Category: Cabin & deck gear

Harbormaster Mark II

I was talking about having problems with watching and securing my own boat the other day. Here's another solution for those of you with similar problems (and a GSM cellphone...).

"The Harbormaster Mark II is a new remote wireless monitoring security system that checks a vacant boat's vital systems and on-board conditions. The system uses a GSM based network to send data about the boat to a central server, enabling the boat owner to be able to check their craft at any time via the World Wide Web, mobile phone, text message, fax or email."

Watch Your Boat

I have a boat that I use to spend time on the beautiful Amsterdam canals, but the only problem is that thieves are trying everything to get something useful from my boat. And, unfortunately, they succeed every now and then. May be this is a solution. It's nothing new, but increasingly popular...

"These Internet protocol, or IP, cameras, made by companies including Cisco Systems' Linksys unit and Sweden's Axis Communications, function as stand-alone servers that stream video over the web."

Aqua FM Swim Snorkel Radio

I've highlighted some more entertaining diving gear in the past, but Gizmodo now has a really good one... The Aqua FM Swim Snorkel Radio from Aquanaut.

"Even better, the Aqua FM snorkel uses no earphones, and instead uses bone conduction to pass the audio signal through your teeth right into your dome. And if you want to test the range of FM underwater, feel free; the radio snorkel is waterproof to 33 feet."

Electronics That Can Save Your Life At Sea

Of course you can read this weblog to learn all about marine equipment that might save your life someday, but now there's also a new three-part video series called "Taking the Search Out of Search & Rescue."

"Endorsed by the U.S. Coast Guard"These three videos - "Rescue 21," "Using Your DSC Radio" and "The GMDSS System" - cover other safety equipment as well, including EPIRBs, SARTS and Inmarsat satellite communications."

Light Your Way

There are many technologies and gadgets that will assist you when trying to catch some fish. Barnegat's solution is one that will please non-fishers as well.

"Barnegat Light Marine Products introduces a light that mounts under the swim platform to attract marine life for viewing, fishing or diving. Its internal components are potted to prevent corrosion, and a 4-foot cable allows for electrical connections inside the boat."

A Sea Captain's Device

A story on MariTrack, another solution to meet new requirements for ship security alerts and vessel monitoring. Although it primarily focuses on commercial vessels for the moment, I'm sure some of these solution will come to the private yachting market as well.

"It includes a Ship Security Alert System, which can transmit a distress message with a ship's longitude, latitude and the time of day. The alert system is designed as a defense against piracy, which is still a huge problem in some parts of the world, Romey said. MariTrack also has a Vessel Monitoring Service, to track ships' locations in specified waters. Not yet mandated but included in MariTrack is an automatic system that identifies ships as they approach one another, and a long-range system that tracks where ships have been since they left port."

Simplified Battery Maintenance

Somehow batteries are often located in difficult spots. But keeping them in good shape is very essential, even if you have only a small percentage of the gadgets that are mentioned on this website.... Trailer Boats Magazine reviews Flow-Rite's Qwik-Fill solution, which "replaces standard wet-cell battery caps with a pair of manifold-like caps that allow the cells to be filled perfectly without even seeing or touching the batteries."

Clean Sweep

Looking for some fresh air while boating...? Check out Dirt Devil�s CV950 central vacuum cleaning system...

"Dirt Devil�s CV950 central vacuum cleaning system has the power to rid your boat of germs and mildew, protecting you from allergens and dust mites, while its small size lets you get the most out of your space on board. This lightweight vacuum comes with various accessories, including rug tools, a crevice nozzle, and upholstery and dusting brushes."

Big Fish, A Fishing Gadgets And Technology Roundup

Looking for some technology and gadgets that will help you catch some fish? Boating World has a round up of 9 products that will help "stack the odds a little more in your favor"... Highlighted products are the Eagle Cuda 240 S/GPS, Navman TrackFish 6600, Raymarine DS600X, Humminbird Fishfinder 565, Garmin Fishfinder 250C, Northstar 6000i, Bottom Line Tournament 320 MAX, Furuno LS4100 and C-MAP�s NT+.

"These days, a host of electronics is available to help anglers in their timeless pursuit of fish. True, they won�t catch the fish for you, and you�ll likely still wind up getting outwitted by more than your fair share of dastardly sea creatures. But these cutting-edge gizmos will help stack the odds a little more in your favor. The rest is up to you."

Ligtning Strikes

I've written before about ways to prevent serious damage being done to your on-board electronics as a result of a lightning strike. Here is an article that makes some interesting statements about the way we try to avoid being struck by lightning. And you will learn that over an 80-year life span, your chances of being involved in a lightning strike are about 1 in 3,000 (averaged worldwide stat)....

"Devices claiming to reduce your chances of being struck, by bleeding ions or electrostatic charge off of your masthead, do not work. If the device increases your mast height, it will actually increase your probability of being struck. This opinion was rendered in response to my direct question on the subject, and was unequivocal."