Limited Visibility From The Helm In The Rain?
Who hasn't had a problem seeing out the windscreen on a rainy or humid day when the exterior glass gets beaded or fogged up. This can be dangerous when your trying to maneuver a boat in close quarters. So your opening windows or opening canvas and looking over windows and getting drenched in an effort to see. A new product called SNP is about to solve that problem. SNP is a clear, hydrophobic self cleaning ceramic shell that will last for a year or more and is applied by a foam pad in a circular motion and then buffed in several application layers.

SNP will improve optical clarity in all conditions by providing a self cleaning surface that is resistant to water spotting, oils algae, salt residue, mold & bacteria. It is silica based (not silicone) and has millions of micro glass and ceramic particles that air cure and bond molecularly to the surface creating an invisible 30 nanometer thick skin. Water and contaminants do not adhere to the surface. It repels water on the surface and it all slides off. It was developed for glass but is equally effective on any hard surface that you need to see through in rainy or wet environments. A two ounce kit with pre cleaner and applicator pad covers 50 sq. ft. and costs $29.95

Ka-band To Be Activated in 2014
Inmarsat, well known for it's satellite phone business has developed a worldwide wireless Ka-band broadband network that will be active once Boeing Company launches it's string of three Inmarsat geo stationary satellites in 2014. Ka-band offers greater bandwidth allowing downloads as high as 50 Mbps and uploads of 5 Mbps. Finally land based speeds on your boat!

Ka-band will require a antenna smaller than C-band with as little as two feet in diameter. The service called Global Xpress will compliment the existing much slower L-band satellites.The service will include Voice Over Internet Protocol and SMS services and will afford worldwide coverage at data speeds equivalent to the best current land based networks.

Swim Platform Struts
Many production boats in the 30' – 50' range do not come with swim platforms that will support tenders with motors in the 30 – 50 horsepower range. Over time the constant flexing can cause spider cracks and even serious cracks that go right through the fiberglass platform. This usually starts on the platform skirt and works it’s way inwards across the platform or sometimes they start in both corners where the platform meets the stern of the boat. In any event it can cause a lot of damage and it is best to reinforce platforms before it becomes a problem.

We saw a brand new Meridan that had cracked it's platform just as soon as the dingy was pulled up with the davits a few times. Even with those great big marine plywood or balsa glassed in struts running below the platform, the twisting due to weight on one end of the platform can be disastrous. Our Sea Ray was fine with the Walker Bay and a 30hp Tohatsu 4 stroke but when we switched to a Zodiac with a 50hp 2 stroke Yamaha (only 90lbs. more weight overall) even with the SeaWeed davit system reconfigured for the Zodiac, it was too much for the platform because the take up side of the platform took the full weight of the Zodiac early, due to the shorter pontoon length behind the weight of the engine. Don't get me wrong – we love the Zodiac but the dingy was on one set of SeaWeed take up rollers when the pontoons were completely off the water already. Not the fault of Zodiac - just too much weight on one corner for the platform design. And it's not just a dingy issue. If you have a whole bunch of guests out on the platform you can easily have the same type of problem.

Enter SteelNor Systems. They can custom fabricate swim platform struts for a reasonable price that will solve the problem and make your swim platform rock solid with weight distributed across the platform and no flexing. Fasteners to the factory struts and into the stern are bedded in with 3M 4200 and usually 4 struts will do the trick ... but on some platforms it might take 6 depending on the platform design and the factory glassed in struts.

David Steele owns SteelNor Systems in Midland and he is very thorough and capable in fabricating stainless. Their shop is located in what used to be the Doral factory on Hwy.#12 right near the Martyrs Shrine church. Their web site is www.steelnor.com or call (705) 527 7887.

