PassageMaker - August 2010

NEWS & NOTES

NEW HELM SEATS
FROM LLEBROC

It must have been a challenge for Llebroc Industries to meet customer demands for a larger helm seat that would not crowd a pilothouse. But its marine division may have done just that with the creation of the Lx Low Back Series 2 chair.

The chair has a 36-inch-wide seat, enough for most of us, and a backrest that is shorter than most and less likely to block the view of crew or guests or to create a sense of overcrowding at the helm.

Lx Low Back Series 2

The Low Back shares construction features found in other Llebroc chairs. It is made of powder-coated aluminum, with an Ultraleather seat and an adjustable back and arms. The seat can be used indoors or out and is equipped with the company’s AquaFlex shock-control system.

Llebroc markets its helm chairs through www.helmchair.com, which prices the Lx Low Back at $2,195. (Shipping to addresses in the United States is included.)

Llebroc also recently introduced the Nautilus, a standard-size seat with stainless steel accents, a back pocket

for storage, and a flip-up stainless footrest. Its online price is $2,495.

The company offers a huge lineup of other helm chairs for both pleasure and working craft and manufactures seating for cars and trucks. You’ll find more about Llebroc’s boating line on its website.—R.M.L.

ARE YOUR CHARTS UP TO DATE?

It’s a refrain you’ve heard many times in the pages of PMM: carrying accurate charts—both electronic and paper—on board your boat is an essential element of safe cruising.

Now several boating organizations and members of the marine industry have joined together under the name “Alliance for Safe Navigation” to emphasize that same message. Sponsored by NOAA, the alliance consists of BoatU.S., Jeppesen, the United States Power Squadrons (USPS), OceanGrafix, and the Sea Tow Foundation for Boating Safety and Education.

The Alliance for Safe Navigation aims to raise awareness about the importance of using the most current navigational information to avoid groundings and other accidents. It also wants to remind cruisers that charts change frequently due to shifting shoals, changing channels, and moving buoys—and that updating your charts is both inexpensive and easy.

“We identified a widespread
lack of awareness among boaters
regarding the accuracy of their
charts, whether electronic or paper,”
explains David DeGree, president
of OceanGrafix. “The truth is that
inaccurate chart information can
turn a safe and enjoyable cruise into
a dangerous situation.”
A December 2008 survey of
hundreds of recreational mariners
revealed surprisingly low levels of
awareness of, and usage of, readily
available NOAA paper chart updates.

The survey, conducted by USPS in cooperation with OceanGrafix, revealed that although 78 percent of respondents said they used NOAA paper charts in some capacity, they did not generally keep those charts updated by means of the two most common federally provided methods: the USCG Local Notices to Mariners and new chart editions.

Visit www.allianceforsafe navigation.org to find out more and to instantly view the latest changes to your NOAA charts by entering the chart numbers.—S.R.B.

CRUISING THE ‘BIG U’

After Adrian and Joann Salzer completed the Great Loop in 2001, they had the urge to cruise a loop of their own. They decided their next journey would be a trip they would call the “Big U,” taking them from Alaska to Maine.

After a remarkable cruising experience, the Salzers wanted to share their voyage with cruisers around the world. What followed was the Big U Cruising Association, an Internet-based community for those who are interested in, or have already embarked on, the Big U route.

According to Adrian and Joann, the Big U is a terrific option for couples who like to explore new cruising grounds but are hesitant to cross an ocean. It can be the perfect solution for a couple if he wants to cruise the globe but she doesn’t like being out of sight of land for days on end. The Big U provides a nice alternative, at least to start, the Salzers say.

If this sounds like the cruise for you, visit www.bigucruising.com to learn more about the route, the Big U Cruising Association online forum, and the advantages of becoming a member of the association.