Bathroom Renovaton, Walk In No Barrier Shower, Large Tile, Glass Door

Read article : Bathroom Renovaton, Walk In No Barrier Shower, Large Tile, Glass Door

J$hortAugust 20, 2015

Massive ice dam damage here in New England brought an opportunity to renovate and expand a bathroom shower. We are at a tile install stage and no one will touch it. I'm including a description for this and a diagram. For notation, room is plastered with wall tile being the covering on the shower walls (shower denoted in orange) and on tub (blue) valance. There is no partition between bathroom (red) and shower (orange) floor. We are looking at a 12x24 floor tile and a linear drain and would like to have a barrier free entry for both elderly use and modern look. It will also help the relatively small floor space/room size. Arrow is direction of water from shower head. solid black line is door to hallway. Floor is level and down to subfloor. We have access to floor from below.
Shower floor is 33" deep and 50" wide. There is a boxed bench 32"Wx12"D depicted in yellow. So, I need to know how this can work with all the parameters (linear drain, large format tile, no barrier and a swinging glass door). I'm hoping this is a challenge, but not impossible. Thoughts, insight, ideas are all welcome.

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Makita Sub-Compact Drill and Impact Driver - 18v Goes Ninja

Read article : Makita Sub-Compact Drill and Impact Driver - 18v Goes Ninja

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. Tool brands take their colors seriously, and when one of them deviates from the color everyone recognizes them by, it means one of two things: 1) They are making a statement to differentiate a particular tool, or, 2) their brand manager is getting fired. Makita has recently made a chroma-curious move and released a new line of 18v Cordless tools in, wait for it, black! They sent us their 18V LXT Sub-Compact Combo Kit (CX200RB) several months ago, which includes both the Makita Sub-Compact Drill (XFD11ZB) and Makita Sub-Compact Impact Driver (XDT15ZB). We’re pretty sure their brand manager isn’t getting fired over the new color scheme, so let’s talk about these new tools, and why you might want to own them.

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As we all know, it’s a cordless world out there when it comes to power tools. Even outdoor power equipment is making the rapid progression toward cordless technology. Just about every power tool, including those many thought would “never” go cordless, are available in cordless platforms. All that cordless goodness does come at a cost. For one thing, things can get messy when it comes to battery platforms and chargers. I often dream of a day when all the tool companies come together to pursue a universal standard for chargers and batteries. From a consumer standpoint, being able to use one charger and any brand’s battery would make life a lot easier.

The Makita Sub-Compact CX200RB Kit

Unfortunately, that’s not likely to happen for a variety of reasons. For one, many tool brands invest a great deal in innovation focused on batteries, chargers and the tech that enables batteries to communicate with both chargers and the tools themselves. Those same companies aren’t going to be excited to join in a sharing circle of competitors, singing Kumbaya as they exchange their hard-fought intellectual property. Brands also benefit from practical brand loyalty here too. The tool companies that offer a large variety of the most appealing tools can encourage some buyers to stick to a single brand’s cordless platform exclusively. If you don’t believe that, check out some of the photos posted to social media showing loyal tool users showcasing mountains of red, blue, green or yellow cordless tools.

Even if you stick to one brand, you’re likely going to have tools in both 12v and 18v lines. Which brings us to this current review. Makita is looking to bridge the gap between 12v and 18v lines by providing the compact form factor users love in the 12v platform, with much of the power and performance users love about the 18v platform. For some of you, this might mean you leave some or all of your 12v gear behind and just carry your 18v tools, batteries and charger.

Makita Sub-Compact Drill / Driver & Impact Driver – Get a Grip on the Ergonomics

Comfortable ergo with a compact form-factor make the Makita Sub-Compact tools feel like a natural extension of your hand

One of the great things about 12v tools is their ergonomics. Many 12v drills and drivers just feel better than some of their bulkier 18v counterparts. The Makita sub-compact drill and it’s sibling impact driver feel more like a 12v tool in your hand, and that’s thanks to Makita’s choice to use a brushless motor that’s smaller in size than what you would find on a comparable 18v tool. While some bulkier 18v tools can feel awkward and cumbersome to wield, the Makita sub-compact tools instead feel like a natural extension of your arm (albeit with a lot more torque). And, because there isn’t a 12v battery crammed into it, the trim and slender grip on the sub-compact actually feels even better than many chunkier 12v grips.

Sub-Compact Weight – Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee

The sub-compact benefits don’t stop with how the tool feels in your grip, they’re also relatively light, especially if you’re using the lightweight Makita 2.0 Ah battery. At just 2.8 and 2.6 lbs for the drill/driver and impact driver respectively (with the 2.0 battery), arm fatigue is kept to a minimum.

Makita 18V Sub-Compact Drill & Impact Driver Features and Performance

One of several tasks for the Makita Sub-Compact tools – drilling through solid bambooThe bamboo benchtop was no match for the Makita sub-compact drill

I used the 18V Sub-Compact Drill and Driver on a variety of tasks including installing recessed alarm sensors, drilling glass, assembling office furniture, installing a flat screen, installing a bench vise on a bamboo bench-top, removing a glass shower door assembly, installing closet railings, drilling into plaster, and general tasks for around the home. Some of that work was done off-site and these Sub-Compact tools were compelling to bring along since I suspected I might need more juice than a 12v might provide, but I also didn’t want to lug bulkier tools along. I dropped the Makita Sub-Compact Drill and driver into a tool bag filled with other tools and I didn’t feel like I was lugging my shop with me.

The bit got hot, but the drill stayed cool

The Makita Sub-Compact 1/2″ Driver Drill (XFD11)

Lots of clutch settings and a bright LED. We didn’t use the clutch given that we had the sub-compact impact driver on call.

This nimble powerhouse delivers 0-1700 RPM with a tiny 6-3/8″ overall length. You can adjust fastening torque from 20 different settings via the ring next to the chuck, or set it in drill mode to disable the clutch. The tool features two speeds, with the higher speed intended for lower-load activities. I found the optional belt clip handy given that the tool isn’t likely one you’ll slip into your toolbelt pouches. That’s one downside to the Sub-Compact line – 12v tools (assuming you’re using a lower capacity slim battery) are sleek enough that many users store them in their tool pouches. Despite the Sub-Compact’s very trim size, you won’t be likely to do that given the bulkier 18V form-factor. One little known fact is that you can use this tool like a manual screwdriver by switching the forward/reverse switch to neutral. However Makita recommends you don’t get carried away and try to loosen rusted lugnuts this way. Frankly, assuming you have both these tools on hand, you’ll probably want to use the driver drill more or less exclusively for drilling and the Sub-Compact Impact Driver for fasteners.

The Makita sub-compact drill / driver drilling out a dense door frame for a home automation sensor.

The Makita Sub-Compact Impact Driver (XDT15)

Once the holes were drilled, the Makita sub-compact impact driver stepped in to snug up the beefy hardware.

While not exactly ninja-quiet, the impact driver delivers a punishing 0-3900 impacts per minute to coerce fasteners into submission. It sports an even smaller 5-5/16″ overall length, making it ideal for tight-quarters fastener combat. At the base of the tool, you’ll find a somewhat confusing array of options for controlling the impact force. I’ll walk through each here, since they are not intuitively obvious (or, they weren’t to me anyway).

