well remember my first cruising boat which appeared to have been fitted out by a spider, with wires running everywhere. So when purchasing a secondhand yacht you need to make a careful study of wiring system throughout the yacht.

We will be posting news of products arriving and innovations in the technical side of the marine industry. We have been in the Marine industry for 23 years and have a wealth of knowledge and interesting and unusual tales. Watch this space for regular updates and information.