Maritime VHF

Fish Finders use the same technology as sonar. A narrow beam of high frequency sound is transmitted by a transducer; this is reflected by solid objects such as the sea bed. By developing these technology fish finders provide displays that show where the fish are and they can differentiate between bait fish and larger species

Global Positioning System (GPS Receivers) – This system was originally designed for military purposes and is owned and operated by the United States Department of Defense. A fix is obtained by measuring accurately the distance between a satellite and the GPS receiver at a precise time. Because the exact position of the satellite is known, these distances provide position lines which are converted by a microprocessor within the GPS receiver to read outs of latitude and longitude.

The log is used to measure the boats speed through the water. A paddle wheel or impeller, mounted below the waterline is turned by the flow of water, this generates electrical impulses that are fed to a microprocessor that displays both speed and distance run.

For on board entertainment there are televisions and stereo systems. With the popularity of chart plotters comes the PC or laptop. Live boards might have a washing machine, dishwasher or microwave.

Navtex can perhaps best be described as a continuously updated telex service providing navigation and weather information within specified areas. An on board receiver, tuned to 518kHz, the worldwide Navtex frequency, if left turned on will either print out or display the latest massages sent from a local station.

Let see it more at wikipedia

Fishfinder

Chart Plotters Typically a chart plotter consists of an antenna, mounted high on the boat, to track GPS signals and a display unit sited either at the at the navigation station or the helm of the vessel. The vessels position is sent from the antenna to the display unit which in turn shows it graphically on the chart. The Chart itself will look similar to it’s paper equivalent and show depth, land mass, navigational aids such as bouys and potential dangers in the form of wrecks and obstructions. The user can add way points to the chart and zoom in and out of the display. Chart plotters can be connected to drive an autopilot and/or send GPS data to a fish finder or radar. They can also interface with a laptop enabling complex passage planning to be done away from the boat and then entered into the chart plotter after arriving at the boat.

Magnetic Transmitting Compasses work like traditional compasses using magnets to determine the vessels orientation to the earth’s magnetic field they then transmit the boats heading to an electronic display. They make steering easier than with conventional compasses because they display steadier headings and do not suffer from the “lag” that occurs when making a turn. Fluxgate Compasses consist of two pieces of readily saturated magnetic material with coils wound round them in opposing directions. The earth’s magnetic field affects slightly the time at which saturation occurs, earlier in one coil and later in the other. The difference is then calculated giving an output proportional to the earth’s magnetic field.

Echo Sounders work on the same principle as sonar. A transducer emits a narrow beam of high frequency sound. That is then displayed in meters. A typical range for a FLS is 150 meters.

An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a piece of equipment designed to float free of a vessel in distress. It then sends a radio signal that can be detected by Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) satellites. They relay a message to a ground station that in turn can instigate a search and rescue operation.

More information at wikipedia

Porsche

He was released a few years later and immediately went to work building his first car with his son, Ferry Porsche. This car was named the Porsche 356, after Ferry, and was a sports car with styling reminiscent of the Volkswagen. Distinguished by its elegant and innovative body, the Porsche 356 was first produced as a convertible and then as a hard top. Father and son developed it in the workshop of Erwin Komenda, a master of restrained streamlining who had been in charge of sheet metal and design techniques for Ferdinand Porsche since the VW Beetle. This new style of closed coupe designed by Komenda soon became the embodiment of the sports car, due in part to its “fastback”.

Ferdinand Porsche was an automobile engineer with more than a thousand patents to his name, and played an important role in the development of airplanes and the construction of tanks for the Wehrmacht as well. In the 1920s he was appointed chief engineer at Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart and later set up his own engineering workshop. There he designed, among other things, the Volkswagen.

Erwin Komenda and Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, the founder’s grandson, continued this tradition with the 911.

Nearly forty people now worked in the design department solely dedicated to further improvement of the long running 911. Such developments included the 911 GTI, put forward by the in-house designer Anthony R. Hatter as a powerful combination of sports and racing car. In 1999, Porsche’s chief designer proudly unveiled the new Boxster, enabling Porsche to establish a second independent range of successful models.

The 911 became instantly recognizable: it had an attractive sloping bonnet reminiscent of the 356, what later became characterized as “frog eye” headlights, curves running from the top edge of the windscreen to the rear bumper, and a straight waistline. From a functional and technical point of view it shared more in common with a BMW 1500, but it retained the distinctive stylistic features of the original Porsche.

During the 1970’s and 1980’s, many Porsche designers attempted to distance Porsche from its legendary design and nearly brought the company to the edge of disaster. The more modern 924 model, “a people’s Porsche“, developed with Volkswagen, as well as the 928 fell short fulfilling expectations, and failed to allow the company to branch out in new directions and styles.