The indicator lights/settings weren’t quite as intuitive as we’d like.

There are three separate areas with indicator lights “S” for “Soft”, “H” for Hard and “A” for Assist Mode. Soft mode is engaged when just the light under the S is lit. It’s best for working with smaller fasteners and more delicate materials. Maximum impacts in S mode is 1600 IPM. If you’re in “H” or hard mode both the S and H lights are lit. I found this a little confusing as typically indicator lights are on one setting or another, not both. Presumably Makita lit both to indicate you can still operate the tool in the lower IPM range, but I think a single indicator light would make things more clear to users. In hard mode the tool delivers up to 3900 IPM’s. Plenty of impacts for most screws and reasonably-sizes bolts out there. Lastly, “A” or assist mode will automagically start screws slow and then gear up to higher speeds and impacts once you’re on track. This is great for longer fasteners and if you’re tool lazy to adjust speed yourself. “A” mode has the same maximums as the Hard setting by the way. In a world of Low-Medium-High or 1-2-3 settings, I think S-H-A isn’t as clear as it could be.

A single push button makes swapping batteries a snap.

Both tools have an onboard LED light just under the chuck / bit holder that lights during operation and stays lit about 10 second after. The light position casts a pretty significant shadow and isn’t super-bright, but it’s still useful if you’re working in a dark space. I found it very helpful working in a couple dark closets. As with many other Makita tools, you’ll find a fuel gauge on the battery itself rather than on the body of the tool, which is handy to for checking charge level on batteries that aren’t slid into a tool.

The 18v batteries have onboard charge status, handy for checking charge even if the battery isn’t hooked up to a tool.

Another nice bonus to the 18V battery is that it makes a much more stable stand than trying to balance the barrel-style 12V battery tools (many of which will simply fall over). You can set these Makita Sub-Compact tools on the ground, a nearby shelf or table and they’re ready to grab and go.

Both drill and driver stand up easily and are very stable when compared to trying to stand up a 12v barrel-style battery

The 18V LXT Sub-Compact Combo Kit (Cx200RB) we tested comes in a cube style carrying case that, sadly, is not black (which means it does NOT match my ninja outfit). While it handily fits the tools and charger, with room to spare for batteries and accessories, I can’t see carrying that cube anywhere, even with the included shoulder strap. The cube is bulky and better-suited to storing your lunch. With ninja-style tools like these, I’ll instead tuck them away in more agile storage when transporting them.

While functional and spacious, we weren’t in love with the cube-style carrying case.

The new 18V LXT Sub-Compact line from Makita has a lot going for it: great ergonomics, compact size, light weight and plenty of power for most applications you would want to use them for. Whether you’re a pro looking to minimize how much gear you’re toting, or you’re a homeowner looking for the convenience of a 12v tool, with many of the power advantages of an 18V tool, the Makita Sub-Compact Drill/Driver and Impact Driver is a great value and a winning combination. Plus, they’re black, which is awesome!

Buy the Makita CX200RB kit from our sponsor The Home Depot

You can find the 18V LXT Sub-Compact Combo Kit (Cx200RB) for a very reasonable $239 price tag at The Home Depot. The kit includes both Sub-Compact tools, 18V charger, two 2.0AH batteries and the lunch box, errr, I mean storage case.

Buy Now - via Home Depot

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with Home Fixated in sponsored content. As a part of the sponsorship, Home Fixated is receiving compensation for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are our own words. This post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

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Next Generation 2017 Mazda CX-5 road test and review

Read article : Next Generation 2017 Mazda CX-5 road test and review

MAZDA'S CX-5 is Australia's SUV superstar.  

We've bought more of these mid-size high-riding five-seaters than any other SUV in each of the past four years: 118,000 in total since its early 2012 arrival.  

2017 Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport

Last year, for instance, nearly 25,000 CX-5s rolled out of Mazda showrooms, decisively trumping closest rivals Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail, all despite it being a five-year old design.  

In bad news for the competition a new generation Mazda CX-5 has just arrived with fresher styling, improved specification and safety, a quieter and more refined cabin and more assured handling. Prices are up, but not by enough to cheer its rivals.  

What will it all mean? Mazda expects to keep its number one ranking in the hotly competed mid-size SUV segment, gunning for return customers ready to chop in their old CX-5, upsize from the likes of a Mazda3, or nab anyone hopping on the SUV buying bandwagon for the first time (of which there are plenty).  

There are five grades to choose from - Maxx, Maxx Sport, Touring, GT and Akera.

2017 Mazda CX-5 range

To get 'em in the showroom an opening salvo price of $28,690 looks good, but that means two-wheel-drive, six-speed manual, the lesser petrol engine and steel wheels.   

Mazda's not expecting you to buy this one though. The Maxx Sport and Touring grades with 2.5-litre petrol, AWD and auto gearbox ($37,390 and $38,990) will be the volume sellers, and look the picks in terms of value versus included specification.  

You'll notice the exterior styling is hardly revolutionary over the old CX-5, with program manager Masaya Kodama saying he wanted a simplistic design, a "less-is-more Japanese aesthetic" and an enhanced premium feel for the cabin. This has been achieved by dropping the black plastics in favour of soft touch materials, but most pertinent has been a dramatic decrease in cabin noise - a common grumble from drivers of the outgoing model.

2017 Mazda CX-5 Akera

On the base model you get LED headlamps, reclining rear seats, seven-inch colour touchscreen display with MZD Connect (it's good, but many buyers would still prefer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), keyless push button start and safety kit including blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, smart city brake, rear parking sensors and reverse camera.  

Maxx Sport models (from $34,390) add 17-inch alloys, LED fog lamps, auto headlights and wipers, dual zone climate, rear seats with a pair of USB inputs, sat nav and rear air vents.   

CX-5 Tourings (from $38,990) bring a flip-up display showing your speed in your line of sight, leatherette seats with suede inserts, keyless entry, front parking sensors and traffic sign recognition technology.  

2017 Mazda CX-5

The GT models (from $44,390) truly add the premium. On 17-inch alloys the CX-5 does look rather underwheeled, so the 19-inch offering here boosts the style, and the cabin benefits markedly with the black or white leather trim. Adaptive front lights, power tailgate, glass sunroof, power heated seats and Bose stereo also tempt you in.  

The range-topping Akera (from $46,990) really only adds your fancy modern active safety gear like radar cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and side camera. If you love your safety, buying the Akera is the only way you can get these systems.  

2017 Mazda CX-5 Akera

ON THE ROAD

Classy, unfussy and solidly finished, the CX-5's cabin successfully delivers an air of semi-premiumness no matter the model.  

There's nothing gimmicky, showy or unnecessary, but nor is there anything to offer the wow factor. There's enough style however, plenty of soft touch surfaces and a solid feel to the switchgear. It feels "safe". As a high-volume family SUV should.  

The Touring model's leatherette with suede seating ups the classiness, while full leather in the top grades looks and feels quite superb. You'd be brave (or childless) to go the white leather option.  

