May 22, 2014
Shurhold Bucket Base Keeps Bucket Right Where You Put It
A five-gallon pail is used for a variety of reasons, including fishing, diving, carrying tools or cleaning. But, this common item can create issues when it slides all over the deck, creating a hazard or damage to delicate surfaces. Shurhold Industries' new Bucket Base is a sturdy ring designed to minimize bucket sliding and toppling, helping prevent the creation of new scratches across the deck.
May 7, 2014
Mercury Enertia Eco Propeller Named Top Product
Boating Industry magazine announced yesterday the Mercury ECO Propeller has been named a 2014 Boating Industry Top Product of the year. The winning products were selected based on many factors, including innovation, impact on the industry and how they advanced their category or created a new category.
April 24, 2014
New Black Velvet Bimini Top Withstands Winds Up To 33 Knots, Offers UV Protection
MATE USA has introduced the Black Velvet bimini top, designed to withstand wind speeds up to 33 knots. The wind tunnel tested, easy to assemble Black Velvet features a patented plastic cylinder system that
February 19, 2014
West Marine’s Top Picks for 2014
Simrad NSS9 evo2 Series: The NSS evo2 combines form, fit and function in an easy-to-use, multifunction device. The integrated NSS evo2 MFD features a sleek display with TouchSensibleTM multi-touch interaction. TouchSensible provides precision interaction in any sea condition with its logical keypad input and rotary, push-to-enter knob. Plus, Simrad’s GoFree WiFi option allows viewing and control from compatible smart phones.
February 19, 2014
New Hydro-Balance™ technology from Evolution
Evolution’s new Hydro-Balance™ technology actively compensates for hydraulic system elasticity caused by air bubbles trapped in the steering system, flex in hose and piping, and variable valve performance.
February 19, 2014
New Dragonfly7 steps up the screen-size with a best-in-class 7” widescreen display
Since its launch last year, Dragonfly’s high-performance, dual-channel CHIRP sonar and GPS chartplotter combination has taken the fishing world by storm; bringing the power and crisp detail of advanced CHIRP DownVision™sonar to inland and coastal anglers at a very affordable price. The new Dragonfly7 steps up the screen-size with a best-in-class 7” widescreen display and comes with the added advantage of optional overhead mounting, whilst maintaining tilt-and-swivel capability.
February 18, 2014
GOST NT-Evolution 2.0 Security, Monitoring, and Tracking System
Lumishore Ltd., the world’s leading Underwater LED lights manufacturer, has partnered with marine security, tracking and monitoring systems supplier GOST® (Global Ocean Security Technologies) to add additional value to GOST’s award-winning systems.
February 18, 2014
Lehr debuts new 15 hp propane-powered outboard
Since Lehr Outboard’s entrance into the marine industry just a few years ago, the rapidly expanding company has been turning heads and winning technology awards for its innovative small, clean-burning, propane-fueled four-stroke engines.
February 18, 2014
EZ Splice™ Makes It Easy To Splice Any Rope, Line Or Bungee Cord
Construct a reliable custom splice on any type of rope, line or bungee cord in just a few minutes with the EZ Splice™ Fastener.
January 30, 2014
New Brush Makes Cleaning Rope Super Simple
When dock lines and ropes get grimy and grungy, they’re not always so easy to clean. But, with Shurhold Industries’ new Flexible Rope & Cord Brush, the process just got more convenient. This new brush is the best way to clean 1/2″ to 1″ diameter rope. Simple to use and easy to store, the flexible Rope & Cord brush is ideal for use on twisted and braided lines and other tubular items, such as rub rails, hoses
January 8, 2014
North Sails Stop Tabs Keep Trash Out of the Water
North Sails, the industry leader in innovation, has created a sustainable alternative to elastic bands or wool ties used to pack downwind sails. North’s Blue Book service procedure has added STOP TABS™ sewn on top of existing luff tape, eliminating the need for packing materials that inevitably litter the water. North’s convenient fix allows sails to maintain their performance while complying with ISAF’s environmentally friendly Rule 55.
December 20, 2013
Quick USA Stern Windlass
Philip Rudy from Quick USA showed us their new Stern Windlass system and explained how convenient it is to use. The system allowing your stern anchor to freefall, so you can drop that, then drive forward and drop your front anchor in the optimum location. Next, using the remote controls, you can operate the front and rear windlasses to have dual point anchoring, holding you in the best position at the anchorage and minimizing the risk that you might drag or drift into trouble.
December 20, 2013
Aqua King II Water Pump from Shurflo
A really practical and valuable new product is the Aqua King II water pump from Shurflo and we met manager Wendy Inskeep at IBEX. She explained the value and importance of this great new water pump. It’s a four chamber pump and in her display you could see her operate four different fixtures at a flow rate of four gallons per minute [five gallon per minute is also available] and the flow of water remained steady at all four taps even as you turn some on or off.
