Mailport: Boat heaters, digital charts, photophobia, downsizing

HEATING EFFICIENCY

I just saw, with interest, your article about onboard fireplace safety, with the emphasis on safety (see “LPG Fireplace Safety Guidelines,” Inside Practical Sailor). I have no problem with your comments on safety; they are excellent. But the picture that’s included with the article shows an installation that may be safe but is seriously deficient for the purpose of comfortably heating the inside of a sailboat. The reason is that the heater is installed about five feet above the cabin sole. Heat rises; it will never descend, so that the space below the bottom of that heater will remain close to the outside temperature, and will be of little value heating the cabin space where people would be sitting, eating, doing chart work, etc. This is not a problem in the South perhaps; but for those who prefer Maine and/or Canadian waters (like I used to do), that heater is useless.

Peter Engles
Portland, ME

Thanks for the letter. You are absolutely correct. A forced-air unit with low-mounted ducts is a better choice for serious heating through the winter. Luckily, there is a cabin fan mounted a short distance above and to the side of the heater, which was mounted on a 32-foot catamaran. In operation, this fan is run on low, blowing across the flue pipe and blowing the heat downwards and in slow circular path around the cabin. Since this path is outside center of the salon, there is no draft, and it is quite effective and cozy, warming the cabin quite evenly when temperatures outside are around 30°F. Insulation that helps prevent heat loss includes exterior window covers, double glazing, bubble wrap on the inside of windows, foam coring of the hull and deck, and the hull liners (see “Dirt Cheap Insulation for Liveaboards,” PS January 2018). A live aboard boat in colder climates would surely benefit from a heater that is mounted lower in the hull.

VUARNET SUNGLASSES

Thank you for the informative article on UV protection (see “Fortified Defenses Against the Sun,” PS September 2023). While ZZ Top sunglasses may be easily acquired and unregrettably lost, the lack of clarity of vision is something I would strongly caution against. Cheap sunglasses are just that, cheap. If one has experienced French made, real glass Vaurnet sunglasses they will immediately know there is little room for the bargain spectacles aboard. A quick read of the Vaurnet website will inform the reader of the strong resistance to damage of the lenses. Salt spray has no lasting effect, just rinse and wipe with a cloth. The protection factor is unmatched with 100 percent of UV light blocked. Perhaps the greatest attribute is the ability to peer into the water due to the excellent optics and the superior polarization. Similar to a cherished set of binoculars, quality sunglasses have no replacement. If one is worried of losing them, simply fit an eyeglass strap, affectionately known as Croakies. Keep up the good work.

Russell Robins
M/V August
Boston, Ma

Our lab testing found that high quality glass lenses have less distortion and are more scratch resistant than polycarbonate or acrylic lenses. However, the optometrist who consulted us on the project did not recommend these for sailing because of the risk of the lenses breaking and harming the eye. Glass lenses—even those with shatterproof design—are not recommended for active use. Nevertheless, the editor cruised for 10 years with glass lens sunglasses that he used explicitly for eyeball navigation as you describe. The conditions when he wore them were almost always benign, so the risk of impact on the lenses was extremely low. The glasses stayed on the boat and, like the binoculars, they were stored in dedicated space at the nav station. For everyday use, he relied on less-expensive, polycarbonate lens sunglasses

SUNGLASSES FOR PHOTOPHOBIA

For years I’ve suffered from headaches when being out in bright sunshine and especially out on the water. I always was wearing polarizing sunglasses. I have worn prescription glasses since I was 12. A couple decades ago I had a complete eye examination which revealed that I was extremely photophobic, meaning I was very sensitive to light. Maybe this was the reason I see so well at night? At this time my optometrist was able to source a type of polarized lens from an Israeli company that supplied their lenses to soldiers serving in the desert. These are now widely accessible to optometrists in the US. I have had maybe two headaches in those past 20 years wearing these lenses.

Ed White
Taffy 3
Hull, Ma

COLOR VISION AND CHARTS

Regarding your recent report on vision and chart reading (see “Navigating with Impaired Senses,” PS September 2023), as one who is Red/Green colour blind, I find the “pure” colors from LED chart plotters helps considerably over paper charts—the UK charts are easier to read than the American charts with their blandish shades. At night the greatest issue I have is discriminating between white and green lights on buoys and ships at a distance. In this situation I find using binoculars useful. Chart plotters, GPS and AIS have been a godsend.

David Trossell
Cool Blue, Hanse 315
Lymington, UK

LIVEABOARD DOWNSIZING

Regarding your report on downsizing to a smaller boat (see “Downsizer’s Dream,” PS February 2020), There is more to downsizing than just day or weekend sailing. What if you want to live permanently on the boat? All the same adages apply, stick to the bare necessities, stay as small as possible and keep it simple.

I worry about the sheer amount of kit, especially electronics, that the average yacht carries onboard and the complexity that people think is essential now. At best, every single thing that is not absolutely required is something to be maintained, repaired or replaced in the future. At worst, it may fail at the least convenient moment when you have previously relied upon it.

Downsizing is about the bare necessities and emphasizing basic seamanship above all else.

Timothy Millea
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349
Nydri, Lefkas, Greece