A recline feature is a nice touch for the rear seats; there's excellent head room back there, average leg room and decent toe room under the seat in front. In all but the Maxx there are rear air vents and rear USB ports to make back-seat passengering more pleasurable.

2017 Mazda CX-5 Akera

There's 442-litres of boot space - 40-litres more than before - but it's still a fair whack smaller than a Toyota RAV4 or Nissan X-trail rival. Which engine you should choose depends on your usage.

Bargain-shoppers needing the CX-5 for the school run, town and highway drives only could manage with the 114kW petrol and two-wheel-drive, but it's worth stretching to the 140kW 2.5-litre petrol where you get all-wheel drive included and not much worse fuel economy.  

The diesel offering still makes a lot of sense in the CX-5 though. We returned bang on the quoted 6.0-litres/100km, and its 420Nm of torque makes overtaking a breeze and is the pick should you choose to tow anything (up to 1800kg by the way).  

None of the powerplants offer many thrills however, but proved competent (as did the unfussed six-speed auto gearbox) and quiet in their operation.  

2017 Mazda CX-5 Akera

This is partly to do with the excellent improvements in cabin noise. New seals, bushings, insulation and a thicker windshield means the new car is as quiet at 100kmh as the old one was at 80kmh. It's a welcome change, boosting the CX-5's feeling of refinement.  

The improvement continues with the CX-5's ride. Composed, safe and comfortable, our test cars on 17-inch wheels absorbed bumps with aplomb for an always-compliant ride.  

Throw the SUV into a corner too and the balance is praiseworthy; it handles and steers with impressive predictability, partly due to the inclusion of Mazda's clever G-Vectring Control (as standard) where engine torque shifts loads between wheels as you corner, boosting responsiveness and stability and lessening the roll more noticed on higher centre of gravity SUVs.  

2017 Mazda CX-5

VERDICT  - 4 stars

The CX-5 isn't the cheapest, highest spec'd, most stylish, roomy, powerful, economical or dynamically brilliant mid-size SUV in the segment, but I'm in no doubt it will remain the best-seller.  

Why? Because it does all of the above very well indeed. It's the consummate all-rounder, and there's the assurance of great build quality, strong cachet with the Mazda badge and brand loyalty built on positive previous ownership experiences.   

It's not a giant leap forward from the old CX-5, but it didn't need to be.   

2017 Mazda CX-5

What matters most

The good:Super blend of value, style, quality, dynamics and desirability, far less noise in the cabin than previous CX-5, brilliantly assured chassis, only $300 for special metallic paint like Soul Red.  

The not so good: Needs a bit more joy and personality from the engine range, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is not offered, need the top spec Akera to get the full active safety suite, not a huge leap over the old model.    

2017 Mazda CX-5 Touring

Vital statistics

2017 Mazda CX-5  

DETAILS: Five door 2WD or AWD mid-size SUV.  

PRICE: From $28,690-$49,990 (plus on-roads).  

WARRANTY: 3 years/unlimited km.  

SERVICING: $921 over 3 years.  

SERVICE INTERVAL: 12 months/10,000km.  

SAFETY: Untested, 6 airbags.  

ENGINES: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol, 114kW/200Nm; 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol, 140kW/251Nm; 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 129kW/420Nm.  

TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual (Maxx only) or 6-speed auto; FWD or AWD.  

THIRST: 6.0l/100km - 7.5l/100km.  

DIMENSIONS: 4550mm(L), 1840mm(W), 1675mm(H), 2700(WB)  

WEIGHT: 1511kg - 1744kg.  

TOWING: 1800kg (braked).  

SPARE: Space-saver  

2017 Mazda CX-5 Akera

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Soak, soap and shower - tribunedigital-mcall

Read article : Soak, soap and shower - tribunedigital-mcall

Whirlpool tubs and cascades of water are becoming a bathroom favorite.

January 18, 2004|By Beth W. Orenstein Special to The Morning Call - Freelance

Seems homeowners are thinking outside the plain white box when it comes to choosing bathtubs and showers these days.

Whirlpool tubs are bubbling to the top of the list of favorites.

A whirlpool tub is ideal for soaking away stress or soothing aching muscles. Many homeowners are willing to make an investment in a whirlpool tub for that reason, area dealers agree.

"We're selling quite a few whirlpool tubs," says Ronald Laudenslager, a certified kitchen and bath designer for Yorgey Supply in Schnecksville. In a newly built home today, at least one of the bathrooms in the house will have a whirlpool tub.

Whirlpool tubs start at about $700, but can easily cost several thousand, depending on size, color, materials, mounting -- deck or recess -- and extras.

Yorgey works with contractors who build homes in all price ranges, Laudenslager says. The lower-end builders tend to use tubs made of gel coats or fiberglass while the higher-end builders will use acrylics, custom [solid-surface] panels, or ceramic tile.

Acrylic whirlpool tubs seem to be the most popular at Allen Supply in Allentown, says Tracey Stine, showroom manager.

Options for whirlpools include everything from lumbar supports, neck rests and grip bars to underwater mood lights and jets that provide champagne-like bubbles or rolling river currents. Some newer whirlpool tubs have a chamber in which to pour aromatherapy oils.

Jacuzzi recently introduced a whirlpool tub/entertainment system for two with a built-in 42-inch high-definition Plasma television and surround sound that upscale buyers are embracing.

Whirlpool enclosures can be made of tile, solid surface materials, teak, bamboo, or even stainless steel.

Whirlpools or jetted baths can be powered by a single-speed 3/4-horsepower pump or a 3-horsepower variable-flow unit or something in between. Some whirlpools can be programmed with different pulse rates and force.

It's more costly to install a whirlpool than a traditional tub because whirlpools need their own dedicated power line.

It is not typically a do-it-yourself job. "It gets quite involved to install it," Laudenslager says.

Antique-style bathtubs are popular among those renovating older homes.

Stine believes one reason they are not as popular with owners of more contemporary homes is that they are quite expensive.

"I don't see them being big because of the price," she says. Reproduction tubs start at about $1,500. Antique tubs range in price from $300 to $5,000.

Another reason antique-style fixtures aren't popular in new construction is people want larger tubs than are available in reproductions or restorations, says Daniel J. Lenner, a certified kitchen and bath designer with Morris Black & Sons in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. Today's master baths usually can accommodate a tub that is 6 feet long and some can accommodate whirlpools wide enough for two.

While whirlpools are growing in popularity, traditional bathtubs are not.

In fact, bathroom designers report getting more requests recently from aging baby boomers who want them to remove the traditional bathtub in their master bathroom and replace it with a stall shower.

The problem, Lenner says, is that as people age they may find getting into a tub more challenging than stepping over a shower threshold.

Homeowners who remove the tub from their master bath most likely have another bathroom with a tub. "So if they have grandchildren visiting they still have that option," Lenner says.

When it comes to showers, two trends are emerging: multiple, massaging body sprays and open designs without doors.

"Most people are looking to have several body sprays," Lenner says.

Once a luxury item, the hand-held shower spray also is becoming standard, Lenner says.

