How full is your holding tank?

Probe Cleaner, not just for aliens...

A common boat maintenance issue is the holding tank level indicator.  Tank level indicators generally work very well in water and fuel tanks, but the holding tank is a larger challenge.

Tank gauges work in a variety of ways; there are float level sensors with a mechanical linkage, electronic sensors that send sonar signals to sense the level and others that measure resistance at different heights.  All are sensitive to sludge building up on the sensor and causing erratic readings.

The holding tank and system occasionally need a good cleaning.  Remember the old Du Pont tag line "better living through chemistry", well cleaning the tank is a good time to rely on chemistry.

Here are a couple of products that boat owners have offered positive recommendations.  TST Probe Cleaner, $12 at Amazon or RV Supply stores.  Noflex Digestor can be found at Fisheries Supply or Marine Sanitation for about $19.

New Model: Really!

Just arrived at American Tug is a very beautiful model of Endeavor, American Tug 34 hull #100.

The scale model was built for the late Carrol Walker who commissioned model builder Gary Isaksen to create this masterpiece.  It is a very exacting representation of Endeavor.

Carrol was a great guy and always had a positive word.  We will think of Carrol every time we have a moment to enjoy the model here in the American Tug office.  We are proud to put it on display.

Get Your Sticky Windows Slidin'

Dry Film Lubricants work great on boats!

A common spring maintenance item is to get the windows and side doors sliding smoothly.  Dry film lubricants are your answer; an inexpensive and handy item to keep aboard your boat.

Gunk gets caught in the window slider tracks.  No big deal.  Salt crystals, pollution, moss and just plain dirt conspire against free sliding windows.

The  best solution is to flush out the tracks with fresh water, use a small brush and some boat soap if needed. When the tracks dry and you think you are done, just spray a little dry film lube in there and the windows and doors will slide really easily.

What makes the Dry Film Lubricant better...it is dry!  Oils like WD-40 will attract and hold dirt.  Dry lube will not.   It is essentially a PTFE or Teflon spray leaving just the slippery stuff behind.

Teflon is a Du Pont product and available from Amazon for $9.  McLube can be purchased from any good marine store (look in the sailboat hardware section) for about $15.  Blaster PTFE can be found at Home Depot or Amazon for about $6.  There are others out there and I am sure they will all work for this intended purpose.  Click here to see a bunch.

Sold boat: 2008 American Tug 41

2008 American Tug 41         Intermezzo          Sold!

Intermezzo is a beautiful American Tug 41.  Well kept and ready to cruise. Beautiful warm colored interior.  Pilothouse features a Stidd helm chair and tremendous sight lines.  The joinery and wood is gorgeous sapele. Equipped with high quality gear:  Cummins QSC-540 common rail engine,  Dual Raymarine E-120 multifunction displays, 4kw open array radar, Raymarine autopilot, AB aluminum hulled inflatable with Tohatsu 18hp 4-stroke, stainless stern davit, 50 amp shorepower with Bosch stainless washer & dryer, bow & stern thrusters, HRO watermaker, 2000 Magnum Energy inverter. Click here for full details and over 75-photos Intermezzo was built for her experienced owner with many extras and custom options.  She has been professionally kept and is in fantastic condition. Maintenance is current, her hull is waxed and the fuel tank is full; she is ready for your families summer cruise.

I have known Intermezzo since she was first commissioned and constructed.  She has always been well kept and professionally maintained. Call Steve Scruggs to arrange a private showing of Intermezzo. American Tugs & Trawlers knows American Tugs; we build them!   We offer the highest level of service.    Steve@americantugs.com or anytime at 206-930-6139.

Cover Girl: American Tug 485 Review

American Tug 485 hull #1 is reviewed by Pacific Nor'West Boating Magazine.

Click here to read Sam Landsman's review of the AT-485.

Pacific Nor'West Boating has become a very good online magazine. 