Piranha Propellers
Every once in a while someone comes up with a really bright idea ... and Piranha propellers did just that. Piranha propellers use an aluminum hub with tapered slots that take individual Verton composite blades (nylon fiber & carbon resins) that slide into the slots. The hubs have a life time warranty. The blades are stronger than aluminum and if you hit bottom your typically not replacing all the blades (and not rebuilding a prop). The blades weigh less than 1 lb. each and can be changed in minutes. Even 3 replacement blades are cheaper than a replacement prop. In many cases the blades will absorb the shock of a hit, but in severe cases the blades are designed to break off, preventing possible damage to the gear case. The Piranha blades also show proven performance over standard aluminum props. They also have a HydroBite version which has edges on the blades that give the prop more traction in the water allowing better performance out of the hole. More info at www.canadapropeller.com.

Mold Or Mildew Problems?
Here's two new products that can prevent mold and mildew or correct an existing mold/mildew problem. Everyone knows mold and mildew love boats - especially fabric and soft surfaces inside the boat. Damp bilges naturally attract both and for some boaters this can turn into a nightmare when their stored boat starts to "grow" stuff over the winter.

Prevention: Kanberra Gel is a ventilated plastic container that contains gel that evaporates ... which is made from Australian Tea Tree Oil which is a natural killer of bacteria, fungus, mold and mildew and other spore related maladies. One 8 ounce container will protect a boat up to 40'. Great for heads and bilge areas too. When airborne spores try to attack and feed on cellulose and other organic matter the Tea Tree Oil vapors kill the spores in the air even before the spores take hold. A very inexpensive and naturally safe way to maintain your boat free of mold and mildew. The Tea Tree oil does not give off a heavy odor but a very light and pleasant smell. Check out www.kanberragel.com

Cure: If your boat already has a situation where mold or mildew has taken hold then you need some serious professional help and Microbial Solutions www.microbialsolutions.ca (519) 730 1104 has a solution where they will come to your boat and spray the surfaces with an anti bacterial polymer called Microbe Shield Technology, which is a permanent product that has a spray base that is something like watered down crazy glue. It will not stiffen fabric or leave an obvious residue but it will coat all surfaces, dry and retain the anti microbial agent in the polymer. It is sprayed in electrostatically in a negative charge to ensure uniform application and adherence. The protective coating will stand up to repeated washings and general wear and tear over a very long period of time. It is not affected by freezing and thawing. Microbe Shield Technology is used on airlines, medical facilities, homes, manufactured materials and in custom yacht building for the same purpose as you would use it on your boat. Note: this is not a spray over mold solution - it is a clean the boat and then spray solution.This product must be professionally applied but Offshore Group will go to any boat location in Ontario. Call them for a quote based on your square footage of boat.

Power Boost For Your Rocket Stick
Cruising around Georgian Bay using a mobile stick for your email and internet access gets better with a Data Card Antenna. The Panorama antenna clips on your laptop or stands freestanding and plugs directly into your mobile stick TS9 port to boost reception. Midland area and the eastern shore of Georgian Bay has 3G+ reception and this device will ensure that if the reception serves the area you will achieve a better signal, raising both upload and down load speeds.

There are many models but for a boat we suggest you choose an omni directional antenna. For the Rogers ZTE MF645 Rocket Stick by example you choose the 05TS9 Data Card Antenna. www.panorama-antennas.com is the manufacturer and a great local Ontario distributor where you can order online is www.antennashop.ca We received ours within two days of online order and they were very helpful over the phone in helping us choose the right antenna. At only $40 it's a bargain for increased reception when your on the move.

Fish Eyes Rod With Underwater Camera
Want to check your anchor set or determine whets going on with an anchor snag? Or maybe you just want to study the fish below the boat? The Fish Eyes Rod is a fishing rod with a colour camera that provides a live image back to the rod mounted camera. It's good to 25' depth and has a green fish light LED that lights up the water around the camera. The whole unit weighs 1.8 lbs. and 4 AA batteries power it. A really neat toy and conversation piece to play around with when your at anchor on those hot sunny days. Check it out at www.fish-eyes.com Available on Amazon for $60.