Lots of people like to hand-hold sprays so they can wash their pets in the shower as well, Lenner says. Handhelds also make the shower easier to clean.

The showers Stine sells often have five sources of water: a shower head, three body sprays and one hand-held spray.

The water doesn't trickle -- it either falls like a cascading sheet or jets with fire-hose strength.

All the sprays have water restrictors that limit the flow to 2.5 gallons a minute. "You don't have a choice. Everything is regulated," Stine says.

However, Lenner says, "If you have a showerhead and three body sprays, you have that many units times 2.5 gallons a minute. It's almost skirting the regulations having more spray heads."

And no more shower curtains: Some of the latest showers are built without doors.

The trend is so strong, Lenner says, more people probably would opt for door-less showers if they had the space. However, door-less showers require more space that most have..

Although different configurations are possible, homeowners generally need about 8 feet to get by without a door, Lenner says.

People also are opting for steam generators. Steam showers are growing in popularity because, like whirlpools, they soothe sore muscles. They also moisturize the skin and provide respiratory relief.

What's New in Truck Campers

Read article : What's New in Truck Campers

It’s also an economical approach, with campers starting at under $15,000 and extending upward to $40,000 or more. At the low end, you’ll find basic sleeping accommodations. Spend more and you can get many of the luxury features that would be found in a small motorhome, with good kitchens, full bathrooms, queen-size beds and entertainment centers.

The size of the camper is necessarily limited by the size of the pickup hauling it, but there are lots of options to choose from. And with new materials enabling manufacturers to reduce the weight of their campers, it’s possible to pack more amenities inside a camper without overloading the truck.

Here is a sampling of new campers offered by leading manufacturers:

Adventurer
The Adventurer 93FDS, a 2007 floor plan available in June, will add to a wide array of camper models designed to fit everything from small imports to big one-ton trucks.

The new 93FDS has a full-wall slideout that extends the dinette and refrigerator area. The dinette converts into a bed, enabling the camper to sleep four. The bathroom is given extra spaciousness with a huge skylight.

The suggested base retail price of about $24,000 includes numerous standard features, such as solar reflective windows, a Dometic two-door refrigerator-freezer, a fiberglass shower inside, an outside shower, a slide awning, an exterior yard light, and Happijac electric remote jacks to simplify loading and unloading. The holding tanks are heated and enclosed.

Adventurer campers are lighter in weight than many competitors because of their design and construction, including an aluminum frame and fully laminated walls. The Model 93FDS has a box length of 9 feet, two inches, and an estimated dry weight of 2,850 pounds.

For information, contact Adventurer Manufacturing Ltd, 33541 Maclure Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia V2S 7W1. Phone (604) 852-5731 or visit www.amlrv.com

Alpenlite
Alpenlite made its reputation in the truck camper field by pioneering aluminum frame construction and vacuum bonded walls. That emphasis on technology continues today with features such as block foam insulation, a laminated, vacuum-bonded crowned roof and a gelcoated exterior surface.

Now in its 34th year of building truck campers, Alpenlite offers eight floor plans in a range of sizes. One of its best sellers is the top-of-the-line Santa Fe 1150, which is Alpenlite’s biggest and roomiest model.

The Santa Fe 1150 includes a full queen-size bed, a center dry bath with a tub and shower seat area, Karadon solid surface countertops, and a basement storage area. The fresh water and other fluid tanks are all large-capacity, enclosed, and insulated so that the camper can be used in all seasons. Among the options is a dinette skylight with a retractable shade.

The dinette area slides out for extra room and can be converted to a bed for an additional sleeping area. The suggested retail price on the Santa Fe 1150 is $26,592. If you don’t want a slideout, you can choose the Santa Fe 1100, which offers much the same floor plan as the 1150, and also offers the option of a dinette with a fold-away table and two Flexsteel swivel chairs.

For information on Alpenlite Limited truck campers, contact Western Recreational Vehicles, P. O. Box 9547 Yakima, WA 98909. Phone (800) 777-4133 or visit www.wrv.com.

Arctic Fox
Arctic Fox truck campers, such as the new model 990 Silver Fox edition, are durable and rugged enough to endure cross-country and off-road travel because of innovations in camper engineering.

The Silver Fox edition features an aircraft-style superstructure, transverse floor, and a full-wall slide room that is 26 inches deep. The transverse floor design increases the width of the floor inside, creating a feeling of spaciousness. By using a dual rack and pinion slide mechanism and a strong aluminum superstructure, Northwood Manufacturing builds its Arctic Fox campers so that the slideout can be extended even while people are sitting in the slideout area. Heavy-duty rollers move the slideout smoothly and quietly, while five separate seals guard against water intrusion during wet weather.

With the extra depth of its slideouts, Arctic Fox is able to offer several options. For example, in the overhead bunk option, a hinged interior panel folds down from the upper wall and ceiling of the slideout and converts into an additional bunk bed over the dinette. Another option is a lounge instead of a dinette, with an optional “roll-over” lounge that converts into an extra sleeping area. All standard dinettes also convert to beds.

The bedroom suite in the Arctic Fox features a deluxe queen-size mattress with coordinated bedspread and window valence accents. A folding wall between the main cabin and sleeping area provides privacy.

Arctic Fox campers come in three interior color schemes. The interiors include solid oak hardwood features, textured wallboards on the interior walls and Ozite finished ceilings. Vinyl floor coverings are commercial grade, and there is also a carpeting option. The company offers campers in a range of floor plans, all with full-wall slideouts. The wet bath version of the Silver Fox Model 990 carries a suggested base retail price of $23,929.

For information on Arctic Fox campers, contact Northwood Manufacturing, 59948 Downs Road, La Grande, OR 97850. Phone (541) 962-6274 or visit www.northwoodmfg.com.

Bigfoot
New for 2006 from Bigfoot Industries in British Columbia is a long box version of the short box 25C9.4 camper that was introduced last year. These models are part of the Bigfoot 2500 camper series.

The model offers a spacious layout, with an aft galley with a three-burner cooktop, stainless steel double sink, 6-cubic-foot refrigerator and dinette with face-to-face seating.

All of the models in the 2500 series are constructed from two molded fiberglass shells and insulated with 1 1/2-inch high-density polystyrene block foam insulation. The fresh and wastewater holding tanks are enclosed, insulated and heated by a 30,000 BTU high-output furnace. There is an abundance of interior storage as well a large exterior basement storage compartment. The suggested base retail price is $21,870.

Bigfoot Industries, which also builds trailers and motorhomes, is in its 28th year as an RV company. For information about Bigfoot campers and to order a brochure, contact Bigfoot Industries, 4114 Crozier Road, Armstrong, British Columbia V0E lB6. Phone (250) 546-2177 or visit www.bigfootrv.com.

Citation Supreme
Built in British Columbia by General Coach, Citation Supreme truck campers are designed for all-season comfort. The company’s Polar Pak includes such standard features as high-density foam insulation, two-inch thick vacuum bonded walls with 3/4-inch thermal break, and a fully insulated basement with tanks and valves heated directly by the furnace.

