Some of you may recall that Navionics vector charts earned with a B+ in my initial review of navigation apps for the iPhone back in April 2010. But after using this app extensively in the Caribbean this past season, I’m upgrading it to an A. With data refreshing approximately every second, I
The new NEX continuous-line Code O furler features a bright green “I-Connect” sail attachment system in both the base and swivel unit to facilitate quick sail changes using a captive pin system. The I-Connect can be operated with one hand and has no protruding parts to snag errant lines. A “Quick Fit” line-fitting system provides easy access to the furling drum so the furling line can be left on
Tired of finding your dinghy or small daysailer half filled with water? The Model 360-7AH Solar Bilge Pump is a compact, self-contained device that lives in the bottom of a small boat and has a solar panel on top to keep its internal battery in peak condition. The pump is also equipped with a float switch and 3/4 in discharge outlet. During a recent three-day nor’easter in Cape Ann,
T300 and T400 series thermal navigation cameras employ FLIR thermal-imaging technology and can be used with Raymarine’s E-Series Widescreen and G-Series navigation systems to pick out obstructions,, buoys and other boats in complete darkness. When integrated with the E-Series system, users can control the cameras via Raymarine’s proprietary HybridTouch touchscreen feature. The cameras can be
Barefoot sailing on a hot day is the best. But you do so at your own peril, especially when racing. Enter the new Marine Sandal line from Colorado-based Chaco, featuring a nonmarking Vibram outsole that offers exceptional grip on wet, steeply canted decks. The Z/2 Marine Sandal includes a toe strap for extra stability, while the Z/1 (pictured) lets all ten toes wiggle at will. Although they may
Keep diesel, gas and oil from damaging your boat and polluting the water with a Chadd Padd reusable mat. The 10-by-10-inch mats are anti-static treated, made of the same materials marinas are required to have on hand for spill prevention and can hold up to 4.5 oz. of petroleum products. Each pad includes a perforated, partial hole that accommodates most filler ports. The Chadd Padd can also be
When winter temps plummet, few materials are as warm as wool. The trouble, though, is that wool can be scratchy and even allergenic to some people. Arcteryx cures both of these issues with their Gothic Cardigan, which features non-itch Italian wool thats been laminated onto a soft micro-fleece lining. The jacket sports a high collar (but no hood), making it an ideal layer to be worn under
The Petzl e+LITE is one of the few pieces of kit to make it on to my must-have list. The headlamp has one red and three white LED bulbs on a tiny swivel-mounted head. A selection switch makes it easy to choose from the e+LITEs different settings, even with gloves on; its storage mode ensures that the light wont accidentally illuminate your pocket. The headlamp has five settings: regular white,
On long passages its good to know how much fresh water, gray water, waste, oil, and fuel you have in your tanks. Offshore Systemss digital MultiTank Level Display allows you to monitor any four of your boats tanks on one easy-to-read screen via an NMEA 2000 network. You can choose to have the information displayed as bar graphs, analog gauges, or raw numbers. Alarms can be set for low and high
The new Max-Prop Ecowind feathering propeller from PYI Inc. automatically varies its pitch under different motoring situations, providing higher top speeds in both calm and rough conditions, significantly lower fuel consumption, extended range under power, better acceleration and less engine noise at cruising speeds.The key to the Ecowind is a patented spring systems that adjusts propeller
It’s about a two-block bike ride from Bill Pinkney’s house in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, to the marina where a 44-foot Norseman catamaran is moored. He
When talking shop among sailors or reading about safety at sea, ventilation is not a topic that comes up much. Evidently it’s secondary to things
Beneteau’s new 37-footer is the latest in the seventh generation of the French builder’s Oceanis line, which began in 1986. It updates the popular 38.1,
I had been at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis for a couple of days when I took a brief break from the 50-footers and
Steve Earley doesn’t sail like you and me. Example: One night, he and his 17-foot open boat, Spartina, were anchored in a cove near Crab
It’s not ordinary for a sailor to be captivated by the sight of boulders the size of pianos slipping beneath the keel. In my experience
I was but a shiftless wharf rat, recently shipwrecked, working the docks at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in search of a ride across the
The first question to ask about a boat should be, “What is its purpose?” The new Elan 50.1 answers that clearly. It is a long-range
“Grenada.” The woman, a passenger on a seven-day charter I was captaining in the British Virgin Islands, looked expectantly at me. “I’ve heard there’s a
Technology and disposable income are changing sailing and making luxurious boats available to more people than ever. The Hanse 460 is a perfect example. Not
