With a life time’s experience in running classic yachts it is quite likely that Chad has had to source that special fitting, widget, or whatsit. Whether you are looking for a shipwright with specialist skills, a pattern maker, or specialist foundry. And the same goes for sails, electrics, spar makers, draftsmen and engineers. Not to forget the importance of having a good reliable marine diesel engineer or refrigeration expert.
Amongst the more unusual requests have been cut & sewn burgees (rather than simply screen printed one).
Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a system of transponders installed on vessels that transmit over two dedicated digital marine VHF channels. The data is sent from each vessel every few seconds and contains position and movement information such as course, speed, latitude, longitude. Static information about the vessel is sent every few minutes and includes the name, type of ship, length, beam, draft, etc. Nearly all commercial ships are mandated to carry AIS transponders and each year more yachts, launches and workboats are fitting AIS equipment.
With Chad’s ever increasing experience in cruising further afield he has come to know a great deal about AIS equipment suited to cruisers and smaller commercial vessels.
Our busy lifestyle does not always allow us to regularly check on the security and well being of our vessels as often as we would like. Whether you live in Auckland and keep your vessel in the Bay of Island or live in Wellington and keep it in the Marlborough Sounds; it is reassuring to know it is safe, the bilge pumps are working, the shore power is still connected, the freezer is working and most especially it is where you think it is.
If it is a charter vessel you can keep track of its whereabouts and have alerts automatically sent to you if it sails out of any predetermined geographical limits.