Making the marine grade

sailortonyb Allied Mis · Mar 31, 2008

Sometimes, but not usually.

Just like all woods are not alike, neither are all Stainless steels, nor are all ropes.Go to Walmart, buy some SS cutlery, dip it in salt water from time to time and see how long it lasts. Go to Ace Hardware and buy 4 SS 3/8" bolts 6" long. Then go to WM and buy the same thing. With as few as 4 bolts, the weight difference alone is phenominal. Put a magnet to both of them and see the difference.I sell rope and you would not believe the difference in quality from one manufacturer to another. Lowes, HD and hardware stores usually carry the lowest grade they can find. These are not bargains when you consider you are using them for anchor rode.Ex: Typical brand X (purposely leaving name out) 1/2" Nylon 3 strand twisted has a breaking strength of approx. 5750 lbs. The same rope made by Hooven-Allison or New England Rope has a breaking strength of approx. 8000 lbs. So, if they got cheap on their fibers as far as breaking strength is concerned, what about abrasion resistance? Not much of a difference if you are using it for docklines, but what about your anchor line? Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to a kick-ass thunder storm while anchored out. The next several hours of no sleep will be largely due to worry about your anchor rodeBanooma:"I picked up some decent marine-grade stainless steel shackles and some swivel snaps for my lifelines at Lowes". Try finding the specs on them and see what you are really buying.Lots of stuff dont have to be "marine Grade" such as cups, dishes, single ply toilet tissue. I even buy light fixtures from HD, Walmart and Lowes and have never had a problem even many years later.Its a matter of common sense. When It comes to safety supplies, I only go to REPUTABLE marine stores like WM. I'll bet if you went to a local hardware store and asked who the manufacturer of their anchor line is, they will hem and haw. Lots of times, they dont even know, they get it from a distributor. Chances are that the spools wont have the breaking strength (Tensile Strength) stamped or labeled. IMHO> Tony B

Steve Dion · Mar 31, 2008

Not really Marine TP

If you want to determine if the off the shelf Toilet Paper is suitable for your marine head do your own test.Take a single sheet of paper and put it in a glass/cup/bowl of water and see how fast it disintegrates. Some of the tissues will start to come apart in a matter of seconds.Usually if it is suitable for septic tanks it is good enough for your marine toilet!

higgs · Mar 31, 2008

TP

I chartered a few years ago in Belize with TMM and they required that you not flush paper of any kind down the toilet. You were asked to wrap it up in clean TP and dump it overboard later. I am not that crass here on L Ontrio, but we no longer put it into the holding tank in order to ensure there are no clogs, and we dumpster paper when in port. A bit gross, but not as gross as clearing out a head hose blockage.

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Mar 31, 2008

No reason to avoid flushing TP....that is...

As long as it's quick dissolve TP. And no need to pay a premium for the words "marine/rv" on the label. If it passes Steve's test, it's ok for use in a marine toilet and cannot possibly create a clog in a holding tank. In fact, the stuff dissolves so completely that even an overload that causes a blockage in the discharge line will dissolve on its own in an hour or less.

John Nantz · Mar 31, 2008

Atta-Boy Steve!

You done good!(Of course, you know what they say a thousand "atta-boys" equals?)No, really, you did good.

higgs · Mar 31, 2008

From the expert

Thanks Peggy. On your word I will change my procedures.

Capn Bill · Mar 31, 2008

Marine grade makes a difference.

Like many of my fellow boat owners - I took pride in keeping costs down where-ever possible. That means usung "hardware store" items wherever possible. I used to defy anyone to tell the difference between "stainless steel" hardware - for instance - and marine-grade. But I soon found out that there IS a difference. That stainless hardware you're buying at a hardware store may NOT be 316 stainless. There are many grades. If you don't know the difference - buy marine grade! It goes down the list. Marine grade equipment has been extensively firld-tested (in publications like Practical Sailor, for instance) and works! Bill on STARGAZER

Dan · Mar 31, 2008

Marine wiring -- there is a difference

I make sure to use Ancor or similar MARINE grade electrical wire. It's multi-stranded and tinned. The last thing I want is for my instruments to go out (and I don't want to have to redo a difficult project).

Ross · Apr 1, 2008

I just went to McMaster-Carr in search of wire

They offer tinned copper stranded single conductor wire in eleven colors 18 amp rating PVC insulation -40 to 240 degrees f. operating temperature for about 14 dollars per 100 feet. They are definitely worth checking for most of your needs.I do not have any vested interest in McMaster-Carr, nor does any member of my family.