Switlik Rescue Platform
The MOM 600 is like a vacuum packed seat cushion, but when you throw it and it hits the water it opens to a rescue platform and sets off a strobe light. Is not a certified Life Raft but you can throw this 15 lb. cushion a long ways and it does the trick in providing a safe inflated platform to get out of the water. The platform is reversible with lifelines inside & out so you can get on it up or down and it doesn't have to flipped over. Raft is made of 13 ounce urethane coated nylon and inflates to 2 psi with support for 600 lbs. Switlik has been manufacturing aircraft and marine safety devices for many years. The MOM 600 costs about $1000 .... so it is a cheap alternative to a life raft (but not a full replacement) http://www.switlik.com/marine/mom600/tech-specs

Hurley Muskrat & Snake Guards
Did you know that your boats exhaust ports are an ideal home for Muskrats, Water Rats, Water Snakes and even Otters. Any exhaust port 3" or larger is at risk. Muskrats can really cause a lot of damage because they often visit in groups and try to nest up inside dragging weeds, mud and sticks up into the muffler. They don't care whether the exhaust port is above or below the water line - they are quite adept at swimming underwater to make their entrance. Here's the scary part - Muskrats and Water Rats will often chew their way through the flexible rubber/silicone exhaust coupling (see pic) and when that happens it can sink the boat. Many insurance companies have clauses that exclude claims from vermin damage. In any event when you get a muskrat up there a few things can happen.

1. they nest and just plug everything up and usually this harms your engine.
2. they eat their way through and cause damage in the boat (possibly sinking the boat) and they are very hard to get out once inside because they are timid and hide.
3. they often die in the boat if they can't find or eat their way out.

In any event, they cause thousands in damage and having these visitors is a nightmare situation. And guess what? ... you probably won't know you have a problem until the damage is done. Muskrats will travel an area and explore all kinds of openings that look inviting and they do not have just one home. The are very common and if you ask your marina dockhand if he/she has ever seen a Muskrat the answer is almost always yes. You are only likely to see them swimming in the early evening just before sunset or early morning just after sunrise when things are at there quietest. They swim very well underwater and if you are close they won't even be seen. Tell tale signs are sometimes weeds or sticks protruding from the port but usually the nest is up inside, if that's what they're up to - and not just exploring. They can find you in the marina or out at anchor. You don't want this problem! Larger exhaust ports can get the same problem on a bigger scale with Otters.

Hurley Marine Inc. best know for their dinghy davit system makes Muskrat Guards that will prevent this problem and we recommend every boat should have them. They are stainless steel and install in minutes without drilling or screws using rods that friction fit to the sides of the port opening. Typically you set them back a few inches and you won't even notice them in there. To measure the size you need, just take a piece of wire and bend it around inside and then pull it out and measure the circumference. Prices vary depending on size with the largest going for $249.95 set and the smallest 99.95 set. They also make snake screens for $15.95 that go with the Muskrat Guards if you have water snakes in the area. Visit Hurley's web site at www.hurleymarine.com or call them at (906) 553 6249

Fire Wire Flexible Grilling Skewer
Here's a neat product we picked up at the Annapolis Boat Show. You skewer your meat and veggies on this stainless steel wire and put it on your BBQ. Because you can curl it around and it is quite long you can cook double the amount on a Fire Wire than on a traditional skewer. The pointy end that you pierce the food to load the skewer hangs off the edge of the BBQ surface when you are cooking and it does not get hot. You can load your skewer and drop in to a baggy to marinate in the fridge before use. The stainless wire is very finely woven and does not collect food. It is easy to clean, dishwasher safe and 100% stainless steel. You get two wires to a pack for around $12. www.firewiregrilling.com

"Seriously Great" All Purpose Boat Cleaner
Boating Georgian Bay is pleased to announce our own brand of "Seriously Great" all purpose boat cleaner. This cleaner is Enviro Global rated and it works exceptionally well with no solvents or phosphates. 10% of all profits will be donated to the following non profit organizations: Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, North Channel Preservation Society, Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and The Shark Trust.

