Interstate Batteries – Delivery to your home or marina*!

Go2marine is proud to carry Interstate Batteries for use in starting and running electrical equipment on boats ranging from day fishing and run-abouts to cruisers, commercial operations and offshore use. Interstate Batteries offers the convenience of home delivery with a  wide selection of quality built  batteries for  a variety of marine uses, as well as backed by a worldwide warranty.

Home Delivery – A convenience no other battery manufacturer offers!

Interstate batteries offers door to door service with delivery directly to your home, marina*, business or nearly any place you wish! At the time of delivery, Interstate will also pickup your recyclable core batteries. The total battery delivery cost is $25 for the first battery and then $7 for each additional battery.

Gaston Plante

 Choosing Your Battery

The first practical, rechargeable, lead acid flooded storage battery as we now recognize it, was invented in 1859 by Gaston Plante in France. In the last 150 years, the vehicle battery has remained virtually unchanged. It was not until just 10 years ago that the Lithium Ion battery that is now in use in hybrid vehicles was invented.

Vehicle batteries are still made of lead plates in a simple plastic case, filled with acid. Sixty years ago it was often just a choice of a 6 volt or the new 12 volt battery design. Today’s marine batteries still contain lead, have a plastic case and are filled with acid, but that is where the similarity ends and there is so much more to the design and construction now to make batteries more rugged, more powerful, longer lasting and affordable.

 What You See – the outside case

The battery case is a rectangular plastic protective casing that houses the lead plates in an acid. Traditionally, batteries have had vented caps on top and required regular filling maintenance because of the gassing off of the hydrogen and the oxygen from the electrolyte during the charging cycle. One of the modern improvements with the case design has been to reduce venting to the outside which results in a more ‘maintanance free’ battery. Deep cycle batteries often have removable caps to facilitate topping the electrolyte. AGM and Gel batteries are completely sealed.

The Lead Inside

A battery is more than just a big outside case. There are dividers inside the case breaking a 12 volt battery up into 6 cells of 2 volts each (a 6 volt battery has 3 cells). In each of these cells are alternating lead and lead dioxide plates. The lead plate is negative side of the electrode and the lead dioxide is the positive side. There is an arrangement of odd numbered plate in all cells, with positive being on both sides of this plate group. Thicker lead plates produce a battery that is better able to tolerate deep discharges. Thinner plates allow a battery to discharge very quickly (starting batteries). When two batteries are compared together, the one that is heavier will generally have thicker plates.

The Acid

Most batteries are then filled with electrolyte to cover the plates in the cells with a 33% (approximate, changing with manufacturers) dilute sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid has been the choice electrolyte for over 150 years and continues on with some mild improvements. There are two common modifications to the battery electrolyte:

• Gel Batteries – are filled with the electrolyte that has been immobilized using a gelling agent such as fumed silica.
• Absorbed Glass Mat – AGM batteries feature a fiberglass felt that holds the electrolyte in place like a sponge.
• Neither AGM or Gel cells will leak if inverted, pierced, etc. and will continue to operate even under water.

Optima Batteries are spiral formed AGM batteries that are available in starting or deep cycle.

Lastly, it is worth noting that there is no real compromise in the starting vs. the deep cycle battery. Due to the differences in battery use, ensure that you are getting true deep cycle batteries for applications where they are required. Interstate Batteries manufacturers deep cycle batteries for all uses, including its own 4D in true deep cycle, thick plate, design.

* Delivery to a marina is done just like a business. There must be a location where the Interstate Battery truck can pull up and unload as well as a person to sign for the delivery. Interstate Batteries will not deliver to your dock or boat.

Model Wooden Boats – Featured Ship

Go2marine is proud to carry Modern Old-World Handicrafted wooden model boats. Handicrafted models start with detailed line drawings, then scaled down for hand assembly of quality materials. These models are completely constructed, although they may require some some simple, easy assembly due to shipping with mast (or other features) folded down. From fine sailing tall ships to ocean liners to runabouts, racing yachts and canoes; there is a model to appeal to any marine affectionado.