New for 2006 is the Model 1050 slideout for long box trucks. The 1050 is a 100-inch wide body design that includes a queen-size bed, a bathroom with a separate sit/stand shower, and an expansive dinette area that slides out. The bedroom has more headroom than most other campers. Options include dual pane skylights with condensation control and Stormtite thermopane windows that eliminate condensation and filter out UV rays, reducing summer heat buildup.

New on the 1050 and other models is a redesigned optional bumper with three steps, making it easy to enter and exit the camper. A ladder provides access to the roof, and an optional awning over the entrance door extends eight feet. Suggested retail price on the base model 1050 is $25,380.

General Coach, which is part of Thor Industries, backs the Citation with a six-year limited structural and two-year component warranty.

For information, contact General Coach, P. O. Box 700, Oliver, British Columbia VOH 1T0. Phone (250) 498-3471 or visit www.generalcoach.bc.ca

Eagle Cap
The Eagle Cap 1050 offers a new design that includes a forward bath and a large rear kitchen/dining area, with a dinette slideout for extra room. Despite its many amenities, the 1050 has a comparatively low dry weight of 2,950 pounds.

Eagle Cap builds its campers with a welded aluminum superstructure, 100 percent vacuum laminated components and marine-grade fiberglass exterior. The materials and design keep the weight low, giving buyers flexibility in choosing a truck to carry the camper.

The manufacturer’s suggested base price on the Eagle Cap 1050 is $23,275, but popular options can push it above $30,000.

Eagle Cap is now owned by West Coast Leisure Homes, the Canadian builder of Okanagan campers. Intermountain RV, which built Eagle Cap campers, ceased operations in October of 2005, and its assets were purchased by West Coast Leisure Homes.

With new management and a staff of 42 at its plant in La Grande, Oregon, Eagle Cap has resumed production of its most popular models, with a dinette slideout available on most floor plans. Brian Tolley, Eagle Cap sales manager, said Eagle Cap is making improvements to what was already “a sound and innovative product line” by increasing the sidewall gelcoat thickness, for example, and adding other steps to add to the fit and finish quality.

For information, contact Eagle Cap Campers, 59999 Smith Loop, La Grande, OR 97850. Phone (541) 663-1607 or visit www.eaglecapcampers.com.

Host
If one truck camper slideout is good, Host Industries figured two should be even better, and so it has pioneered double slideouts, building campers that are known for their spacious interiors.
With two slideouts extended, the new Host Tahoe 10’6” has 10 feet, six inches of interior width, with the dinette area sliding out on one side and the kitchen on the other. The result is a wide, unobstructed floor area that offers room to maneuver. When one person is cooking at the stove, for example, another person can walk by easily, instead of having to squeeze by.

Host Co-owner Dave Hogue said slideouts on both sides of the camper also add to the balance of the unit. Other design measures, such as putting holding tanks forward in the unit, also enable Host to build a truck camper that handles very well on the road. Host campers are built light, using a vacuum lamination process, an aluminum frame, a fiberglass exterior and a one-piece roof of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)

The Tahoe has a powerful 34,000 BTU forced-air furnace and large holding tanks: 60 gallons for fresh water, 45 gallons for gray water and 35 gallons for black water.

Double slideouts are available on three of Host’s models; single slideouts are either standard or an option on all models. The Tahoe carries a suggested base retail price of $27,370 with the standard single slideout; a second slideout adds $1,400.

Host Industries was started by Hogue and Mark Storch, whose fathers created Beaver campers and motorhomes. For information about Host campers, contact Host Industries, 300 SE Scott St., Bend, OR 97702. Phone (541) 330-2328 or visit www.hostcampers.com

Lance
By adding four new floor plans for 2006, Lance gives buyers a choice of 15 models—one to fit just about any size or need. As the nation’s largest truck camper manufacturer, Lance groups its models into four product lines: Lance Lite, Lance Sports Camper, Lance and Lance Max.

The low-priced Lance Lite series has six models tailored to people’s budgets. The new Sports Camper series was developed for serious outdoor enthusiasts. The “value-added” Lance series is for RVers seeking more features and comes with increased cabover headroom, more floor space and larger tank capacities.

All Lance Max models come with full-wall slideouts, greatly increasing the interior room and adding to the overall comfort. That feeling of spaciousness is carried through in the Lance Max 981 with a huge skylight above the bed in the cabover area and another large skylight in the bathroom.

Even larger and more luxurious is the Lance Max 1191, which has the advantage of a side entry, an extra convenience for anyone who wants to tow a boat or trailer. The 1191 includes a large bathroom with separate shower, additional storage space and very large holding tanks (42 gallons fresh, 35 gray and 38 black).

New this year in all Lance and Lance Max models is a full-size mirrored wardrobe in the cabover. The wardrobe is deep enough to handle storage bins. Another new design this year is a wraparound sofa/bed in Ultra Leather. It has a removable table, and a center section that pulls out for lounging or sleeping.

Lance builds its campers with welded aluminum and bonded lamination technologies, TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) roofs and solid high-density, rigid block foam insulation for year-round use. Suggested retail prices of Lance Max models range from $29,848 to $35,987. Other models start as low as $13,454.

For information, contact Lance Camper Manufacturing Corp., 43120 Venture Street, Lancaster, CA 93535-4510. Phone (661) 949-3322 or visit www.lancecamper.com.

Northern Lite
New for 2006 from Northern Lite is the 9’6” Queen Classic SE, which offers lots of extra features and still maintains a surprisingly low weight—2,150 pounds with standard equipment and under 2,400 pounds even with a number of options.

Northern Lite builds its campers with a process that uses two pieces of molded fiberglass and is similar to construction of a fiberglass boat. Owner Mac Donkin said the weight is kept low by the use of materials such as Nidacore flooring, which is half the weight of plywood, and Dometic acrylic thermal pane windows, which are half the weight of conventional thermal pane windows.

The 9’6”Queen Classic SE includes a face-to-face dinette, a full queen-size mattress, heated and insulated tanks, an extra-large dual battery box, stainless steel sink, and a 6.3-cubic-foot refrigerator. The model carries a suggested retail price of $24,070.

Northern Lite uses oak veneer paneling, builds drawers with Russian birch and metal guides, and never uses particle board. Careful attention to quality has earned the company a five-star rating from the RV Consumer Group for eight straight years.

For information, contact Northern Lite Manufacturing, 322 Totom Court, Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 5W6. Phone (800) 887-5342 or visit www.northern-lite.com.

Okanagan
You can warm yourself by the electric fireplace while you are watching a DVD on a flat-screen TV in the new 116ULT camper, part of the Ultimate Suite Series from Okanagan.

The 116ULT is a double-slideout model with a U-shaped dinette extending outward on one side and an entire kitchen extending outward on the other to create a roomy interior. In addition to an electric fireplace, this model also offers many other options, such as an 8- or 10-cubic-foot refrigerator in place of the standard 6-cubic-foot version, a Step-N-Stow storage bumper with a fold-down step, and a large rear awning.

