Browsing: Gear

Cruising Life
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Yamaha Introduces 9.9-hp Electric Outboard

Yamaha just introduced its HARMO electric outboard to the U.S. at the big International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) in Tampa. The outboard couples a 48-volt power supply with a high-yield, low-drag 3.7 kilowatt motor. The rim-drive electric motor and specially encased impeller provide 225 pounds of static thrust. Yamaha says that is the equivalent of a conventional 9.9-hp gasoline outboard. The electric outboard’s running time depends on the type of battery, the size, configuration and other parameters. Rim motors have been used for thrusters and some other marine applications in the past, but Yamaha says this this the first…

Cruising Life
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11 Winners for IBEX Innovation Awards

The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) just announced the 11 winners and three runners-up of their annual Innovation Awards in Tampa. The awards were announced at a keynote breakfast celebrating IBEX’s 30th anniversary attended by 800 people. The awards program is managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association with judging by members of Boating Writers International. Dozens of manufacturers submitted entries to the contest. “This year’s Innovation Awards program saw an incredible collection of entries,” said Anne Dunbar, the show director. She said the judges “had their work cut out for them to select winners to join the ranks…

Cruising Life
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Father, Son Cross English Channel on Fliteboards

A British father and son just rode their electric-powered hydrofoil Fliteboards across the English Channel in 1 hour and 44 minutes, setting a Guinness World Record for their performance. Rob Wylie, 51, and his son Morgan, 19, started in Cap Gris-Nez in northern France and rode, or foiled, for 23 miles until they landed in Folkstone, England. They both fell off their boards several times because of masses of seaweed in the water and fishing crates bobbing on the surface. Rob said that about half way across he didn’t think they would make it. The batteries were getting low “and…

Cruising Life
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Inflatable Takacat: Creative, Fun, Tender

Here’s a fresh idea for a dink or tender or just a fun boat to have around, particularly when space is tight: The New Zealand-made Takacat, a catamaran-style inflatable with an open bow and transom that’s lightweight, compact, versatile and cost effective. The open bow is made for easy boarding from a mothership, or from the water if you’ve been swimming. And the fully removable transom keeps the boat dry, since water can flow out the back, while making it easy to pack the Takacat in two storage bags. Takacats come in six sizes from 8’ 6” to 15 feet…

Cruising Life
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Nemo: World’s Smallest Dive System

Here’s a new way to explore underwater (at least to ten feet underwater) without all the hassle of a scuba tanks. Nemo, from Blu3 (pronounced “blue”), is a ten-pound, battery-operated portable dive system that’s so user-friendly that you can even take it on the plane with you. A U.S. company, Blue3 says that Nemo, with its patent-pending technology, is the world’s smallest dive system. It’s designed particularly for people who are used to snorkeling but want to explore farther underwater. Nemo consists of a buoyant foam rectangle and tube with a custom battery-powered compressor, which pumps air to the diver…

Cruising Life
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New Seakart: Half Jet Ski, Half RIB

If you’re ready for some fun this summer, or any other time, take a look at the new Seakart 335, a hybrid mix of a jet ski and a RIB. The 11’ 5” Seakart has the fun and performance of a jet ski, combined with the capacity and safety of a RIB. Not a bad idea. Power comes from a 110-hp or 180-hp four-stroke Yamaha jet drive. With the 110, top speed is 39 knots; with the 180, it’s 56 knots. The Seakart has a console like that of a jet ski, down to the mirrors, but the steering is…

Boat Reviews
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Sealegs Rolling Out 12′ 5″ Amphib, Smallest Yet

Sealegs, the New Zealand amphibious boat maker, just announced that they are developing a new 3.8m (12’ 5”) Tender, their smallest yet. Sealegs says it is taking orders for the new amphib now and will roll out the first production models in 2022. We don’t have a price yet. The 3.8 Tender, created to fit on larger cruising boats, takes exploration by tender to a new level. With a standard 40-hp Yamaha outboard, the 3.8m has a top speed of 34 knots on the water. But when you roll up to a beach or want to explore a new shoreline,…

Cruising Life
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Elegant New Avionics Electric Bike Hits 36 mph

You probably won’t want to throw the new Avionics electric bike in your lazarette, or take it on the Great Loop. But it sure would be fun to ride down to your local marina or yacht club. The elegant Avionics VM, handmade in Poland in a vintage retro style, combines a steel frame with Jatoba wood for contrast, and it uses state-of-the-art electric power to hit a top speed of 36 mph. A sine-wave controller lets you choose a “force mode” for maximum speed, or a “street mode” for a walk-in-the-park experience. In the street mode, the Avionics has a…

Cruising Life
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New Super Kayak Cat: Inflatable, Stable, Fun

Here’s something new and fun that you might want to take on your next cruise or just keep in the trunk of your car: The Super Kayak, an inflatable catamaran kayak that weighs just 30 pounds and takes only four minutes to set up or disassemble (see the video below). The brain child of Kirk Kirchev, a London product designer, the Super Kayak is now on Kickstarter, with a planned retail price of about $2,100 before long. It is 12 feet long, 3 feet wide and can carry a maximum load of 220 pounds. The modular craft has two inflatable…

Gear
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Weego Offers New Compact Jump Starter

Weego has just introduced a new portable N44s Jump Starter for boats, cars, trucks and motorcycles. It’s based on the success of Weego’s N22 model, and it delivers 50 percent more power for the same relatively low price. All told, the new N44S provides 44 cranking amps in an ultra-compact design. The charger is about the size of most cell phones (just 5.6 inches high) and it weighs less than a pound. The N44s can start vehicles with up to 7L gas engines or 3.5L diesels. It holds a year of standby power on a single charge, and its lithium…

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