Drakkar Viking Ship at Go2marine

One of the most popular model at Go2marine is the Drakkar Viking Ship. The Drake or Dragon Boat (Drakkar) is the name of the Scandinavian longboats (the dragon head, usually the ornament of the bow), sailing between 800 AD – 1050 AD. Made of oak boards laid up in clinker design.

Nothing is as symbolic of the Vikings as the longship or drakkar. Also called a dragon ship by its enemies, the drakkar was really a warship designed to carry fearless Viking warriors on their raids across Europe.

Today we have a quite clear impression of what a viking ship really is. But the vikings themselves never used the term “viking ship” about their ships. “Viking ship” is a modern term used about a whole group of different ship classes which were used in Scandinavia in the viking age (800 AD – 1050 AD) and in the next couple of centuries. We often associate the term with elegant longships with dragonheads and upright sterns and stems, and a rig with a broad square sail. Actually only a few ships were equipped with dragonheads, as they should mark the status and rank of the viking kings. The majority of the ships were more modestly decorated, optimized for sailing abilities, strength, speed and cargo capacity needed for the purpose.

Discovery of the New World

The first Europeans – the Norse, were the first foreigners to set foot in Newfoundland. Beginning in the eighth century, they burst out of their cultural homeland in Scandinavia (particularly Norway). Yet the Norse who came to Newfoundland and Labrador (in present day Canada) were not fierce raiders in search of pillage and plunder. The Norse appearance here was the final step in a relatively peaceful expansion of livestock farmers across the North Atlantic, taking in parts of the British Isles, Iceland (860 AD), Greenland (982 AD), and finally Vinland (986 AD). There is proof of a Norse habitation at L’Anse aux Meadows, in Newfoundland.

The average length of a longship was 80 feet. The largest ever excavated was over 220 feet long. Its sixty oarsmen could swiftly deliver as many as four hundred warriors to a battlefield along the coast or well inland via a river. Like most large drakkars, They were owned by a powerful king. In the last days of the Viking Age, three hundred of these longships were in the Viking fleet.

Vikings ships were rarely at the mercy of their enemies. The ships were more maneuverable, better equipped and superiorly built. They could navigate in water less than a three feet deep. In shallow water, the warriors would move to one side of the ship to tilt it so it would pass over rocks and shoals. The longships’ tapered bows and sterns enabled the Vikings to row the ships forwards and backwards without first having to turn the ships around.

The deck of a longship was completely planked over. There were no sleeping quarters below deck. Crewmen and warriors stored their personal belongings in chests on the deck. The oarsmen sat on these chests when rowing.

For more on the history of the Viking Drakkars, their explorations and lifestyle, search the internet.

Sod building replicas at L'Anse aux Meadows

Sod building replicas at L’Anse aux Meadows.

Full-scale replicas of three buildings called A, B, and C. The replicas were built a short distance away from the actual ruins in order to protect the original remains.

Anchors

Anchors

No other single piece of equipment is so well discussed (and debated) by all pleasure boaters as anchors. On a given weekend, while working on deck, I have often heard somebody come by and make a comment about anchors on boats – I had a Delta 55# as my primary anchor on a 26,000# Ingrid 38 Ketch which stood out as a heavy anchor. Power boaters and sailors alike debate design, size, usage and holding power of anchors. An anchor can allow you to sleep well or it can destroy a trip or vessel. No other single piece of equipment will put a vessel in as immediate danger as when you are counting on your anchor; and your anchor fails to hold. A proper anchor will hold you to the bottom when you are drifting without a motor, while sleeping the night in a cove or weathering out a storm off a wave washed shore. An anchor also allows you to explore and overnight in places with no docks, mooring buoys; off the beaten path.

Anchor History

1300 – 1800 BC

Early anchors are thought to be rocks tied to rope and there is archaeological evidence dating from the Bronze Age to support this. For over 3000 years, anchors consisted of using a great mass to hold a vessel at anchor. In 1637, the “Sovereign of the Seas,”  at 1600 tons, carried 12 anchors of 4000 pounds each! It was during the 1600’s that two goals were combined to make anchors what they are today, a penetrating point (from the hook) and a reasonable mass.

