So today I was on the phone with tech support at a certain marine electronics company (it probably could have been many). After a while, the gravelly voice at the other end and I developed a certain rapport. That’s when I happened to ask about a certain confusion in the product manual, and that’s probably why he gave me a truly honest answer. I’m paraphrasing here, but the gist was:
“Man, I haven’t read any of this company’s manuals in over fifteen years. First they develop the specs in xxx (a country) and then the software gets written in yyy (another country), and finally the manual goes together in zzz. In the end it’s not worth a damn! I just push buttons on the unit until I know how it works.”
I got quite a chuckle out of that, and now you know the other side of that old saw, RTFM.
Tis the season of wondrously weird marine electronics related holiday cards, and the indisputable winner thus far is EchoPilot’s elaborate goof on megayacht trends. The “New Super Maxtremetti 300 Baby Bling” (bigger here) is beautifully rendered on an 8x11” card with something like a 1,000 words of tongue-deep-in-cheek descriptive prose on the back. To wit:
“Baby Bling is the world’s most automated vessel. All her vital functions, hotel systems, cameras and instruments are digitally linked by satellite to the Internet. She can be monitored, manoeuvred and navigated from any password-enabled broadband-connected PC in the world, allowing her owners the combination of absolute control and zero effort to which they are accustomed. Automation and remote control also means Baby Bling only requires three crew to operate her using specially modified iPods. The remaining 127 crew look after catering, hotel and wetbar systems.”
Thanks to Mike and Susan at EchoPilot for a good giggle, and let’s hope they add it their Web site for the rest of the world to enjoy.
A Panbo reader reports that TypeKey, needed to make comments here, does not work in Firefox 2, which I haven’t tried yet. As best I can tell, it does work fine in Firefox 1.5 and Internet Explorer. If you’re having trouble making comments, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me to bitch or just to have me post your comment. Thanks.
I’m steamed this morning, having just read the New York Times detailed expose on all the problems plaguing the U.S. Coast Guard’s multi billion dollar fleet upgrade. It’s just unbelievable. Personally I’m neither anti-government nor anti-corporate, but read this and see if you don’t want to do damage to some greed heads at Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, and their cronies at the Dept. of Homeland Security. So I went looking in the CG image archives for pictures of the electronics screw ups—like the non-waterproof (and now shorted-out) radios installed on open patrol RIBs, or the oversize navigation systems that are apparently still being installed on the new National Security Cutters even though the Guard plans to strip them right off. What I found instead was this shot of 123 Haitians trying to make Miami on a funky 40’ sloop. Now that’s the moxie we humans are capable of, and vaguely akin to the energetic work the USCG has been getting done, often despite their own old boats. So how did all the new ones get so messed up?
Due to a spam attack and a resulting warning from Panbo’s server host, I had to cut off all but TypeKey validated commenting today. I have a guy working on this and other site issues, but the spammers worked faster. Your comments add a lot to Panbo, so please consider TypeKey, which is easy, free, and ‘pseudonymous’ (“meaning that no personally identifying information is required”). And, while I’m tossing out Mea Culpas, here’s a big one for everyone patiently waiting to see their product discussed on Panbo, products I’ve borrowed, or asked endless pesky questions about. Got backed up; sorry! Then there’s my last State of Panbo, nearly two months ago, in which—just before flitting off around the world—I solicited possible sponsers for a redesigned site, and then didn’t even respond to some of the interested parties. What a sorry bonehead!
Though possibly a bit self serving, I’m pleased to find out that the corporation I largely work for—Primedia, owner of both Sail and PMY—has introduced a program whereby anyone can buy inexpensive subscriptions to many of its “enthusiast” magazines for active duty U.S. soldiers who would like to spend a little time immersed in boats, or hot rods, or fishing, or whatever. Whereas things aren’t going so well for them, some enthusiastic words and pictures must be a welcome diversion. I once went to a PMY staff conference where Primedia’s head creative guy deconstructed our magazine, and others, looking for how they actually affect users. He saw our role in high fallutin terms—giving nutrition to a reader’s passion, saying ‘yes’ in a ‘no’ world—that challenged us to do better, even if only fractionally true. Of course another way to support the troops is to vote. So, for goodness sake, vote!
Honestly, I have no idea why I snapped this boat show self portrait outside the elevators at my FLIBS hotel, but isn’t it funny how the ceiling fan accidently suggests my propeller-head nature? I’m 60 years old today, friends, and I’m taking the day off.
Dear readers, it’s time for another entry (also here and here) on the state of Panbo:
* If you’ve been accessing this blog with an RSS reader, instead of going directly to the site, you may be annoyed because I recently changed the feed from full on to just summaries. I’m sorry about that, but it’s part of a transition meant to generate some income for improving the site, and also for the efforts of yours truly (direct contributions are also welcome).
* In that regard, Panbo will soon have a major sponsor (whose identity will be no surprise), as well as some small banner space for “Friends of Panbo” sub sponsors. Please e-mail me if your organization is interested, and hasn’t already been in touch. No worries, though, Panbo will not get plastered with ads; and, hopefully, you’ll see improvements like full length reviews and forums in due time.
* Finally, I’m just about to embark on a rigorous travel schedule—a press tour of Cape Town, South Africa, boatbuilders and boat show; the NMEA Conference in Naples, Florida; the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show (aka FLIBS); and METS in Amsterdam. Posting will necessarily be choppy, but, by golly, I should get a good look at what’s new in electronics, not mention some insight into how they’re used on the other side of the planet.
PS. Please note that using a feed reader will still keep you informed about the when and what of new entries; you’ll just have to click over to www.Panbo.com to read the whole thing.
PPS. I hauled my boats last week, and turned on the house heat today. Ralph, is now serviced and sitting on a refurbished trailer ready for another happy owner (major electronics shown below excepted).
Marine connection? Hey, this two seater, at under 400 pounds, could fit on the boat deck of a trawler, or even the hybrid power catamaran (though perhaps at the sacrifice of some solar panels). Besides the inventor is my friend and neighbor Jory Squibb, who’s probably delivered more boats than anyone I know. Plus he gave me a ride in Moonbeam…which was exciting, especially at 80 MPG around town! Here’s where Jory explains how you can build one yourself.
Wonder how I got that high shot of Ralph yesterday? It was from the fly bridge of this baby, Shanghai Baby, an Island Pilot 395 that I’ve finagled use of for a week. Designer Reuben Trane turned the helm over to us on Sunday, and we got acquainted by dubbing around the fabulous Spirit of Bermuda launching in Rockport. Yesterday was photo day, with Jamie sometimes on Ralph’s roof while Andrea and I made like tourists around Camden Harbor and hot rodders out on the bay. Fun, particularly as the boat handles quite nicely at all speeds. Today the weather here is crappy and I’m trying to get packed and tie up loose ends. Tomorrow morning we’re off to Essex, Connecticut, probably crossing the Gulf of Maine overnight at displacement speed, for fuel economy and sheer joy of getting offshore on a flat night. Are you getting the picture? Postings will be slim to none until next week!
