Carpet tacked to your trailers wood boat braces takes forever to dry if you sail on the salty, and its looks deteriorate after a season or two. Snaptraxxs new modular trailer bunk system easily snaps together and encases 2-by-6 lumber without any hardware. SnapTraxx makes two different polymer versionsone allows your boat to slip easily off the trailer once its immersed in water, the other
Knot tying isnt easy, especially if you have small hands. With Nite Izes new Figure 9 rope tightener you can easily secure a dinghy to a car-top rack. Simply put the boat on your car, set up the closed-loop end of the Figure 9 (instructions are engraved on the aluminum device), pull tight, and drop the cords moving end into the Figure 9s teeth. Two sizes accommodate rope diameters between 2
For 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 jackets back-up manual inflate tab if you were knocked unconscious while getting tossed in the drink? Mustang Survivals new Auto Hydrostatic Inflatable Personal Flotation Device automatically
Finding the ideal gift for a discerning sailor isn’t easy, especially if he or she has a quiver of go-fast goodies and cruising amenities. We’ve divided our suggestions into various categories: his, hers, kids, for the boat, and for anyone. For more holiday gift giving ideas, check out the December issue of SAIL. Happy Holidays. Click here to read
That in-the-red VSWR, reading on the ART-3 tester confirmed my suspicion that while the old VHF antenna attached looks okay, it must be fried internally. VSWR stands for voltage standing wave ratio, but Shakespeare reasonably calls it antenna efficiency. The ART-3 can also test transmission wattage (only 17 with this particular antenna, but a full 25 with a decent one) and can generate a tone
It can take hours to adjust a cockpit cushion just so, and, inevitably, perfection is attained just before tacking. SeaBounds 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
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
Part of the fun of sailing at night is learning about the light combinations displayed by other vessels. Two whites one above the other, plus a green and a red, that meansaaarggh! The novice crew aboard will probably feel much more relaxed with a LIGHTrule in the cockpit. This $24.99 quick-reference tool shows 60 different light configurations as youll see them from the cockpit and includes a
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
Camcleats can be awkward to release under load, which is worrying when theres a squall line bearing down on you. Spinlock claims its new PXR camcleat is the easiest cleat to release.It features a three-stage adjustable spring; you preset lighter settings for lines that are constantly adjusted and use stronger settings for seldom-tuned lines like halyards. The PXR comes in two sizes;
On perhaps one of the most dramatic nights in recent Vendée Globe history, Kevin Escoffier sat in a life raft with little to do but
It was early March and freezing cold in Michigan. Snow lay in patches on the barren fields, and dark clouds hung just above the treetops.
When nearly 20 Friendship sloops set out for the starting line off Rockland, Maine, this past summer, they didn’t just start milling about in preparation
For sailors of a certain age, the entire concept of a mulithull is cutting edge. However, even a cursory glance at a harbor full of
The 24th running of the Corinthian Classic Regatta, held August 13 and 14, is a testament to the beauty of traditional and modern classic racing
This summer has been a great one for sailors everywhere, but in particular for the 87 sailors participating in the Tiwal Cup on France’s Gulf
“I’ll admit, it’s still hard to watch the boat leave the dock sometimes,” says former Volvo Ocean Race sailor Mark Towill. Since meeting during a
Dufour, long one of France’s most well-respected builders, has been producing sailboats in La Rochelle since the dawn of fiberglass boatbuilding. Having recently merged with
The 2023 Ocean Race intends to be one of the world’s first climate positive sporting events, offsetting more greenhouse gasses than are produced. The two-fold
Almost anywhere a sailor drops the hook someone else has been there before. We are hardly ever the first. That remote Maine harbor without a
