It’s an annoying world. Vacuum cleaners are too loud; you need three remotes to turn on the TV; and packing peanuts still scatter everywhere. As technology gets better and recreation simpler, little annoyances become more obvious. That’s the side effect of boats getting better over the years. It’s now easier to sweat the little stuff. Herewith, our pet peeves and, best of all, how to fix them.
1. Keys and Ignitions
For starters, the whole ignition system is often an embarrassment. you buy a $50,000 car and the key looks like it could start the Millennium Falcon. The keys to a $50,000 boat look like they’re for a lawn mower. They’re made of a cheap alloy that won’t rust, but will bend. Another problem is if the inner retaining ring comes loose in the ignition, you can turn the whole cylinder rather than moving the tumblers. Better have some tools.
An easy fix is to put an index tab on the cylinder and to notch the hole so the retaining ring is only holding the cylinder in the hole, not stopping it from turning. But we shouldn’t have to bother with any of this. Maybe it’s time to start looking into keyless systems such as those from Mercury, Livorsi Marine and Hardin Marine.
2. Kill Switches
While we’re getting warmed up, the clip on most kill switches is another cheap out. They’re rusty after a season, hard to use and too small to snap onto anything stronger than a belt loop — or they’re plastic. When it’s cold, these things can be impossible to pinch and use. Plus the lanyards are usually too short and get tangled. I asked manufacturers why, and one gave me an honest answer: “It isn’t a sexy item that can be dressed up and sold for more, so it’s made as cheaply as possible.”
How much more would it cost to use nylon webbing and a carabiner to improve the package? a few dollars? We’re talking about something made to save lives!
3. Better Fuel Mileage
The planing-hulled boat is one of the least efficient methods of transportation ever devised. For the best efficiency, you need to keep a boat light, and ideally, the bottom should be flat. But you also need power. It’s a hard combination to find. It takes about 50 hp to 100 hp per ton of boat weight to get a boat on top of the water and staying there. Upping the power is expensive and adds weight — so you need more power to push the added weight. And you have to put some V in the bottom to make the ride bearable. All of which means staggering inefficiency.
In contrast, the most efficient way to move things on the water is with a displacement hull, which needs only 0.5 hp to 2.0 hp per ton of boat weight. The only problem is that you have to go slowly. There is a compromise hull form, though. If you’re willing to own a boat that’s long, relatively narrow and light in weight, and that has modest power, rounded chines and a flat deadrise aft, you’ll travel at a reasonable speed while going farther on less fuel. The semi-displacement hull can get into the 25 mph range even when the water’s rough, and it tops 3 mpg. The other options are some of the new catamarans that are claiming 6 mpg. Remember, for better miles per gallon, it’s all in the hull.