October 22, 2013
Dry Boat System
John Bartnick is the developer of The Dry Boat System and he had a pair of identical fiberglass runabouts on display. Both were boats with foam cored construction but one had been cut open extensively to repair and replace the wet and damaged core while the other was being dried out using a dry air injection system applied to the bad core areas using
September 25, 2013
Scanstrut Scanpod Rail Pod and ROKK mounts
Chartplotters, fish finders and small electronics can now be installed virtually anywhere on board with new Scanpod Rail Pod or ROKK mounts from Scanstrut. With so many different cockpit designs on boats, installing retro-fit electronics can often be problematic, but Scanstrut Rail Pod for standard instruments or 7” displays and new multi-position ROKK mounts will easily mount small instruments, chartplotters and fish finders onto any rail or surface. Simply lock into place with universal
September 25, 2013
Stainless Steel Chain Supplies Looks and Performance
Proper mooring and anchoring demands tough, durable windlass chain. Titan AISI 316L Steel Chain, the newest product in the Canada Metal (Pacific) line of fine quality marine chain, proves that even the most functional of hardware can enhance a boat’s good looks. As beautiful as it is strong, this handsome German-made chain offers superior strength and corrosion resistance. An extra step in the manufacturing process imbues its polished stainless steel finish with exceptional smoothness.
July 23, 2013
Water-Resistant Lines Let Boaters Tie With Confidence
Essential marine accessories, fender and docking lines help protect the boater’s valuable investment. Adding to its lineup of high quality Titan Marine chain products, Canada Metal (Pacific) now offers some of the most well-constructed dock and fender lines on the market. Made from a low-stretch polypropylene material with water-resistant coating, these durable lines remain strong yet supple. The company’s controlled manufacturing ensures that its pre-spliced Titan dock lines stay balanced and torque-free, with no unlaying, even under the heaviest loads. High twist yarns and strands create a dense, round rope resistant to abrasion and snags.
May 17, 2013
Portable CLAM Excels at Measuring Water Quality
One critical issue after the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon spill was detecting pollutants suspended in the water column. The spill’s sensitive nature demanded direct, quantifiable measurements of ultra-trace levels of oil and toxins. C.I.Agent Storm•Water Solutions came to the rescue with its Continuous Low-Level Aquatic Monitoring (C.L.A.M. ) System, providing valuable extraction data for 3 months. While thankfully such post-disaster monitoring is rare, the portable C.L.A.M. essentially brings the water quality laboratory to the field for many other applications. This state-of-the-art, small submersible extraction sampler uses EPA approved SPE (Solid Phase Extraction) media to sequester oil, gas, pesticides,
May 17, 2013
Rocker Stoppers Put Brakes on Boat Roll
Boat roll while at anchor or drift fishing is at the least, uncomfortable and at the most , nausea-inducing. Rocker Stoppers from Davis Instruments help dampen this annoying sensation with a simple, inexpensive device that is easily configured and installed. Rope is strung through Rocker Stoppers at equal 18″ intervals with a 5-10 lb. weight attached at the bottom. Hanging amidships off each side of the boat, three Rocker Stoppers per side will steady boats up to 26′ long. For larger craft , a graduated scale of 4 to 8 units per side help stabilize boats from 27′ up to 50′ . They are effective on both power and sailboats. When used without a weight, Rocker Stoppers assist drift fishing by slowing movement substantially. They also are great to hang below the end of a floating dock to reduce swaying.
February 26, 2013
Keep the Tension Where You Need it with a CamJam Tightener
Whether you’re setting up equipment or bundling and attaching extra gear to your bag, Nite Ize’s new CamJam and CamJam Small Cord Tighteners will make any tightening a stress-free task. Compact and lightweight, this innovative new product is designed to lock light loads securely into place with a simple pull of a cord. Simple in structure and versatile in use, this CamJam Cord Tightener will be any outdoor enthusiast’s new best friend! The CamJam Cord Tightener is an easy, knot-free way to tighten, tension, and secure cords. It may be small in size, but if offers big functionality where you
January 31, 2013
Bennett SLT Trim Tabs
Bennett, a well-regarded manufacturer of hydraulic trim tabs, has recently introduced “passive” trim tabs that do not need power. These are available in six-inch width for boats 10 to 14’, and in 10-inch width for boats 14 to 20’. Using only unpowered hydraulic actuators of Bennett’s own design, these tabs will provide bow-down control at speed, at prices below $200, much less than their powered siblings.