Home Scooter

The old-fashioned foot-powered push scooter was updated to a Razor motor scooter under the direction of Gino Tsai, whose father was a mechanical engineer for the J. D. Corporation in Shanghai, Taiwan. His motor scooter took about 5 years to design.

To solve this problem he updated the old-fashioned push scooter into what we now know as the modern Razor motor scooter.

Motor scooters are vehicles with small wheels and a low-powered gasoline engine geared to the rear wheel. The first patents for “foot powered” scooters date back to 1921. Up to that time there were no motors attached to the scooter. They were propelled by “foot power.”

When Gino finished the development of his motor scooter he began to market it to the public.

Why was the Razor motor scooter so popular? The Razor scooter was made from lightweight airplane grade aluminum which can support over 1000 pounds without bending. It has small polyurethane wheels and a low-powered engine. Braking is activated by stepping down on the rear fender.

Today there are many different brands and models of motor scooters. We have electric scooters and gas powered motor scooters.

The most commonly seen style of scooter is the “folding,” or “foldable,” scooter. These are two-wheeled models that are typically used for traveling short distances around the neighborhood. Braking occurs when the back fender is stepped on, putting pressure on the back wheel and stopping its movement. This type of motor scooter is made for kids or adults and can also be used to perform tricks on. It is very compact in size and can be folded for storage in small places.

A unique feature of freestyle folding motor scooters is the “kicktail,” a portion of the foot deck that extends over the back wheel. Motor scooters with “kicktails” are called freestyle scooters and usually have hand brakes due to the fact that the back fender allows for the performance of tricks instead of braking.

Electric scooters are generally bigger and heavier. Because of the extra weight they consume more power and can only go shorter distances when compared with the folding scooters.

Gas powered motorized scooters are usually more powerful and can attain higher speeds than the folding scooters or electric scooters. They can also travel longer distances when a larger fuel tank is included. Gas scooters may not be permitted in some areas so it is wise to check out the laws and regulations in your area before purchasing a motor scooter.

These electric, or battery-powered, motor scooters are often used to travel short distances around the neighborhood or perhaps on a school campus or other confined environment. They are particularly popular among the elderly, handicapped and disabled. Motor scooters of this type are usually called mobility scooters.

Sport Car

“The warm weather is here-so be sure to follow these simple tips to ensure vehicle dependability in the warm months ahead,” says Goss. “By taking care of your vehicle, it will more likely take care of you.

The first warm weekend of the season traditionally triggers a symphony of cleaning products, vacuums and garden hoses.

“The most critical areas to check after the harsh winter months are engine fluids, radiator hoses, belts, tires and brakes,” says Pat Goss, host of PBS’ “Motor Week” and Washington Post automotive columnist. “Adequately preparing these key areas of the car before the weather warms up will not only keep you safe while driving, they’ll help prevent costly repairs.”

After battling months of snow, sleet and icy roads, your vehicle is undoubtedly in need of some serious care. To make your spring trouble-free, follow this 10-point checklist for safety, dependability and fuel economy.

1. Remove your winter tires and rotate all-season radials-If you have winter tires, it’s time to store them away. If you don’t have winter tires, it’s equally important to have all-season tires rotated or switched out for new ones.

2. Brake check-After a blistering winter, be sure to check your brakes. Warning signs include excessive grinding, squealing, screeching or chatter.

3. Wiper blades check-Wipers work hard over the winter months, wiping away dirt and debris on your windshield.

4. Use a high-pressure sprayer or garden hose for best results.

5. Apply a Protectant-Any vinyl surface, such as the seats and the steering wheel, is susceptible to cracking, sun damage, and fading-so be sure to apply a protectant at the beginning of the season and touch-up regularly.

6. Fully synthetic oils, such as Mobil 1, are specifically designed to protect your engine in hot weather, while optimizing your engine’s efficiency and reducing oil consumption.

7. Check all fluids-In the winter months, fluids are easily depleted as your engine works harder in the colder weather. Make sure to check, top off or replace all fluids, including brake, transmission, coolant, power steering and windshield washer fluid.

8. Pressure test-Assess the pressure of the cooling system, and examine belts and hoses for wear or deterioration.

9. Now is also the time to store your winter car mats in the garage.

10. Wash your car-All vehicles regardless of the finish (clear coat, acrylic, enamel, etc.) requires regular washing throughout the year. To preserve your car’s shine and protect the surface, wax your vehicle once it has dried completely.

