Gear

Handy Chafe Guards

Peter Nielsen
May 09, 2013

Chafe isn’t just a problem aloft. It can also be an issue where docklines or sheets rub up against, say, a cockpit coaming, a gunwale or the edge of your cabintrunk.

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Whale Watermaster Pressure Pump

Peter Nielsen
May 08, 2013

The Whale Watermaster automatic pressure pump is quiet running, provides high flow rates, is easy to retrofit and is self-priming up to 10ft.

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Clean and Green Holding Tanks

Peter Nielsen
May 07, 2013

Help your holding tank work better and keep it from stinking up the boat by tossing in some Free & Clear Holding Tank Liquid Deodorant from Thetford.

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Trailer Upgrade 2.0

by Sail Staff, Posted January 10, 2007

Carpet tacked to your trailer’s wood boat braces takes forever to dry if you sail on the salty, and its looks deteriorate after a season or two. Snaptraxx’s new modular trailer bunk system easily snaps together and encases 2-by-6 lumber without any hardware. SnapTraxx makes two different polymer versions—one allows your boat to slip easily off the trailer once it’s immersed in water, the other
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Knotically Challenged

by Sail Staff, Posted January 10, 2007

Knot tying isn’t easy, especially if you have small hands. With Nite Ize’s new Figure 9 rope tightener you can easily secure a dinghy to a car-top rack. Simply put the boat on your car, set up the closed-loop end of the Figure 9 (instructions are engraved on the aluminum device), pull tight, and drop the cord’s moving end into the Figure 9’s teeth. Two sizes accommodate rope diameters between 2
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Automatic Airbags

by Sail Staff, Posted January 10, 2007

For years, inflatable PFDs have provided sailors with a comfortable way to stay safe without wearing bulky gear. But there are more than a few stories of unwanted deployments. And how would you pull the jacket’s back-up manual “inflate” tab if you were knocked unconscious while getting tossed in the drink? Mustang Survival’s new Auto Hydrostatic Inflatable Personal Flotation Device automatically
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2006 Holiday Gift Guide

by Sail Staff, Posted November 17, 2006

Finding the ideal gift for a discerning sailor isn't easy, especially if he or she has a quiver of go-fast goodies and cruising amenities. We've divided our suggestions into various categories: his, hers, kids, for the boat, and for anyone. For more holiday gift giving ideas, check out the December issue of SAIL. Happy Holidays.

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Shakespeare ART-3

by Sail Staff, Posted November 10, 2006

That in-the-red VSWR, reading on the ART-3 tester confirmed my suspicion that while the old VHF antenna attached looks okay, it must be fried internally. VSWR stands for “voltage standing wave ratio,” but Shakespeare reasonably calls it “antenna efficiency.” The ART-3 can also test transmission wattage (only 17 with this particular antenna, but a full 25 with a decent one) and can generate a tone
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