The Year`s Top Gear - Chafe-Pro

The Year’s Top Gear
From bullet blocks to TP, these are the must-haves.
The Torqeedo Travel 1003, tested here on a Wing Systems dinghy on Chesapeake Bay,
earned the Practical Sailor Editor’s Choice award as the electric propulsion pick.
Photos by Ralph Naranjo
I
t’s time once again for Practical
Sailor editors to announce the year’s
top picks with our Gear of the Year
(GOTY) roundup. Each year, as the fall
boat shows—and the deals that come
with them—appear on the horizon, we
pore over the numerous products we’ve
reviewed in the previous 12 months
to select the cream of the crop for our
Editor’s Choice awards. We hope the
list will help readers better navigate
any boat-show or end-of-season shopping. This year, we picked from the
Best Choice products evaluated in the
September 2010 through August 2011
issues, and here ... drum-roll, please ...
are the 2011 GOTY awardees:
Electric Outboards
Over the years, we’ve seen big strides
in the electric outboard market. While
the pragmatist looking at dollars-perknot or range prior to refueling may
not think it’s time to switch to electric
propulsion, making the move away
from oil-based power has many benefits: better air quality, less noise, lighter
weight, and best of all, no more filling
the tanks with expensive or ethanolblended fossil fuel.
In our January 2011 look at electric
outboards, we reviewed two Torqeedo
engines, the new Travel 1003 and the
previously PS-tested Travel 801, and the
Electric Paddle. We tested the trio on
various boats, including a 10-foot Avon
inflatable and Wing Systems rigid dink.
All are suitable for inflatables, dinghies,
and small sailboats.
Testers were impressed with the
Torqeedo Travel 1003, which proved
to be a significant upgrade to its predecessor, the T-801. With 30 percent
more battery power, plus an increase
in thrust and efficiency, the new unit
is even more user-friendly. Rated as a
3-horsepower outboard, the 7-pound
motor has a beefed-up, well-engineered
bracket to clamp it to the transom, and
both the tilt adjustment and the battery
support are more ruggedly structured.
Instrumentation (charge level, speed,
and GPS position) has been added, and
everything from the control handle to
the cabling has been rethought.
We tested the new Torqeedo
on a light, round-bilged
Wing Systems rigid
dinghy that literally
leaped to life with a
Seldén
twist of the wrist. The dinghy planed
instantly.
At full throttle in flat water on a 10foot inflatable, the 13-Ah battery has a
range of 2.1 nautical miles; half-throttle
range is 6 nautical miles; and at low
speed, it’ll run for about 11 miles.
Testers gave the lightweight, thrustefficient T-1003—which comes with a
two-year warranty and a $1,899 price
tag—two thumbs up and named it the
Editor’s Choice in electric propulsion.
(Since our test, Torqeedo has made
some improvements to the T-1003, including the ability to solar charge its
batteries.)
Bullet Blocks
Testers reviewed a batch of 40millimeter blocks for our
Seldén
June 2011 report,
(404-101-16R)
including
(404-101-01R)
practical sailor
september 2011 19
gear of the year
Marine Systems Standouts
P
ractical Sailor spent much of the last
12 months testing marine-systems
products—flushing toilets loaded with
faux poo and cycling bilge pumps till they would pump no
more. So it was no surprise to us that the bulk of our top
gear picks for the year were systems related. PS tapped three
marine heads—Raritan’s Marine Elegance, Planus’ Artic
Standard, and Dometic/Sealand’s SailVac—and two Shurflo
electric bilge pumps for the 2011 Gear of the Year (GOTY) list.
Electric-flush Toilets
Once considered a frivolous onboard luxury, electric heads
are now more compact, more reliable, and less expensive
than their predecessors. And retrofitting a boat that has a
manual head is not beyond the capabilities of a competent
do-it-yourselfer.
We selected 14 test toilets that represented a good crosssection of what’s available from major manufacturers. Testers
broke the field down into two groups based on toilet size. We
reported on seven “deluxe” electric-flush heads (comparable
to those found in residential bathrooms) in the March 2011
issue, and seven, more compact, and less expensive toilets
were reviewed in the February 2011 issue.
