This is our Gear Reviews category
The most important thing to know about winches is that they all rotate clockwise and clockwise only. They are most commonly accompanied by the ‘handle’. The problems with using the handle are most often linked to determining to which side the winch rotates. The handle can be rotated in both directions, but the winch only clockwise.
Estonian developers called Shaka company presented their revolutionary devices known as Shaka Wind Meter and Shaka Weather Station. The device looks like a small key chain in the shape of propeller. The software that does the measuring is available online as a free application.
I was rather surprised when I noticed that sailors wear knives on their belts. During one long distance non-stop regatta, some ropes got stuck because of one unexpected gust of wind. If the experienced skipper hadn’t cut the rope, the spinnaker would have been broken and the boat would have been capsized. That’s when I realized the benefits of a knife aboard.
GS Composite Company has a range of product made from composite carbon fibers. Their gangways have an anti-slip thread on the walking surface and are easy to handle and light. The appearance can be customized. GS Composite also has steering wheels in a monocoque technology, further improved by GS no bonding technology.
Man overboard situation happens more often than we think and is more dangerous than we think as well. Even with low boat speeds a person fallen off could be quite away from the boat in less than a minute. Some more sophisticated GPS devices are equipped with MOB (man overboard) button which, when pushed, which saves the position and guides helmsman to the spot where the button is pushed.
When you get into trouble at sea, you can always turn to Sea Tow. Sea Tow is a well trained and organized marine service ready to assist you with problems such as engine failure, grounding, water intake, sinking,… Their services are available throughout the USA. In Europe Sea Tow is available in the Netherlands, Balearic Islands and Croatian Adriatic.
You should always protect your personal belongings from water when onboard, especially your mobile phones and other devices. OverBoard Company has a wide range of waterproof cases for devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, cameras,… You can also try to improve your stability when onboard, but until you do that, find a waterproof case for your phone.
Garmin Company established their leading position on the market of handy GPS systems and navigation devices. Now, they have a very functional and reliable photo/video system called VIRB. It is an action sport camera with optimized power consumption and a capacity of recording video clips for up to 3 hours. You can find this and other useful and handy gadgets at specialized Garmin shops or their authorized dealers worldwide.
Raymarine Evolution Autopilot was given a “special mention” at METS Dame Award in Amsterdam for its innovation, ingenuity and functionality. The Evolution autopilot system perceives the environment, processes the data and develops steering commands to improve the performance.
Stay Afloat, by Swedish Robship, is a must-have product on a sailing trip. It permanently stops water penetration and can be used with plastic, wood and/or metal materials. Stay Afloat is easy to use inside and outside the crack and can be applied over the water flow.
