An inexpensive cell phone for wet, rough conditions.

I haven’t used YachtPhone, but it sure sounds interesting. YachtPhone floats, is waterproof and dustproof to military specification IP-57. Another great feature is an extremely long battery life of more than 8 months when fully charged and turned off, or 200 hours of standby time. A hand crank option is also available so that you can use your phone even if you battery is dead. What I like about the idea of the YachtPhone is that you can leave it aboard your boat so you always know there’s a phone handy. I often forget to bring my cellphone down to the boat because it’s on charge, or the batteries dead. Even if you have your phone aboard, if you’re in stormy and wet conditions, you probably don’t want to use your high-tech smartphone. YachtPhone is easy to use without worry of water damage. But wait, there’s more! YachtPhone has a built in flashlight and FM radio as well as standard supplied headsets and can be purchased with a waterproof storage bag for long term storage for emergency use. Powered by YachtPhone's own service plan, it is a perfect companion to your current cellular service.  YachtPhone comes with it's own phone number and you can easily forward calls from your current phone to YachtPhone. You won't miss important calls and you won't be a risk of dropping your valuable smartphone overboard or on the hard deck. YachtPhone service features two convenient, no-contract plans.  Each are designed to compliment your existing service.  You can keep your YachtPhone ready for use for as little $19.99 every three months. It comes with an included SIM card.  YachtCellular coverage is available in the continental United States and near shore waterways.  The service is based on the leading GSM networks in the United States.  YachtPhones are unlocked.  You can use a local SIM for service in countries outside the US. The Starter Package is $99.99. It includes the phone plus 3 months service in the United States including 50 prepaid minutes and 1,000 text messages. I'll be looking for this device at Trade Shows. In the meantime you can get all the details here: 

https://www.vineng.com/YachtPhone/

Ahoy Matey. If you missed The Fort Lauderdale Boat Show you missed seeing this marine classic.

Amazing - a boat company that has been building classics for more than 100 years!

For over 100 years Hacker-Craft boats have turned heads everywhere they cruise. They range in size from 25 to 33 feet. As the company says: “Our boats are sturdy in construction, wide in beam, offering a bit more freeboard for dryness and sea-going quality--these meticulously built boats carve through the water with ease and comfort. Their contemporary designed transoms--with built in steps and swim platforms--make for easy boarding in and out of these boats when swimming, waterskiing and tubing.” Hacker-Craft boats will be at Bahia Mar land spaces 1086-1087 at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, October 25-29, 2012. The new 27’ Tommy Bahama speedboat, a combination of cutting edge technology and retro elegance, will be also be on display. Master boat builders invest more than 1,400 hours to hand build Hacker-Craft’s magnificent vessels. The custom colored mahogany hull and decks gleam with 15 coats of hand brushed varnish. A spokesman at Hacker once told me “everything on a Hacker-Craft serves a purpose. There is nothing put there merely for show.” An Ilmor MV8 6.2L 430 horsepower engine powers some Hacker-Craft boats, so the captain can go bounding over the waves fast, in ultimate nautical style. MSRP range from about $139,000 to $201,000. 

www.hackerboat.com 

If you boat (or hike, trek, etc.) into far off places, you should know about this device.

I normally boat within the sight of land on both sides of me. Mainly I power my up way the Hudson River. But if you go offshore, the McMurdo Fast Find 220 is a device worth knowing about. It’s powerful distress beacon that McMurdo says can provide a direct method of alerting search and rescue authorities where no other forms of communication are available. It uses the 406 MHz search and rescue satellite communication system, COSPAS SARSAT. And it also transmits a 121.5MHz homing signal. It’s waterproof to 30 feet (10 meters) and able to operate in temperatures as low as -4°. To activate the 220, flip off the red top which lets the hidden antenna open up. The McMurdo 220 will transmit continuously for a minimum of 24 hours at a powerful 5-watt output. The compact beacon weighs just 5.4oz and measures 1.34” x 1.85” x 4.17”. A LED flashlight assists with rescues during limited visibility or at night. I like that face that the Fast Find 220 PLB has no monthly subscription charges. Stored, a spokesman said the battery should last up to six years. It’s available from $299 with a flotation pouch, lanyard and universal carry pouch included. Here’s hoping you never need to use one! 

More info: www.fastfindplb.com

Swab That Deck, Sailor!

At the National Hardware Show I got an introduction to the Deck Washer Flow-Through Brush. The two-in-one Deck Washer from HomeRight is a 13 inch wide scrubbing broom with 14 built-in water jet nozzles. It attaches easily to your garden hose. There were photos of people using it on wooden decks, driveways, garage floors, pools, etc., but no pictures of anyone using it on a boat. So I asked about using it on boat decks, and the folks there said it was perfect for that. They asked if I had a boat, and offered to send me one so I could try it for myself. Heck, why not. (I spend over a $1,000 each year to go to that show.) The Deck Washer arrived in a compact box. First you assemble the three-piece aluminum extension handle with nice foam grips, and attach the brush. That takes about a minute or two. Attach an ordinary garden hose and you’re ready to power sweep, or power brush. You use the Deck Washer semi-stiff bristles to loosen and dirt and debris. Then turn on the high-pressure water jets to blast area clean. There’s an on/off value included that attaches between your hose and the HomeRight Deck Washer. It lets you turn the water on and off, and control the flow to water jet nozzles. It worked great on the decks. I needed to use a soap pad though for the non-skid areas. That was no surprise, because non-skid areas on boats are notorious for holding on to dirt. All it all, it speeds up cleaning, because you do it all with one device. No need to put down the brush and pick up the hose –it’s all in one. MSRP: $29.99

http://www.homeright.com/products/deck-washer-flow-through-brush

At last, an "approved" portable gas can that's fast and easy to use.

During the winter a lot of people at the marina where I keep my boat have to refuel their gas tanks using portable fuel cans. That’s because it’s just about impossible to find a marina still selling gas after the close of the boating season on October 31^st.  That’s why I was very interested when I saw the No-Spill Gas Can at the National Hardware Show. The No-Spill Gas Can is a quick and easy way to fill the lawn mower, outboard motor, or an empty vehicle fuel tank with gas. You just push one button to start the flow, then when it’s full, the auto-flow-stop, stops it. You can save spilled gas the Auto Stop feature. And at the demo I saw their patented nozzle, which flows up to twice as fast as other nozzles. There was no gurgling, spitting or interrupted flow. The smaller No-Spill Gas Cans (1 ¼ and 2 ½ gal) have double wide view stripes on the front and back so you can see the fuel level from across the yard or garage. The spokesperson at the booth said the No-Spill Gas Cans have the thickest skins; 70-100% thicker than most cans. They’ll range in price from about $20 to $32. The same company is making another line of gas cans with not quite as many features for mass-market stores like Home Depot. They’ll be sold under the brand name Easy Can.

Giz Wiz Video with the No-Spill Gas Can: http://youtu.be/pgxWL_Ty_Wo

More info at the company website: www.nospill.com