We bench-tested electric toilets from Dometic (Sealand),
Groco, Jabsco, and Raritan, comparing size, weight, price,
style, warranty, features, and functions. Testers also reviewed
instructions, documentation, construction and ruggedness of materials, ease
of installation, and installation options.
We evaluated ease of
Raritan Marine
electrical
and plumbing
Elegance
hookup, noted maintenance issues, and compared
functions. We tested for amp draw,
noise level, and ease of use. Using
equal batches of “faux poo”—one
blocks from Barton, Garhauer, Harken,
Karver, Holt, Ronstan, Schaefer, and Seldén. All of the units tested were balland/or roller-bearing designs, and the
trend toward more composite material
and less metal was evident.
To test the 13 blocks, we loaded the
line and blocks with 200 pounds of tension and measured how much force it
took to move the line in the closed-loop
arrangement. Testers also immersed the
blocks for a week in a heated, aerated
saline bath devised to accelerate oxidation, crevice corrosion, and dissimilar
20
september 2011
Planus Artic
Standard
banana, 4 feet of West Marine
single-ply tissue paper, and 1
cup of dyed water—we tested
the amount, speed, and efficiency
of rinse-water input and waste discharge.
The Raritan Marine Elegance
(220AHF01202) topped the field of
compact, electric-flush toilets, and
the Planus Artic Standard (90450)
was testers’ top pick among the deluxe
electric heads.
The Raritan is a heavy-duty toilet that has a large bowl and
a full-size seat, but its 12-inch footprint puts it in the compact
category. Our 39-pound test toilet was set up for pressurized
freshwater supply with a solenoid valve to control flow, but it
can be configured to operate with a separate supply pump. All
components are first-class and tucked nicely under the bowl.
Testers found hookup and installation to be easy, and the
function was fast, efficient, and quieter than most. The $630
Marine Elegance is a good compromise for someone who
wants the comforts of a home toilet, but is limited by space.
Boat owners looking for a deluxe throne should consider
the Planus Artic Standard. Manufactured in Italy and sold
through Scandvik Inc. in Vero Beach, Fla., the $1,200 Planus
was our price-is-no-object Best Choice. It has more oomph
than the small-boat owner will likely need (or want to pay
for), but this quiet, powerful, clean flusher was the cream of
the crop.
At 54 pounds, the Artic is quite heavy, but it has aboveaverage construction and came with a pre-wired harness that
connected to a sealed electronic box with a pushbutton. It
included a heavy-duty bronze inlet pipe with a large solenoid
and backflow preventer. The heart of the system is its highspeed Vortex discharge pump that Planus claims will push
liquid up to 29-feet high. All of its components are heavy
duty, and its operation was very impressive and efficient. It
was also the quietest in the test group.
metal corrosion.
The test came down to the wire with
the Harken and Seldén blocks holding the judges’ divided interest. Both
scored respectably in every aspect and
proved to be non-magnetic, corrosion
free after the soaking test, and close in
the under-load pull test.
It was hard to pick a winner, but in the
end, the decision went to the block with
slightly less friction. The Best Choice
honor and Gear of the Year award went
to both the Seldén tie (404-101-16R) and
swivel (404-101-01R) blocks.
The Seldén 40-millimeter blocks are
a testimony to the company’s commitment to stainless ball-bearing efficiency and long-term reliability. The
block frame is a glass-fiber/polyamide
injection-molded composite that’s
more metallic than other products
tested. The roller bearings are stainlesssteel as Seldén prefers metal because it
won’t deform under load or heat, and
the alloy they choose is very corrosion
resistant.
Options include a block with no
shackle; a lashable, molded model; or
www.practical-sailor.com
gear of the year
Products, Rule/ITT Corp., Shurflo,
Vacuum-flush Toilet
Testers used the same test protocol to test vacuum-flush toi- and Johnson Pump. We broke the
lets as we did the electric toilets. We reviewed two electric test field into groups by capacvacuum-flush units from Dometic Corp. (Sealand) and a man- ity: Pumps rated for 1,600 gallons
ual unit from Blakes Lavac Taylors in the August 2011 issue. per hour (GPH) or more were reDometic’s SailVac VHT 5200 was testers’ favorite in this group viewed in the September 2010 isof water misers, earning it a spot on the Gear of the Year list. sue, and those rated for 1,500 GPH
The SailVac VHT 5200 is an integral vacuum generator and or less were evaluated in the Octo14-gallon holding tank. It can be used with any of the com- ber 2010 issue.
