Splice Easy There seems to be no end of uses for Dyneema line on sailboats, and although it’s easier to splice than most kinds of rope, a helping hand is always appreciated. Barton’s EasySplice can make eye splices in single braid Dyneema in seconds, not minutes—ideal if you’re ...read more
There are lots of epoxy products on the market, and those that score highly with sailors tend to be reasonably priced, easy to use and effective. Pettit’s EZ-Tex is all three. It’s a two-part compound that mixes in a 1:1 ratio and bonds to just about any surface, above or below ...read more
Travel On Plenty of good old boats are still going strong but have worn-out deck gear. Mainsheet travelers are especially prone to the ravages of time; tracks get chewed up, cars and sheaves wear out, and increasing friction makes them less pleasant to use with every passing ...read more
PHEW NO MORE It’s the time of year when boat heads can start to get a bit funky, so in the interests of family harmony, it may be wise to grab this deadly duo of odor-killing potions from Raritan. Stage One—attack the toilet bowl and surrounds with C.P. (Cleans Potties) Marine ...read more
WELCOME THE BLACK WIDOW If you’re a racing sailor you want your boat to have an ultra-slick, ultra-smooth bottom paint, and the folks at Pettit claim that’s what you’ll get with its new Black Widow hard antifouling. As well as biocides to deter marine critters from getting up ...read more
Good as Gold There are sailors who like to spend hours lovingly tending their brightwork, and there are sailors who don’t. Pettit’s new SeaGold Satin Wood Treatment should please both camps. It’s a blend of UV-stable resins, pigments and UV inhibitors that can be cleaned up with ...read more
Clear Sighted There’s nothing more annoying than peering through a salt-smeared or cloudy dodger window. MagicEzyUV Shield is a water-based polymer that’s claimed to clean and protect glass, acrylic, vinyl and plastic from UV damage, and also repel rain and salt for up to three ...read more
Back before I got into the magazine business I cleaned boats for a living, roaming the docks of Newport, Rhode Island, with various and sundry brushes, chamois, rags, polishes, waxes, soaps and the like. Over the many hours (and dollars) spent in the aisles of the local West ...read more
PYI KiwiGrip nonskid deck paint KiwiGrip antiskid deck paint is ideal for sailors looking to redo their topsides. Unlike antiskid with fillers such as sand or rubber flecks, KiwiGrip is a one-part paint, which lowers not only the cost but also the amount of time it takes to ...read more
Lighten the Load Ronstan’s lightweight Low-Friction Rings can be used as a maintenance-free alternative to conventional blocks in a variety of different heavy high-static load applications, such as lazyjacks, back stays, jib in-haulers and vangs. The rings are secured via a ...read more
Anodes with an Edge Sea Shield Marine’s new SALCA (sacrificial anode line cutter assembly) solves two problems in one: corrosion and line entanglement. Available in both zinc and aluminum, the SALCA has a stainless steel cutting edge that slices through errant lines while ...read more
One serious piece of equipment for dedicated riggers. Its handle is made of black G10, and the steel is pro-grade German marine stainless, which is comparable to 440C steel, to ensure it holds a sharp edge. The sheepsfoot blade is serrated along three-quarters of its length, ...read more
Shurhold Zipper Lube Snaps and zippers are easily overlooked on a boat—until they malfunction. Keep your boat’s snaps and zippers in good working order with Shurhold’s new Snap-Stick protection lubricant and Top-Snapper tool. Applying Snap-Stick is a cinch because it comes in a ...read more
This small-sized dock box is just the thing for some of the narrower docks that you sometimes find in big-city marinas, older marinas and marinas on inland lakes. Made from roto-molded polyethylene, the box measures 33in x 20in x 26in, making it large enough to hold plenty of ...read more
Accon Marine lifting eyes are available in both round and oval models and can safely lift up to 4,000lb in the direction of the axis of the threaded rod shank. Fabricated from a combination of 316 and 304 stainless steel, they require less clearance under deck than conventional ...read more
Silent Running SR1000 is a nontoxic water-based vibration-absorbing material that you brush, spray or roll on like paint. It works by converting noise and vibration into low-grade heat, which is then dissipated throughout the surface on which it’s been applied. You can use this ...read more
Isotemp SPA water heaters from Indel Webasto include a stainless steel inner tank, injected polyurethane insulation and a robust polypropylene outer casing to provide a combination of performance and durability. A corrugated, stainless steel heat exchanger taps into the heat ...read more
Sta-lok’s new stemball self-fit terminals are stronger than wire, easy to install using simple hand tools, and are compatible with 1x19, 7x19 or compacted-strand wire shrouds measuring 7/32in to 3/8in in diameter. Using standard stemball cups (ordered separately), the head size ...read more
Hydrocoat Eco is the latest iteration of Pettit Paint’s multi-season ablative antifouling line and combines a proprietary self-polishing, water-based ablative coating with the organic metal-free biocide Econea to inhibit slime and improve antifouling performance. Hydrocoat Eco ...read more
Beckson Marine’s Newport Self Drain Opening Ports have an angled, molded-in drainage ramp to channel away water, while still providing room for through-bolts to ensure a secure installation. The ports work best when mounted within 15 degrees of vertical and prevent the mini ...read more
PYI’s Whisper 5-blade Max-Prop uses an impressive five blades to provide a combination of quiet operation and thrust, especially when motoring against a strong headwind or into powerful seas. The latest addition to PYI’s “Easy” line of feathering props, the Whisper is designed ...read more
Forespar’s new Tea Tree Power mold, mildew and odor eliminator is a natural air cleaner formulated specifically for marine use. Non-toxic and biodegradable, it uses pure distilled Australian tea tree oil, which includes a number of different antiseptic and antimicrobial agents. ...read more
The chances are that if something can go wrong, it will. With this in mind, carrying a few spares with which to effect running repairs is a good idea. A bosun’s box or ditty bag will keep all these items clean dry and in the same place so that if you need a spare shackle at ...read more
Two years ago, Island Packet 485 sailor Don Hyde got sick of shuffling through 35 pounds of manuals every time he needed to complete a maintenance job on his boat. What if, he thought, those manuals existed online on one consolidated site? Better still, what if that site could ...read more