Electric Scooter

The drive train and suspension were taken from the design of the Oldsmobile Toronado. The 265 horsepower 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile engine was attached to a Turbohydramatic 425 transmission with torsion bar suspension. The rear suspension was a product of GM’s bus design, using dual swing arms, one leading and one trailing, with a single air spring on each side.

In the 1970’s, General Motors entered the RV market. Drawing on the exuberance of the times, the company set out to create the ultimate American Motor home. The common design in this era was a boxy, ungainly and top-heavy unit on a truck chassis. The GMC vehicle was intended to be a completely new design in every way. Design work began in 1970, with the market introduction planned for 1973.

The front wheel drive and independent swing arm rear suspension brought great improvement to the standard motor home design. The lack of drive shafts and axles underneath the coach allowed a very low floor height, leading in turn to a low overall vehicle height and lower center of gravity. Aside from easier entry and exit, this reduced rollover risk and wind resistance and made the vehicle much safer and easier to operate for buyers accustomed only to car driving. A six-wheel braking system, with disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on all four rear wheels, further enhanced drivability.

Previous motor home design focused mainly on the use of the vehicle as a temporary home once it had reached its destination, an extended stay in a mobile home park or a camping spot.

The motor home was featured in 23 foot and 26 foot lengths, fairly small even for this era. Nowadays, much larger models are common. The motor home’s interior design was compact, with no permanent sleeping areas in the original design.

Hot water was provided by water heaters using engine coolant loops, which produced water so hot it could actually present a scalding hazard since coolant temperatures usually exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

The prototype was first displayed in May 1972 at the Transpro ‘72 trade show in Washington, D.C. Production started in 1973 with two models, Model 230 and Model 260, 23 and 26 feet long respectively. 30 different floor plans were available, and models were priced from $35,000 to $40,000.

The GMC vehicle changed slightly over time, the most notable alteration coming in 1977 when the 455 cubic inch engine was replaced by a 403 cubic inch model in response to the energy crisis. This decade caused hardship for all RV manufacturers as the increased price of fuel pushed large gas guzzling vehicles out of the market. The GMC motor home had never sold at high volumes, and the company decided that the RV production facilities could be more profitably used to make light trucks. After the manufacture of 12,921 vehicles, production of motor homes was discontinued after the 1978 model year.

Almost immediately after production ceased, GMC motor homes became collectors’ items, with owners’ associations being established to provide parts and service for these vehicles. Small manufacturers and garages developed a cottage industry servicing them. In 1992, as General Motors prepared to scrap all remaining tools and parts, Cinnabar Engineering purchased all the motor home manufacturing supplies and negotiated a deal to continue to provide parts for the discontinued vehicles. In 1992, a monthly magazine called GMC Motor home Marketplace was introduced, and in 1994 Cinnabar started publishing a quarterly newsletter called GMC Motor home News.

An internet search of “GMC Motor home” produces 771,000 results, as sites advertise motor home parts, engines and upgrades as well as classic car rallies for owners. Used GMC motor homes sell for $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the condition of the vehicle.

The vehicle’s futuristic design has even found a place in pop culture: Mattel Toys created die-cast versions of the GMC motor home for its Hot Wheels line. More than 50 different GMC Hot Wheels are available, and in 1977, Mattel released three toy GMC versions in a Barbie Doll Star Traveler promotion.

Or see it more at wikipedia

My Scooter

For anyone purchasing items like freedom scooters or gas scooters parts, it would be smart to speak to a selection of motorcycling experts prior to your search, you may very well be hunting for a special product such as a scooter moped or a used scooter yet because of a lack of details take the wrong merchandise.

If you are thinking of buying something like a zap scooter it does not always mean purchasing from a scooter or motorcycling targeted site, lets imagine you are living in West Virginia for instance, a scooter directory ought to be able to give you relevant contact details of closely situated scooter supplier who should hopefully be able to help you to find the scooter you need.

For a scooter item such as a scooter alarm the right place to check out is a reliable motorcycling site, you might easily get a whole load of products such as restored vespas on these kind of portals, even such items as push scooters and pathway scooters should with any luck be included.

This particular scooter search tip is fairly important, instead of you simply searching for a search query such as “scooters “, you should make use of a longer search phrase like” local scooter mechanics” or “custom scooter specialist”, and if you use the internet this way your results ought to be extremely targeted to your specialized scooter requirements.

For a scooter product such as a scooter roller the right location to look is a suitable motorcycling directory, you will hopefully come across a whole load of merchandise such as scooter air filters on these portals, even such things as pride scooters and Piaggio parts might possibly be available.