1846 – Kedge Anchor

The fisherman, yachtsman, or kedge, anchor works well in sand and mud, and is better in hard bottoms and grass than other anchors. The design is a non-burying type, with one arm penetrating the seabed and the other arm standing proud. The kedge anchor is popular as the ultimate storm anchor. It has stood the test of time and is still built today, in a virtually unchanged form.

1933 – Plow Anchor

Popular cruising anchors, the plow anchors include the old cruising standard CQR ‘secure’ – “Coastal Quick Release” and the modern Delta. They get their name from the plow shape witch digs in well and this anchor will reset itself if a change in pull trips it. Although it may not bury in hard bottoms, this anchor is more effective in grass than other lightweight anchors. This anchor is hard to stow, except on a bow roller.

1943 – Fluke Design

The Danforth is lightweight compared to its holding power, the Danforth is superb in sand and mud, and its flat configuration makes it easy to carry aboard. The Danforth doesn’t set well in hard bottoms, and sea grass can keep it from reaching the bottom. There are many similar lightweight fluke anchors on the market, including the Fortress, which is aluminum. In a strong current, the broad flukes of the Danforth and similar fluke anchors can make them sail through the water rather than sink to the bottom.

1970’s – Claw Anchors

Claw and Manta anchors are originally based on the Bruce anchor; the anchor designed to keep North Sea Rigs in their place. The Claw style anchor will reset itself if tripped. However, it doesn’t do well in hard bottoms, and the shape of the flukes makes it vulnerable to fouling in heavy grass. A fixed shank anchor that is harder to stow.

 Since the 1970’s, private pleasure boats have driven the popularity and design of modern anchors for small to medium sized vessels. Aluminum versions of Fluke Anchors, modern fixed shank plows like the Delta and Claw are all anchors that have received and furthered designs of older proven anchors.

You will need more than one Anchor abour a boat that spends any time away from the dock.

A 34 foot cruising sailboat might carry 4 anchors; a 35# Plow anchor (main), a 33# Claw (backup), a 50# Fisherman or 40# Fluke anchor (storm) and a 8.8# grapnel (lunch hook, dingy, dredging).

For a 34 foot weekender sailboat, you could carry one 45# plow – the Delta as a main anchor and a 40# fluke as a backup anchor.

A 35 foot power boat might carry 3 anchors; a 33# stainless steel Claw (main), a 40# Fluke (backup, storm) and a small grapple or fluke anchor (lunch hook, dingy, dredging).

Careful out there!

Edson Marine Steering Systems and Pedestals

Edson Marine Steering Systems and Pedestals 

 

Edson Corporation is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in Massachusetts and the United States, producing boat steering wheels, marine steering pedestals and manual bilge pumps. Founded in 1859 by Jacob Edson, the Edson Corporation designs and manufactures specialty marine hardware for both commercial and pleasure boats.

 

Edson’s First New Beford Factory

 

Edson’s first, and still produced, steering system, is the 1902 Meteor worm steering system for Kaiser Wilheim’s 161’ yacht “Meteor”. This famous yacht, with its rugged Edson steering gear was Germany’s unrealized entry in the America’s Cup race.

Kaiser Wilheim’s 161’ yacht “Meteor”

 

Edson continued steering designs with Edson emergency steering systems being fitted to all WWI Hog Island freighters and Liberty ships. In WWII the famous Elco PT boats as well as other naval and merchant vessels are equipped with Edson emergency steering systems and Edson pumps.

 

Elco PT 80′ – Jungle Paint Scheme

 

Steering systems were to give way to Edson steering pedestals on modern personal sailboats and offshore racing sailboats, from 18′ Catalina to 152′ Baltic, and beyond. Edson installed the first steering system fitted to a fiberglass production sailboat in 1959.

 

Balti 152 – “Pink Gin”

 

Edson Steering Pedestals lead the way in small sailboat steering for anything over 20′. Edson builds a steering pedestal system for virually every production sailboat with the ability to fit to any rudder, cockpit, transom arrangement.