News — Boating

Full Duplex Wireless Headsets, Truly Marriage Savers!

By: Panbo

I’ve often heard wireless headsets referred to as marriage savers but before cruising full time I didn’t realize the accuracy of the nickname.  Now after several years of regular use, I wouldn’t want to cruise without them.  But there are multiple brands and types of headsets, and two we’ve used extensively each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Before getting into the details, I’ll explain when the headsets became important to us. Early on, it was fairly easy to tie up at our home slip in Chicago with dock lines preset and a well-understood plan, and unfamiliar docks were definitely the exception. But when we began cruising, nearly every docking was at a new slip and frequently prone to last minute changes. Chaos sometimes ensued.

Have Another Day has a stern docking camera with a good view of the swim platform and a microphone in the camera.  That microphone allows me to hear my wife, Laura, when she’s standing in our cockpit and frequently a dockhand standing near the stern.  This could lead to dialogs that went something like this:

• Dockhand to Laura:  Do you want this line cleated off?
• Laura (looking at the camera): Do you want the line cleated?
• Me (in a fairly normal voice):  Yes
• Laura: Ben, do you want this line cleated off?
• Me (in a louder but still not shouting voice):  Yes
• Laura (in a more insistent tone): BEN, do you want this line cleated off?
• Me (in a full shout):  YES
• Laura (in an annoyed tone):  Okay, but you don’t have to yell…

After a few of those exchanges, the need for better communications was clear.  With a little research, I determined that there are two companies with strong products to suit our needs.

Eartec UltraLITE

The Eartec UltraLITE headsets use DECT 6.0 — the standard developed for cordless phones that finally made them work reliably, if you remember those — in the 1900mhz frequency range.  The UltraLITE headset is available in single and dual earcup designs depending on the user’s preference and up to five headsets can be connected to each other for full-duplex communications between all headsets. Full-duplex is the ability to both talk and hear the other person at the same time, unlike some alternatives like VHF handhelds.

Each UltraLITE system consists of one master headset and up to four remote headsets, and the master must be powered up for any headsets to be able to converse.   Eartec offers their headsets in bundles with varrying configurations of single and dual ear-cup ranging from $385 for a two person, single ear-cup system to $1,020 for a five person, dual ear-cup system.  All configurations include batteries, charger and a carrying bag.  If more than five headsets are needed an Eartec Hub can be used which allows up to 9 headsets to converse.

Ultralite self-contained headsets can also be paired with the ULP1000 beltpack which supports a number of corded headsets.  UltraLITE and beltpack headsets have an advertised range of 400 meters in open areas.

The headsets and beltpacks all use a common lithium-ion rechargeable battery back.  Eartec includes either a 2 or 8 battery charger based on the number of headsets in the bundle ordered.  Additional chargers are available to charge either two ($50) or eight ($80) batteries at a time.  Eartec says each battery lasts 6 hours on a charge.

Sena Headsets

Sena’s line of headsets use Bluetooth to connect to each other and also to mobile devices.  So, in addition to being used as an intercom, the Sena headsets can be used as a Bluetooth headset for phone conversations and as stereo wireless headphones to listen to music.  Sena’s headsets can support up to four parties in an intercom session.  

Sena has four different models two lightweight models and two more rugged and water resistant models.  The $150 Expand with a short fixed microphone is the lowest priced model, the $180 SPH10-10  adds a flexible boom microphone, a jog wheel to control it and a wired auxiliary input.  The more rugged Tufftalk series has sound deadening capabilities for high noise environments and also have FM radios built in.  The $250 Tufftalk Lite is the entry model, while the $400 Tufftalk is the most rugged and heavily built of the lineup.

Sena says their headsets have a range of up to 800 meters in open areas.

How do they compare?

Whichever headset brand you choose you won’t go wrong, but the two companies’  products have quite a few differences and you may find one brand fits your needs better than the other.   Overall, I’ve found the audio quality to be higher on Eartec’s headsets.  The Sena’s audio quality is perfectly acceptable (I would equate it as similar to telephone call quality), but the Eartec’s quality is really good.   But then again, Sena’s ability to make or take phone calls –like maybe with the marina office– or listen to some soothing music in the background may be more valuable to you.

