Gear

New Bitter End Inflatable SUP; Fits in a Backpack

By Peter Janssen on March 2, 2020 Cruising Life, Gear

Before it was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September, 2017, the Bitter End Yacht Club was one of the most sought-after, and highly recognized, destinations in the British Virgin Islands. The Bitter End has been rebuilding its 64 acres since then, but in the interim it has launched Bitter End Provisions, “to help you prepare for your next nautical adventure.” The company says the criteria for something to qualify as a Bitter End Provision are that “It works hard and works often. That it has been tested at sea. And that it pairs really well with a bottle…

New Garmin MARQ Captain Smart Watch: “A Luxury Modern Tool”

By Peter Janssen on February 18, 2020 Gear

If you’re looking for a high-tech smart watch, Garmin’s new MARQ Captain will help you stay connected as well as help you navigate your boat. Garmin calls it a “luxury modern tool watch,” and it seems all of that. The many tools on the MARQ Captain include a GPS (no surprise; this is a Garmin product, after all), a man-overboard button, wind speed, temperature, tidal information, coastal charts, port conditions, a regatta timer, music storage, Garmin Pay, and a heart-rate sensor, among other things. And the watch face is surrounded by a nautical blue color scheme. The luxury touches include…

Stay Connected with New, Fast, AquaFi Mobile Hotspot

By Peter Janssen on February 1, 2020 Electronics, Gear

Here’s a new way for you – and a lot of your friends – to stay connected when you’re cruising: the Taylor Made AquaFi Mobile Hotspot. Indeed, the AquaFi Hotspot delivers fast and reliable 4G LTE speeds for up to ten users on board at the same time. The AquaFi provides a secure 2.4 GHz connection, and it can connect with multiple devices at up to 150 Mbps. Speeds will vary according to the strength of the cell signal. The device requires a Nano SIM card (included) and it’s easy to set up with the free AquaFi app. Made for…

Foldable Oru Kayak Fits in a Duffle, Weighs 20 Pounds

By Peter Janssen on November 26, 2019 Gear

If your boat is squeezed for space, and you have a hard time finding room for a kayak, take a look at the new foldable Inlet model from Oru Kayak. It folds up like an origami, fits into a duffle and weighs just 20 pounds. And it was just named one of Time’s 100 Best Inventions of 2019. Anton Willis, the founder of Oru, got the idea for a folding kayak after he saw a story in The New Yorker about origami. He was an ocean kayaker, but he didn’t have any place to keep his kayak in his San…

New Fliteboard: Electric-Powered Foiling Surfboard

By Peter Janssen on October 23, 2019 Gear

This just looks like fun. In case you’re looking for a new toy, or a way to relax once you’ve dropped the hook on your next cruise, consider the Fliteboard, an electric-powered foiling surfboard. (See the video below.) Built in Australia, the Fliteboard flies several feet above the surface, giving you the sensation of gliding over the water. A handheld remote control lets you control the speed, but the company says it can hit 27 mph. The Fliteboard is made to foil on oceans, rivers and lakes, in fresh and salt water. You don’t even need waves, although they certainly…

New Snap Tool Multi-Key Does Just About Everything

By Peter Janssen on October 14, 2019 Gear

Now here’s a really good idea, and it fits in your pocket: The new Snap Tool Multi-Key from Davis Instruments. The Snap Tool also fits in your palm, and you can use it to twist, cut, pry, snap and take care of any number of tasks and jobs onboard. The patented Snap Tool is the Swiss Army Knife of boating tools, a toolbox of its own. It has three metric and four SAE hex wrenches, slotted and Phillips screwdrivers, a scraper and a recessed cutting blade. No fewer than three deck plate keys open just about any deck fill. A…

New SmartMooring Brings Your Boat to You. See Video

By Peter Janssen on October 8, 2019 Gear

Here’s a new idea that was just introduced at the Annapolis Powerboat Show: The SmartMooring, an app-controlled device that travels along an underwater chain and brings your boat to you. Forget the dinghy. Just stand on a dock, press a button on your smartphone and SmartMooring will deliver your boat. At the end of the day, when you’re back at your deep-water mooring, press the button again and SmartMooring will carry you back to shore. (You can see how it works in the video, below.) Tom Derecktor, an engineer and member of the Derecktor Shipyard family, developed the SmartMooring after…

New Water Bike Uses Foils, Goes 12 mph

By Peter Janssen on October 7, 2019 Gear

Here’s a new water bike that uses America’s Cup foiling technology to help you pedal around your next mooring or off your dock. It’s called the Manta 5 Hydrofoiler XE-1, and the company says it’s the world’s first production hydrofoil bike. The rear foil measures 6’ 5″, while the front one is 4 feet. Using the same principle as foils on the world’s most famous racing sailboats, the Hydrofoiler has foils to minimize drag and raise the bike out of the water as it gains speed. Top speed on the Hydrofoiler: 12 mph. In case you get tired pedaling, the…

New, Prize-Winning UGO Waterproof Dry Bag that Floats

By Peter Janssen on September 16, 2019 Gear

The new UGO Tablet, a waterproof dry bag that floats, just may be a better mousetrap. Indeed, it was just recognized as the best new product for boating operation and safety at the Newport International Boat Show. With the UGO, you don’t have to worry about dropping your cellphone in the water, or getting your key fobs, cash and credit cards wet. The UGO is 100 percent waterproof. It’s built with three high-tech layers on the outside, plus a flotation layer to keep it from sinking. In any event, it is waterproof up to 20 feet below the surface. The…

New Semi-Custom Argos Nautic RIB Launches at Lauderdale Show

By Peter Janssen on September 9, 2019 Gear

Argos Nautic will launch its new 396 Yachting RIB at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, starting Oct. 30, and the semi-custom Florida-built tender has room for six adults in its 13-feet, 6-inch hull. The new Argos Nautic is remarkable not only for the number of passengers it can carry in comfort, but also for the number of options that are available for a new owner. Argos Nautic, founded in 2009, builds upscale RIBs as tenders, or sportboats, in a variety of colors, patterns and textures. The new 396 Yachting weighs 925 pounds, so it can be carried on the…

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