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April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

By Yachting Staff

Updated: March 24, 2009

April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

Pleasant Trip: Have a relaxing overnight in a quiet cove spoiled by a fouled anchor line at dawn’s early light? Minimize the disruption in a hurry with the help of Quickline’s Ultra Trip Hook ($93). This tool is designed to relieve the tension on the rode to free the offending anchor, then easily drop the chain back to the bottom. a brief apology and you’re off the hook. Quickline, (714) 843-6964; quickline.us

April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

Free and Clear: The liberty rope/Chain Windlass from Maxwell (starting at $5,665) does the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. equipped with pressure arms to eliminate snags, liberty windlasses use rope/chain gypsies to apply a firm grip to the rope splice. Available in four models that operate on 12- or 24-volt systems, the windlasses come with dual-direction solenoids and updown remote panels. The windlasses accept rope up to 3/4 inch and chain up to 3/8 inch. Push-button disassembly means easy service, and a geared crank simplifies emergency manual operation. Maxwell America, (714) 689- 2900; maxwellmarine.com

April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

Three Times the Charm: When setting multiple anchors, quality deck hardware simplifies the process and provides peace of mind. The triangular hawse hole plate (prices vary by dealer) from Perko is made of Marinium, an alloy that is strong, lightweight, and corrosion resistant. Available in chrome or satin “marinized” finishes, the plates add a distinctive look wherever they’re installed. Perko, (305) 621-7525; perko.com

April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

Stronghold: The Ultra Anchor (starting at $900) from Quickline is an innovative design that provides gunkholing flexibility. The anchor has a lead-filled base to land it upright on the seafloor, where its curved tip and concave-fluke body dig into a variety of bottom types quickly and effectively. Built of 316L low-carbon stainless steel, the anchor is designed for easy retrieval, with a polished surface for a clean break with the bottom, a wide base for easy pivoting, and a low center of gravity that orients it properly to the roller. It’s available in 15 sizes ranging from 18 to 440 pounds, and additional sizes can be made to order. Quickline, (714) 843-6964; quickline.us

April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

Pulling for You: Lewmar’s V8 windlass (starting at $12,900) offers smooth power in a durable package for yachts ranging from 55 to 110 feet. Available in left- and right-hand gypsy-only and gypsy drum configurations, the V8 is encased in 316 stainless steel and has a gypsy driven by a solid dog-drive. A band brake controls anchor descent. Options include 24V DC, 208V or 400V AC, or hydraulic power setups and ranges of metric and imperial chain gypsies to suit any cruiser’s needs. Lewmar, (203) 458-6200; lewmar.com

April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

Checking I.D.: Raymarine’s AIS500 Class B Transceiver ($1,400) helps you predict the movements of the boats around you. Connected to a Raymarine multifunction display, the AIS500 plots the position, course, and other navigation and identifying information of AIS-enabled vessels in the area. Especially useful in busy harbors, this data lets you eliminate close calls and other dangerous situations. The AIS500 monitors both Class A and Class B transmissions and has a built-in, dedicated 16-channel GPS. A buddy-tracking feature remembers known targets on a favorites list. Raymarine, (603) 881-5200; raymarine.com

April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

Night Light: The M-Series maritime imaging system (starting at $15,000) from FLIR Systems puts two powerful tools together in one compact unit to beat adverse visual conditions. First comes remarkably effective thermal imaging, useful in darkness and fog, with a 26-degree field of view, superior range, and, at the top end of the model range in the M-626L, high-resolution images. The M-Series is also equipped with a low-light camera for improved visibility in predawn and twilight conditions¿times when you may often find yourself transiting unfamiliar ports and anchorages. Mounted in waterproof enclosures less than 11 inches tall, M-Series units pan 360 degrees and tilt through a 180-degree field of view. The systems can integrate with a variety of networks and multifunction displays via an ethernet connection, which also allows for multiple joystick control installations around the boat. FLIR Systems, (800) 727-3547; flir.com

April 2009: New Gear & Electronics

Far-Fetched: The six-foot GMR 406 open-array radar ($1,525, not including pedestal) from Garmin pinpoints targets out to 72 nautical miles away. The radar focuses a 4 kW pulse in a 1.1-degree beamwidth to cut through rain and fog and spot moving targets, birds, and shorelines near and far. Transmitting data over the Garmin Marine Network, the radar links up with a Garmin plotter, overlaying targets on the chart or showing the radar view side by side with the plotter in a split screen. Garmin, (800) 800-1020; garmin.com