January 31, 2013
Pirit Heated Hose
Fresh water freezes in winter so what do you do when you need water all winter? Recognizing this need, Paulin & Co. developed just the product, an electrically heated garden hose. With heating elements fabricated right into its walls, the 5/8-inch hose has its power supply through an electrical cord at the supply end. It can be set to operate automatically and turn on at 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) and off at 57 degrees F (14 degrees C) or higher.
January 31, 2013
Scotty Trap Puller
Scotty has a winner with their new trap puller. Fitting into a standard Scotty gunwale mount, this puller will haul up about 100 lbs, enough for up to three prawn traps and perhaps two crab traps. The 12-volt high-torque motor draws only about 15 amps. With a horizontal windlass and an extension arm and directional pulley, it is easy to mount and use. It can also be dismounted when it’s time to switch to a down-rigging fishing system. Finally, fishing and trap gear on one mount. About $500.
January 28, 2013
Time for a Greener Choice in Boating Anodes
When it comes to making environmentally friendly choices, the tradeoff is not always paying more for something that doesn’t work as well. Boat owners seeking a “greener” sacrificial anode have an option that works better than the old, familiar zinc versions while costing less: aluminum anodes. Aluminum is a far better environmental anode choice than zinc. Though zinc is a heavy metal—not particularly desirable to have in excess quantities in water—the bigger concern is with the percentage of cadmium that zinc anodes must contain in order to work as anodes. Cadmium is a nasty heavy metal, with its use and disposal becoming increasingly restricted and regulated. In anodes, it’s of considerable concern to scientists studying estuarial pollution and its inevitable presence in aquatic life, especially once in the human food chain.
January 24, 2013
Don’t Let a Clogged Head Cut The Cruise Short!
With Raritan’s Atlantes Freedom Toilet, boat owners can declare their independence from clogged heads. Now this excellent performing toilet features the company’s Vortex-Vac discharge system. This technology creates a vacuum internally, so no remote vacuum pump or tank is required. It also eliminates the need for foot pedals and other mechanical components that can fail. Unlike typical vaccuum toilet systems, a convenient, built-in shredder with stainless steel blades transforms waste into small particles to reduce clogs. A unique discharge loop eliminates odours and enables the bowl to hold water, similar to home toilets. Vortex-Vac is quiet, efficient and has both low-power consumption and
January 24, 2013
Retrofit a Sunroof to Your Current Boat
Almost all the latest cruisers feature an electric sliding sunroof because enjoying the fresh air and warm sun is one of the best parts of boating. But, what if you have an older boat with a hardtop? With Webasto’s new Series 40 Marine Sunroofs, boat owners can bring more of the outdoors inside. This new roof platform offers a sleek, low-profile and is designed to fit in smaller boat roofs. The Webasto Series 40 features a reliable, intelligent E-Drive system that self calibrates. This sliding sunroof operates on 12V DC. With an attractive design and safety glass, it offers a 74″ x 54″ opening. Similar to other Webasto Sunroofs, the Series 40 is extremely quiet and has a watertight seal. Options include a sunblind/fly screen, fixed panel for panoramic views
January 23, 2013
Remote Controlled Tender Lift
FreedomLift has manufactured a unique tender lift system, designed to enable boat owners to carry their tender or PWC (Personal Water Craft) with consummate ease. Some tender lift solutions are expensive, some are poorly designed, unattractive or heavy. FreedomLift has technology which allows tenders to be affixed to boats and carried with minimal hassle and effort. FreedomLift’s Removable Lift Arms enable the tender to be elevated much higher above the water, providing it with safety and protection from rough sea conditions and ensuring that the tender remains in good condition.
August 24, 2012
Pro-Furl Spinex Spinnaker Furler
Setting a spinnaker just got easier thanks to the introduction of a totally new approach – a top-down roller furling mechanism from Pro-Furl. This impressive product helps tame one of the most frustrating, and sometimes dangerous jobs in sailing, setting and retrieving a spinnaker. Traditionally this has meant some monkey-like fore deck work and some awkward retrieving sail hardware from a little-used storage bag, then reversing the process and trying to stuff a large and sometimes wet sail into a bag that seems too small, and doing all this with poor footing on a heaving deck with no hand-holds for steadying.
June 27, 2012
Electro-Scan Waste Treatment System
With increasingly stringent waste discharge legislation in both Canadian and US waters, boaters looking for waste removal solutions have at least a couple of options. Holding tanks are the obvious first-level fix but, of course, these need a pump-out station and there are not many of those on this coast. Raritan has another option for vessels up to 65’ in length.
June 27, 2012
Anchor Rode and Chain from CMP
The new integrated chain and rope anchor rode from Canada Metals (CMP) is a welcome addition to ground tackle for any boat. Canada Metals (CMP) is no stranger to West Coast boaters – most of us have been using their anodes for years. In an effort to expand their product offerings, this past year CMP management purchased Rocna anchors to complement their Titan brand chain products.