All of Eartec’s self-contained units (those without a separate belt pack and headset) are over the head style and come in a single headband size.  I have an abnormally large head and hence have had no troubles with UltraLITE staying on my head, but my more normal wife has found that if she leans forward too far the headset slips off.  The Sena’s Expand and SPH10-10 are both behind the neck style which seems to better fit smaller heads.

The Eartec units are a little simpler to get connected for conversations between more than two headsets.  UltraLITE headsets ship be paired to a master unit and can all be used together as soon as they’re powered up.  The Sena headsets will automatically establish a two-party conference On power up, but each additional headset has to call one of the active pair to join the conversation.  This isn’t hard to do — it’s initiated with a simple button press — but it’s another step that must be completed before everyone is talking together.

The Sena units are only available in dual-ear designs with both ears covered.  In docking situations, I would prefer to have one ear uncovered to be able to hear what’s happening around the boat as well as what my crew is saying.  Eartec has models with both single and dual ear cups.

Although the Sena headsets have a longer stated range, in my testing I found the Eartecs to work over greater distances.  The Eartecs both went further before audio began to break up and worked a greater distance before the audio became so garbled it couldn’t be understood.  Both headsets provide real-world range of several hundred feet with good quality and working through multiple decks into the engine room has never been a problem, so I don’t think range will be a major factor for either company’s headsets.

This summer while navigating a challenging area Laura used our dinghy to lead Have Another Day through the shallows.  We’ve done this before with two-way radios but with headsets we were able to comfortably converse without breaking concentration or taking hands off the vessel controls for the radio.  We also frequently use the headsets in a lock and while performing maintenance tasks in the engine room that requires someone at the helm.

We have been thrilled with the difference full-duplex headsets make while docking.  Instead of minimal communication at a yell, we are able to carry on conversations in a normal speaking voice and calm tone.  Docking can be stressful and nothing gets my stress up faster than having someone who can see part of the boat I can’t yelling something I can’t make out.  I’m left to wonder: Should I stop?  Should I throw the boat in reverse?  Should I keep going?   With headsets, I know the difference between “someone fell in so stop everything“ and “oh look, a dolphin.”

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Weird Fishing Reel Tech Update (REALLY WEIRD) | Pontoon-Depot

By: Fish Talk Magazine

Ummm... why are you putting that fishing reel into a refrigerator?

Have you ever spooled up a reel with braid, and then become flummoxed when it spun freely around the spool? Yep, it’s happened to us too. So like most folks, we figured the braid had been put on too loose. We stripped the spool, and re-spooled it under more tension. And it seemed to work fine – until it didn’t. The usual solution? Tie 10 or 20 feet of mono to the braid, and reel that onto the spool first. Well fellow anglers, we have some very interesting technical information to share with you.

This all started when FishTalk reader Walt Tomczykowski bought and spooled a pair of new reels early this past winter. Everything seemed honkey-dory, until on a chilly December afternoon Walt discovered that the drags on both reels had somehow mysteriously failed. Further investigation showed that it wasn’t a drag issue, but the braid line was spinning freely around the spool.

Most of us would have simple re-spooled with a longer mono backing. But not Walt. Oh no, he just couldn’t be satisfied. Being a reliability and quality engineer in addition to being a fish-head, Walt started thinking about the problem on a technical level that most of us strive to avoid.

“In the comfort of my kitchen everything worked fine,” Walt explains. “After a long drive to fish at a favorite fishing spot, in the 40-degree temperatures it did not. But back at home, it worked again.”

Tomczykowski began applying a barrage of tests. In one, he placed the reel into his refrigerator to simulate a chilly outdoor temperature – and that’s when the problem arose again. He taped a thermocouple (a sensor that measures temperature) to the spool, and when it hit 50 degree, the reel started to work once more. The experiment was repeated with no line and with all mono, and the reel worked perfectly fine in all temperatures from 32 degrees to room temperature. Finally, with some mono backing (enough for a couple of layers around the spool) the experiment was performed one more time and the reel works in both the cold and at room temperature, too.