A sizeable number of scooter associated searches may perhaps have led you to a scooter or motorcycling focused site, searches like “discount Itailian Vespa” or “reviews on 50cc scooter parts”, the main secret with any motorcycling directory is to go straight to the site menu, if you take this advice you should not be side tracked because of scooter articles which are not connected to the scooter you require.

Motocross

While dirt bike racing and motocross is normally done on designated tracks that are set out and predefined, dirt bike trails are the equivalent of free ride.

There are many different difficulties of dirt bike trails; ranging from beginner trails to difficult trails and if you’re new to trailing then you should start at the very beginning and work your way up as you gain more confidence, skill and exposure.

What are trails bikes?

Trails bikes are different to other types of dirt bikes, because they are designed for use both on and off road and while the ride on the road can be quite bumpy the bike gives you the perfect way to get you from one trail to the next.

The freedom that trails bikes and trail racing offers means that trail riding has a massive following and many trail bikers will tell you that it’s the only real dirt bike riding there is.

Can anyone try dirt bike trails?

There are groups of people all over the world who travel together to find the best trails and even a cursory glance on the Internet can find a plethora of sites offering details, directions and even rider’s guides to some of the best trails in the world. If you’ve got a bit of money to spare you can sign up to a premium site and get new trails added as and when they are opened or discovered.

Trails are an easily accessible form of dirt bike riding but in order to ride your trail bike on the road you will, of course, need the same license, tax and certificates as you would with a standard road bike. To ride them on a trail, though, this isn’t necessary although some more organized trails will only consider experienced riders so check before you travel. There are many trails all over the world, and in some areas of the world you don’t have to use the predefined trails, but you should always take care when riding anywhere that there may be unseen obstacles or pedestrians.

Diesel Motor Home

Oil and maintenance are also considerations when deciding whether to purchase a diesel motor home or gasoline model. Generally, oil changes and maintenance are less expensive on the gasoline models with an oil change on a diesel motor home costing between $175-$250. However, diesel motor homes tend to ride quieter because the engine is in the rear on most. Another advantage that diesel motor

When considering the purchase of a motor home, one needs to decide whether to buy gasoline (petrol) or diesel.

To begin with, price is going to be a consideration since diesel motor homes will cost more than motor homes run on gasoline. There are new super chassis gasoline models available (Ford and GM) which present excellent buying.

homes have over standard gasoline models is the cargo carrying capacity. Diesel models can carry more cargo and this includes heavier materials in the interior of the motor home such as Corian counter tops, china toilets etc.

Additionally, diesel motor homes usually have superior transmissions and pack brakes. Diesel motor homes tend to run forever whereas in the long run, gasoline motor homes will generally require much more maintenance.

Make sure that you fully understand the fundamental differences between a diesel motor home and a gasoline motor home before making your purchase. You will also need to research a variety of companies who offer these motor homes for sale to ensure that you are paying the right price for your vehicle. Whether you decide to go diesel or gasoline, the flexibility that motor homes bring to your holiday adventures will be exciting, flexible and extremely comfortable.

Antique Car

Antique cars are prized possessions that owners want to protect from dust, grime, rust, wear and tear. A reputable paint shop will be able to give you information on the different types of paint finishes you can use to protect against all of this.

Antique cars, often referred to as classic cars, are usually prized possessions of their owners. After all of mechanical work has been done to restore them to perfect working conditions, painting is usually the last step in the process.

Following are some handy tips to following when painting prized possessions like classic cars.

3 Ideas for Choosing the Perfect Color for Your Antique Car

This is a personal choice but should be done with care, especially if you have restored your antique car for the purpose of selling it. Just like choosing paint colors for your home, there are some definite do’s and don’ts.

Choose mainstream car colors: Black, red, white, navy blue, cream, gray, etc. These are considered traditional colors that never go out of style. They’re not trendy and are unlikely to turn off buyers like, for instance, lime green.

(i) Go with the original color of the car: This is an easy option that is “saleable” as well. For example, your ad could read, “Lovingly restored antique car, right down to the original color.” Classic car buyers tend to like vehicles that have as much of the original looked and feel of the car as possible, including the color.

(ii) Peruse classic car magazines: Again, just like home décor magazines, these provide a multitude of color ideas – quite possibly colors you never would have considered.

(iii) Ask other classic car enthusiasts: It’s always a good idea to get broad a range of opinion from those who share the antique car passion.

Getting the color right the first time means you can sell – or start to enjoy – the car that much sooner.

The above color-choosing ideas are meant for those who wish to sell an antique car. If the car is for your personal use, then choose whatever your heart desires.

Antique Cars: How to Choose a Professional Paint Shop

Now that you’ve spent time choosing the perfect color, it’s time to choose someone to do the job. Following is some advice on choosing the right shop.