Ideal for all boat cleaning needs including fiberglass, stainless, vinyl, polyethylene, acrylic, chrome and aluminum. Will remove fuel stains, black streaks, waterline stains, bird droppings, spider poop and mildew. A great all around deck cleaner that works overtime in your galley and head as well. With proper application it will not harm existing wax finish and it is a no scratch formula that works quickly and safely.

This is one cleaner that will take the place of many ... and without the environmental impact typical of many cleaners. Available retail off this web site for $13.95 per 450 ml bottle or $23.95 for two bottles. Marine industry can also buy case lots of 12 bottles wholesale for $95.95.

You'll love this boat cleaner - it really works well ... and you can feel good about environmental stewardship. More details about "Seriously Great" Boating Georgian Bay all purpose boat cleaner are on our What's New page.

Battery Equalizer
My wife was heading into town and I asked her to pick up a bottle of Battery Equalizer. On her return her comments were - "do you know how much this stuff costs ... $31.99 for 500 ml". Yes it's expensive - especially in Canada where Home Hardware (automotive department) among others sells it.

Battery Equalizer is a magic potion for preservation or restoration of vented lead acid batteries. The product reduces sulfating and can double a batteries life and produce more power with up to 80% less float charge. Now this works for all vented lead acid batteries but we all know that boat battery banks are very expensive and well maintained they might last 4 years. Poorly maintained with low fluid levels or overcharging they might last 2-3 years. My two battery banks plus the generator battery are close to $1000. to replace. If I can get up to 8 years from those same batteries together with better performance then the $40 bucks doesn't sound so expensive when I'm saving $500.

So how come more people don't know about this? Most of the heavy equipment fleet maintainers do. The average guy doesn't though, and the folks that manufacture batteries are no doubt thankful for that. Because of the battery life extension this product is considered green and environmentally friendly. Use it for relatively new and older batteries. Do not use it if the battery has shorted cells or malfunction problems.

So if you use 28 ml of this stuff in each cell every four years you will be significantly extending your battery life and saving money. If you use more you will not hurt the battery so it cannot be over prescribed (or under prescribed for that matter - even some is better than none). You are simply replacing evaporated fluid with Equalizer instead of distilled water. You can use it all the time if you want as a replacement for distilled water ... but because it's not cheap, you are best to follow directions and only use what you need to to prolong battery life. The one 500ml bottle will do for most boat double battery banks and get you going - you can buy another bottle in a few years time. Another great option is to treat your battery once and then use a second bottle to mix with a gallon of distilled water and use that as your regular top up fluid.

Clean Your Fresh Water Tank
The label says "Saves Marriages". I don't doubt it. Contaminated water tanks on boats can be a real problem. Chlorine smells and is brutal and hard to get rid of. We have been using this Head-O-Matic "Fresh Tank" product for a few seasons and it works really well and removes any scum in your lines and tank. You mix the powder with a bucket warm water and pour it in to your fresh water tank just once at the beginning of the season. It makes your water kind of effervescent & soft and you'll want to drink bottled water until you been through the first fresh water tank of the season. After that your water will be really nice and the tanks will be clean and my feeling is it cleans up the head lines and drains too, because that's were much of the used fresh water goes. Holland Marine Products (HMP) sells this stuff for $14 and you can call (905) 891 1639 and they will mail it to you. One bottle treats 60 gallons which is plenty to rinse through all yacht fresh water systems.