All faced the same bench tests:
pany’s VacuFlush toilets, but we tested it with the 5148 model.
The heavy-duty polyethylene composite tank is specifically Testers measured flow rates and
SailVac
shaped to install vertically in the outboard bulkhead space power ratings at two voltages while
VHT 5200
in a head. It is exactly the same size as Sealand tanks already pumping fresh water into a tank set 4
feet above the pump. We also conducted
found on some production boats.
The SailVac tank measures 36 inches high, 20 inches wide, dry-run tests to confirm compliance with American Boat and
11 inches deep at the top and 5 inches deep at the bottom. Yacht Council standards. In the final analysis, we picked the
top-rated pump based on performance, warranty, wirSealand claims it has enough holding capacity for two
people for four days; we found this to be an accurate— Shurflo 1500 ing, and price.
Interestingly, bilge pumps from Shurflo topped
if not conservative—statement. It comes pre-wired
both test groups to grab spots on the GOTY line-up.
with a 12-volt, 3-amp motor, a vacuum pump, inTesters liked the quality of construction and “heft” of
ternal vacuum switch, and a tank sensor. There are
the $90 Shurflo 2000 (358-010-00), which was one of
also relays for an alarm and auto shutdown.
the heaviest pumps its size. We also liked the unique
The top of the tank has a discharge fitting exiting
360-degree swivel mounting option, the 60-inch
the air pump to evacuate foul odors while the air
leads, and the 2,000-GPH pump’s leader-of-thepump creates a vacuum. There is no vent. The
pack pumping capacity. While it drew a considervacuum pump is quiet and its integrated vacuum
able amount of power compared to other pumps,
generator/holding tank design simplified installait also delivered in terms of water moved.
tion, but it takes longer for the system to reach a
Likewise, the Shurflo 1500 (358-000full vacuum than other products tested.
Shurflo 2000
00) topped its group in pumping capacThe $1,772 SailVac will appeal to owners of boats
ity, clearing 10 gallons in 26 seconds, feaalready fitted with vertically oriented holding tanks of
roughly the same dimensions who are looking for a water- tured the 360-degree swivel mount, and was
saving electric head. The SailVac used only 2 pints of water the heaviest pump in its group (4 pounds,
14.5 ounces). But it also required about douduring test flushes.
ble the amount of power of the other tests
pumps.
Electric Bilge Pumps
Based on its excellent output, threeThe bilge pump market is crowded with everything from
inexpensive hand pumps to high-capacity electric pumps, year warranty, construction quality and
and we’ve tested many over the past few decades. This year, $56 price tag, the Shurflo 1,500 was testers’
we took a look at 18 electric pumps from Attwood Marine top pick in the low-capacity group.
a pinned-together conventional swivel Rapid-Dissolve Toilet Paper
design. The swivel version also has a Our in-depth coverage of marine heads
neat removable, molded insert that this year (see “Systems Standouts”)
slips over the shackle clevis and locks would not have been complete without
the shackle in one plane, moving only rolling out a test of quick-dissolving
when it is advantageous to do so.
toilet tissues for use in
Scott
Quick-Dissolve TP
The Seldén blocks, both
marine toilets and
rated for a 550-pound safe
on-board sanitation
work ing load a nd rope
systems.
sizes up to 3/8 inches, were
In the June 2011
the smoothest, low-friction
issue, we tested 10
blocks tested. The tie vertoilet tissues from
sion costs about $22, and the
seven manufacturers:
swivel runs about $28.
Coleman, Dometic,
practical sailor
Kimberly-Clark (Scott), Thetford, West
Marine, Camco, and Charmin. All are
relatively well-known brands and readily available from local marine and RV
distributors, or retail outlets. All are
touted as biodegradable, quick dissolving, and non-clogging.
The evaluation aimed to find out how
quickly the different TPs dissolved in
water, how strong they were, and how
soft they felt. We used bench tests to determine the first two criteria, and multiple testers used the products “in the
field” to get a feel for how soft each was.
september 2011 21
Ge a r o f t h e y e a r
Testers found the Norcross Hawkeye 22PX portable depth
sounder’s large digits easy to read in the sunlight.
Testers also looked at paper thickness,
price, and availability.
