There’s nothing like having nice, big, fat fenders when it comes time to raft up with another boat or tie up alongside a nasty-looking dock. The problem is what to do with them given the limited storage aboard a sailboat when you’re underway, a problem that becomes especially ...read more
Following up on its popular form-fitting Sta-Plug emergency plug, marine equipment manufacturer Forespar has now come out with an even smaller version that it calls the Sta-Plug Mini. As is the case with the original, the soft cone-shaped configuration of the Mini is designed to ...read more
Quick-Release Offshore Safety Developed for the Volvo Ocean Race, Spinlock’s Deckvest Vito inflatable lifejacket includes a host of features designed for sailing to the far ends of the earth. Not the least of these is the company’s proprietary Harness Quick Release System (HRS) ...read more
Electronic SOS Slowly but surely the tide is turning away from the outdated pyrotechnic technology used in distress flares to new, less inflammatory alternatives. The latest electronic distress flare on the market is the Orion Electronic Beacon Locator Kit, a new venture from a ...read more
Throw that Raft If you’ve ever tried to swim in an inflated lifejacket, you’ll know what it means to go nowhere fast. The typical USCG-approved PFD is designed to keep you afloat, not help you perfect your backstroke. One time, a gent called Troy Faletra found that out the hard ...read more
