Gear

Handy Chafe Guards

Peter Nielsen
May 09, 2013

Chafe isn’t just a problem aloft. It can also be an issue where docklines or sheets rub up against, say, a cockpit coaming, a gunwale or the edge of your cabintrunk.

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Whale Watermaster Pressure Pump

Peter Nielsen
May 08, 2013

The Whale Watermaster automatic pressure pump is quiet running, provides high flow rates, is easy to retrofit and is self-priming up to 10ft.

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Clean and Green Holding Tanks

Peter Nielsen
May 07, 2013

Help your holding tank work better and keep it from stinking up the boat by tossing in some Free & Clear Holding Tank Liquid Deodorant from Thetford.

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Pocket Navigator for Smartphones

by Sail Staff, Posted September 9, 2006

Pocket Navigator’s latest 5.0 release can run on “Smartphones”— cellphones using the Windows Mobile operating system. The test unit worked nicely with a Bluetooth wireless GPS, its 1-gigabyte memory card offered ample raster-chart storage, and the keypad-driven interface was good enough for backup plotting. But what’s really impressive is how the Pocket Navigator easily fetches and overlays NOAA
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New Gear - July 2006

by Sail Staff, Posted August 10, 2006

Fear No FireThe one thing you shouldn’t do with a fire in an enclosed space—like an engine bay on a boat—is to add more air. Smell something burning, open the engine compartment, and whoosh, say goodbye to your eyebrows, and maybe to your boat. That’s why I like this simple install-it-yourself Fire Port ($8.74). If you ever see flames through the transparent window, just puncture
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Wish for Fish

by Sail Staff, Posted August 9, 2006

Nothing tastes as good as a fish you’ve caught yourself. Trouble is, fishing from a sailboat can be a hit-or-miss affair—in my case, usually miss. Lure maker Darrell Primrose says that’s because sailboats typically don’t go fast enough to make big lures work properly. He reckons his $59 Sailboaters Combo Rig, which includes some handy hints on techniques along with a “Teaser Bird” lure intended
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Compact Binos

by Sail Staff, Posted August 9, 2006

Some of the crews on the Volvo Ocean Race boats were seen brandishing Steiner’s new 7@30 Navigator Pro compass binoculars during the U.S. stopovers. These lightweight (18-ounce) waterproof binos have a field of view of 300 feet at 100 yards. The light-gathering ability of the lenses is claimed to be similar to that of the bigger, heavier 7@50 binoculars usually recommended for marine use. $399
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Chart-Topping DVD

by Sail Staff, Posted August 9, 2006

Maptech has released a DVD containing 2,300 NOAA nautical charts and 730 river charts, along with GPS navigation software. The software lets you create waypoints and routes on a computer, and if you hook your GPS up to an onboard laptop, your boat’s position will be displayed in real time. It also lets you print out route plans and chart segments. Charts are arranged by region and can be updated
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