The 116ULT is designed for extended camping with large heated and enclosed holding tanks, including a 63-gallon fresh water tank. Okanagan says its bathroom is the largest seen in a truck camper, with a full-height fiberglass neo-angle shower with a skylight, a large linen closet and a spacious vanity. The camper has 40 cubic feet of exterior storage to handle camping gear and other items.

Construction features include welded steel framing that is laminated into the floor and attached around the perimeter of the slideout openings for superior structural integrity. The peaked laminated roof is 3 1/2 inches thick at the center, creating a ducted roof air conditioner option. Suggested retail price of the Okanagan 116 ULT ranges from $36,000 to $42,000, depending on how it is equipped.

Okanagan campers are built by West Coast Leisure Homes, which also produces fifth wheels, travel trailers and van conversions. For information, contact West Coast Leisure Homes, 316 Dawson Avenue, Penticton, British Columbia V2A 3N6. Phone (250) 493-1535 or visit www.okanaganrv.com.

S&S
S&S has introduced a new truck camper, the Ponderosa 8.5 FBSC, billed as the only non-slideout camper with a full-booth dinette and a sliding step. The camper has a set of steps that can be hidden away under a booth seat and then pulled out to provide easy access to the queen-size bed over the cab.

S&S Owner Doug Sieler said many camper buyers are older people who find it awkward and difficult to climb into a high bed. The innovative step system solves that problem, and when not in use, the steps can be stored away to create more floor space.

The new model is a self-contained unit that is 8.5 feet long and 8 feet wide. It comes with an insulated and heated basement, a double stainless steel sink with cutting board, a three-burner range with oven, double-door refrigerator, a 20,000 BTU forced-air furnace, and a one-piece TP0 (thermoplastic polyolefin) roof. Other standard amenities include a mirrored headboard, AM/FM/CD stereo system, and a Montana gun drawer.

Another unique advantage for a camper of this size for both long and short box trucks is that it has room to add an optional Onan generator. Suggested retail price is about $18,000.

For information, contact S&S Campers, 2740 Highway 93 South, Kalispell, MT 59901. Phone (800) 735-6909 or visit www.s-scampers.com

Dubai's 10 most decadent restaurants

Read article : Dubai's 10 most decadent restaurants

(CNN) —In the glimmering Middle Eastern city of Dubai, where luxury is good and over-the-top opulence is even better, there's no shortage of fancy restaurants.

Some are more decadent than others. Here are our top 10 stops on Dubai's fine dining circuit.

Be prepared for exquisite dishes by Michelin-starred chefs, with price tags to match.

1. Billionaire Mansion Dubai

The view from a table at Billionaire Mansion Dubai, the newly opened venue owned by Italian F1 boss Flavio Briatore, is a bit like going on safari.

Long-legged women roam in packs while men peacock in name-brand clothing.

And absolutely everything -- from the white-suit-black-tie staff to the tree growing in the middle of the restaurant -- is meant to catch the eye.

Located downtown in the Taj Dubai, this swanky spot doesn't really pick up until after 9 p.m. when the brief performances -- like silk ribbon dancing or sultry jazz singing -- start.

The menu is split into Japanese and Italian. Dishes (like a tuna tartare with white truffle sauce or salt-crusted baked sea bass) are larger and less fussy than you would expect.

As the evening moves on, diners should be prepared for sparkler-equipped dancers or bull-masked hoverboard-riding staff to wind between tables.

Just like on safari, the more exotic animals come out at night.

Credit card max-out:125 grams of Beluga Volzhenka Caviar ($640).

Worth the splurge: The wasabi prawns with mango and golden passion fruit salsa. This lightly battered dish is salty, sweet, crunchy and, with five large prawns, just the right size ($40).

2. Cavalli Club Dubai

Cavilli Club Dubai: Zebra stripes and Italian food.

Chandeliers made of Swarovski crystals hang from the ceiling of this purple-lit late-night venue where a large screen projects fashion shows on the wall.

It's not subtle -- but given that it's done in collaboration with over-the-top designer Roberto Cavalli, that's no real surprise.

Even the elevators are lined with zebra print fabric walls and the gold women's bathroom is dotted with private back-lit makeup mirrors.

While Cavalli Club is definitely a party destination, it still offers a solid four-course Italian dinner.

Mains, like meaty monkfish tail poached in squid ink or Mediterranean sea bass wrapped in zucchini, are visually gorgeous if a little under-seasoned.

By 11 p.m. the DJ's music will be pumping.

Credit card max-out: 850g of Wagyu grade 9+ New York steak ($681).

Worth the splurge: A dish of red prawns carpaccio with celery, cheese and watermelon soaked with Aperol spritz ($41).

3. Social by Heinz Beck

Heinz Beck, the chef behind Rome's three-Michelin-starred restaurant La Pergola, has brought his unconventional brand of Italian cuisine to Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah.

With pristine wooden floors, retro photos and glass-fronted kitchen, the decor of Social by Heinz Beck is classic luxury with a modern twist -- a mantra that also extends to the menu.

Expect to find Italian staples such as tiramisu and carbonara turned completely on their heads.

The interior goes for a European high society feel.

There's more of a typical Dubai vibe, from the terrace which offers a vista over the resort's grounds and the sci-fi Marina skyline across the water.

Credit card max-out:The indulgent five-course tasting menu paired with wines from around the world ($226 per person).

Worth the splurge:The Heinz Beck signature, Fagottelli Carbonara. Delicately soft pasta parcels filled with hot pools of buttery sauce ($23).

4. Pierchic

Pierchic: Over-water ostentation.

Corner tables on the terrace enjoy uninterrupted views of the "seven-star" sparkling Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

The food here is fancy and elaborate -- and has the price tag to match.

Oysters, caviar and lobster, topped with flourishes like truffle and foie gras, dominate the Mediterranean menu.

Portions are pleasantly large.

A rich starter of Alaskan king crab topped with caviar and saffron-infused hollandaise could easily be a main, while an elegant main of Chilean sea bass with smoked sweet potato could serve two.

Credit card max-out:50 grams of Beluga Imperial Caviar ($776), whole line-caught sea bass ($245), or a seafood tower with oysters, lobsters, prawns, crab, salmon and more ($245).

Worth the splurge: The venue's smoky sweet potato. Served alongside a dish of Chilean sea bass, it's rich, sweet, caramelized and incredibly decadent ($68 for complete dish).

5. Nobu Dubai

Ask Dubai locals for a great Japanese restaurant, they'll mention one of the holy three: Okku, Zuma or Nobu.

All are equally impressive, but Nobu, located in Dubai's castle-shaped Atlantis hotel on the city's man-made Palm Island, wins by location alone.

This chain restaurant (one of 33 around the world) is well-established for fantastic food.

Absent are traditional sleek and minimalist Japanese-style interiors.

Everything in this popular dining spot is decorated in mesh screens and curved wooden beams, creating the feeling of being caught in a giant fishing net with a hugely sexy twist.

Food is a rich take on Japanese fusion with Arabic touches, ranging from a spicy salmon miso taco to a creamy cheesecake with yuzu sorbet.

Credit card max-out: The Grade A9 Australian Wagyu Beef ($223) is incredible. Diners can choose from a range of styles but "anticucho" is highly recommended.