“Isolating the issue to the spool and use of braid, I realized the lightweight aluminum spool was contracting with the temperature change,” Walt explains. “I didn’t think about the new slick spectra braid not contracting. I ran calculations on my spool in question, with a length of 0.625" and a radius of 0.5", determined the surface area of the spool, and applied the coefficient of thermal contraction for aluminum and a delta T of 34 F.” (Editor’s note: huh???)

“The change in area was 0.001749 inch square, or in other words approximately 1.8 mils or a couple thousandths of an inch.”

Thank you, Walt (does anyone have an Advil?) We further note that Spectra maker Jerry Brown recommends: "Spool the first full layer of Spectra onto the spool in a close side-by-side fashion under tension of six to eight pounds of pressure over the tag end,” to eliminate this issue. But Walt goes on to note, “To account for variance, or to minimize the risk of human variability or improper spooling (as noted in your staff's Five Tips for Winter Tackle Maintenance article), if the spool does not have a braid-ready rubber ring, adding tape or a layer of mono easily makes up for any shrinkage that may occur.”

Finally, Walt notes that you can test before you cast, by simply putting your new reels into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. His wife has no comment.

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Today’s Pontoons | Boatmate is Taking Trailers to a New Level.

By: Pontoon and Deck Boat

The evolution of pontoons over the past 10 or so years is actually quite impressive when you step back and admire the tremendous growth. Today’s boats are bigger, faster and loaded with amenities most would never have thought possible on a pontoon boat. As more focus is being placed on these high-end performance pontoons, can the same be said about the trailer? Or simply put: does your trailer below keep pace with your investment above? That’s a question we feel more consumers need to be asking when buying pontoon boats built today. 

In an attempt to learn more about the advancements in pontoon trailers specifically, we reached out to Boatmate Trailers, a Tennessee-based manufacturer, who is quickly gaining in market share by offering quality trailers built to match the next generation of pontoons.

At Boatmate Trailers, their mission is to exceed customers’ expectations with innovative, quality products and exceptional service to the marine industry, and that was clear to us as we took a closer look at one of its standard trailers. 

“Boatmate has been in business 30-plus years and has evolved into pontoon trailers over the past 10 years,” says Randy O’Malia, the regional sales and marketing manager. “We’re building trailers to match the new style of today’s pontoons. A lot of people are out there looking for more and we want to give them a trailer that mimics what they buy with their pontoon itself.” 

Package Deal? 
O’Malia’s advice to those considering buying a new boat today is to pay close attention when you’re shopping for your next pontoon trailer. While some manufacturers offer packages that include trailers, savvy buyers always consider the big picture and want to make sure the trailer offered is best for their needs. 

“Our company is strong in engineering and we’re always looking ahead,” adds O’Malia. “We like our product to look good, but safety is our highest priority." 

Another factor to Boatmate’s popularity is their willingness to listen to dealers as well as to customers. When the manufacturer first started building trailers the bunks were fixed, but after consulting with dealers they decided to make them adjustable for a more custom fit for each pontoon.

A Step For Your Step 
There are several key features that allow Boatmate trailers to stand out against others, including their exclusive built-in spiral stairway. 

“We’ve noticed with other trailers you need a step ladder just to get to the trailer ladder,” says O’Malia. “We have a built-in step below the trailer frame and then the staircase wraps around for easy access. This ladder has been very well-received by our dealers and customers and we’re proud of this design as well.”

The specific trailer we inspected included standard features like alloy wheels, LED lights and polyurethane paint. The only options were the vinyl bunk covers and the boat guide. The vinyl bunks are a new dealer-inspired option, but carpet is still available as a standard feature. Another nice added touch is the large transom step that provides easy access to get on the boat, as well as other user-friendly designs. 

Providing customers with superior products for the best value will continue to be the focus at Boatmate Trailers. Before you buy your next pontoon you should take into consideration what will be cradling it as you’re cruising down the road to your favorite body of water. 

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.

