Also PBO has a good Anchor test in the issue. An our large range of anchors can be seen by clicking here.
Happy Sailing,
Captain Loz
Monday, 25 July 2011
August PBO - Latest Chandlery
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Round The island
Some of our staff will participating as normal and we wish them luck, we'll be posting results on here as soon as we know them!
Just a quick reminder that anybody entering the event may well have forgotten some essential products for the weekend, so our Port Hamble store will be extending their opening hours on the Friday (24/06/2011) before the race - 09.00a.m - 21.00p.m and our Deacons Chandlery will be open late as usual from 09.00a.m - 20.00p.m.
Best of luck for all those entering!
Happy Sailing
Captain Loz
Useful Information on Life Jackets
Types of Life Jacket Inflation (Guide Purposes Only):
Automatic Lifejacket Inflation. These life jackets work on the principle that an element in the inflation mechanism reacts with water (in most cases this ia a pill/pellet that dissolves in water), automatically triggering the gas cartridge, which in turn inflates the air chambers of the lifejacket.
Automatic Lifejackets are a popular choice due to the reassurances of an auto firing mechanism, ideal if you're knocked unconscious when you hit the water.
Automatic Lifejackets will also have a manual inflation mechanism as well.
Manual Lifejacket Inflation. These lifejackets work by operation from the user, the lifejacket will have a pull chord or string that needs to be pulled firmly, this fires a pin triggering the canister to inflate the lifejacket.
Oral Life Jacket Inflation. The third method of inflating your lifejacket is by means of you manually blowing up the lifejacket. Located in the lifejacket where the lung is will be a mouth piece, this can be used as a fail safe to blow up the lifejacket, or to top up the air in an already inflated lifejacket.
Life Jacket newton ratings (Guide purposes only):
Life Jacket Buoyancy is measured in Newtons (N), 10N = 1Kg of Flotation.
There are Four European Standards for lifejacket buoyancy. All Lifejackets must have an Approved CE Mark.
50 Newton Buoyancy. Standard Newton rating for Bouyancy Aids, recommended for usage for swimming in sheltered and attended waters, with assistance close by. The buoyancy level does not guarantee to self right a person in the water.
Buoyancy Aids are popular with people who find their activities always have them in the water! Examples being windsurfing, dinghy sailing and water skiing.
100 Newton Buoyancy. A lifejacket suitable for those who are likely to be in calm and sheltered waters. It is unlikely to provide enough buoyancy to protect someone who can't fend for themselves, and crucially it may not be strong enough to self right an unconscious person onto their back, especially if the person is heavy in weight, or wearing lots of heavy items of clothing.
150 Newton Buoyancy. A suitable lifejacket for inshore and Coastal sailing. The buoyancy level should also mean that it can cope with general offshore sailing and rougher weather. It should self right an unconsciuos person onto their backs, and crucially keep their face out of the water. It's performance may be affected if the user is wearing heavy and waterproof clothing.
275 Newton Buoyancy. A suitable lifejacket for offshore cruising and commercial sailing. Suitable levels of buoyancy for the most extreme weather conditions out on the water, and they're designed to work with people who will be wearing full foul weather clothing. The lifejacket will self right the wearer onto their back, and keep their face out of the water.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Experience The Shockwave with Henri Lloyd
New! Exciting Offer from Henri Lloyd available in all of our shops that runs until the end of July.Free set of Henri Lloyd Deck Armour worth £30 when you purchase a Henri Lloyd Shockwave suit.
This is a shop only promotion and expires 30/07/2011
What is Henri Lloyd Shockwave sailing gear?
Shockwave is the world's only fully integrated and modular system of protective foul weather clothing for Offshore to Round the Cans racing. One system that lets you choose and modify the level of performance you require from the elements and impact protection.
Henri Lloyd Shockwave sailing clothing features the revolutionary and integrated modular Deck Armour Impact Protection System (IPS)
3D Waterproof breathable fabric technologies for improved comfort and performance.