Here they are: http://pacnwboat.com/  You can subscribe.

Sold boat: 1999 Camano Troll 31

1999 Camano Troll 31      Murphy's Law      Now Sold!



Murphy's Law - A nice Camano Troll 31

Super clean Camano Troll 31.  Great colors, well maintained & ready to cruise!

Equipped with quality gear:  Webasto diesel furnace, Raymarine integrated electronics with autopilot, Icom vhf, AB rigid hull inflatable with Nissan 4-stroke 9.8 and a new Weaver Leaver davit system, Statpower inverter, Bruce anchor & Maxwell windlass, Sunbrella bimini, upper deck privacy and aft deck covers, bow thruster, new ACR epirb, Vacuflush, etc.

The Camano 31 is a great design semi-displacement trawler; ideal for cruising the northwest.

Full Details on Murphy's Law are here.

Murphy's Law has been well kept and is very original.  This is the Camano that you have been waiting for.  Call Steve Scruggs at 206-321-2164 and arrange let's go see her on Trawler Row in La Conner, WA.

Factory Tours & Open Docks - June 14th

Factory Tours & Open House
Saturday - June 14th

From 10am until 4pm

Come to the American Tug factory and see how our boats
are built, ask questions, see our quality inside & out.

When: This Saturday - June 14th - from 10am till 4pmWhere:  At American Tugs - 800 S Pearle Jensen Way, La Conner, WA  98257
At the north basin of the La Conner Marina.  Come around the back to the large doors.

What:  Factory tours, Open house, Q&A, Open boats, See the build process.

See:  - On the shop floor we have seven boats under construction
  - See how we laminate the hulls, install mechanical components & wiring, build out the interiors, see the fine finish joinery and add the highest quality hardware.

On Trawler-row:   - Salish Lady - New American Tug 485 - Complete & On Display!
- We have great brokerage boats.  See our pre-owned tugs & trawlers

See Salish Lady - New American Tug 485 - Your only chance to see her in person

See boats under construction, learn the details of our quality yachts

A short drive from Seattle or Vancouver in beautiful Skagit Valley

New American Tug website!

Kurt has just finished our new www.americantugs.com website! 

See the latest specs and information on the boats.  Photos of the new AT-485, and links to our dealers.

 

Please spend some time aboard the new site and let us know your comments.  steve@americantugs.com.

 

Thank you!

Spring Fling 2014 a great success!

 

The American Tug Spring Fling 2014 was a huge success.  A big thank you to Susan & Rex Chadwell for arranging the event for the third year.  With 36 boats in attendance and nearly 80 guests the docks were hopping.  The Deer Harbor staff was very gracious and we would like to thank them for their hospitality. 

 

A fun kick off to the 2014 cruising season!

 

Notice to Mariners: Submerged Tree at Swinomish

I have heard that several boats have sustained damage by hitting a submerged log at the south entrance to the Swinomish.  If you are bringing your boat to the American Tug facility in La Conner this is on the route.  The USCG recently published this in the District 13 Notice to Mariners.  These submerged items can be particularly dangerous to twin-screw or inboard/outboard configurations where the prop is exposed.

 

 

WASHINGTON – STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA TO STRAIT OF GEORGIA – SWINOMISH CHANNEL SOUTH ENTRANCE – Submerged
tree
The USCG has verified a submerged tree is in the Swinomish Channel South Entrance in the vicinity of the northeast side of Swinomish Channel
South Entrance Lighted Buoy 2 (LLNR 18790). The tree was photographed at a +0.4 foot tide at approximately 48-21.6676N, 122-33.2537W.
The USACE is working on removing the tree. If the tree can be removed from the channel, a BNM will be released informing mariners of the
channel status. Mariners transit at the slowest safe speed, and use extreme caution.
Chart 18427 LNM: 13/14
via USCG Local Notice to Mariners

Thanks to Bitterend Blog for the graphic, I just want to get the message out.