Joining A Marina Community | In Boating Safety, Tips and Pontoons!

By: LoweBoats.com

Boating means many things to many people. For some, it means thrill-seeking hours of wakeboarding, water skiing and tubing, or perhaps it means peaceful daybreak and twilight hours with a rod and tackle. For others, it means relaxing cruises and warm summer afternoons of dropping the hook for swimming, sunbathing and dining al fresco.

But at its heart, boating is really about community. As you share your passion for the on-water lifestyle with your family and friends, you naturally will gravitate to other families, couples or groups who share the same interests. And when you become a community, your entire on-water experience goes to the next level. It just keeps getting better and better.

Yet, how can you find those like-minded people?

It’s easy. Find a marina near you or near your favorite cruising grounds that fits your personality and lifestyle. It’s guaranteed that most of the other boaters there will be your kind of boaters. In fact, the right marina will provide countless ready-made playdates.

How do you choose the right marina? It’s simple: Do a little homework, and talk to people — marina management and slip-holders alike.

These are a few important questions to ask yourself as you start reviewing marina prospects:

• Does the marina easily accommodate boats like yours? A sailors’ marina might not be the best for a pontooner seeking other pontooners, and a marina catering to larger cruising boats might not be as appealing as one that serves vessels of all sizes, shapes and styles.
• Is the marina located in or near appropriate waters? A pontooner should dock his or her boat in a marina that offers access to relatively sheltered cruising grounds with lots of interesting nooks and crannies to explore. A coastal marina that is a gateway to big, open and frequently rough waters wouldn’t be the best place for a pontoon.
• What amenities are important to you? Are you simply looking for a place to dock your boat and hang out with other boaters, or would you like to take advantage of shower facilities, laundry, picnic areas, special events and other attractions?
• Is there a good vibe on the docks? Do people look like they’re enjoying themselves? Ask them how they like the marina and if there have been any problems or concerns.
• How do you feel when you tour the facility and talk with the management? Do you feel ill at ease, or do you feel comfortable? In the end, you want to form a relationship with the marina owners and staff. If you feel that they’re your kind of people, you’re going to be happy keeping your pontoon there.

For extroverts, some of the main delights at a marina are hanging out on the boat at the end of a fun day on the water, visiting with the boaters next door and across the way, savoring an ice-cold beverage and listening to music.

At the nearby Skipper Bud’s Quarter Deck Marina, seasonal slip-holders could enhance their experience with outdoor grills, an outdoor fireplace, a covered pavilion and a plush boaters’ lounge with all the extras. On one occasion, I spotted a crowd of boaters enjoying an impromptu suppertime picnic in the pavilion — their laughter and good cheer were infectious.

Some marinas, like the Bay Harbor Lake Marina in Bay Harbor, Michigan, offer formal events such as in-water boat shows, classic boat shows and rendezvous cruise-ins. Others, like Marina Jack’s in Sarasota, Florida,  are part of large complexes that incorporate restaurants, retail outlets and watersports equipment rentals.

The best part is that you don’t need to be on the East or West coasts or in the Great Lakes. You can be an inland-lake boater and still enjoy the very best of marina life. Just look at operations such as the Ozark Yacht Club  in Missouri, the Holiday Marina on Georgia’s Lake Lanier and even the Frisco Bay Marina  and Dillon Marina, both located at 9,000 feet in the snow-capped Rocky Mountains.

Marinas have embraced the idea that they, too, need to focus on community. To that end, they have added those aforementioned amenities — things like swimming pools, picnic areas, pavilions and gazebos — that encourage gathering. And they have created a formidable list of events, from Venetian parades, Fourth of July fireworks and Halloween trick-or-treating to regattas, cruising clubs, rendezvous events and dockside barbecues.

If you don’t currently belong to a marina community, what are you waiting for? Jump online and do a search for marinas in your chosen boating area. You might also want to do a more general search for exciting events and activities in that region… for example, in the Lake of the Ozarks, you won’t want to miss www.funlakelife.com and www.lakeozarknow.com.

Don’t be shy – your new and improved boating lifestyle is out there, waiting for you!

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