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But the trip to Newport
was all about trying out Blanchard’s systems, not shuttering
them discretely behind teak. The Sony 42-inch plasma TV, driven by a KVH
Tracvision 4 satellite system and a DirectTV receiver, was popped up and
running all day. Despite the speed and occasional wave hits and hard turns,
the picture was always rock solid—in fact, extraordinarily vivid.
(And that was without KVH’s just-announced add-on converter, able
to decode DirectTV’s new high-definition programming.) The IBM, equipped
with a TV-tuner card, is also plugged into the KVH system, and one of
Pervier’s tasks was teaching Corey the software that can put CNN,
etc. on Blanchard’s monitors, either full screen or in a little
window over, say, his Nobeltec charting software. Some might think television
at the helm’s a little over the top, especially given the three additional
flat-panel TVs in the sleeping cabins, but maximum flexibility is another
Corey hallmark.
Blanchard’s
phone system is equally over the top. VTech four-line cordless handsets
are scattered around the yacht, including the engine room. Line one accesses
a fixed Telular cell set (also under that busy settee), line two goes
to the KVH Tracphone F33 satellite system, line three can be connected
to a landline when docked, and line four is available for future developments.
Moreover, the Telular wirelessly gets maximum performance via a Digital
Antenna cellular amplifier/repeater (under you know what) and high-gain
antenna, whose boost helps any cellphone (except Nextel) in the saloon
and cabin area. In fact, guests will find Blanchard not only cell- but
laptop-friendly, offering network access via built-in Ethernet ports or
wirelessly via WiFi.
Such a connected guest
could use not only the printer/fax, but also either of the F33’s
Internet modes. You can dial in like an old-fashioned phone modem or stay
online indefinitely using Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS), and thus
choose fee schemes either by time spent or data passed. Pervier and Corey
successfully tested both modes underway, also installing KVH’s Velocity
compression software to speed up the Web browsing. Corey was even able
to access his company’s internal network and download the prior day’s
sales data, a process which he says will be particularly comforting during
some long-distance cruises he plans on making to the Caribbean and Canadian
Maritimes.
Naturally there were
also double checks of Blanchard’s navigation systems. They’re
set up so that the AP25 autopilot can be directed by the chartplotter,
main PC, or the laptop, giving Corey redundancy and a choice of electronic
charts to build routes on. Testing this, and thus momentarily swiping
helm control from the guys on the flying bridge, caused some foot stomping—as
had zooming a CNN window over their chart earlier—but we were in
open water, and everyone aboard was inspired by Corey’s infectious
enthusiasm. He may not be a typical boat owner, but I’m beginning
to wonder if there’s any such thing.
The whole Blanchard
experience reminded me that some honchos in the yacht industry think their
products are way too complicated—that, for instance, a new vessel’s
electronics should come as complete and seamlessly integrated as the dashboard
of a fine automobile. There’s no doubt that some owners would much
prefer a boat that’s truly ready to go instead of a “project
in progress,” and I look forward to seeing systems evolve in this
direction. But the industry shouldn’t ignore enthusiasts like Corey,
who revel in the challenge of putting together great systems. Neither
should you. A good way to learn about what’s possible these days
is to find the Corey in your marina and ask him to show off his “crazy”
electronics. Just plan to be there for a while.
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