EZ2CY Alternative To Standard Vinyl Windows
When it comes time to replace your bridge canvas you might want to consider moving up to EZ2CY window enclosures which are much thicker and harder than standard vinyl. These windows are heavy duty and stay lifetime crystal clear just like glass. Scratches can be rubbed out and they will withstand the stress of bending and curving much better than regular vinyl. EZ2CY is about double the price of standard vinyl windows and you will find it in use on many high end yachts like Viking, Egg Harbour, Ocean & Riviera. In colder or inclement weather when the windows must be down, you have the real advantage of being able to see properly on the bridge, which adds a major safety factor when underway. It also just looks better and with no buckling like regular vinyl. EZ2CY is not sewn to the canvas it is bonded. It can only be installed by licensed service providers. Check their web site at www.EZ2CY.com to search dealers. Currently there is not a Ontario based service provider so this may be an opportunity for your local canvas shop to get licensed to install this premium product.

Water Buoy
This is a nifty little devise that will float key chains, waterproof VHF handhelds or anything else you might drop into the water. Most floating key chains will not surface float more than a few keys at one time. This device is the size of a key fob and will float 2.2 pounds for 24 hours and it is lite at night. It is triggered when submerged it triggers and produces a tough gas filled rubber balloon that gets lite by LED for a minimum 24 hours. All this for $12.95. Visit their web site at www.yachtinnovations.com

Soot Buster Fuel Conditioner
We saw this product trade show demonstrated but we have no experience with it in real world conditions but it looks really interesting. The same folks offer other fuel polishing machinery and services. Basically it cleans your diesel fuel through a process they call Magnetic Cyclonification which breaks apart particulate matter in the fuel. Larger particles would either clog your filters or would not burn properly creating smoke, soot and loss of power. Soot Buster claims 4 – 12% fuel savings, emission reductions and lower exhaust temperatures and less deposits in the diesel fuel system. They come in sizes for diesels from 60 hp up to 2000 hp. They fit inline between the fuel tank and primary Racor filter and come with a lifetime warranty. Because the excess conditioned fuel that is not being burned in the diesel engine gets returned to the tank, the continuous process also cleans the fuel in the tank through operation. Web site is www.adsfuel.com

Watershed Bags
We ran across these durable dry bags. Great for keeping things like electronics dry while cruising or for use a a floatable ditch bag (if your boat should sink God forbid!). Many different styles and colours are available. They are made with layers of polyurethane and backpack grade canvas sandwiched and fused together. These folks make military grade bags as well. There web site is www.drybags.com and they can be bought in Toronto at www.watersportsscuba.com

Filter Alert
This is a great idea. This device uses a stainless steel vacuum sensor to determine in advance if your Racors are clogging up - before you get stuck without engine power in high seas when the waves stir up your dirty fuel. The vacuum sensor mounts in place of the top T on the Racor and sends a continuous signal to the filter alert station mounted in your bridge. In the event that your fuel filter begins to clog it sends and audible and visual signal allowing plenty of time for corrective action. A signal Filter Alert is $1000 and a double is $1200. Chances are though that if one filter is clogging, drawing fuel from the same tank the other is soon to follow. A great safety feature to have on your boat at reasonable cost. Check it out at www.digivac.com in the Marine sensor section.

Military Extreme Batteries
These batteries will outlast anything else on the market and are in use for military applications like F18's and Abrams tanks. They are indestructible and will last up to three times longer than conventional batteries. They use the highest quality materials and can be stored for two years or longer fully charged and will still start your engines. Available in a variety of case sizes and amperages these batteries provide superior cranking amps and fast deep cycle recharging ... so you can have your cake and eat it too. They are about double the cost of conventional batteries but typically last for ten years with up to four years warranty.They are totally sealed, so no spills and no refilling. If you want the best with total reliability this is it ... unless you have connections at NASA. They will ship to Canada. www.odysseysoutheast.com (954) 766 2571

