Maintenance and DIY

Fire is a major fear for anyone sailing offshore, even if the boat has ample extinguishers. Sea-Fire Marine’s integrated fire-suppression management system, called the Fire Control Panel, monitors cylinder pressure and fire, heat, carbon monoxide, and smoke levels; it can be programmed to simultaneously monitor—and shut down—up to eight specified onboard devices, including engines, generators,

Edited by David SchmidtHurricane InsuranceFew 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

Edited by David SchmidtAutomatic AirbagsFor years, inflatable PFDs have provided sailors with a comfortable way to stay safe without wearing bulky gear. But there are more than a few stories of unwanted deployments. And how would you pull the jacket’s back-up manual “inflate” tab if you were knocked unconscious while getting tossed in the drink? Mustang

Edited by David SchmidtAerobucksIn 2003 Erin Hemmings used an Aerobie Pro Ring to set the Guinness World Record for the longest throw of an object without any velocity-adding propulsion. Now Aerobie has launched a hand-held espresso maker. The connection? Both devices help you go the distance. Simply insert a filter, set the AeroPress over a coffee mug, add coffee and

In 2003 Erin Hemmings used an Aerobie Pro Ring to set the Guinness World Record for the longest throw of an object without any velocity-adding propulsion. Now Aerobie has launched a hand-held espresso maker. The connection? Both devices help you go the distance. Simply insert a filter, set the AeroPress over a coffee mug, add coffee and hot water, stir, and depress the plunger. The durable

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

I hesitated before throwing a heavy line into the thin outstretched arms of the older fellow standing at the head of our slip. But he caught the line, wrapped it deftly around a cleat, and beckoned for the next one. This was our first visit to the quiet Chesapeake Bay town of Oxford, Maryland, and we had just met James Robert “Just call me Jimmy” Taylor, Oxford Boat Yard’s 95-year-old dockmaster

If you’ve traveled to the world’s exotic ports, odds are good that you’ve experienced troubles accessing shore power. Vectek’s VSP Series II shore-power converter equalizes a boat’s power requirements with available shore power. The VSP Series II accepts multiple power inputs; you determine whether the power supply is one- or three-phrase, and the converter does the rest. The unit also features

If there’s anything better than enjoying a glass of bubbly on the water, it’s enjoying a cold glass of bubbly. Veuve Clicquot’s Ice Jacket makes it easy to keep a prechilled 750-ml bottle of Veuve Clicquot (or other similarly bottled spirits) cold for up to two hours, without ice or refrigeration. Featuring a neoprene-lined skin, leather trimmings, a zipper enclosure, and a button closure around

The Tiller Trimmer is a simple self-steering device for tiller-steered boats. Mount it on your tiller, run a control line from one side of the cockpit to the other through the Tiller Trimmer, and you can lock the tiller in place by tightening the unit’s control knob. The device, made of N6 Nylon, has a ball-bearing Delrin sheave that evenly feeds the control line into the control knob, regardless