Product Reviews - Page 9 of 10 - Small Boats Magazine

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.

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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.

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.