Faulty valves prompt recall of Switlik rafts

Switlik has had a recall on its rafts due to faulty valves. I found this out by chance when our rafts were due for service. Its service station in Panama was not responding so I called the company, to then be informed the rafts had a recall on them.Another service company in Panama, Panamax, was efficient and did their side of things well through our agent, Associated Shipping. (By the way, Alessandro Risi from this company is highly recommended for the larger yachts. He gets a 10 out of 10 from us.)We started the process while still in Costa Rica on the 28th September. Still, it took many weeks of e-mails and phone calls, finally getting the rafts returned on the 4th November. So I wanted to let other yachts out there know about this recall. If you have a Switlik life raft, get the recall process started.

Capt. Ian FosterM/Y Shine

Editor’s Note: The recall was announced in June 2008 after two service stations reported that, during performance of annual service, the inflation valves failed to discharge the gas from the CO2 cylinder into the life raft. Inspection of the valves indicated clear signs of changes in the consistency of the lubricant and a degradation of the piston O-ring material. This resulted in the O-rings adhering to the pistons and valve bodies, causing the inflation valves to malfunction. Switlik will replace at no charge the existing S-2630 inflation valve/s on its life rafts. Product owners are asked to contact Switlik Parachute Company at +1-609-587-3300 or visit www.switlik.com to find a service station and schedule replacement of the inflation valve.

Story was as great as Elmer Strauss really is

Great story on Elmer Strauss, one of the nicest and smartest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. [“He’s everywhere, but hard to find: Elmer Strauss built his businesses behind the scenes,” page A1, November 2009]He and George [Cable] have done an amazing job and helped a lot of people along the way, with much of it really behind the scenes. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see them these days, but it was nice to see the story.

Mike MillerNeatfleet Marine Services

A geocaching difficultyI saw your question on geocaching from a yacht and it got me motivated. [“Geocaching: What it is and why we’re doing this,” page 2, Triton Today Ft. Lauderdale, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009]I have just posted the first caches in Tonga and plan on laying out a grid for sailors around the Vava’u group that will bring sailors to the most scenic locations.One note, the geocaching site [www.geocaching.com] first refused my caches, thinking I was a tourist. They said someone must remain in the area that will maintain the caches. This may make it difficult to sail across the Pacific and lay out caches at each new island. It would only post my caches once I told them I plan to stay for a year and will maintain the caches.

Capt. Scott FratcherS/V Mariah

Italy story misses VSAT signalWhile in flight from Nice to Bodrum, I read the November Triton that I picked up at LaCiotat Monaco Marine. The article on Northwest Italy [“Liguria is king of the coast if you’re talking Northwest Italy,” page B15] was great, with some of the ports I have been to and others I hope to see.What Capt. John Campbell did not mention is that if you are a large yacht and take a berth at Marina Molo Vecchio in Genoa you will not have VSAT reception due to the many antennas on the roof of the four-story-plus building off your stern.This happened to me while there in early August and after a week we relocated to M.A.R.I.N.A. Service, the site of the Genoa boat show (a marina not mentioned in Capt. Campbell’s article). We stayed there for six weeks at a better rate than Marina Molo Vecchio. It is not downtown like Molo Vecchio, but we had Internet.

Capt. Laura TritchM/Y Marlena  

www.thankyouverymuch.com Beautiful new Web site. This is very helpful to us out on the “other” coast. Great job, and please keep up the excellent work. You keep us as informed as if we were there.

Capt. Jeffrey HoerrM/Y Vita Bella

Editor’s Note: The Triton has re-launched its Web site and added some new features. Same old address – www.the-triton.com – great new look.