John Nantz · Apr 1, 2008

I use "Marine Grade" on everything I can think of

Since the boat is kept in a corrosive environment which is really hard on materials it really makes sense to use materials that stand up the best. Like the oil commercial says, "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later."Unfortunately, with a boat, when something fails it isn't as easy to just run down to the local hardware store and get a replacement. Not only that, but when a failure occurs you're probably using the boat so in that case it disrupts, or probably ruins, the outing, or maybe even worse.And with regard to codes. Codes are not written just for the fun of it. They're based on real-world problems and accidents and are vetted by peer groups before being made official.Oh, just thought of something that I've got on board that isn't marine grade: Dishes.

Maine Sail · Apr 1, 2008

Certain things you can..

There are certain things you can use that DO NOT need to be marine but many more that should be at least able to withstand the marine environment. I use many non-marine rated products on board but most are cabin amenities.For the interior there are many:Interior Finish (such as Varathane or Minwax ployurethanes)Pots, Pans, Galley Faucet, Glasses, Forks, Knives & SpoonsSheetsTowelsStereo, Interior SpeakersWater FiltrationToilet PaperCabin FansComputersCleaners, waxes, polishes and compoundsPainters tapeMost all toolsFuel & Oil filtersOil, tranny fluid & radiator fluidv-beltsBut there are some that are a MUST and have no substitute:Seacocks & Thru-hull fittingsBellow waterline rated sealantsMarine grade UL approved wireStanding riggingRunning RiggingAblative bottom paintBlocks & sheavesStarboard plastic lumber or it's knock offs (UV Rated)VHFGPS/PlotterRadarDepthSpeedSunbrellaExterior grade finishes (Epifanes, Cetol, Awl-Grip, Imron etc.)Exterior speakersLife jackets (proper ratings)USCG rated fuel linesUSCG rated LPG linesThere are many items I've missed, but suffice it to say, you DO NOT need to use everything "marine rated" but there are certain things that are a must. From my perspective it's a common sense issue! If you wanted to save ten pennies and used a sealant from Home Depot, or a yellow brass ball valve for that matter, that was NOT marine rated for bellow waterline use, and it sunk your boat, your insurance company may NOT have to pay off...!!!P.S. Have I told you why I like sailing more than flying? It's because you don't sit on the tarmac for hours on end waiting to take off with a cabin temp of 90 friggin' degrees!! At least I have broadband & SBO to read while I'm waiting!!!!!Rant over..!!

dan c · Apr 1, 2008

just figurin that out.

I've only had a boat for two years and live just off the hudson river but am very landlocked. Almost everything I've bought so far for my catalina 22 has either come from west marine or cat direct over the internet. I just made my first trip to tractor supply for parts. I'm only now understanding that there is no need to have wm ship screws and me pay postage when I can get ones that work just as well the next time i'm downtown. I'm a big fan of the both the helpful place and tractor supply

Joe11688 · Apr 1, 2008

Boating gear

West Marine has cornered the market and their prices are getting too high. I found some marine spark plugs for my outboard at an auto parts store for about $3.00 a piece for a box of four. WM is asking about $8.00 each for the same item. Some of the marine store electric sockets and outlets are of poor quality and are overpriced. Last year, I sent away for an RV stainless Steel sink for $49.95 and it came all the way from Muskogee OK. The same sink was selling for $80 in my area. I sent away for an ACR SOS signal light that takes the place of flares at night which is C.G.Approved. I paid $16.95 for it from a place in Connecticut. I'll let you look up this item in WM to see what they are asking. I just went on their site today, and they're asking the same price for it. I've found that I can buy most of my sailboat hardware off Rudy at D&R Marine, a lot cheaper than these large marine stores, and I find myself buying some of my boat materials from Home Depot. Certain items that are found in a local marine or RV stores can be purchased on line a lot cheaper including the shipping rates. I fully understand that gasoline is high and the cost of shipping is going up, but these large marine stores were pricing themselves right out of the market ever since they took over the other marine stores. I only buy what I need, now. The closest two WM stores are about 25 miles away from my home, and both of these WM stores are within 2 Miles of each other. So, go figure. Those days of going down to the big marine stores to look around and browse, are gone as far as I'm concerned.

Making the marine grade

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