Worth the splurge:Nobu is famed for its Black Cod Miso ($60); while this will never disappoint, the lighter lobster quinoa ceviche salad ($53) is fantastic.

6. At.mosphere Burj Khalifa

At.mosphere Burj Khalifa: Super slick, super views.

It's hard to miss the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, during any Dubai visit.

While most folks head up to the viewing platform (from $35) for amazing views of Dubai from the sky, a more luxurious option is to book a dinner at At.mosphere.

This fine-dining restaurant is as super slick and expensive as you might expect.

Tables by the floor-to-ceiling windows offer urban sunsets while a multi-course tasting menu lays on the decadence.

There's wasabi roots from Japan, Australian Wagyu beef, lobster and more, all offered alongside suggested wine pairings.

Credit card max-out: The seven-course experience tasting menu with wine pairing will set you back a steep $436 per person.

Worth the splurge:A hand-cut beef tartare served with caviar is deliciously rich (part of a tasting menu at $185 per person).

7. Enigma

Theatrics and incredible food star at Enigma, a newly opened venue in the luxurious Palazzo Versace Dubai which is creating a real buzz.

Chefs change every four months, bringing with them set menus that are revealed on the night.

First there was Quique Dacosta (whose Spanish restaurant has three Michelin stars) whipping up smoking truffle creations.

Until June 20, 2016 it's Bjorn Frantzen (famed for the fine-dining Restaurant Frantzen, which was awarded two Michelin stars after only two years of operation) with a 12-course Nordic-inspired tasting menu.

Dishes are elaborate, decadent and incredibly creative.

Meals can take upwards of three hours.

For extra indulgence, cocktails can be grabbed on the column-lined terrace while the sun sets over the Dubai Creek.

"It's essentially a pop-up in a five-star deluxe hotel with chefs changing four times a year," says Samantha Wood, founder of restaurant review website foodiva.net.

Credit card max-out: The "full story" 12-course tasting menu costs $231 at weekends.

Worth the splurge: The beautifully presented scallop in its own shell served with dried roe on a bed of a fir tree (not priced individually).

8. La Cantine du Faubourg

La Cantine du Faubourg: Inviting cafe vibe.

Popular with Dubai's in-the-know crowd, this French restaurant is one of those places where folks go to see and be seen.

Billowy white fabric and high ceilings create an inviting cafe vibe.

In cooler months, the venue's terrace is packed with high-heeled well-groomed fashionistas.

Like Le Petite Maison, another posh cafe beloved by locals, Cantine features French cuisine done well.

Dishes include smoked salmon blinis with caviar and buttery sea bass served on a bed of black quinoa.

Optional supplements of seared foie gras ($16 for 30gr), black truffle ($19 for 2gr) or caviar ($20 for 5gr) allow for customizable amounts of decadence.

Credit card max-out: Enjoy 250gr of Imperial caviar ($1,361) or order the 500gr chateaubriand steak ($133).

Worth the splurge: "Les coquilletes de mon enfance," an elaborate mac 'n' cheese dish with truffles and gruyere ($25).

9. Al Muntaha

Al Muntaha: Skyline dining.

Like the Burj Khalifa, the ostentatious "seven star" Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is one of those properties that defines the Dubai skyline.

While the reservation-only venue's launched a few new offerings lately (including an outdoor terrace beachfront restaurant and Gold on 27, an incredibly decadent bar with foie gras-infused whiskey cocktails), its staple for luxury dining is Al Muntaha.

This contemporary European venue sits 200 meters above sea level, providing amazing views of the Arabian Gulf alongside deliberately fancy food.

The atmosphere is subdued, all clinking silverware and sophisticated diners. A new summer menu, launching mid-June, features dishes like Alaskan king crab served with lemon and caviar, or roasted veal fillet with foie gras.

Credit card max-out (and worth the splurge):The menu is currently under renovation, but expect to pay several hundred dollars per person.

10. Qbara

Arabic food is given a modern twist in Dubai's homegrown Qbara restaurant.

Located beside Raffles Hotel near the Dubai Creek, this funky venue is intimate in reds and golds, draped in shadows and subtly sexy.

A cool DJ and rotating artwork projections add to the buzzing vibe enjoyed by an Emirati and expat crowd.

Food spans everything from salads to small hot dishes, but the thing uniting it all is the edgy take on traditional Middle Eastern cuisine.

There's scallops seared with sumac (a tangy lemony spice) served with pomegranate onions or lobster kibbeh (a fried wheat parcel stuffed with flavored meat) with avocado labneh (a soft cheese).

Dates, pine nuts, hummus and more dot the expansive menu.

"If you have one night only in Dubai, then this restaurant is a must -- and ultimately my favorite restaurant in this emirate," says Samantha Wood.

Credit card max-out:Out-pricing even the tasting menu ($136 per person) is the hefty mixed grill. This star of Arabic cuisine features pure-bred Angus sirloin, tiger prawns, Syrian lamb kofta, grilled lamb cutlets and more ($204).

Worth the splurge: The decadent dessert made with iced nougat, baked kunafa pastry and gently flavored orange cream (part of a tasting menu for $136 per person, or on its own for $14).

Danae Mercer is a freelance travel journalist who lived in Dubai for over two years.

Beneteau First 50 - MySailing.com.au

Read article : Beneteau First 50 - MySailing.com.au

Beneteau's latest cruiser/racer is from super-yacht specialist Philippe Briand, by Vanessa Dudley.

FIRST of all, it's not a Farr boat. French boat builder Beneteau has had a golden run with its First line of production cruiser/racers bearing the Farr Yacht Design name, most notably with the First 40.7 and more recently the 47.7, 44.7 and 36.7.
For its new First 50-footer, however, Beneteau turned to Philippe Briand, the French naval architect whose focus in recent years has been on super-maxis like the 140ft Mari Cha IV. Briand advances the proposition that "the primary function of a yacht is to be aesthetic. Her owner has to be proud of her?.

"Philippe Briand was brought onboard to produce a beautiful boat," says John Cowpe of the Australian Beneteau importer, Vicsail. While smaller First models like the 44.7 and 34.7 have been aimed at IRC racing, the new First 50 has a different primary focus, Cowpe says. "It's a sports cruiser, a boat you would race in Premier Cruising division rather than against the IRC class boats like the Cookson 50s."

The result is a stylish and well-proportioned yacht which has some interesting signature features like the "eyebrows" (or eyelids) over the side windows in the coach house (giving the boat a distinctive look, while also providing protection so the windows can be left open while sailing in moderate conditions), and the long bank of green tinted skylight hatches along the centreline both ahead and behind the mast.

It is a much sleeker craft than Beneteau's other current model 50 in the Oceanis cruising range.

In fact it probably has more in common with semi-custom craft such as the Marten 49 in the modern performance/sports cruiser category. With its carbon composite construction the Marten offers higher performance, but at a considerably higher price.

The first boat to arrive in Australia is Playstation 3, for Sydney yachtsman Dean Harrigan, stepping towards a more performance oriented boat from his previous Beneteau 53f5 Big Kahuna, and Greg Hargraves.

