Product Reviews - Page 8 of 9 - Small Boats Magazine

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.

February 2016

Skwoosh Seat Pads

A Seat-of-the-Pants Assessment

Fluidized gel takes the takes the pressure off sitz bones.

The iBall monitor has a gooseneck mount that plugs into a cigarette=lighter socket.

January 2016

The iBall Wireless Trailer-Hitch Camera

Getting hitched hassle-free

If you have to back your vehicle up to the trailer, the iBall wireless trailer hitch camera will get you on target in no time.

To have this NavAid read in magnetic bearings, this NavAid has been marked with a line through the angle of the magnetic deviation for the area covered by the chart.

January 2016

The Small Craft Nav-Aid

Going analog for a quick fix

With a chart and a little low-tech device called a Nav-Aid you can set a course faster than you can plug in a waypoint.

December 2015

Linseed-oil Paint

Better for your boat

Made as it was centuries ago, linseed-oil paint allows wood to breathe, preventing peeling and rot. It may just let you off the hook for regularly repainting your boat.

The author's double ender has a short outrigger for a sculling. The lock needed to be slightly elevated to keep the handle from making contact with the outrigger.

December 2015

The Scullmatix

Sculling's simple solution

If the technique for sculling has eluded you and your oars are too short for it anyway, there’s a stainless-steel solution for you.

Shinto's Planer Saw Rasp (top) and 9" Saw Rasp

November 2015

Shinto Rasps

Sharp-toothed tools

The Shinto Rasp has been out for many years now and if you have one, you know how well it works. We’ll take a close look at it, from its wavy sides down to the cut of its teeth to explain why it works well and why you should have one if you don’t already.

The smooth and slender shape of the blades allows them to slip in and out of the water cleanly, adding power to the stroke.

October 2015

Oars by Grapeview Point Boat Works

Proper oars for pleasurable rowing

Grapeview Point's finely crafted oars use a minimum amount of wood to achieve their maximum efficiency.

As the rollers partially flatten under the weight of the boat they broaden their area in contact with the ground and glide over it, conforming to its contours rather than plowing into it.

October 2015

Aeré Beach Rollers

Moving heavy loads over soft surfaces

Getting a cruise-laden boat out of the water and moved up the beach can be a drag in more ways than one. Aeré’s inflatable rollers will support up to a ton and ease the way ashore.

Torqeedo's outboards with ratings up to an equivalent of 8 hp, are designed without anti-ventilation plates. The foil-sectioned shafts of all but the smallest outboard aid in keeping surface air from getting to the prop.

September 2015

Torqeedo’s Travel 1003

Clean, quiet outboard power

Torqeedo's Travel 1003, a sophisticated electric outboard that delivers clean, quiet power for small boats, will tell you how fast you're going and how far you can go; it will even charge your cell phone.

The author’s Original Bug Shirt is still going strong after 17 years. Folded up, the shirt fits in the zippered front pocket.

August 2015

The Original Bug Shirt

Armor against airborne arthropods

In bug country you can protect your skin and your sanity with clothing instead of chemicals.

July 2015

The Matsu Drysuit

Affordable cold-water protection from Mythic Gear

The Matsu doesn’t have all the details often found in more expensive drysuits, but the basics are all there and they do their jobs well.

any larger than the pot it's heating. The Emberlit keeps the fire small and contained, minimizing the impact on the wilderness.

July 2015

The Emberlit Original

A wood stove that's compact, efficient, and versatile

The Emberit fires up with any burnable material at hand: small branches, sticks, and even dry leaves.

The GravityWorks filter is designed to remove protozoa, bacteria, and particulates—the common contaminants encountered in American and Canadian backcountry. It is not intended to remove chemicals, toxins and viruses that are more commonly found in urban and agricultural areas and developing countries.

June 2015

The GravityWorks Water Purification System

Debugging in the backcountry

Test results of GravityWorks samples have always shown perfect drinking water no matter what source the water came from.

June 2015

The LandShark Survival Bag

Safety and versatility in a small package

The Land Shark Instant Survival Shelter is a multipurpose survival bag that’s affordable, lightweight, compact, and reversible from orange to camo.

T-nuts slide in slotted aluminum box beams for a wide range of adjustments.

May 2015

Trailex SUT-350-S

Lightweight Aluminum Trailers

I learned early on that most damage to boat hulls is caused by improper transport, launching, retrieval and/or storage. To avoid any problems while I transported boats, a proper trailer was in order. At races and boat shows the most well-cared-for boats were transported on Trailex Trailers, with the SUT-350-S the apparent favorite.

The Premium RailLight comes with a variety of attachment options.

April 2015

SolLight’s RailLights

Solar-charged lighting for camp and cockpit

Solar charged lights that come in handy in underway, at anchor, and in camp

This ShowerCoil system is fantastic! With a fully stoked fire and a bit of practice

April 2015

BoundaryTEC’s ShowerCoil

Campfire Water Heater and Shower

Roughing it has its merits, but do yourself a favor and take a hot shower.

March 2015

Nemo’s Bugout Screen Room Tarp

Take shelter from bugs, sun, and rain without retreating to the confines of a tent.

March 2015

DeWalt’s Concealer safety goggles

A ski-goggle approach to safety glasses is a step up in protection, comfort and clarity.

February 2015

Greenfield’s Sky Winch

There’s a little balancing act down the trailer tongue I have to do when hauling my boat up on its trailer. Sky Winch put an end to this nonsense.

The Hydrus fabric has a water-repellant finish and is laminated around a waterproof and breathable membrane.