Edited by David Schmidt
Shock Absorbed
Aronowitsch and Lyth AB’s Bungy device provides a simple way to moor and anchor your boat safely and can help tame gybes, too. Simply snap a few Bungys onto your anchor gear and you’re done. When storms hit, Bungys add shock-absorbing stretch to your mooring pennant or anchor rode; each Bungy is designed to regain its shape, without loss of strength, once the force on the lines subsides. Bungys can be added to the mainsheet to mitigate shock loads from a forceful gybe or to preventers for extra security. Bungys work on lines up to 3/4 inch in diameter. $32.25. Scandvik, Inc., 800-535-6009, www.scandvik.com
Inflatable Defenses
Boat Bunkers’s recently introduced line of inflatable bumpers offer your boat protection without taking up valuable stowage space. The bumpers purportedly inflate and deflate quickly (a separate hand pump is available), are built of sturdy materials, fold down small, and come with a built-in strap and adjustable boat-attachment buckle. They’re available in five colors and four sizes, for boats up to 50 feet. From $18. Boat Bunker, Inc., 800-576-2511, www.boatbunkers.com
Unwired
Tacktick’s new solar-powered waterproof Race Master System is packed with useful features, including an electronic compass, a speed log, and a depthsounder, and can be wirelessly networked with other Tacktick instruments to display wind speed, wind direction, windshift averaging, and mean-wind-direction data. In addition, it can connect to your boat’s NMEA interface to display GPS data. The kit’s race-specific software makes it easy to set up lift/header info; new to this unit is its Start Line feature, which provides both “at-a-glance” starting-line bias and wind-line bias info. $2,399.99. Ocean Equipment,
949-588-1470, www.oceanequipment.com
Secure Footing
Working on a pitching foredeck is hard enough, but when the deck’s antiskid wears down it can be downright dangerous. Pachena’s new KiwiGrip coating breathes new life onto an aging deck. Simply roll on KiwiGrip with Pachena’s proprietary roller and allow it to dry (24 hours). KiwiGrip can be applied to fiberglass, wood, metal (with the use of primers), epoxy, and concrete for a durable finish; texture can be adjusted from “fine” to “aggressive” based on application techniques. Custom coloring available. From $29.95. Pachena, LLC, 206-306-2222, www.pachena.com
