Editor’s Note: New fangled and antiques

Weston 155 AC Voltmeter 150v-300v

How did they ever do it? Those Ditchburns that threaded the Muskoka Lakes didn’t even have Navionics – never mind chartplotters and digital depth sounders. The ships that plied the waters off Nova Scotia didn’t have solar panels – how did they keep their beer chilled?

July 12, 2023

How did they ever do it? Those Ditchburns that threaded the Muskoka Lakes didn’t even have Navionics – never mind chartplotters and digital depth sounders. The ships that plied the waters off Nova Scotia didn’t have solar panels – how did they keep their beer chilled? I must ask Keith’s Brewery for a historical note on that. Did the original Bluenose have shore power for their microwave when they returned to port from trashing the Yankees?

This issue is filled with new boats that have wingding everything modern. Electric outboards. Four AI-synced, 350s on the transom. Fridge and freezer aboard, plus integrated nav systems that keep you from hitting mermaids and icebergs and pinpointing your location with .007 metres. Auto docking and joysticks didn’t come standard 100 years ago when the 8-Metre Severn II was built in Scotland, and she probably didn’t have much hi tech when she sunk off the GTA two weeks ago. (BTW, she has been raised and is under repair. See the story and photos here.

The voltmeter from the dashboard of a 1922 Minett launch

Of course, installing all that challenges even the most proficient of us. It’s fine if everything comes onboard your new sparkling boat but when it comes to installing all that gear and making it do what it is meant to, you better get some competent help or at least read the instructions. Ask Andrew brings the confusing facts to light in his re-assuring column Making Networks Work – It Can Be Done! Just bring your multimeter. In the everything Old is New Department, we got news of Elco’s EP-20, a century old concept made modern in 2023 with cell phone display as its dashboard.

 

Against all that Mike Gridley sent a fine report on last weekend’s ACBS classics show in Muskoka where they even had a fleet of Amphicars. The spectators jammed the dock to see the mahogany Greavettes and Dippies (high tech – the prop detracted!) Were those folks Luddites yearning for simpler, non-solar powered times? Maybe, like me, they love new boats and technology but can’t resist the magnetic charm of boats from days gone by.

John Morris
Online Editor

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