When all the scientific data was
crunched, Practical Sailor tapped
Scott’s Rapid Dissolving Tissue
(made by Kimberly-Clark) as the
best for use in marine heads and
onboard sanitation systems. Made for
RVs and boats, it was the fastest-dissolving product in our test. It wasn’t a very
strong paper, but it got the job done.
Sheets were relatively thick, and in terms
of dollars per ounce, it was a pretty good
value, costing $3 for four single-ply rolls
(308 sheets per roll).
Any of the marine and RV fastdissolving tissues we evaluated would
be better for your on-board toilet than
standard TP, but the Scott’s thorough
and fast dissolving earned it a spot on
our GOTY roster.
Handheld Depth Sounder
In the November 2010 issue, Practical Sailor tested two handheld depth
sounders: the Hawkeye 22PX from
Norcross Marine and the Depthmate
SM-5A. While we’re usually loathe to
apply a $100 battery-operated solution
to a problem easily solved with a chunk
of lead and some 3/8-inch line, we found
during testing
that these products ta ke t he
leadline to the
next level.
Resembling
small f lashlights,
the sounders are
designed to be portable, easy to use,
and reliable. Yes,
they require batteries, but they are only
on for 10 seconds at a
time, giving them an
exceptionally long working life on
one set of batteries.
The two units were tested over the
course of three days in the Gulf of Mexico and near Sarasota, Fla., in depths less
than 50 feet and in varying water conditions—from murky, shallow waters to
deeper, clear waters. The units’ ability to
read depths through hull materials was
tested in clear waters of 10 to 20 feet. All
readings were compared with simultaneous leadline soundings. Testers also
exposed each to a series of durability
tests involving cold, heat, impact, and
immersion.
The Hawkeye 22PX is made of black,
reinforced polyvinyl, and the sides of the
transducer are protected by high-density synthetic rubber. Rated as waterproof
to 200 feet, the Hawkeye floats, and it
passed all durability tests with flying
colors.
On the water, it performed very well,
but the shoot-through tests turned up
varying results. We did not register any
depths through cored material, but we
did get some readings through the thermoplastic Walker Bay and the fiberglass
without immersing the sensor and by
placing the unit firmly against the hull
bottom.
To record the depth on the 22PX, the
user presses a button below the small
display once. This backlights the LCD
screen and activates the sounder for 10
seconds. Its 3/4-inch-high digits are easy
to read in bright sunlight, although polarized sunglasses did make for difficult
viewing from an angle. Powered by four
AA batteries, the Hawkeye has a claimed
range of 199 feet.
The Hawkeye’s rugged construction
and ease of use make it an excellent
tool for gunkholing or for those cruisers who like to venture off the beaten
path. The $90 Hawkeye costs less than
half its competitor and outperformed
the Speedtech in testing to earn a 2011
Editor’s Choice award.
Handheld Performance Tool
Practical Sailor has been following the
rise of a small company that caters to
the speed freaks among us. Since 2005,
Velocitek has been refining a rugged,
battery-operated display designed to
give GPS-based speed data to sailors so
that they can get the best performance
on the boat. We reviewed Velocitek’s
SpeedPuck and its SC-1 in February
2010, but the company’s latest model,
the ProStart, proved to be our favorite
so far.
We pitted it against Rock City Marine’s Rock Box in a head-to-head test
we reported on in the May 2011 issue.
The products were evaluated on ease of
installation, performance on the water,
and durability. Testers also rated accompanying software. Both offer Windowsfriendly software that allows racers to
download and evaluate data, and we
also tested Velocitek’s Mac software,
Velocitool.
To evaluate installation and performance on the water, testers installed the
units on a 1974 O’Day Javelin. On-thewater evaluations took place over the
course of three days that saw sailing
speeds from 1 to 9 knots.
Powered by three AAA batteries, the
fully waterproof (IPX8) ProStart displays only essential performance data:
time to start, distance to line, speed
over ground, course over ground, and
The 16-ounce Velocitek ProStart measures 4.7 inches tall by 6.9 inches long.
22
september 2011
www.practical-sailor.com
gear of the year
Maintenance All-Stars
W
ith the gazillion marine maintenance products out
there, it’s an annual challenge to narrow the field
down to just a few superior products for our Gear of the
Year (GOTY) list. This year, our top maintenance picks came
out of our endless antifouling-paint testing and our performance evaluation of multi-purpose cleaners—products we
suspect most of you buy and use regularly.
