Some of the crews on the Volvo Ocean Race boats were seen brandishing Steiners new 7@30 Navigator Pro compass binoculars during the U.S. stopovers. These lightweight (18-ounce) waterproof binos have a field of view of 300 feet at 100 yards. The light-gathering ability of the lenses is claimed to be similar to that of the bigger, heavier 7@50 binoculars usually recommended for marine use. $399
Maptech has released a DVD containing 2,300 NOAA nautical charts and 730 river charts, along with GPS navigation software. The software lets you create waypoints and routes on a computer, and if you hook your GPS up to an onboard laptop, your boats position will be displayed in real time. It also lets you print out route plans and chart segments. Charts are arranged by region and can be updated
Heres another worthy addition to the long list of Cool Stuff to Have On Your Boat. Part inflatable, part folding boat, the Yakka 120 kayak can carry 265 pounds of prime sailing beef. From its packed-down dimensions of 59 inches by 30 inches, the Yakka extends to a 9-foot, 5-inch kayak. It wont replace a proper tender, but its ideal for early-morning stealth runs around the harbor. $599. BIC
Its not too difficult to look like a pirate. If you work at it, you can have a boat that looks like a pirate ship. Its quite another matter to be a commissioned privateer with an official letter of marque signed by a state governor and a US president. Thanks to North Carolina and President Reagan, Captain Horatio Sinbad and his lieutenant, Terry Brown, can claim all of that and
In the August issue of SAIL, we provided a few tips to help protect your skin from the sun. Here is a list of Web sites with additional information:Class Action Suit Against Sunscreen Manufacturers – Skin Cancer FoundationClothing Styles and Fabrics Ranked for Sun Protection –
The one thing you shouldnt do with a fire in an enclosed spacelike an engine bay on a boatis to add more air. Smell something burning, open the engine compartment, and whoosh, say goodbye to your eyebrows, and maybe to your boat. Thats 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
This new air conditioner from Dometic wont cool your entire boat downunless its a rather small boatbut its 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. Its powered from the boats house batteries via an integral inverter that also lets you connect other 115-volt appliances to it. It
Sometimes you see an idea thats so elegant in its simplicity that all you can say is, Damn, why didnt I think of that? Seldns $155 Backstay Flicker is just such an item. Its a fiberglass rod that bolts to the masthead crane on a fractionally rigged boat with a heavily roached mainthe kind that always hangs up on the backstay. At its outer end is a small block through which the backstay is
The follically challenged sailor has a pretty hard time of it. Out on the water the suns rays always feel twice as powerful as they do on shore, and they show no mercy to a balding cranium. Ordinary sunscreens tend to melt off and run into your eyes, but according to the makers of Bald Guyz, their SPF 30 sunscreen will stay in place atop your crown instead of making your eyes sting. They also
For many years Ive carted my sailing gear around in a Gill cargo bag. Now Gills luggage line has been updated and expanded. A prime example is this extra-large bag with wheels. The $139.99 Rolling Jumbo Bag is made from PU-coated polyester, and among its many useful features are a waterproof compartment for wet clothing and separate pockets for footwear. How nice to be able to keep your stinky
From “cockloons” to “SmartRooms” and innovative nav stations, today’s multihull builders are fine-tuning the layouts of their mid-sized cruisers in increasingly interesting ways. Not only
The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) announced its 12th class of inductees. Among them are many remarkable people who’ve made contributions to the world
In the following excerpt from Wild Seas to Greenland — A Sailing Adventure with Ocean Racer Ross Field, veteran mariner Rebecca Hayter, recounts how Field
The Coast Guard says that the best life jacket is one you will wear, so comfort and function are important considerations when picking out a
After the long and tiring 2020 pandemic year, and after many talks about hypothetically sailing away, my partner, Vanessa, and I decided it was time
Many people hesitate to change their circumstances because they fear a departure from the status quo, or because they’re used to a life of conformity
Did you miss Part 1? It can be read here. Anchored off Liberty State Park, I awoke late in the day to a Manhattan skyline
Every boat show now includes a selection of multihulls, as this once niche part of the market is now not only firmly mainstream but continues
Luxury high-end cruising cats with high-performance DNA have occupied an established if somewhat rarified niche in the sailboat market ever since Peter Johnstone launched the
They had sailed nearly 3,000 miles over the worst the Atlantic had to serve up, crossing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (in Spain’s Canary