May 8, 2012
Footprint Boats
This entirely new boat design is definitely from the “and now for something completely different” school of design. Why not a family-oriented boat that incorporates a number of features from the inexpensive and compact, pop-up tent trailer designs? Pop-up tent trailers were introduced decades ago for motoring families and they opened up comfort camping to those who wanted a bit more in the way of amenities than ground-pitched tents could provide. We used one for many years when we camped throughout northern areas in our younger years BB (before boats).
May 8, 2012
Softlines Mooring Lines
Spring commissioning is a great time to take a close look at mooring lines – is an upgrade or replacement in order? After handling mooring lines all last summer, we quickly became fans of softer polypropylene ropes, especially those from Softlines. These are the ultimate in softness in the hand and are super flexible, even in the cold. Like all poly lines, they float and so are less of a danger of fouling props or running gear. We also like how Softlines provide eye-splices through strongly stitched nylon webbing. Tests show the line will fail before the web attachments do.
May 8, 2012
Maxwell RC Series Anchor Windlass
Maxwell has put some effort into designing a windlass system with a gypsy that will accept any manufacturer’s chain profile. This was a challenge as there is no common standard of profile of chain even for a given size, including G4, Metric, BBB or proof coil, for example. And it’s further complicated as many boats use a length of chain that is spliced to nylon line for the remainder of the rode. A windlass has to be able to handle all these variations. The result is a new series of anchor windlasses, the RC6, 8 and 10. Each has been designed to accept common chain sizes and its accompanying nylon line.
May 8, 2012
Harken Performa Winches
Sailing hardware manufacturer Harken is offering a new set of performance winches that are specifically designed for sport sailboats or performance cruising sailboats from 30 to 50 feet in length. Performa winches are midway between Harken’s two existing winch sizes and are specifically designed for smaller diameter, high-strength lines such as Dyneema and Kevlar /PET-covered lines that are common on this size of sailing craft today. The winches are built of rugged components and have composite self-tailing jaws, which are shaped for easy line entry and give the best in gripping power on the winch drum.
April 18, 2012
Protect Your Boat From Chafing With “No-Wear” Guards
Chafing and rubbing from mooring lines, sheets, halyards and fender ropes can ruin the appearance of your boat and cost a fortune to fix. No-Wear Guard can stop the chafing damage on almost every kind of boat. No-Wear chafe guards are the first in the world to combine high-quality, flexible marine grade stainless steel with an aircraft-quality adhesive, creating a product that will look great and protect your gel coat, wood or plastic for years to come.
October 26, 2011
Whale Pump
Whale electric products, including the universal freshwater electric pressure pumps, are designed to retrofit any existing pump location with flexible feet that absorb vibration and reduce noise.The Whale Gulpers for toilet and shower waste both boast a unique, virtually unblockable valve design and multi-directional head means that they can be mounted almost anywhere. The Whale Quick Connect plumbing system does not require collet clips and therefore is less expensive, easy and fast to install. The unique 'Double Gripper' and o ring seal combination prevents leaks.
October 26, 2011
MARINE PRODUCT – Lewmar CPX Windlass
Lewmar identified the need for a high-quality product that is lighter than the all stainless steel deck unit. Subsequently, the CPX deck unit features an alloy base. With an emphasis on reliability, Lewmar has reduced the number of parts without compromising on performance, making the windlass easier to service. Lewmar strives to keep up to date with new developments in the motor/gearbox industry, constantly testing new products coming to market, and the CPX Windlass is no exception. The result is a highly reliable, light weight, high performance windlass.
October 26, 2011
Big Orange Holding Tank
The Big Orange holding tank vent filter is easily installed on the vent line of your holding tank and begins working immediately by filtering the air coming from your holding tank to remove the odour. In fact, the Big Orange holding tank vent filter uses the same activated carbon pellet technology that is used in industrial exhaust scrubbers to eliminate the odour coming from your holding tank. Big Orange boasts a large carbon pellet volume, more than any other vent line filter available on the market. It lasts longer and works better. Unlike "the other guys", the Big Orange holding tank vent filter uses an easily refillable cartridge so you don’t need to buy a new filter every year.
October 26, 2011
Raritan Atlantes Freedom ® Toilet
The Raritan Atlantes Freedom ® Toilet has powerful bronze cutting blades designed to "shred" most objects. It is now available in two bowl sizes: standard household and elongated. Enjoy the freedom from clogged toilets and marine size bowls. There are no fuses or relays inside the unit and timer module (A8 model only) can be removed and the toilet will still operate.