Forespar TruPlug
Imagine your cruising on the Bay and a prop shaft lets go and the prop spins the shaft right out of the boat into the deep blue. Water is gushing in and you can't get under there with a mallet to hammer in a wooden plug even if you had one big enough. Enter the TruPlug solution. It looks like an orange safety cone but smaller. It is made out of flexible but tough closed cell foam. When you force it into an opening it expands on the other side of the hole. It will fit the biggest and smallest thru hull fittings. You can contort it and bend it around equipment that may be blocking your access. You can even carve it into odd shapes if you hole the boat. You can use several TruPlugs to seal large holes from running aground. It really is a must have inexpensive safety item for your boat. We first saw them at the 2009 Toronto boat show as they had just come to Canada. Because they were the only two for display in Canada they wouldn't sell them. A month later we bought two from Sobstad Sails & Marine in Barrie Ontario - they are the distributor. You can order them ahead and pick them up 1 800 713 9197

Tree Frog Pad
This neat stick on pad will hold cell phones, gps, handheld VHF vertically and will hold a laptop on an incline. In fact it will hold just about anything with a few pounds of weight even on a vertical surface (as long as it is smooth) on a boat. The pad won’t harm finishes, has no solvents, secures to any flat surface and will release with slow steady peeling action. It is also impervious to water. So if your like me and you are forever looking for an empty cup holder on the bridge to set your handheld VHF – this could be your answer. Available in different sizes from www.treefrogpad.com Note: I use a silicone mat (the kind you use for baking) under my laptop where it is stationed on a table in the boat. It works well to prevent sliding but the Tree Frog will work even better and for sailors, even if you turn the boat upside down it will hold the laptop for some time and prevent it’s destruction. If you use a laptop on the bridge of your yacht as part of your navigation package this is a great way to secure it to a table when your underway in big waves.

Fox 40 Sharx Whistle
Fox has been the leader in rescue whistles for many years. The Sharx 40 is 120 decibels and can be heard for miles over ambient sounds. It works wet or dry and can be blown in any orientation. It is made of durable polycarbonate co-molded with elastomer. This whistle is available in different colours and it would be great idea to have one tethered to each life jacket you use for emergency use. Available at most sporting goods and hunting provision retailers.

Rescue Tape
This is a product that every boat owner should have on board. Rescue Tape is a self fusing silicone based tape that is great for emergency hose or electrical repairs. It has 950 PSI tensile strength and insulates at 8000 volts per layer. It can withstand 500 degree (260 degrees Celsius) temperatures and remains flexible to minus 85 degrees (-60 degrees Celsius). It is impervious to fuels, acid, solvents, salt water or UV rays. Great for making a water tight seal on electrical connections or an emergency leak repair on an engine hose. Use it on anchor chain or rope to mark the rode scope for an easy way to tell how much rode is out when anchoring. It comes in many assorted colours and runs into the $12 per roll range. Best place to find it is at boat shows ... they usually have a booth somewhere, or Google it online.

Wet Spot Marine Water Softeners
Are you tired of mineral deposits being left on your boat after it has been washed? Is the water you use inside the boat leaving the surfaces looking lack luster? Are you concerned about the damage hard water can do to water lines and pumps? If the answer is YES to any of these three questions then you need a water softener for your boat.

There are many dockside water softeners on the market and some work better than others but we can can give you the thumbs up on Wet Spot because we use one ourselves. An added benefit is the softener will pull the dissolved iron out of the water too. They basically work like your home water softener where resin carries sodium. When it comes in contact with calcium & magnesium it attaches to these minerals and produces soft water. The resins can last up to 30 years and there is a 12 year performance warranty on the unit. The recharging kit comes with the softener and it takes about 15 minutes to recharge the unit once per month with rock salt.

There are no wires or electricity involved ... you just hook it up inline to your dockside water system and the water pressure does the rest. We use quick fit connectors so we can put the unit away or recharge it quickly without unthreading the hose connections. It comes complete with the hoses you need to connect the softener and charger. You can store the charger onboard or in your dock box and the softener can stay right on the dock. In the Georgian Bay area you can pick up a Wet Spot softener at Bay Port Yachting Centre in Midland (705) 527 7678

Rocna Anchors
If you are a serious cruiser then you know the value of a good anchor. The fact is most boaters like to sleep at night knowing that their ground tackle will hold fast if the weather blows up unexpectedly. Not all anchors are created equal. Some do better than others on particular bottom conditions, but only a few are exceptional in all weather and bottom conditions. Rocna is one of those exceptional products that comes along once in a "blue moon".

