interesting news

[GordMay]

In the news ...

“Solar Association Promotes Commercialization of Photovoltaic Market”
The United States currently trails Europe and Japan in solar industry manufacturing and deployment. To boost the domestic solar electricity market, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has called upon Congress to enact sustained, annually declining tax credits for solar deployment on homes and businesses. The SEIA presented a report titled "Our Solar Power Future: The U.S. Photovoltaic Industry Roadmap for 2030 and Beyond" during the Jan. 26 Capitol Hill briefing. If SEIA's plan is implemented, it would lower retail solar electricity prices in the next decade and generate 60,000 U.S. solar industry jobs and $34 billion in new manufacturing investments.
Download a PDF of the report “Our Solar Power Future”:
http://www.seia.org/media/pdfs/pvroadmap.pdf

See also the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): http://www.seia.org/
http://www.seia.org/news/releases.asp?id=35


”Chinese Researchers to Build First Wave Power Station”
Chinese scientists are currently developing a stable electrical flow generated by waves, and by the end of this year, the team expects to build a complete wave power station. In the testing stage, a generator produced about 6kW, which can be used for powering lights, computers, air conditioners, and sea water desalination systems. A chief scientist estimated that a small wave power station with a total generation capacity of 50kW could supply enough electricity for an entire coastal village.
http://www.china.org.cn/english/2005/Jan/118893.htm

[GordMay]

From the “Good Old Boat” Newsletter:
http://www.goodoldboat.com/newslette...ewslett40.html

Coast Guard seeks amateur radio operators
To an individual involved in amateur radio (ham radio), the letters CQ sent via voice or Morse code is a request by the sender to talk to anyone listening on the frequency. Simply, the sending party is looking for a pleasant conversation. Right now the USCG Auxiliary is calling. They’re looking for a dialogue with those who are or want to become ham radio operators. For more information, go to: http://www.auxguidanceskills.info/pr...anted-ham.html
email Wayne Spivak: Wspivak@sbanetweb.com
or call 516-353-9155.

Surveyor and Good Old Boat contributing editor Bill Sandifer is our answer man. To contact him with your questions, email Bill at: devilsel@ametro.net

Q
I’ve just recently started reading your magazine because I am stumped by a problem with our 1967 Pearson Commander. We’ve just installed a new Mercury 9.9 with remote in the motor well. This sounds great until we realized that the new motor did not solve all of our “under-power issues.” Our motor well is being flooded by water coming up through the “hole” designed to accommodate the 9.9’s prop shaft. This flooding problem is causing the motor to choke on its own exhaust (the water swirling around in the compartment floods the exhaust port on the back of the 9.9). There is no danger in sinking, it’s just that the motor runs erratically when the water floods the compartment. There is a drain, though it gets overwhelmed by the amount of water. We were just wondering if any other Pearson Commander owners have run into similar problems and what did they do to solve it? Please respond; we’ve been working on this problem for the past several years.

A
Your problem is typical of a number of boats. The solution is to provide a dedicated fresh-air supply to the engine that originates outside the engine compartment. Running a flexible 3-inch vent hose from the clamshell vent on the aft deck adjacent to the engine compartment to the engine itself does this. You will need to modify the engine with a permanently attached PVC pipe and elbow that will allow the engine to take in the clean air without getting the water. This PVC pipe should be sized to allow the fresh air hose to slip over the PVC and be secured with a hose clamp. This will allow you to disconnect the fresh air hose from the engine when you need to remove the engine from the boat.

Design the system so the flexible hose does not get crushed when you tilt the engine up for sailing or remember to remove the hose when under sail. The outboard engines have different locations for fresh-air intake…usually underneath the engine in front of the carburetor. Check your engine and attach the PVC with epoxy or screws, whatever works best. Use a permanent method of attaching the flexible hose to the clam shell vent. If it can fall off, it will. This is a good winter project, just be sure the engine will get fresh air and the flexible hose will not allow water into the air stream or your engine will not run at all.

One of several Sailing Quotes:
”Sailors, with their built-in sense of order, service, and discipline, should really be running the world.” ~ Nicholas Monsarrat, 1966

And much more ...
Great Magazine, great newsletter http://www.goodoldboat.com/newslette...ewslett40.html

Gord

[GordMay]

The Top 25 Innovations of the past 25 years ...
The Internet changed the world. So it should come as little surprise that it headlined the top 25 innovations of the past quarter century. See what else made the list ...
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/01/03/c...ons/index.html

FWIW,
Gord

And for the lazy
TOP INNOVATIONS:
1. The Internet
2. Cell phone
3. Personal computers
4. Fiber optics
5. E-mail
6. Commercialized GPS
7. Portable computers
8. Memory storage discs
9. Consumer level digital camera
10. Radio frequency ID tags
11. MEMS
12. DNA fingerprinting
13. Air bags
14. ATM
15. Advanced batteries
16. Hybrid car
17. OLEDs
18. Display panels
19. HDTV
20. Space shuttle
21. Nanotechnology
22. Flash memory
23. Voice mail
24. Modern hearing aids
25. Short Range, High Frequency Radio (Wi-Fi)

[GordMay]

Canada may adopt more ABYC standards:

A contract renewal between the American Boat & Yacht Council and Transport Canada will give Canada’s transportation department broader access to ABYC standards as a reference tool.

Transport Canada has regulations and standards in place to govern marine safety in Canada. Although these regulations and standards are developed by the department, they sometimes incorporate standards developed by other organizations in Canada, the United States and internationally, such as the ABYC standards for the design, construction, maintenance and repair of small vessels.

This contract expands existing electronic access to seven ABYC standards to cover all ABYC standards. In addition, Transport Canada will examine the ABYC standards to determine if more of them can be incorporated into Canadian regulations.

“We are thrilled that Transport Canada has broadened its access and potential use of ABYC standards,” said ABYC president Skip Burdon, in a statement. “My hope is that this will encourage other Canadian marine industry organizations to work with ABYC.”

ABYC, NMEA agree on standards roles

The American Boat & Yacht Council and the National Marine Electronics Association have reached agreement on each organization’s role in setting industry standards.

“In short, ABYC is responsible for electrical system standards and NMEA is responsible for electronic component installation standards — equipment that interfaces with or is connected to the electrical system,” said ABYC president and CEO, Skip Burdon.

“Ultimately, our goal is the same — and that is to ensure that safe boats are produced and maintained,” said NMEA technical director Steve Spitzer.