Gear

More Great Boating Gift Ideas for Christmas – and Beyond

By Peter Janssen on December 7, 2016 Cruising Life, Gear

Now here’s an appealing Christmas gift guide that I really like. It has just about everything a cruising boat owner could want, including multifunction tools, hand warmers, foul-weather gear, wooden charts (these are very cool), SPOT Satellite Messenger (a great safety device), a drone, and even information on booking a charter if you really want to get away from it all. And if Santa doesn’t bring you everything on this list, save it and keep it for next spring when you make your first trip down to the chandlery. Take a look: http://blog.dockwa.com/christmas-gift-guide-for-sailors-and-boaters?utm_campaign=Blog+Subscribers&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=38810354&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–KK9ScHXEmuZFs7mtbDSw-4L6a4x328OYmweH3riQybuFomHwIqZXEji9BjUwW1snaUftG-bsrQ68575YEviouxXKEmA&_hsmi=38810354

A New Entry: Williams Minijet Tender Off to a Good Start

By Peter Janssen on November 29, 2016 Gear

If you’re looking for a new tender or RIB or just another boat to zip around in, the new Williams Minijet 280 may be just the thing. Designed for cruising boats under 45 feet, the new, compact Minijet 280 is only 9’2″ long, with a beam of 5’1′. It’s relatively light, weighing only 460 pounds. The real distinction, of course is that it is powered by a 45-hp BRP Rotax Ace 900 jet engine. There’s no outboard to put on and take off every time you launch it; no prop to worry about, a major safety advantage. The Minijet 280…

Can This Buoyant Glow-in-the-Dark Rope Save Your Life?

By Peter Janssen on November 25, 2016 Gear

Now here’s something truly new: Buoyant rope that glows in the dark. A man overboard at night? With this rope, which comes in yellow, orange, pink and green, at least you – and the man overboard – will be able to see the lifebuoy or whatever else you’re throwing his way. Called Night Saver Rope, it’s supposed to be 10 times stronger than standard buoyant rope. Certainly worth a second look: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/glow-in-the-dark-rope-a-lifesaver-at-sea-halifax-maker-says/article33022968/

SEABOB: Swim Like a Fish, Over and Under the Water

By Peter Janssen on November 22, 2016 Gear

Take a look at the new SEABOB, which I just saw in action at the Fort Lauderdale show. It’s not complicated, it’s not salty, it’s simply fun. SEABOB basically is an electric-powered, jet-propelled water sled or scooter that lets you glide on top of the waves at up to nine mph or dive underwater like a fish. The basic SEABOB, the F5, is easy to handle; you steer by shifting your weight. It has two control grips and you just squeeze the trigger to keep going. This SEABOB weighs only 64 pounds and you pick it up with a…

Newest Life-Saving Device: BottleBuoy

By Peter Janssen on November 10, 2016 Gear

Why didn’t somebody think of this before? In a high-tech, digital world, the newest answer to a man overboard emergency is the BottleBuoy, a definitely low-tech invention consisting of three empty plastic bottles screwed into a central core. The Royal Navy has already tested the BottleBuoy off the coast of Bangladesh and now will test it off Norfolk, England. The trapped air in the three bottles seems to offer enough floatation to keep an adult afloat, while the entire contraption is easy for anyone to throw accurately. Stay tuned. http://www.ybw.com/news-from-yachting-boating-world/rnli-trials-ingenious-bottlebuoy-flotation-device-44251

How to Install a Diesel Heater in your Boat

By Peter Janssen on November 9, 2016 Gear

Winter’s coming. Those of us in the north can extend our boating season by staying warm, and by installing a heater if our boat doesn’t have one already. Even in the south, a heater can take the chill out of the air and make winter boating more enjoyable for all on board. Here’s a great how-to article about how to install a heater. Even though the example is on a sailboat, the installation (and benefits) are exactly the same as on a cruising powerboat. Read on: http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/gear/installing-a-boat-heater-33132

Fill Those Cracks and Gaps with Pettit’s New Epoxy Compound and Glue

By Peter Janssen on November 1, 2016 Gear, Maintenance

Who doesn’t need this? Pettit has just created two new products to help you take care of your boat, one called EZ-Tex epoxy repair compound, and the other EZ-Bond thickened epoxy glue. EZ-Tex is a two-part epoxy repair compound for when you want a permanent, high-strength waterproof repair. It bonds to most surfaces above and below the waterline, and won’t sag or shrink. Pettit says it’s great for filling cracks, gouges and voids. Once it’s cured, it can be sanded, drilled, tapped and painted. EZ-Bond is a two-part thickened epoxy glue for bonding wood, fiberglass, composites and metals, with a…

Time to Winterize Your Boat: Here’s How

By Peter Janssen on October 24, 2016 Gear, Maintenance

For most of us, it’s that time of year – unless you’re heading for Florida and the Bahamas or Southern California and Catalina. The last cruise is probably over, and you’re scheduling a haulout with your marina any day now. But even before your boat is out of the water, there’s a lot you can do yourself. Here’s one of the better lists I’ve seen about what you can do to make sure your boat makes it through the winter safe and sound and is ready to go next spring. Take a look: look.http://blog.boattrader.com/2016/10/winterizing-boat.html

Fun (and Prize-Winning) Underwater Lights from Lumishore

By Peter Janssen on October 19, 2016 Gear

Sometimes, boating is just fun. Take a look at these new, prize-winning Lumishore underwater lights, for example. Light up the water? Well, why not (unless you’re worried about sharks or other nocturnal creatures). In any event, Lumishore, which makes these lights, just won a Product Excellence Award from the National Marine Electronics Association; it was the second year in a row that Lumishore won the award, so they must be doing something right. Indeed, Lumishore’s EOS Series, which won the award, provides hassle-free color control, with multiple custom color modes. It comes with plug-and-play connectors for easy installation and it…

Twin Disc Makes Steering Easier

By Peter Janssen on October 19, 2016 Gear

Just when you thought it couldn’t get much easier, Twin Disc has come up with a new electronic steering system to do exactly that. The electronic system, which the company calls “e-Steer,” does not have any of the problems often associated with purely hydraulic systems. Instead, the new e-Steer electronic helm is connected to the hydraulic-powered rudders by wires, reducing the possibility of leaks or loss of steerage. The new electronic system also has Twin Disc’s Speed Sensing technology, which gives the helmsman adaptive resistance – meaning the control of the wheel is firmer at full throttle and lighter at…

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