Rocna was invented by Peter Smith, an experienced long distance sailor from New Zealand. It's proto-type was developed and tested extensively over four years in real life cruising environments. The anchor is designed for rapid penetration and will typically set in three feet - there is an excellent video on the Rocna web site www.rocna.com demonstrating the anchors capability. The chisel blade, skids, weight balance and roll bar ensure that the anchor rights itself on landing and corrects to the right attitude to dig in. Due to it's geometry the anchor will not trip out with a wind shift or under extreme load. Rocna anchors are constructed using high tensile steel in the shank and are hot dip galvanized (including the inside of the roll bar). Rocna is also available in stainless steel.

Many magazines including SAIL have tested and ranked Rocna as the top overall anchor. I use a Rocna 25kg (55 lb) anchor on my own Sea Ray 450 (51'5") Sedan Bridge. Rocna's are available in sizes for small boats all the way up to 150 foot yachts. You can visit www.rocna.com for more information on the Rocna anchor. In North America Rocna is distributed by www.suncoastmarine.ca and local dealers are listed on their web site.

Anchor Saver
This is a nifty low cost product that can save you from losing a jammed anchor. For those boating on Georgian Bay you know there's lots of rock and deadheads to snag an anchor. One way is to attach a floating buoy to the anchor at the plow end so that if it gets stuck you can go out in your dingy and tug it out the same way it went in. Problem is, every time you fasten and throw the buoy out you need to adjust it for water depth or it's floating all over the anchorage.

So along comes Anchor Saver. Anchor Saver is essentially a fuse attached to the end of your anchor shank that will break in the event that the anchor is jammed and it won't break free. Once the fuse link breaks the rest of the linkage is stainless steel cabled to the plow end of the anchor and you can pull it out the way it came in. The fuse has sufficient strength to maintain its integrity when normally pulling the anchor out but if it really gets stuck and it won't give the fuse link, as designed, will break. The whole set up is stainless steel. If the link breaks with a stuck anchor the S/S cable is ample to pull it out from the plow end. These Anchor Savers are available in various sizes for boats from 14' to 42'. They are located in Florida and offer online sales.

Their web site is www.anchorsaver.com

Night Navigator
Night Navigator 3 combines three cameras in the same unit - High Resolution Thermal Imaging, Intensified Night Vision, High Definition Day Camera. The cameras are in a gyro stabilized mount with 360 degree continuous rotation. Because the images are stabilized there is no jumpiness to the view. Offshore the Thermal Imaging is often used at night to avoid whales by detection of water spouts. Want one for your boat? They are only a mere $135,000.

Clam-Ups
These are shorts with waterproof pockets so you can put your wallet in your pocket and go for a swim. The other great thing is they are comfortable and can be worn as everyday shorts or swim trunks.

Life Saver
This is a throw-able floatation device that looks like a yellow football. When you open the safety clip and throw the football (life saver) when it hits the water it inflates to a horseshoe shaped buoyancy device. Life Saver was developed by the Swedish Sea Rescue Society. The whole package weighs only 28 ounces.

Luma-Vu Underwater Camera
This camera mounts just like underwater lights - through the hull of a boat. The hole size is 2 1/4 inches and the camera view is 92 degrees in all directions. The camera can be removed without breaking the waterproof seal. The signal can be hooked up to your electronics that support video inputs including television. Imagine eating dinner while watching what's going on underneath the boat. Sure would be useful in Georgian Bay so you can keep an eye on the rocks down there. Cost is about $1200.

Henri-Lloyds Waterproof Bag
A totally waterproof gym style bag with a vacuum release valve that allows you to squeeze the air out of the bag to save space. Bag holds 55 litres/space and is made of Thermoplastic Polyurethane. Available at West Marine stores for under $90.