Knotline Video Contest

Calling all Hunter Owners!!!

Here is your chance to be a star and win a set of Tervis Tumblers for your boat.

Make a video (2 minutes or less) of your adventures on board your Hunter. Upload the video to www.youtube.com and send the link to hunter@jlrezcommunications.com.

We'll post all the videos from August 17th -August 31st and take a reader poll to determine the winner.

The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate for the Knotline store.

Happy shooting!

Tips & Techniques: Caring for clear plastics

Meet our new "Tips & Techniques" sponsor, Practical Sailor Magazine. PS is the only fully independent publication that tests and rates sailboats and sailing equipment. To subscribe, visit them at http://www.practical-sailor.com/.

To help keep your Hunter looking and running great. we'll post under this topic about once every 4-6 weeks. Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated, so don't hesitate to voice your opinion in the comment zone. This time we look at a topic that everyone can relate to, clear plastics.
There are three basic types of transparent plastics used on boats: clear vinyls, acrylics (the best known is Plexiglas), and polycarbonates (the marine standard is Lexan). Each has advantages and disadvantages, which is why most boats include some of each.
Vinyl is actually plasticized, stabilized polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It’s the plastic of choice for any window or clear screen that rolls, folds, stretches or needs to be sewn to fabrics. It is used most commonly in roll-up windscreens and windows because of these properties. It doesn’t have the clarity of glass, can distort vision, and will ripple in high heat.

Clear vinyl is the most unstable plastic commonly found on a boat. It has three distinct modes of failure: UV degradation from sunlight, which will cause it to become cloudy, muddy, and opaque; loss of plasticizer, which will cause it to become brittle; and mechanical scratching. A cleaner/protectant can help reduce plasticizer evaporation by coating the surface of the vinyl and can prevent scratching by keeping grit and salt from reaching the surface. Halting UV degradation is harder, but vinyl has blockers built-in, and a protective coating will help them do their job. Once vinyl degrades significantly, there’s not much you can do about it.
Vinyl pits, scratches and cuts easily. It’s soft and extremely vulnerable to grit and salt crystals. In fact, one of the worst things you can do at the end of the season is to roll up your vinyl without cleaning and polishing it first. You’re likely to find it’s a scratched-up mess when you roll it out next year. Heavier gauges are especially prone to scratching. Heavily scratched vinyl is often beyond repair.
An abrasive scratch remover or polish will destroy the surface of vinyl. Use a soft cloth to clean it and a polish to protect it. Avoid citrus oil-based cleaners and also the relatively rare ones with alcohol in them. They’ll dissolve plasticizers, damaging the vinyl. Well-maintained clear vinyl can last five years and longer.
Acrylics and polycarbonates are varieties of hard plastics commonly used on porthole lenses, windscreens, and instrument covers. These plastics cost at least twice that of vinyl. Thick sheets can be ultra-hard, with enormous tensile strength and tremendous clarity, even better than glass. Moreover, polycarbonates have 100 times the impact resistance of glass, but weigh less than half. These properties make polycarbonates a good alternate choice for eyeglasses and airplane windshields. Don’t test it, but a half-inch-thick piece of Lexan should stop a bullet. Lexan is virtually shatterproof, while Plexiglas® acrylic will shatter. These plastics are far more resistant to UV degradation than vinyl.
Curiously, as hard as they are, their surfaces have pores that make them prone to catching and holding dirt, which can build up quickly. Polishes fill the pores, giving the surfaces a protective coating. When left unprotected, however, windscreens and porthole lenses can quickly become covered with an irritating network of tiny scratches. (A clear water rinse is wise after every outing.)
All too often, however, these scratches are actually the result of well-intentioned cleaning. A paper towel is just about the worst thing you can use for the task. Believe it or not, bulletproof plastic will scratch with a paper towel. Even worse than paper towels would be a hard brush or squeegee. Sponges often collect grit that can scratch. Use a clean, old cotton T-shirt or terry cloth. Throw them out or wash them afterwards because they can gather grit that will scratch the next surface you clean.
Ammonia, alcohol and solvents are destructive to Plexiglas. Don’t simply use your favorite household cleaner, especially on Plexiglas. (However, GE Plastics, which makes Lexan, recommends Formula 409 for simple clean-ups.)
Also, be very careful with any restoring compound you use. Some that we tested, like Mirror Glaze 17 Clear Plastic Cleaner, have more grit for scratch removal than you’d expect. Test any polish you’re using on a small, unobtrusive section first. In removing scratches, work the scratch remover in at a right angle to the scratches.

Thanks to Practical Sailor Magazine for providing this content.

NEW Hunter Tervis Tumblers - Knotline.com

We are excited to announce the grand opening of our Online Store, www.Knotline.com. Right now we’re offering a Grand Opening special on all pre-ordered Hunter Logo Tervis Tumblers. Order now and receive FREE SHIPPING on your entire order .

If you don’t already use Tervis Tumblers at home or on board, you will be amazed with their quality, durability and functionality.

• Double wall insulation keeps hot drinks hotter and cold drinks colder longer. In fact, hot drinks can stay hot up to 3 hours even without a lid. Hot drinks with a lid can last as long as 6 hours.
• Microwave, Freezer & Dishwasher Safe: Tervis Tumblers stand the test of time and the stress from your everyday appliances. Their durability makes them safe for use in microwaves, dishwashers (top-rack recommended) & freezers.
• Reduces Condensation & Rings: Because of our double-walled insulation, condensation is greatly reduced - virtually eliminating the need for coasters.
• Glass-like Clarity: Unlike other plastic drinkware, Tervis Tumblers are as clear and brilliant as glass.
• Guaranteed for Life: Tervis Tumblers are virtually indestructible! We want your Tervis Tumblers to work well & look great forever. That’s why we put so much effort into ensuring they are nothing short of superior quality. But if, despite our uncompromising dedication, your Tervis Tumbler should become defective in any way, just return it to Tervis and they will gladly replace it.

This offer is only valid on pre-sales and for a limited time only, so order today! www.Knotline.com. Approximate ship date is July 20th.

We accept credit cards and Paypal.

Hunter 44 Wins FIGAWI Cruising Race

Bud Harris and crew aboard the Newport, RI based Hunter 44 Paradise won their class in the recent Figawi race from Hyannis, MA to Nantucket MA.

With a reputation for robust post-race social activities, the annual 20 mile season opener drew over 200 entrants this year. Rob Lawnsby of Advantage Yacht Sales (a friend of Bud's) sent in this preliminary report.

"Bud is not a racer guy, in fact this is probably one of the first races he has been in with his boat. Paradise has a standard mainsail, shoal draft keel, bow thruster and plenty of liveaboard personal belongings. He is a performance guy however, and knows how to trim sails and get speed.

Wind for the "pursuit" style start was about 20 knots on the beam. With a team of 7 friends as crew, they focused on keeping their speed up, and finding the right path between all the boats that had started ahead. They passed 80 boats during the 2 1/2 hour race, including last years winner and averaged over 8 knots. The faster boats that started later never caught up and they were all by themselves when the crossed the finish line.

Bud said the boat screamed along for the entire race leaving the passed boats in a wake of disbelief. The race was a serendipitous combining of Glen Henderson's hull, Bud Harris's sailing skills, and wind direction/speed that let the Hunter 44 shine.

He used the mainsail that came with the boat four years ago with new battens, and had a new jib the same size as the stock jib. He has made improvements to the traveler and put adjustable lines on the jib tracks."

We look forward to seeing the photos and detailed report that Rob has promised soon.

Congratulations Bud & Crew!