Product Reviews - Page 8 of 10 - Small Boats Magazine

February 2017

Bigboy

A saw for the out-of-doors

Whether you’re gathering wood for a campfire or salvaging windfalls for boatbuilding projects, Silky’s Bigboy cuts quickly and cleanly and is a lot more portable than a chainsaw.

The ball-bearing equipped jig, along with a shop-made zero-clearance table-saw insert, makes ripping strips for laminations safer than sawing thin stock the on the fence side of the blade.

January 2017

Thin Rip Table Saw Jig

An Aid to Lamination

The Rockler Thin Rip Jig is economical and makes reducing a board to a pile of uniform, ready-to-laminate strips a whole lot faster and safer.

December 2016

WeatherMeter

Meteorology in your pocket

This compact and inexpensive device provides data that leads to a more objective observation and better understanding of weather conditions and patterns.

As the name suggests, the Bivibag Duo can be used for a bivouac, in tent fashion for one, a double sleeping bag for two.

December 2016

BivyBag Duo

Exped's versatile shelter garment

The BivyBag creates not only an instant shelter but also the peace and presence of mind that comes along with that measure of comfort, allowing for the thoughtful decision making that is essential to any successful outing.

The pinky is subject to less pressure than the other fingers so it is left bare.

November 2016

CrewStop Gloves

Cultivating calluses

If you keep at it long enough, rowing will toughen up your hands, but callouses often come at a cost. We take a look at some gloves that will give you a shot at skipping that painful blister phase.

For the cleat to work as designed, the line should enter the cleat parallel to the base.

November 2016

An Auto-Release Cleat

Safer downhauls for centerboards and rudders

If you have a centerboard or rudder blade that is deployed with a downhaul, it won’t kick up if you have the line made fast to an ordinary cleat. Clamcleat has a cleat that will trip and release the downhaul, preventing serious damage.

October 2016

Scrubba

A wilderness washing machine

Clothes inevitably get dirty and even a bit pungent while you’re cruising and camping, but with this innovative bag you can do laundry in camp or at anchor.

October 2016

Gaco Oarlocks

Less wear, less noise

An Australian invention, these oarlocks can fit standard sockets, but they move the rotation above the socket where it will cause less wear and noise.

September 2016

IceMule Cooler

A dry bag that keeps its cool

We take a look at an insulated dry bag that can serve as a cooler, padded dry storage, and flotation.

The Mantus anchor has a sharp tip to cut through seaweed.

September 2016

Mantus Dinghy Anchor

Digs deep, stows flat

The dinghy anchor from Mantus digs deep and fast and comes in a stainless-steel version that can be disassembled for compact storage.

The Small Hatchet is small enough to be tucked into a pants pocket.

August 2016

Gränsfors Hatchets

Hand-forged Swedish steel

Hand-made Gränsfors Bruk hatchets are a pleasure to use and uncommonly beautiful.

August 2016

Sounding Off

Signal horns for small boats

We take a look at five horns that you can use to make yourself heard.

The water-cooled stone makes quick work of sharpening tools without affecting their temper.

July 2016

Makita Blade Sharpener

Quick, sharp edges

Sharp edge tools can save you a lot of time when you’re working with wood, but sharpening your blades by hand can nibble away at those savings. The Makita wet-wheel sharpening tool can give you razor-sharp edges in a fraction of the time.

The SynMat Mega is inflated by means of a bag called a Schnozzel Pumpbag. It takes about 90 seconds and three fillings of the Schnozzel to bring the SynMat Mega up to a firm pressure

July 2016

Exped Mats

Uncommon comfort

Getting a good night’s sleep is the best way to get your day off to a good start. Two sleeping mats by Exped that are as good as any mattress at home.

June 2016

Pocket Puller

Safe, easy hauling of pots and anchors

The Thomas Pocket Puller can help you haul crabpots and anchors aboard without dragging a line over the rail and wearing through your boat's finish.

The Pro Model is recommended by NewGrip for rowing: the wrist strap is said to relieve the strain that causes sore wrists and carpal tunnel syndrome. The wrist strap is made of cotton webbing for better comfort against the skin.

June 2016

NewGrips

Cool comfort

Rowing is hard on the hands and most gloves only exacerbate the problem. NewGrips aren’t anything like gloves, and that’s why they work to prevent blisters.

May 2016

Cutting Corners

Tools for rounding edges

Make quick work of rounding corners without the noise of a router and the dust of a sander.

The carbon-fiber ferrule weighs just 9 3/4 ounces.

April 2016

Carbon-Fiber Ferrules for Oars

Better by halving

If you carry oars aboard your boat, you may have struggled to find a place to put them where they don’t get in the way. With carbon-fiber ferrules from Duckworks you can cut your oars down to a more convenient size.

April 2016

EcoPoxy

Putting plants into the mix

Epoxy is great stuff, but it can come at a cost to our health and the environment. EcoPoxy puts plant-based ingredients into the mix to make a safer product.

The original mechanism that inspired Gig Harbor's Front Facing Rowing System and the design for this New York Whitehall both date back to the late 1800s.

March 2016

Oars with Elbows

A Forward-Facing Rowing System

Rowing takes on a different look when you’re using a forward-facing rowing system. We put articulated oars to the test.

A foam ring keeps the light floating upright.

March 2016

SOS Distress Light

A Coast-Guard approved Night Visual Distress Signal

You can now meet Coast Guard requirements without having to buy a new set of flares every few years.

The only quibble I had with the Milwaukee was the belt clip is too stiff and too tight against the drill body to slip over the edge of a belt.

February 2016

Milwaukee M12 Drill/Driver

Compact and Capable

The M12 lithium-ion battery provides plenty of power without bulk.