Gear

Staying connected can be a challenge when you’re spending long periods of time afloat, but this liveaboard family has internet and cell phone service all figured out.

A slew of monitors, products connected to one another (the Internet of Things) and “smart” devices will be on display at the boat shows this fall, promising to make all of our boating lives better.

In 2015, I tested the first electronic distress signal that could effectively and legally replace the flares that the U.S. Coast Guard requires on most of our boats. Hot flares always struck me as a dangerous way to seek help.

The ROAM app released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection lets boaters report their return to U.S. waters by way of smartphone or tablet.

Dockmate’s wireless remote system is helpful in surprising ways.

Raymarine’s new DockSense takes the anxiety out of getting in and out of a slip.

Boat shows are in full swing across the country. New and exciting boat models are all the rage. Realistically, not everyone wants a new boat as many boaters are still in love with the looks of the classic boat they already have.

I believe that VHF radios from the big four MFD manufacturers are primarily offered so that boat builders and customers can put a single brand of electronics at the helm.

Autotether’s marine wireless system is built to instantly cut the outboard engine when the operator falls overboard or is separated from the boat by more than 150 feet.

The M2 chain hook from Mantus Marine latches to a chain and reportedly stays on even when there is no load on the chain or hook.

Vetus has expanded its line of Bow Pro series thrusters to include models for 45- to 80-foot vessels. The Bow Pro Boosted thrusters use a brushless motor that’s reportedly maintenance-free for 12-volt or 24-volt inputs, and is designed to fit tunnel sizes up to 250 mm. The thrusters come with a standard or a fully proportional control panel and now have unlimited run-time. Price: $2,169 to $4,519.

The Catch and Lift MOB Rescue System from Intelligent Sailing is designed to let a single operator recover and lift as many as two people back on board in the event of an emergency.

The SoftScience Fin 2.0 water shoe is built to be lightweight and odor-resistant, to dry quickly, and to keep water out with a self-draining system.

Lenny Rudow looks at where things are headed in the marine electronics world, from digital anchoring to remote monitoring and live-view fishfinders.

McMurdo’s SmartFind G8 AIS Auto Category 1 EPIRB is the first of its type to make use of the Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), a constellation of what soon will be 30 active satellites.

Designed to clip, stick or attach to almost anything, Anglr’s Bullseye lets users capture fishing data.

Made from 316 stainless steel (cap and bezel) and ABS (lens), the LED Combination Retractable Bow Light from Sea-Dog pops up with just a twist of the cap.