Playstation 3 attracted a great deal of interest at the Sydney International Boat Show in August before whisking away for the delivery north to the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, where it was to compete in the Premier IRC division.

By the time this review is published, there will be racing results on the board for the new boat, which at the time of writing did not yet have an IRC rating.

Rig and deck layout

Playstation 3 is fitted with a black-painted aluminium mast produced by Sparcraft; keel-stepped and tapered with triple aft-swept (20 degree) spreaders. A slightly taller carbon mast, weighing roughly 100kg less, is a more expensive option. The large section aluminium boom is also from Sparcraft.

"A lot has been learned from racing boats to produce a simple boat that works," says John Cowpe. The mainsheet trims on an electric-powered winch on a central island base with no traveller, relying on vang sheeting. There are Navtec hydraulic controls for the vang and the backstay.

Harken winches are used with a 53.2 self-tailer for the main, 60.2 self-tailers for the primaries and four 48.2s on the coach house for the halyards and control lines.

Standard running rigging includes Dyneema halyards and control lines leading back to jammers on the coach roof within reach of the cockpit. Where possible lines are recessed into the deck to provide less cluttered space.
The headsail has a fixed genoa furler under the foredeck. The anchor locker houses a tilting bow roller fitting for the 24kg Delta anchor. A hydraulic ram controls anchor launching on the pivoting arm, which turns through 180 degrees, and there is a 12 volt 1500 watt electric windlass. A separate sail locker with its own access hatch is also located at the bow.
The electronic instruments on Playstation 3 are from B&G, which also supplied an autopilot. This makes the steering a little heavier than would otherwise be the case, but will be a boon for deliveries and cruising.

The standard boat comes with teak cockpit seats, but Playstation 3 was also given a full teak decking job by Vicsail's after-sales team. This added an estimated 80-110kg of weight; "one big guy spread across the whole boat, so it?s not a big issue," says John Cowpe.

The two steering wheels are 900mm diameter painted aluminium. The transom folds down by simply releasing a barrel bolt to provide a boarding and swim platform. The aft section of the cockpit houses a large locker for the life raft or tender, safety gear, etc, and there is a lot more storage in the cockpit seat lockers.

Playstation 3 is set up with a cockpit lighting system of blue LEDs on the boom in front of the mainsheet so "doing a race like the Pittwater to Coffs, the crew can see without blinding the helm," says John Cowpe.

Below decks

The First 50 interior is very much in keeping with the latest styling across the major production yacht builders, including the use of light oak coloured timber, open floor spaces and those raised, square hand basins which are everywhere these days.

The first time I saw this styling ? Japanese influenced to my eye ? was on the German Hanse range, although I'm not sure if that's where it originated.

Stepping down the companionway brings you into a large, light and airy saloon, with a lot of headroom (1.95 to 2.01m) in spite of the relatively low-slung proportions of the coach roof.

The row of green tinted hatches in the centre of the coach roof can be sealed off with blinds and provides a healthy amount of light. According to Beneteau there are in fact 24 opening ports and hatches when you count up all the Lewmar windows with their anodised aluminium frames and include the sliding companionway hatch.

Halogen lighting and articulating reading lamps are included in the standard fit out.

The layout provides three private double cabins, the forward cabin having an en suite bathroom with a separate shower stall, while the mirror-image aft cabins are served by a smaller bathroom on the port side of the companionway. The forward toilet has an 80lt holding tank.

The two aft cabins have innovative soft fabric zip-up hanging lockers on stainless steel frames, while the front cabin has a more conventional full height locker. There is plenty of attention to detail throughout this craft, such as the internal light which comes on automatically when you open this forward locker.

Other details include a dedicated holding area for the stormboards behind the companionway steps, and drawers within drawers in the galley, which is on the starboard side at the aft end of the saloon.

The galley facilities include a 60lt top-opening icebox with a 12 volt evaporative cooling system, plus there is a 100lt fridge, as well as an LP gas oven and stove and quite a lot of storage compartments and bench space.

The L-shaped settee on the port side flanks a timber table on stainless steel legs, while there are two more removable/reversible seats on the centreline. Opposite to starboard is another settee, while outboard on both sides are banks of cupboards with upward opening doors.

Aft of the dining area is a generously sized navigation station with swivel chair, chart table, electrics panel and space to mount nav instruments, radios, etc. An aft-facing desk area can accommodate a laptop computer. The radio/CD/MP3 player is included in the standard equipment list with two saloons and two outside speakers.

Instead of having large floorboards which can be difficult to manage, the First 50 has small laminated timber squares which are lifted individually using a suction cap. This allows access to the bilge and inclusions such as the wine rack housed under the floorboards adjacent to the front of the galley.

The Yanmar 55hp engine under the companionway has an 80Amp alternator attached and a 40Amp battery charger. The 12 volt batteries include a 110 Amp engine starting battery plus two 140 Amp house batteries and there is 220V shore supply with a circuit breaker, and seven 220 volt sockets around the cabins.

Performance

By the time this test is published, Playstation 3 will have some runs on the board from the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. We did not race the boat, but sailed her in a 5-12kt westerly breeze on Sydney Harbour in flat water.
She is a big, powerful performer, with the T-profile torpedo bulb keel providing a reassuring amount of righting moment when pressed.

In bumpy water you would not expect her to equal the performance of boats like the carbon hulled Marten 49, but her IRC rating should reflect that difference, and in flat water she achieved impressive numbers upwind and reaching without using her new suit of Norths 3DL sails or a spinnaker, which will be flown conventionally from a pole rather than a bowsprit.

Beneteau clearly sees a future in the sports/performance cruiser concept, as the company will release a First 45, also designed by Philippe Briand and similar to the 50 with stylish lines, twin wheels and an open transom, at this year's Paris Boat Show in December.

Specifications

Length overall ... .. .. 14.98m
Waterline length ... ... .. 14.65m
Beam ... ... ... 4.37m
Draft (deep draft option)... 2.80m
Displacement ... ... ... 13,780kg
Ballast ... .. ... 4300kg
Sail area:
Mainsail.............. 68.60sq m
Genoa.............. 70.10sq m
Spinnaker.......... 160sq m
Construction: Solid GRP hull, reinforced by longitudinals and local reinforcements in high load areas, with structural inner hull and deck mouldings bonded and laminated into place. Infusion moulded deck of sandwich GRP/balsa/polyester resin. Mixed lead/cast iron keel with lead and antimony bulb and hollow keel fin, fixed to the hull using stainless steel bolts and backing plates. Composite rudder of GRP/foam with rudder stock of biaxial and unidirectional cloth.
Fuel capacity......................237lt
Water capacity....................................568lt
Engine..........................................Yanmar 75hp marine diesel sail drive with three-bladed folding propeller
Base price: $756,000 ex sails & instruments; $925,000 as tested
Designer: Philippe Briand
Builder: Chantiers Beneteau, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, France, www.beneteau.com.
Australian distributor: Vicsail, Rushcutters Bay, NSW. Tel (02) 9327 2088; or visit www.vicsail.com