Bottom Paint
In March 2011, we reported on our bottom-paint panels after
After 18 months, Epaint’s EP2000 (white) emerged from the
they had been submerged for 18 months in Sarasota Bay, Fla.
water with virtually no slime, earning it a spot on our 2011
Nearly half of the 65-paint test field succumbed to barnacle
Gear of the Year roster.
growth, but one paint emerged from the water nearly as clean
as the day it went in: Epaint’s EP2000. Other test paints included
products from Blue Water Paints, Flexdel, Interlux, Pettit, Sea
Hawk, Coppercoat, and BoatKoat Laminate.
Multi-purpose cleaners
In June 2009, the paints were applied to sections of fiber- We set out looking for one do-it-all cleaner, because really, who
glass panels per makers’ instructions. Testers sluiced the panels wants to buy every pricey specialty cleaner on the market? As it
with salt water and rated them: Excellent (no growth), Good turns out, some well-known manufacturers of specialty marine
(light soft growth), Fair (moderate to heavy soft growth), and cleaners—including Star brite, Marykate, and Yacht Brite—also
Poor (hard growth). Any paint rated Fair or better is continuing make products for general cleaning, so we launched a test to
to meet its designed purpose.
find the best multi-purpose cleaners on the market.
Epaint’s EP2000 is a unique hard paint that contains zinc
In the November 2010 issue, we tested a total of 15 products,
oxide, a chemical often found in sunscreens and
a cross-section of cleaners from popular marine manufacturdiaper cremes. Although it’s “biocide free,” it acts
ers. Most of the test cleaners are sold in spray
Marine
Spray Nine
much like a biocide-boosted paint: When exposed
bottles and ranged in price from $6 to $12 per
to sunlight, water, and dissolved oxygen, it releases
container. Testers put each one through a sean inhospitable layer of hydrogen peroxide around
ries of bench tests simulating real-world use.
the coated surface.
Following manufacturers’ instructions, testers
The $250-per-gallon, copper-free EP2000 won’t apused them to clean fiberglass, Formica, rubpeal to everyone—it’s not compatible with other
ber, and vinyl. We also compared them to the
paints, so switching to it may require some extra
top picks from our degreasers (February 2010) and
prep work—but its excellent performance after
mildew removers (January 2009) tests.
18 months garnered it a GOTY pick and makes it
The standout performers—and our GOTY
worth considering, especially for eco-conscious
picks—were Marine Spray Nine and MDRand racing sailors in search of a clean, smooth
Amazon’s Krazy Clean. Both earned excellent
bottom. However, because it requires sunlight
ratings for performance. Krazy Clean costs
to work, EP2000 may not perform as well in
about 33 cents per ounce, and Marine Spray
MDR Krazy Clean Nine runs about 17 cents per ounce.
locales that don’t see much sunshine.
a graphic wind shift indicator. Small
icons indicate battery level and mode.
The extremely intuitive interface relies on seven labeled buttons for each
important function. At the top of the
unit are buttons to select “start” or
“race” mode, max speed recorded, power, reset, and +1 (to add minutes to the
countdown timer). Two other buttons
define the starting line. ProStart also
will display distance to line and timeto-start. Other features include a tactipractical sailor
cal compass, countdown timer, speed
over ground, course over ground, and
a windshift indicator.
Testers found the $600 ProStart to
be well-designed and easy to install and
use. It offers racing sailors a technical
edge over other sailors and an ability
to replay, analyze, and share race data.
Small-boat sailors looking for a fun device to track speed and improve their
skills will also appreciate its portability.
It was the clear winner among hand-
held speed tools, earning it a spot on the
GOTY list.
Line Chafe Protection
The best type of chafe gear to rely on in
a storm is one that has high resistance
to abrasion, doesn’t cause heat build
up in the line, can be easily installed—
even when the line has already been
deployed—and stays in place. Practical
Sailor evaluated five products marketed
for chafe protection on and around boats
september 2011 23
Ge a r o f t h e y e a r
The commercial-grade Chafe-Pro easily fit standard chocks
and provides multi-layer chafe protection.
