After years of manufacturing orange liferafts, Viking Life-Saving Equipment is now making its rafts fluorescent yellow. Viking made the switch after extensive testing showed that yellow shows up better against the grays and blues of the ocean, as well as in fog. Viking has incorporated the color into its upgraded RescYou line of rafts, which also features a blue inner lining that is said to have
Whether its on a through-hull fitting or securing a hose on your diesel engine, a hose clamp is a critical piece of equipment, so it pays to use a good one that fits.With a Cruisers Pack stainless steel ABA hose clamp kit from Scandvik, you can be assured of having any and every hose clamp youll ever need.Each kit contains 56 clamps in six different sizes from 7/16in to 2 11/16in
The solar-powered RailLight Premium LED light comes with a QuickMount attachment system featuring multiple attachment options. These include a rail clamp that attaches to railings measuring 3/4in to 11/4in in diameter; a transom clamp that adjusts up to 2in, for use with cockpit coamings, toerails or the topsides of a dinghy and rowboat; and a post mount that attaches permanently to any deck,
Shakespeare’s Galaxy 5445 antenna and wind vane combination saves space at the top of the mast by combining multiple functions in a single piece of gear. The system is lightweight and minimizes windage aloft, while solderless connectors simplify installation and subsequent removal for storage. The antennas 3dB whip measures 3ft and a PL-259 connector and a 65ft RG-58 coax cable are included. The
My J/105 is more of a racer than a cruiser, but every once in a while I put in a few nights aboard with the family. Im 6ft 3in, and the boat has about a foot less headroom than I need, so Ive always paid close attention to the weatherbeing stuck below on a rainy day for more than an hour or so would put a big damper on the trip. Last year I was offered a ShadeTree awning to try, and what a
A BETTER BEACONThe GlobalFix PRO EPIRB transmits three different fully integrated signalsa GPS signal, a powerful 406 MHz signal and a 121.5 MHz homing beaconto help attract rescuers as quickly and efficiently as possible in the event of an emergency offshore. The units internal GPS can provide search-and-rescue teams with a position accurate to within a 100 yards in as little as three
Ive become converted to microfiber cloth for polishing things like dodger windows, portlights and stainless steel. You can use them with just about any polishing compound and theyre resistant to most other chemicals. They seem to get rid of annoying little flaws better than cotton rag, and you can wash them and reuse them.Shurhold is now selling microfiber towels in 3-packs for $18.95 or
The Kiwiprop feathering propeller is gradually gaining popularity in a competitive marketplace. It is set apart from its rivals by its constructionthe blades are made of Zytel, a plastic composite made by Dupont, mounted on a 316 stainless-steel hub. This combination lessens the potential for galvanic corrosion, which was the main reason I decided to replace my bronze two-bladed folding
For canvas covers and dodgers to work correctly they need to be tight. Unfortunately, getting a drum-tight fit often means trouble snapping down the fasteners. Surefas has solved this problem with its ingenious Q-Snap, a device that functions like a normal press fastener, except it comes equipped with an extra ring on the underside of the fastener and a small hook on the deck. Sliding the extra
The Cruising Club of America has announced its 2025 awardees. The highest honor, the Blue Water Medal for “exceptional seamanship and adventure by amateur sailors,”
A new film making the rounds on the festival circuit will be released digitally this month.
Ater months of testing, walkthroughs, reviews, and deliberations, we’re proud to announce the Top 10 Class of 2026. These boats fall across a spectrum of
In 2001, Ellen MacArthur finished second place in the Vendée Globe, the best finish of any woman to date. The most recent edition of the
Though it’s perhaps the most well-known word in the nautical lexicon, many don’t know where the word “starboard” came from. What’s the etymological origin? A)
It’s a cliche but 2025 really was a year like no other—for me, for the magazine, and for the world. At this time last year,
Quorning and many other marine manufactures are based in Denmark’s Syddanmark region.
French luxury catamaran builder Outremer has announced two new models to be built in 2026, both expected to make their show debuts in 2027.
US Patriot Sailing advocate and solo ocean racer Ronnie Simpson will be the keynote speaker at this March’s offshore racing conference.
The days are shorter and the weather is colder, but don’t worry: Your next issue of SAIL is on the way.
