Maintenance and DIY

For most Americans, “nano” entered their lexicon when Apple first introduced its tiny iPod. Now “nano” has entered the sailing vocabulary, as in “nano-tube-enhanced carbon-fiber spars.” It’s a technology that could eventually be used to build better hulls, rudders, and keels. Conventional carbon-fiber masts are constructed by laying up individual layers of carbon fiber with epoxy resin and

Edited by David SchmidtWritten by Ben EllisonConnected ColorRaymarine’s innovative ST70s instrument displays use bright 3.5-inch high-resolution color screens to display traditional instrument information (really well), plus engine, weather, and other data that’s available on the multi-manufacturer NMEA 2000 data standard. They also mark the

Sanding and polishing bright work is never easy, especially if there are details in the woodwork itself. Black & Decker’s new Zone-Touch Mouse makes sanding and polishing easier, as this innovative product can accept multiple finger detail attachments via the unit’s Velcro bottom. Simply select the attachment that best fits the bit of detail work that you need to sand or polish, attach the

Edited by David SchmidtMap Lover’s DelightCharts and maps are one of sailing’s great legacies, as most exploring expeditions brought back charts of previously unknown waters as part of the trip’s bounty. Now, Latitude Kinsale of Ireland makes handmade, custom, three-dimensional to-scale maps, allowing sailors of a different era to share in this same

Edited by David SchmidtWeatherlyIf you love historic boats and like to keep an eye on the weather, Majestic Weathervanes’s line of high-end rooftop accoutrements is worth a look. Built of aluminum and steel, each weathervane is an exact replica of a historic vessel, built to its original blueprints. These models-cum-vanes are designed to withstand anything short of

Edited by David SchmidtRemote controlledIf you want to harness the full power of your yacht’s flat-screen TV, high-end stereo, theater-area lighting and more, you can do it with Remote Technologies’s T4 Universal Controller. The touch-panel device features an integrated 802.11 WiFi card, onboard speakers, and a 6.4-inch LCD display with full VGA resolution,

Edited by David SchmidtSwing TimeNothing beats lounging in a hammock with a good book after a sail. Cool Net Hammocks recently introduced its namesake product, which is easily set up via a three-point connection system. The hammock can be attached either forward of the mast (attaching to the forestay, the mast, and a shroud) or behind it (using a

Edited by David SchmidtShock AbsorbedAronowitsch and Lyth AB’s Bungy device provides a simple way to moor and anchor your boat safely and can help tame gybes, too. Simply snap a few Bungys onto your anchor gear and you’re done. When storms hit, Bungys add shock-absorbing stretch to your mooring pennant or anchor rode; each Bungy is designed to regain its shape,

Nothing beats lounging in a hammock with a good book after a sail. Cool Net Hammocks recently introduced its namesake product, which is easily set up via a three-point connection system. The hammock can be attached either forward of the mast (attaching to the forestay, the mast, and a shroud) or behind it (using a shroud, the mast, and the backstay), depending on your boat’s layout. The hammocks

Besides nationality, what do the Swiss America’s Cup syndicate Alinghi and knife manufacturer Wenger have in common? Answer: A partnership that has produced a well-thought-out, sailing-specific knife. The Alinghi Knife features the best pliers I’ve ever seen on a folding knife, a locking blade, a line gauge, various screwdrivers, and a spike—all designed to help you MacGyver yourself out of tight