Browsing: Toys

Cruising Life
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Totally Over-the-Top Holiday Gifts for Superyacht Owners

Many, many years ago, when my children were young and we had a sailboat, they gave me a sailbag for Christmas. The next year, it was a hand-held compass. I was very happy with both of these presents; my children knew how to connect with my passion. Later on, when they flew down to Fort Lauderdale to join me on our Grand Banks for a holiday cruise to Ocean Reef in the Keys, they brought a set of drinking glasses that I still have to this day. Those are normal kinds of holiday gifts for boat owners. Last week we…

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New 20-foot Bay Breeze Boat: An Inflatable Party Float

The new Six-Person Inflatable Bay Breeze Boat isn’t exactly the typical blue-water cruising boat we usually write about, but it does seem like a hoot. And you certainly won’t have to worry about the fuel and maintenance costs. The new inflatable is about 20 feet long with a 10-foot beam and it weighs 62 pounds when it’s not inflated. It comes from Sun Pleasure Inflatable, the same people who build those unicorn and pink flamingo floats you may have seen recently. The Bay Breeze is built to resemble a real boat; it has a swim platform, comfortable U-shaped seating in…

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12 Great New Summer Toys to Make Your Cruising Life Complete

In case you haven’t had your fill of summer toys, here’s a great list from Forbes to help you out. Forbes calls this a list of billionaire superyacht toys, but the title is misleading. Sure, some are a bit over the top: at $75,000, the Platypus Submersible Watercraft, pictured above, may put your toy budget under water (even though it sure looks like fun). But there 11 other toys, gadgets, bikes and vehicles on this list that could be just right for the rest of us. Here are a few with a lot of appeal. At just $2,799, the Gocycle GS…

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Let Your Pet Enjoy the Dog Days of Summer with a New Funboy X Yacht Dog Float

Chance are, you don’t have one of these yet. But what better way to keep your dog happy and make him or her feel like one of the crew this summer? Now your best friend can have a float of its own, just like the one you have for yourself. And, as the company says, this new toy “is taking the dog days of summer to a whole new level.” The new Funboy x Yacht Dog Float is made of a thick, puncture-resistant plastic, and has a lined “treat bin” in the bow. It measures 58 inches long and 31…

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For Your Next Raft-Up: The Aqua Beach Wave Floating Party Mat

This doesn’t really bring up visions of Joshua Slocum or bashing ‘round the Horn, but it could add a bit of spice to your local raft-up next summer. It’s the Aqua Beach Wave Floating Party Mat, and it could bring some fun after you tie up in the calm waters of a quiet cove. The Floating Party Mat is different. It’s made with soft, durable cross-link foam so it won’t tear, and it has four cup holders (need we say more). It has mooring lines and hook-and-loop straps to keep you floating in one spot, and it has Velcro straps…

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Toys, Tech and New Boats: The Best of the London Boat Show

Here’s a great look at the best toys, technology and boats at the London Boat Show, in a CNBC video. Take a look at how you can use your Apple iWatch to control all the lights on your boat (pictured above), for example. Oh, you don’t want to do that? Well, try a ride on the Seabob instead.  In the middle of winter here in the northern half of the U.S., it’s easy to forget that boating is fun. Here’s an easy reminder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ9sGUn6JZs