Gadgets & Products Review

Gadgets & Products Review

Happy New Year! It is now the week of the London Boat Show. We went last year and were disappointed by it compared to other shows, so we have skipped it this tear (2015). Over the years that the Froo Gal crew has been sailing -- with friends, chartering, racing, and in boat ownership -- we have bought and tried numerous sailing gadgets and products. Here are some of our top tips. We should just add that we are not promoting these items and some may no longer be for sale, as they will have been updated, superseded or otherwise been taken off the market. They may give you some Christmas present ideas for the sailors in your life.

1. Hand held GPS We have a a Garmin 12XL hand-held GPS unit bought in the early days of GPS in the early 2000s. It is still going strong. It tells you where you are, reliably. Another example of a quality, long-life product. It was not expensive. At first we found that it had a fairly limited battery life, but turn off the unnecessary key-click sounds, use Duracell batteries and an external (cigarette-type) power lead and it is a great device. It has helped us through early morning fog (on budget charter boats) and acted as a great back-up to chart-plotters on many cruises. We have a second (slightly more modern) Garmin eTrex hand-held GPS unit, which we bought for a family member who never used it (and thus we 'inherited' it -- he is not dead). It has a map function, but we don't use that afloat. Our only slight grib is that it has a slight different (arguably worst) user interface to the 12XL -- an unnecessary innovation, which all product developers seem unable to avoid. We would be much more loyal to brands and products if their innovation concentrated on price, quality (longevity), performance, durability, and avoided any unnecessary change in user interface. We keep one in our grab bag and the other as a backup to the chart plotter handy for the chart table.

2. Strhal Wine Glasses Polycarbonate plastic that looks and almost feels like glass. These will add a touch of class to any yacht inventory, in addition to the safety benefit over glass. In keeping with our usual theme, they should also last much longer than cheaper plastics and should therefore net a real saving. Moreover, this investment makes us just a little more likely to stay for a drink or two on board rather than heading for the pub, restaurant or yacht club -- another way of a saving a few quid in style. See the Strhal website for details.

3. Hammock This is a must-have accessory for any sailor. A large string hammock hung between the mast and the forestay creates an instant place of sanctuary for any skipper or crew member needing to find some personal space or 'chill' time. You can find something suitable for 5GBP and upowards from ebay, etc. This would make a great present for any sailor. Every one should have a hammock in their kit bag

4. Folding cockpit cushions This is the first luxury on the list. But some of the Froo Gal crew swear by them., so they make this list. The type -- ComfortSEAT -- that one of the skippers bought last year is particularly luxurious. It is hinged and instantly creates the need to sit around reading a book or watching the World go by. These make a good present for the boat owner who has everything.

5.Cordless drills set Every red blooded DIY enthusiast needs a cordless drill. The imperative of ownership for a boat owner is double, as ready access to a 220/240V or 110/115V supply can be sporadic when cursing. Price (and inversely proportionally, weight) is usually a matter of the battery technology. You also need to consider the drive voltage and resultant torque and accompanying tool set.

6. Mooring Gadget When short handed a mooring 'helper' can be valuable. There are many types.  Here are a selection: EasyMoor, MoorFast, Mooring Mast, Line-a-Sure, Landing Loop, and Hook&Moor.

More to come...


Understand the difference between cost, price and value!