What is Henri Lloyd deck armour?
For the first time in any sailing clothing internal pockets have been constructed at critical areas to allow the incorporation of various Deck Armour mesh inserts. These flexible and highly breathable mesh panels provide impact protection at the knee, seat, and stomach areas. The Silicone based ‘open structure’ pads custom mould around the body so as not to restrict movement whilst allowing air to pass freely through them. The molecules within the Deck Armour inserts engage upon impact to defend the body from uncomfortable collisions by absorbing and dispersing forces across a greater surface area, so lessening their intensity.
- For use in Shockwave Hi-Fits and Salopettes
- Impact Protection - Absorbs energy, reducing the forces transmitted through the body
- Long duration pressure point relief
- Flexible and moulds around the body customising fit
- Flexibility allows the wearer to move freely
- Hydrophobic - Non absorbent
Available in Hiking and Seat & Knees options.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Facebook your Boat!
Just skimming through the always excellent Practical Boat Owner magazine and i've spotted an article titled Facebook your boat. It's about Jelly who lives aboard a Colvic Victor 34, you can see their Facebook page by clicking here.
So has anyone else out there got a Facebook page for their boat? If thats a yes, then get on over to our Force 4 Chandlery Facebook page and put the link to it on our wall, it would be great to see what you're all up to.
Plus if you'd like to create a Facebook page for your boat it's really easy, just follow these steps (Thanks to PBO for these):
- To create a page for your boat you do first need a personal profile. Don't worry, it won't be publicly linked to your boat's page. If you don't already have a profile, go to www.facebook.com and fill in the short form to easily create one for free.
- Once you are signed up and logged in to Facebook, type 'Create Facebook Page' in the search bar at the top of the website. Click on the 'Create new Facebook page' link that appears.
- You are presented with a selection of categories to assign to your new page. Facebook doesn't have an option for boats so you can choose 'entertainment'. Whichever you use won't really matter and can be changed later. So choose a category, enter the name of your page, check (tick) the box, and click the button.
- All done! Very easy. Now check out the article in PBO for suggestions on what to add to your page.
- To switch between using your personal profile and the boat's page, click on 'Account' in the top right corner and choose 'Use Facebook as...'
Best of luck, and remember when you've done it, come and show it off on the Force 4 Facebook page.
Happy Sailing Captain Loz
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
What to wear sailing? For corporate days and invites from friends & family
Sailing Clothing doesn't have to be scary!
For those of you that sail it's a great invite to have, going out on somebody else's boat can often be a lot more relaxing!
For those that don't sail it can often be a case of what to wear?!
What to wear?
Getting your clothing right can often be the difference between a good time on the water and a bad time on the water. You want to be a good temperature, comfortable, dry, and have good flexibility of movement.
This doesn't have to be too expensive either. Buying all the top end kit for your first trip out is one way of doing it, the quality is so good on some of the apparel that taken care of it could last you a lifetime of trips! In fact companies like Gill offer fantastic guarantees on their complete range of products. (See the Gill guarantee by clicking here).
Although the cost of buying top end gloves, boots, base layers and foul weather gear can soon add up. So if it's your first time out, you might not want to invest quite so much to begin with.
For those of us on a more limited budget we have a complete range to suit.
You could buy all the essentials for under £130! That's a complete sailing suit, sailing boots and technical long finger gloves for under £130. (All prices correct at time of posting Blog)
Windward Coastal Suit - £79.95
Gul full length deck boot - £34.95
Musto Amara Long Finger Gloves - £12.95
You could then add to that kit, by adding some more suitable layers. You need to remember that it will often be a lot cooler out on the water than it is on the land. So make sure you have enough layers to stay warm. Wearing jeans and a jumper is fine, but swapping these for technical products will keep you warmer and dryer out on the water. I'd personally recommend getting a decent pair of socks, theirs nothing worse than cold feet, the technical socks will wick moisture away from the foot keeping your feet dryer and warmer, and reduce the chance of blisters.
