Boatworks

Compact Cooling

by Sail Staff, Posted July 9, 2006

This new air conditioner from Dometic won’t cool your entire boat down—unless it’s a rather small boat—but it’s ideal for a sleeping cabin or a small saloon. The self-contained 3,500-Btu unit measures 91/4" @ 15" @ 8" and will fit in a locker or under a V-berth. It’s powered from the boat’s house batteries via an integral inverter that also lets you connect other 115-volt appliances to it. It

Fear No Fire

by Sail Staff, Posted July 9, 2006

The 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 it with the nozzle of a fire

SensiBulb

by Sail Staff, Posted September 9, 2006

The maker of the SensiBulb boast that it has the warm color, intensity, and beam width of a 10-watt halogen—“close enough” in my testing—plus the cool operation, low draw, and long life of an LED. The basic $40 “bulb” fits as is into most dome lights, and accessories enable retrofitting to many reading lamps. Typical current usage of .14 amp can be reduced to .025 amp by using the built-in dimmer

Get a Grip

by Sail Staff, Posted October 10, 2006

Tired of searching for the right wrench? The Bionic Wrench, a wrench/pliers hybrid, comes in three sizes (6-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch) that collectively cover 38 metric and SAE wrench sizes, from 1/4 to 11/4 inches. Just squeeze it, and its six steel teeth grip a bolt head evenly on all sides. The Bionic Grip can also fit around objects that are impossible to put a standard wrench on. From

Wind Powered

by Sail Staff, Posted March 10, 2007

Estesian Technologies’s new wireless anemometer achieves self-sufficiency via an internal brushless generator that requires only a small amount of wind for power. The device is compatible with standard potentiometer-based wind-direction sensors, allowing it to provide wind-direction measurements. It is accurate to +/-0.17 knot, has a range of 300 feet, and has both pulse and analog outputs; a

Trailer Upgrade 2.0

by Sail Staff, Posted January 10, 2007

Carpet tacked to your trailer’s wood boat braces takes forever to dry if you sail on the salty, and its looks deteriorate after a season or two. Snaptraxx’s new modular trailer bunk system easily snaps together and encases 2-by-6 lumber without any hardware. SnapTraxx makes two different polymer versions—one allows your boat to slip easily off the trailer once it’s immersed in water, the other

Hurricane Insurance

by Sail Staff, Posted November 10, 2006

Few experiences are as surreal as prepping your boat for a hurricane. Will it be safe? Colligo Nautique has created this super-strong bridle-plate system that connects up to three anchors to help you ride out a blow. Made from zinc-plated, hot-dipped galvanized (HDG) steel, the system features a 3/4-inch HDG swivel that gives a boat a wide range of movement without chafing rodes or tangling

Cockpit Comfort

by Sail Staff, Posted November 10, 2006

It can take hours to adjust a cockpit cushion just so, and, inevitably, perfection is attained just before tacking. SeaBound’s new line of Flaties self-inflating cushions is designed to enhance onboard comfort. One is a V-shaped bow cushion; other models can be clipped to lifelines. The cushions come in a variety of sizes to fit different cockpit benches, fold down small, and are easily carried

Secure Footing

by Sail Staff, Posted August 11, 2007

Working on a pitching foredeck is hard enough, but when the deck’s antiskid wears down it can be downright dangerous. Pachena’s new KiwiGrip coating breathes new life onto an aging deck. Simply roll on KiwiGrip with Pachena’s proprietary roller and allow it to dry (24 hours). KiwiGrip can be applied to fiberglass, wood, metal (with the use of primers), epoxy, and concrete for a durable finish;

Inflatable Defenses

by Sail Staff, Posted August 11, 2007

Boat Bunkers’s recently introduced line of inflatable bumpers offer your boat protection without taking up valuable stowage space. The bumpers purportedly inflate and deflate quickly (a separate hand pump is available), are built of sturdy materials, fold down small, and come with a built-in strap and adjustable boat-attachment buckle. They’re available in five colors and four sizes, for boats up