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Broadband 3G radar employs a marine Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radome to provide greater transmit power and better range and target clarity. This enables operators to make out smaller contacts at a greater distance without compromising close-range performance. The 19in radome weighs 16lb, and the system can mark objects within 6ft of the boat. Other 3G features include advanced

Stay Dry and Cool

The Hatch Hoodie, a combination wind scoop and awning that keeps the forepeak dry while funneling fresh air belowdecks, resolves the frequent summer conundrum of whether and when you should leave a hatch open. Constructed from 8oz. waterproof WeatherMax material, the Hatch Hoodie has a three-point attachment system that allows it to be raised or lowered to keep out the rain by simply sliding it

Super Cool Shoes

These are definitely not your grandfather’s boat shoes. With a proprietary “water evacuation channeling” in the midsole, a hydrophobic textile lining and a “lace garage” to keep laces from catching cleats, the SPS Force 8 shoe includes the kind of technology previously found only aboard an America’s Cup boat. The result is a pair of incredibly comfortable shoes with traction on steeply canted

Unbreakable “Class”

Newly arrived from Australia, the Palm line of unbreakable polycarbonate “glasses” makes it possible to enjoy a drink aboard with a touch of class—and no worries about something breaking. Each glass—whether it’s a champagne flute or a high ball—has a soft, sticky nonskid base, which also helps lower the center of gravity. Stems are available in white or blue, and the glasses are both stackable

A VHF for a Man Overboard

The featherweight Icom M-24 VHF is an affordable, no-frills non-DSC handheld radio with a nifty “float and flash” feature that causes a red LED to start flashing as soon as it hits the water—even when it’s turned off. In addition to making the radio easier to recover, this can help draw attention to a person who has fallen overboard. In fact, the unit’s light weight and small size make it a

Night-Watch Cap

For racers and cruisers who like wearing baseball caps offshore, the Sailors Night Vision Cap may be just the thing after the sun goes down. Each cap comes equipped with a pair of red LEDs and either three or four white LEDs, depending on the model, to provide hands-free illumination on the darkest night. In the words of our tester, Boston-area sailor Bill Jacobson: “I was trimming main (on an

Trim Like a Megayacht

Cruisers with boats in the 50-60ft range can now enjoy push-button mainsheet trimming, thanks to this Touch Trim system from Harken. With Touch Trim, the mainsheet is no longer in the cockpit, but is self-contained in the boom, where it is controlled by an electric motor turning a ball screw.Two different models are available to accommodate in-mast reefing or a standard mainsail. The

Jobson’s Cup Runneth Over

When Gary Jobson saw his first 12-meter at age 12, he dreamed of someday getting a taste of the America’s Cup. Over the next five decades— from his role as tactician for Ted Turner aboard Courageous in 1977 to his role as an ESPN commentator in New Zealand in 2003—Jobson got his taste, and then some. Along the way, he met a host of fascinating characters, often switching from racer to

A Moveable Feast

Say “link” to a cruising sailor today and anchor chain is probably not what comes to mind. Reliable Internet access has become a Holy Grail for most cruisers. We are so anxious to be connected that Wi-Fi hotspots now trump most other harbor attractions.Virtually all new laptop computers have wireless capability, but their range is limited by their antennas and the power of the internal

Cool, Quiet, and Convenient

Vetus NLPH waterlocks and mufflers cool exhaust gasses, minimize engine noise, protect your engine from the backflow of water up the exhaust when the engine is off and are easy to install in confined spaces. Each waterlock/muffler comprises two separate components that can be rotated to accommodate a particular hull shape and exhaust arrangement. Hose connections also rotate to help with

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Charter: Dumb Stuff Happens

Next to sailing on a lovely beam reach or watching a sunset across an anchorage at happy hour, stories are the best things about time

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Racing: Heading South, Going Solo

Editor’s Note: At 5 a.m. on September 19, 29-year-old Cole Brauer set off alone across the Atlantic. She is completing her final qualifying sail before

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Gear: Ronstan Orbit Winches

There are times when you need to ease sheets smartly, but on most self-tailing winches that means removing a winch handle, taking the line from

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Ronstan Orbit Winches

There are times when you need to ease sheets smartly, but on most self-tailing winches that means removing a winch handle, taking the line from

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Cruising: Refits and Sea Trials

Sahula rests at anchor just offshore of a deserted sandy islet and a comfortable swimming distance inshore of a fish-laden coral reef. Not another soul

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