Gill Grid Microfleece Top - £44.95
Musto Evolution Fleece trousers - £54.95
You might want to change the boots for a boat style shoe, just remember to ensure they've a non marking sole, the owner of the boat will not be happy if you run around marking the deck!
These are one of our most popular options, as they offer stylish looks and technical ability:
Musto Performance Boat deck Shoe - £89.95
What else to take?
So this will obviously depend on what type of sailing you're doing and who with, but some good basic advise of items to have are:
A wet and dry holdall, keep your dry clothes dry, and separate from any of your apparel that gets wet. Sunglasses and sunblock are a must if the sun is out, you'll not be happy if you forget those. Also an Aquapac to keep your car keys and wallet dry is a great idea. Plus don't forget a hat to either keep your head warm or the sun off.
Force 4 Wet/Dry Holdall - £39.95
Gill Tarp Barrel bag - £37.50
Marine grade sunglasses - From £24.95
Gill technical beanie hat - £17.95
Aquapac Keymaster Case - £11.95
Panama Jack Sun Block SF 35 - £6.95
Any other suggestions? Then let us know in the comments box or on our Facebook page.
Happy Sailing.
Captain Loz
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Messing about on the River
The invite was from my Uncle, who along with my Granddad make regular trips out onto the Solent in their Fishing Boat from their idyllic mooring on the Beaulieu River, just next to Exbury Gardens.
Both have had close affiliations with the water throughout their lives, my Granddad having served in the Navy and my Uncle having worked in the Marine industry for the past 40 years. My future Brother-in-law had also been invited out for his first foray into the black art of sea fishing. This was my second such trip out, and I was positive of beating my tally of zero from the previous voyage!
The weather was beautiful, a nice cool breeze and beaming sunshine. After the mistakes of my last voyage i'd remembered to pack sun block, baseball cap (Knackered Sailor edition, Captain was snapped up quickly) and sunglasses. Sun burnt is not my idea of fun.
Before the fishing was an early morning breakfast of bacon rolls and a cup of tea, prepared on the inboard hob & cooker, which is an absolute must if you can afford the space and cost. And not forgetting the classic stainless steel kettle. Also a new product we've got in for carrying an array of mugs without spilling hot drinks all over the decks is the Muggi. Well worth a look.
We boarded the Sea Otter and embarked up the river towards the Solent. It takes roughly 30 minutes to go from the mooring at Exbury to the mouth of the River and your entrance into the Solent. It's a truly fascinating journey as well, as you're surrounded not only by some beautiful yachts and motor cruisers, but, dotted on the banks of the River are some huge houses as well. Two of which had helicopter pads!
By the time we reached my Uncle's fishing spot (sworn to secrecy on the location) I was raring to go, he'd talked up the possibility of Bass and Pollocks and how they'd be practically leaping into the boat!
3 minutes in and my future brother in law caught a smooth hound (a small one that in know way resembled a shark).
5 minutes in my Granddad caught a Pollock
20 minutes in my Granddad caught another Pollock
30 minutes in my Granddad caught a dogfish...
And so it went on for the next 3 hours.
My Uncle wasn't fishing so his tally of zero is understandable, my brother in law finished on 1, and my Granddad ended proceedings with 10, and he lost a further 4!
I once again ended the trip on 0, much to the amusement of everyone else. I did however hook and retrieve more rocks than anybody else.
If you get the chance to visit Beaulieu River it really is a great spot, Bucklers Hard, Exbury and Beaulieu are great spots to visit by boat.
Items i'd recommend taking on a fishing trip:
- Fishing Rod
- Bait
- Extra Line
- Hooks
- Day pack
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sun block
- Seasick band (Fishing boats are generally small and can get knocked about in the wash)
Happy Sailing,
Captain Loz
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