Tidelines: Small boat GPS

The British company Mantsbrite Marine Electronics has just announced a fixed Global Positioning System with a built-in folding antenna specially designed for small boats such as inflatables and open-cockpit fishing boats. It can also fit under the spray-hood of yachts and on the flybridge of cruisers.

The F112 unit has a bracket that contains all power connections to allow easy mounting and removal. It tracks 12 satellites using parallel technology and features a 500-waypoint capacity.

Big 4-stroke

The world's most powerful 4-stroke outboard, the Yamaha 225A, will be unveiled for the first time at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show at the Auckland Showgrounds from Thursday until June 4. The outboard's weight is comparable to an equivalent 2-stroke and combines 2-stroke acceleration and top speed with 4-stroke economy.

Also on show for the first time will be Raymarine's HSB2 and Furuno's Navnet. Other companies releasing new electronics will be Lowrance and B & G.

Public ramp

Last week's Weekend Marine feature neglected to mention that there is a public launching ramp available at the Pine Harbour Marina. Trailer boaters planning to launch at the Beachlands marina should ensure they heed the marina management warning that it not an all-weather, all-tides facility. Their advice is to check both wind direction and tide times.

Full marina information is available on Pine Harbour and the marina 24-hour phone line for inquiries is (09) 536 5157.

Water-Watch

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Auckland-Fiji race heads the yachting activity this weekend. The 13 starters leave from a mark off Northern Leading Light at 1 pm on Saturday.

Hans Swete, from the Auckland Regional Council maritime operations centre, urges everyone planning to put to sea in the present changeable conditions to watch the weather. "Sea conditions can alter dramatically in a very short time, so be prepared for everything," he warns.

* Organisations planning activity on the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours should register with Enviroline on 0800 80 60 40.