IMO, there's a shortage of discussion on equipment being used or under
consideration by those serious about PUP. I find little interest for such on  T&T,
and despite several previous, failed attempts to get info here,  I'm going to
try it one more time before giving up. What guys like me really  need is what
George Day promised and delivered for a short time before  he reneged - his
unbiased, non-commercial BWS mag. A shame he didn't  continue what should have
been - a passagemaking version of PS/PBR.

1. I'm looking to replace my WeatherTrac,  but WXWORX coverage is poor
   outside the US, and GRIB forecasting  leaves me cold. Anyone?

2. Paravanes. I have them (300s) and have made considerable progress taming
   them for single-handed deployment/retrieval. Would like to know what others
   are  doing and share what I know. I see that all the Nordhavn folks seem to run
   the  shackle in the 8.5 knot hole but cruise at lower speeds (7.5). Why is
   that?

3. Is anyone using AIS and if so, what is your experience? Seems to me that
   units with a transponder aren't going to be worth it, as the big guys will
   have  Class B switched off due to clutter, at least when coastal. What about
   off-soundings? Will the big boys be looking for we small fry? If so, it might be
   worth it.

I'd be pleased to hear from anyone, off-list, or on.

Regards,

John
"Seahorse"

A short note on your three subjects:

1. Weather - I use a weather router on long voyages with daily contact- 

i.e. weeks, I use the NOAA internet access for shorter voyages, i.e. days,
and I always review the 4 times a day weather report from Inmarsat which
tracks all gale and larger storms world wide.

2.  I use paravanes about 80% of the time - they work very well and 

never leak or overheat. I am not familiar with your term "8.5 knot" hole; I
use the center of the 5 holes available.  Please educate me on what the
instructions say since I do not have any instructions for mine.

3. I do not have AIS but I am very inclined to add it to my equipment. I 

traveled through the Straits of Gibraltar at night with 12 boats one of
which was equipped with AIS in 2004.  It was mostly a night passage in clear
but very rough (gale) conditions.  The vessel with AIS did most of the
traffic control work for the group.  The group were in a cluster about 2
miles wide and 3 miles long so were a significant obstacle to traffic. We
traveled off the northern edge of the defined traffic lanes where there were
lanes but where the lanes end on the western end ships spread out over 120
degrees to head for their destinations.

I believe the ability to communicate with a ship BY NAME on the first call
and know within seconds when he changes coarse or speed is a tremendous
asset.  It is a vast improvement over the delayed information analysis
available by radar and a skilled operator, and virtually eliminates the
greatest risk of collision i.e. communicating with the wrong vessel and
finding it out to late.
In heavy traffic channels like the Straits there are usually 4 to 8 ships in
or near  avoidance range that need to be considered.  This is no time for
wasting 5 minutes in communication to the wrong ship.

I would be happy to expand on any of the above but at the moment I have
limited time as we are packing up and headed to Turkey for 4 months in 9
days.  I will have periodic internet access while there and some long
watches to consider comments.

Regards,  John Harris
World Odd @ Sea -  Nordhavn 46