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INTRODUCTION
What
is a Cruising powerboat? What features earn a
powerboat the right to have the prefix 'cruising' used when discussing a particular make
or model. Cruising motor boats (UK
and Commonwealth Countries), powerboats (USA),
ships (Netherlands)
come in all shapes and sizes. Choosing one that fits your needs and financial abilities is
what this book is all about. In the interests of consistency I will refer to the motor
driven vessels we are discussing as 'powerboats'. While my US
readers will be happy with this I must ask the indulgence of my readers in the UK
and Commonwealth countries.
In the past I had a few preconceived ideas on
what constituted a minimum size cruising powerboat; fortunately recent experiences while
cruising around Southern France have expanded my knowledge to the extent that I agree
'size is not everything'. There is a relationship between the size of your cruising
powerboat and the type of cruising that may be possible or prudent for you to undertake in
various sized vessels. My brief, is to explore the possibilities from the smallest, and
perhaps least expensive, to the largest cruising powerboat boat that can be comfortably
handled by a crew of two.
Chapter
1. GETTING STARTED
My
boat or a family boat. Where and how will you use the boat? Where will you keep it? How
much boat do you need? Using the boat to
generate income. What speed RANGE do you want? What can you afford? How much will it cost?
Keeping within your budget. Where to look, new or second-hand or build? Dealing with a
broker. Surveys. Taxes. Chartering your boat. Trailerable cruisers. Trawler Yachts.
Fishermen type.
Chapter
2. CHOOSING THE
HULL
TYPE
Semi-displacement
or full-displacement hull types. Planing. Planing strakes. Chine or round bilge. Power
Catamarans. Formulas and technical terms and what they mean. Displacement length ratios.
Hull
construction materials.
Chapter
3. PASSAGEMAKERS
History.
Hull
Design. Engineering. Number of engines. Fuel management. Sail assistance. Stabilizing
methods and equipment. Special charts and graphs.
Chapter
4. ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation;
number of berths. Cabin soles. How many heads? Designing and equipping a galley. Various
fuels for your stove (gas, diesel, alcohol, paraffin). Placement of sink and stowage of
food and other stores. Showers, hot water and pressure water. Water tankage. Waste tanks.
Comfortable seating; measurements and suggestions. Chart table. Sail stowage.
Refrigerators and ice boxes. Lighting. Ventilation. Heating. Air conditioning
Chapter
5. OUTSIDE LIVING
Decks.
Deck Surfaces. Fly bridges, Cockpits, Outside seating. Deck areas for lounging. Swim
platforms. Life rails .Pulpits and bowsprits. Handrails. Deck wash pumps and their many
uses. Awnings. Hatch covers. Bimini covers. Windage.
Chapter
6. POWER OPTIONS
Single
or twin. Cruising range. Diesel or petrol (gas). Single or twin. Inboard, Stern gear.
Propellers. Stern drive or outboard. Other propulsion arrangements. Engineroom layout.
Chapter
7. ENGINES AND ASSOCIATED GEAR
Engine
compartments - Accessibility. Engine room insulation. Engine bearers and beds. Engine
mountings, Stuffing boxes and bearings. Exhaust Systems. Understanding horsepower.
Powering your motor cruiser. Powering displacement hulls. Powering semi-displacement
hulls. Powering.
Chapter
8. ENGINEERING SYSTEMS
Hydraulic-v-
mechanical steering. Autopilots. Navigation systems. Alarms for all systems. Fire control. Active Stabilizers. Passive
stabilizing systems. Fuel tanks. Filtration systems. Water tanks. Waste tanks. Systems for
larger vessels-reuse of lubricating oil. Spare parts. Cruising tool kit.
Chapter
9. MARINE
ELECTRICS
Glossary.
Electrical Installations. Ac and DC systems. Managing you electrical supply - v - usage.
Domestic batteries. Engine starting batteries. Battery
chargers. Generating sets. Testing
Chapter 10 OTHER EQUIPMENT
Radar.
Radios and other communications. Dinghy. Inflatable tenders. Rigid Dinghies. Davits. Anchors and chain. Anchor winch. Cleats and bitts.
Fenders. Mooring lines.
Chapter
11. SAFETY
EQUIPMENT
Lightening
protection, Bonding, Fire extinguishers, Smoke alarms, Life jackets and life vests,
Harnesses and safety lines, Man overboard, Emergency steering, Air bags, Through hulls and
Sea cocks. Radar reflectors, Life rafts. EPIRB. Safe sun. Guns. Things to stay away from,
drugs, smuggling, pornographic literature, carrying books or videos that may offend other
cultures. Dress code.
Chapter
12.
CUSTOM
BUILDING IN STEEL OR ALUMINUM
Creating
the design, making the calculations and preparing the cutting files. CNC Cutting,
assembling the hull deck and superstructure. Several Roberts designed powerboats will be
used to illustrate all of the steps in designing and building from a pre-cut steel or
aluminum hull deck and superstructure package.
Chapter
13. CRUISING THE INLAND WATERWAYS OF
EUROPE
Special
equipment, paperwork, handling the locks, cruising fees, getting by with minimum French,
where to go.
Chapter 14. POWERBOAT PLANS
This chapter shows a selection of powerboats
(7 m / 24 ft to 26 m / 85 ft) that you can build from scratch in
fiberglass, steel or wood /epoxy.
Chapter 20. POWERBOAT KITS AND CUTTING FILES:
This chapter shows a
selection of powerboats (10 m / 32 ft to 32 m / 104 ft) that you can build
in steel or aluminum for
pre-cut kits.
APPENDIX 1. RECOMMENDED READING:
A selection of books
that the author recommends to any person involved in building or owning a powerboat.
APPENDIX 2. RECOMMENDED SUPPLIERS:
Names and addresses
of suppliers of supplies of equipment of interest to powerboat builders and
owners
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