New Gear June 2006
Foul-weather gear, apparel and accessories manufacturer Gill has developed a line of waterproof luggage for boaters. The 10-piece line includes the Rolling Jumbo Bag, Rolling Carry On, Cargo Bag, Tarp Barrel Bag, Stow Bag, Compact Bag, Duffle Bag, Daypack, Wash Bag and Wallet. |
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The Rolling Jumbo Bag (pictured) has a telescoping handle, non-marking wheels, wet-and-dry compartment, and detachable shoulder straps. There are two end compartments for shoes and handles on each end of the bag. The 6,700-cubic-inch bag measures 31 inches by 13-1/2 inches by 13-1/2 inches, and retails for $139.95. Gill North America, Buford, Ga. Phone: (770) 945-0564. www.gillna.com
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| HamiltonJet has introduced an intuitive single-hand controller for low-speed maneuvering inspired by your computer’s mouse. The MouseBoat uses Hamilton’s new “blue ARROW” electronic jetdrive control system, which communicates on a CANbus network. |
Slide the mouse fore and aft and the boat responds in kind, or rotate it to change heading. On a twin-jetdrive boat, move the mouse to port or starboard, and the boat will crab sideways. Engine rpm and degree of movement can be adjusted by clicking the plus- and minus-sign buttons on the mouse. The engine also revs higher as the mouse is moved or rotated. The mouse springs back to a centered position and zero-speed/straight-ahead mode when the skipper lets go. The weather-proof MouseBoat can be installed at up to three control stations on a blue ARROW-equipped boat, according to the company. Retail pricing was unavailable. HamiltonJet, Seattle. Phone: (206) 784-8400. www.hamiltonjet.com
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Rhino Hide’s RhinoMix adhesives are designed to simplify fiberglass repairs and bonding projects. The two-component, polyurethane adhesives are dispensed through a universal cartridge system, so a standard caulking gun can be used. |
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RhinoMix 9000 can be sanded and painted after curing for 15 minutes and is intended for fiberglass repairs and other quick projects. RhinoMix 9200 is another fast-setting adhesive formulated for bonding and sealing. Slow-setting RhinoMix 9310 has a working life of one hour and is intended for lengthier fiberglass repair projects. An 8-ounce cartridge of RhinoMix adhesiveretails for $29.95. Rhino Hide LLC, Eaton Park, Fla. Phone: (863) 665-0203. www.rhinohide.com
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| Furuno’s latest fishfinders — the dual-frequency FCV585 and FCV620 — use digital signal processing technology to provide high-resolution images. The DSP filter software suppresses clutter and automatically adjusts such variables as gain and output power to adapt to the fishing environment, according to Furuno. |
In dual mode each unit simultaneously displays sounding images of 50 kHz and 200 kHz in separate windows. The FCV585 has an 8.4-inch VGA sunlight-viewable 256-color LCD, and a high transmission output power of 600 watts or 1 kW. It retails for $1,495. The FCV620 has a 5.6-inch color LCD and output power of 600 watts. It retails for $895. Furuno USA, Camas, Wash. Phone: (360) 834-9300. www.furuno.com
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Cleaning products manufacturer Swobbit now offers color-coded brushes for different on-board chores. The so-called “Colors of Clean” are green for general-purpose cleaning; purple for cleaning painted and delicate surfaces; orange for cleaning decks, non-skid and canvas; and aqua for aggressively cleaning teak, non-skid decks and boat bottoms. |
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The new brushes have bristles that are up to 40 percent more chemical- and heat-resistant, according to Swobbit, and prices range from around $19 to $31. Swobbit Products Inc., Indianapolis. Phone: (317) 298-1995. www.swobbit.com
