Every year $massive amounts of marine motor components is eaten away by salt corrosion. The salt water boating environment with prolonged salt laden winds, ocean spray from breaking waves is tough for any gear to combat. Effective salt removal is critical if you want your gear to last as it was hopefully designed to.
Salt is unique in its ability to cling to surfaces, combine this with its hydroscopic nature and it doesn’t matter how much fresh water you throw a it, a residual amount will be left behind establishing a salt corrosion areas which will end up destroying what ever gear it has adhered to. So complete salt removal is a must, otherwise your expensive boat, plus if you love fishing, your valuable game fishing reels will fail during the catch of a life-time. Even your hooks & lures will suffer, quietly rotting away, then the is your expensive marine electronics!.
Most of the salt corrosion goes on without us seeing it, your meticulous cleaning with fresh water often washes salt into cracks and crevices that are out of sight. Now the salt commences its caustic action, quietly dissolving the surfaces it is in contact with.
So what is the answer to salt removal?
The key to effective salt removal is salt neutralisation; making the salt inert so it has no reactivity and removing the salt crystals that can jamb rigging, winches and fishing reels. This is best done with water soluble salt neutralising solutions, that react with the salt coating the seen and jamming the unseen surfaces, altering its reactivity to stop the salt’s corrosive nature.
The most powerful products for doing this is Salt-X SX50 & Buster 50, they are economic and, highly concentrated and neutralize salt virtually on contact. SX50 & Buster 50 have the capacity to wick into cracks and crevices de-naturing the salt hiding there and halting the corrosive ability of the salt residue. An added benefit is the coating that is left once SX50 & Buster 50 have air dried. This gives the treated equipment enhanced protection and makes salt removal easier next time round. It also leaves important lubricants intact, unlike alternative solvent based products!
So if you are committed to removing salt from your marine motor, start using SX50 & Buster 50 and halt the salt corrosion that is quietly destroying your investment.
So, you may be wondering what boat electronics you need to maintain a safe and efficient operating boat.Using the right boating electronics can not only help your fishing and cruising experiences but can also prevent colamity and tragedy from striking. It is important to have the right marine electronics to ensure that you arrive home safelyHowever, even more imparative is the ability to use the equipment, so always be sure to study the instruction manuals before heading out onto the water.
It is important to ensure that you have the latest, proficient boat electronics but it is also important to be able to use alternate methods of navigation in the unlikely event your modern devices should fail. Just as ancient mariners and sailors did, it is a good idea to have an understanding of navigation based on the time, direction, and landmarks. Furthermore, you should be able to effectively read charts and plot a course with or without your electronic equipment.
When selecting boat electronics it is suggested make a few queeries that will help determine what you actually need.Things to consider include your location, your destination, the depth of the water, the distance from land and other boats, and communications among some less important factors.Considering these issues will guide you to a search for reliable GPS receivers, chart-plotters, depth sounders, radar and AIS, and marine radios.These should be considered the essentials.You may also think about certain boat electronics to help with fishfinding as well.
Mutifunction displays are a great advantage in managing whatever equipment you get. These are extremely helpful in taking in the information efficiently and allowing you to display it in a comprehensive manner. Remember, the larger the display, the better since it will be easier for you to see regardless of your environment, be it the glaring sun, rolling swells, or a thunderstorm. When choosing a display option, always go for at least 7″ but 10-12″ is much better.
The display can coordinate with optional peripherals as well as your essential marine electronics.These peripherals might include a DVD or Blue-Ray player, cable or satellite TV receivers, stereo equipment, fishfinders, and even some computer devices. You should consider devices such as a radar scanner, AIS receiver, depth sounder, weather module, and GPS plotter. Any of the peripherals required for the safe navigation of your boat should be neatly mounted in plain sight and easily accessible at all times. However, if you choose to include any of the optional items, it is a good idea to mount them out of sight in an organized and clutter-free manner leaving the space open for any essential equipment.
So, why would you set up a peripheral-based boat electronics system on your vessel? This type of system definitely has its advantages; the most prevalent being that overlaying displays from the various components makes the incoming data easier to understand and a littler simpler to relate to your current situation.
One electronic device, mentioned above, which is not required but could become a life-saving feature is the AIS system.This system is used by private boats and commercial ships as well as the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) to identify and locate vessels. It’s comparable to the FAA’s Air Traffic Control. The AIS system is an invaluable boat electronics component that allows ships to exchange data electronically. Such data includes position, course, speed, and identification.When your vessel has a transponder for this system it will show up as a blip on the computer screens at the VTS stations. If there is ever an emergency or you lose your way, the AIS system can reduce the severity of the situation.
The depth sounder is another device that many boating enthusiasts don’t think they need.This device can help ensure a safe and pleasurable day on the water, especially if the weather turns bad. If the fog starts rolling in and your boat is being tossed around, the depth sounder combined with a GPS plotter can help prevent you from running aground while an autopilot syncs with the GPS system and gets you to port safely.
Technology is constantly evolving and there are usually improvements to the marine electronics available on the market. One great advance is the laptop specifically designed for marine environments.This computer can be used as any other computer for day-to-day functions, but can enhance your navigational suite when equipped with special systems (like RayTech RNS 6.1 and an Ethernet connection).
With all the choices in boat electronics these days, it can be impossible to choose which ones are best for your vessel.The easiest way to start equipping your boat is by getting the basics, GPS plotter, depth sounder, VHF radio and continuing from there.Once you have ample navigational and communications systems, you can invest more energy and money in the non-essentials that make boating a little more enjoyable and safer.