Kuhn Rikon Duromatic
24
september 2011
Pressure Cooker
Our Gear of the Year galley pick is the
Kuhn Rikon Duromatic spring-valve
pressure cooker. Pressure cookers are
the cruiser’s answer to the microwave.
The versatile galley tool saves on cooking fuel, water, and time—and having
a lid that’s locked on while cooking underway is a bonus. They also preserve
flavors and nutrients better than microwaving or regular cooking.
In the December 2010 issue, we tested four pressure cookers from Presto,
Kuhn Rikon, and Fagor. The test pots
were limited to stainless-steel 4- and
6-quart models, but most are also available in other sizes. We opted against
testing electric cookers as PS’s past
cruiser surveys have shown that most
onboard cooks opt for non-electric galley appliances.
For testing, we assembled and used
the cookers according to their instruction manuals, cooking potatoes in each
and then cooking a selected recipe from
each pot’s accompanying recipe book.
Testers also considered each cooker’s
construction, ergonomics, user-friendliness, instructions, price, warranty, and
the accessibility of customer help and
spare parts.
After weighing all the data—and
sampling all the food—the 6.3-quart
Kuhn Rikon got the nod as the best
pressure cooker. It performed flawlessly and earned Excellent ratings in
every category but one: The 100-page
cookbook earned only a Good as its
recipes were somewhat labor intensive,
requiring much preparation.
The Kuhn Rikon is extremely well
made, with necessary safety and functional features, an encapsulated-aluminum base, and no unnecessary flare. The
spring-valve system and double-red ring
visual indicator allows for greater cooking accuracy, quieter cooking, and the
ability to cook with less water and less
steam, which retains more of the food’s
nutrients and taste.
Testers found the Kuhn Rikon easy
to set up and use, and although the
tall, 9-pound pot is larger than others
tested, its compact handles make stowing it easier.
The efficient and user-friendly Duromatic, carries a hefty $200 price tag, but
it comes with a 10-year warranty and
it’s a solid investment for cruisers and
offshore passagemakers.
Contacts
Dometic / Sealand
800/321-9886, www.dometic.com
EPaint Co.
800/258-5998, www.epaint.com
Fjord inc.
336/567-0336, www.chafepro.com
Kimberly-Clark (Scott)
888/525-8388
www.kimberly-clark.com
Kuhn Rikon, 800/924-4699
www.kuhnrikon.com
MDR, 973/754-7087
www.mdramazon.com
Norcross, 888/766-7276
www.norcrossmarine.com
Planus (Scandvik)
800/535-6009, www.planus.biz
Raritan, 856/825-4900
www.raritaneng.com
Seldén, 843/760-6278
www.seldenmast.com
shurflo, 800/854-3218
www.shurflo.com
Spray Nine, 800/477-7299
www.spraynine.com
Torqeedo
www.torqeedo.com
Velocitek, 800/693-1610
www.velocitek.com
www.practical-sailor.com
Top photo by Ralph Naranjo
in the July 2011 issue. The test included
products from marine manufacturers
Davis Instruments, Fiorentino, Fjord
Inc., and Taylor Made.
This round of testing looked at abrasion, construction quality, and design.
Believing that abrasion resistance is the
most important characteristic in a chafe
guard, we tested each product on a jig we
designed to simulate accelerated wear.
We ended up using an angle belt sander
and a constant load, cantilevered jig that
allowed us to do one minute-long, lowRPM runs on each product.
All five of the products we tested provided useful abrasion protection, but
the handsdown winner was the Fjord
Chafe-Pro (08-HB-02, sized for 1- to
2-inch lines)—a commercial product
that holds just as much validity for the
recreational sailor, in our opinion.
The Chafe-Pro uses a patented,
heavy-duty nylon webbing and Velcro
system. The 24-inch-long, heavy weight,
quadruple-stitched webbing and double-locking Velcro end point make this
product a cut above the competition, in
our opinion. Despite its bulkier appearance, the Chafe-Pro was easy to install,
took an angle change in stride, and fit
into chocks with ease. It also shrugged
off the belt sander’s assault and easily
stayed locked tightly in place.
The Cha fePro’s comparatively higher
price—$50 per
guard—is a case
of getting what
you pay for, in
our opinion. It was the only test product to earn an Excellent rating for performance, earning it a berth on our
GOTY roster.