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June 2009: Gear

By Yachting Staff

Updated: May 14, 2009

June 2009: Gear

Get Personal: The new Sea-Doo RXP 215 (starting at $11,999) pairs muscle with a soft ride- no wonder it’s the most popular personal watercraft on web polls. Ride alone or with a friend, and feel the power of the Sea-Doo’s 215-horsepower, supercharged, intercooled Rotax 4-TEC engine beneath you. Try out the variable trim system to dial in the handling and wide handlebars for optimum control. Off-power assisted steering and a two-year warranty mean the fun won’t stop. Sea-Doo, (715) 848-4957; www.sea-doo.com

June 2009: Gear

Choose Wisely: The Hobie Mirage Outback ($1,749) is a sit-on-top kayak with more features than a new Mercedes. Hatches and stowage compartments for bait, a cooler, or dive tanks, and molded-in rod holders come standard, and there’s an optional fishing package, with a built-in cooler and anchor system. You can paddle, use Hobie’s patented pedal MirageDrive, or get a free ride with the mast insert and optional sailing package. Whether you’re catching some fish, snapping some photos, or simply touring the mangroves, the Hobie Mirage Outback provides plenty of options. Hobie, (800) 462-4349; www.hobiecat.com

June 2009: Gear

Get Your Feet Wet: If your feet and back ache after a long passage, you may need to rethink your footwear. Fortunately, Sperry Top-Sider has considered just how your feet cope with onboard challenges, and they came up with the ASV Solution-a line of boat shoes ($140 for men, $130 for women). ASV stands for Anti Shock and Vibration, and the shoes are designed to reduce the impact on your feet, legs, and back, while giving you the stability, support, and traction you need on slick decks. Designed and tested for onboard use, the ASV line is built to get wet, with internal drainage and quick-drying, anti-microbial materials, so they won’t smell. Sperry Top-Sider, (800) 247-6575; www.sperrytopsider.com

June 2009: Gear

Straight to the Point: For bright days at sea, Oakley Straight Jackets ($180) are the ultimate on-the-water sunglasses. With high-definition optics to provide unparalleled clarity and precise, accurate vision, the Straight Jackets use hydrophobic lenses to prevent water sheen from corrupting your point of view. With a permanent coating that provides a smudge-resistant barrier against skin oils, lotions, and sunscreens, these sunglasses make for a squint-free day on the water-and a distinctive look anywhere. Oakley, (800) 431-1439; www.oakley.com

June 2009: Gear

Order a Sub: The SEAmagine submarine is the final step in extravagance, and a must have for any megayacht that lets you follow in Jacques Cousteau’s wake to depths down to 3,000 feet. Seamagine submersibles (starting at $1.3 million) include the two-man Ocean Pearl and the three-man triumph (shown). The self-propelled, electric submersibles don’t roll or pitch, and an acrylic dome allows for 360-degree views for an enjoyable ride to the undersea world. SEAmagine, (619) 987-5770; www.seamagine.com

June 2009: Gear

Chill Out: A hot summer day calls for a cold drink, and the Ice Jacket may become an essential element of any onboard cocktail party. Never scramble for ice or search for a chilled bottle again. Using patented technology, the Ice Jacket lets you pick from a wide range of 700 to 750 ml bottles of various liquors (Mount gay, gosling’s, Finlandia, and Stolichnaya, just to name a few) and encase them in ice, allowing them to be served at sub-freezing temperatures during your next soiree. Ice Jacket, (239) 566-7076; www.icejacket.com

June 2009: Gear

Deep Breath: Every now and again a truly breakthrough product comes along and revolutionizes the way people think about a sport. For divers, the Oceanic DataMask ($1,500 with everything included) may be that product. With a mini LCD screen that lets you keep your eyes on the fish and coral, the DataMask provides critical data including current depth, elapsed dive time, cylinder pressure, and dive time remaining. This allows for hands-free monitoring of all necessary information, letting you to spend more time taking in the ocean’s beauty, and less time looking at your gauges. Oceanic, (800) 435-3483; www.oceanicworldwide.com

June 2009: Gear

Short Hop: Camet’s Hobart extreme technical Shorts ($80) are built for waterborne wearers. Whether you’re cruising the harbor for the day or rounding the windward mark, these shorts offer cool comfort in hot and humid conditions, and look good doing it. Why? they weigh in at 9 ounces-the lightest on the market-yet will take a beating, thanks to a durable water-repellent finish and a UV protection rating of 40-plus. Camet, (619) 224-6737; www.camet.com

June 2009: Gear

Wind at Your Bag: The new Messenger Bag from ReSails (starting at $79) combines the utility of a classic messenger bag with the durability of first-class sailcloth. Available in laminated Kevlar or white Dacron, the messenger bag is constructed with 600 denier nylon, is water resistant, and has a durable PVC lining. A sharp way to carry your charts, cruising guides, or laptop, the reSails messenger bag also keeps old sails out of the landfill. ReSails, (401) 849-0084; www.resails.com

June 2009: Gear

Board Games: Don’t have room on board for a longboard? Don’t get bored. instead get Sea Eagle’s inflatable longboard (starting at $989)-short on stowage space but long on functionality. Built with drop-stitch construction, the Sea Eagle longboard carves through the waves like a fiberglass board, yet packs up into a small bag. Stow it until you find a break, then rip like Kelly Slater or take it out at an anchorage to paddle around the yacht for exercise. Sea Eagle, (800) 748-8066; www.seaeagle.com

June 2009: Gear

Sharp Knife: You don’t want to go overboard these days, at least with spending. But if you don’t care about bulls and bears and simply want to have the most exotic multitool on the dock, check out the new Leatherman Argentum Series. Crafted by Argentine silversmith Adrian Pallarols, the Charge Acanto (shown, $12,000), classically ornamented with 18k gold engravings and sterling silver handles, brings luxury to Leatherman’s utility. So don’t worry, you can go overboard. Just make sure your knife doesn’t. Leatherman Tool Group, (503) 253-7826; www.leatherman.com

June 2009: Gear

Shelter From the Storm: Don’t worry when the summer sun hides behind iron-gray clouds and the wind pipes up. Instead, take to the seas in the second generation of the Aegis Jacket ($295) from Atlantis Weathergear. The jacket’s three-ply membrane and waterproof zippers keep the spray and rain off, but breathes so you don’t overheat. A high-visibility yellow hood and reflective piping, logos, and patches make sure men overboard get picked up quickly. A sleeve pocket secures items you need when wearing a life jacket or safety harness, and clever two-tab cuffs can be set for both everyday wear and cinched for soaking conditions. Atlantis WeatherGear, (877) 333-7245; www.atlantisweathergear.com

June 2009: Gear

Sail Without Fail: LaserPerformance’s Pico ($3,295) is a quick little sailing dinghy that sets up in a flash-ideal for tacking around the anchorage. With a large, self-draining cockpit and a high boom, this 11 1/2-foot boat is easy to sail for the whole family and a great way for the kids to learn. An optional racing version may be just the ticket for more aggressive sailors. The Pico’s durable, rotomolded hull requires virtually no maintenance, and, with a removable jib and reefing mainsail, it can be ready to sail-or to stow-in minutes. LaserPerformance, (800) 966-7245; www.laserperformance.com