A boat without boating water toys is like gin without tonic – you need them both to appreciate the full effect.

Every month we pick out an extreme new water toy as part of our toy of the month series, and we’ve also picked out the best boating water toys from our Editor’s Choice that will make your boating days even more memorable.

These range from a £25 snorkel right up to a £40,000 jet ski, so no matter what your budget is, we’ve got you covered!

Best boating water toys under $1,000 / £1,000

Subea Easybreath full face snorkel mask

Revolutionary snorkelling design

The Subea Easybreath full face snorkel mask is certainly an eyebrow raiser, and we don’t mean just when you stretch it over your head!

For the creators of this neat piece of kit have taken a long hard look at the humble snorkel and come up with a redesign that’s not only revolutionary, but eye-catching (in all the right ways) too. Best of all, it works.

Available exclusively at Decathlon, who spent seven years perfecting the design, the Subea Easybreath essentially comprises two individual mask sections; one for vision, one for breathing.

An exclusive air circulation concept prevents fog from forming and the field of view is an unrestricted 180 degrees.

Price: £24.99 / $45

Read more about the Subea Easybreath full face snorkel mask

Buy it now on Decathlon

Buy it now on Amazon

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Ruckraft tow float/drybag

The idea behind the Ruckraft is simple. You’re anchored off a lovely beach, you fancy a swim ashore for an ice cream and a wander, but you have no way of taking your clothes, towel, phone and wallet with you.

Cue the Ruckraft! Inflated by simply blowing into it (it takes about 30 seconds), what you end up with is a Lilliputian inflatable dinghy.

There is a large (70L/25kg) drybag to swallow all your necessary bits and pieces, or even a tent, which secures to the raft using clips. And it’s available in a choice of colours (orange or yellow) for extra visibility in the water.

Price: £164

Buy it now from abovebelow.sc

Airhead Super Mable

Three-person towable tube

The Airhead Super Mable is a good option for boat owners looking to get into the exciting world of towable tubes.

With the ability to carry up to three riders at once, the Super Mable is a good option for weekend party boats that are typically laden with several passengers.

While not as extreme as smaller, sportier variants, with a suitably experienced boat driver at the helm it can still deliver a surprisingly wild ride.

Price: $250 / £400

Buy it now on Amazon

GoPro Hero 9

The ultimate action camera

Once you’ve stocked up your tender garage with all these amazing boating water toys, you’ll need something to film your adventures with, right?

Don’t be fooled into thinking all action cameras are the same, we’ve tried a number of different alternatives and none seem to offer the point and shoot simplicity of the GoPro range while still delivering consistently good footage regardless of light and shooting conditions.

They are perfectly suited for shooting on a boat for a number of key reasons. Firstly they are waterproof to 33ft (10m).

Secondly they have exceptional built-in stabilisation which corrects even the shakiest of hands and roughest of rides and thirdly they have ultra wide angle lenses with remarkably little distortion which make even the smallest of cabins look suitably palatial.

Price: £420 / $350

Read more about the GoPro Hero 9

Buy it now on Amazon

Best boating water toys over $1,000 / £1,000

Red Paddle Co Compact SUP

Best-selling inflatable paddleboard

An inflatable SUP is a must-have boating water toy these days, but even when packed away a standard one takes up a lot of space on board.

RED’s new Compact SUP is specifically designed to solve that problem. A 10-year programme to develop the world’s most portable SUP has resulted in this new model which packs down into a backpack roughly half the size of a conventional one.

Crucially it claims to have achieved this without compromising the rigidity and stability for which its boards are renowned.

Price: £$1,699

Read more about the Red Paddle Co Compact SUP

Buy it now on Redpaddleco.com

Geneinno Titan T1

Can’t afford your own submarine? The Geneinno Titan T1 underwater drone is the next best thing…

Back in 2020 we featured the DeepSeaker DS1 four-person personal submarine. However if your toy budget won’t stretch to €1 million for a proper submarine and substantially more for a superyacht big enough to park it on, there are more economical ways to explore the depths without getting wet.

The Geneinno Titan T1 is, according to its manufacturer, the deepest-diving consumer drone fitted with a 4K camera, and the first with a robotic arm.

Price: $2,799

Read more about the Geneinno Titan T1

Nautibuoy Platform

Inflatable pontoon system

It’s party time and you’ve got too many people and not enough boat. So what do you do? Call Nautibuoy.

There’s no denying that Nautibuoy’s range of inflatable platforms are a great idea as they effectively extend the size of your boat by, well, as much as you like really.

There’s no need to stop at one platform, just tie a string of them together and just keep on going and going and going…

Price: £3,180

Read more about the Nautibuoy Platform

Kawasaki SX-R stand-up jet ski

The latest SX-R Jet Ski has a top speed of well over 50 knots – if you’re brave enough!

There are two kinds of personal water craft (PWC) – the original stand-up style like this Kawasaki SX-R Jet Ski and the larger sit-down style such as the Seadoo Spark and Yamaha Waverider.

It is these sit-down models which now dominate the market, to such an extent that in 2011 Kawasaki discontinued its stand-up range altogether. The jet ski name lived on as a generic term to describe any form of PWC (it’s actually a Kawasaki registered trademark) but not the product itself.

For six years the line lay dormant until in 2017 Kawasaki launched a brand new Jet Ski called the SX-R – a pumped-up, pimped-up, stand-up model with eye-bleeding graphics and a monstrous 1,500cc four-stroke engine.

Hugo took the chance to test one in 2020, after reading some slightly alarming safety warnings…

Price: $11,599

Read our test drive review of the Kawasaki SX-R stand-up jet ski

Fliteboard Series 2

Electric foiling surfboard takes watersports to the next level

We think James Bond would have loved this boating water toy, but if the press release is anything to go by it looks as if the bad guys may have got there first: “Fliteboard has been quietly taking over the world since it launched in 2018” it trumpets.

Putting aside the trivial matter of global domination, we can’t help but marvel at this terrific machine, which single-handedly redefines the concept of cool waterborne running – move over PWCs.

Fliteboard – an electrically-powered hydrofoil which raises the rider approximately 70cm above the water – originates from Down Under and was conceived by former kite-surfing world record holder David Trewern.

He knocked up his first prototypes using a 3D printer (bought from Aldi) and before long was zipping around the bay near his home in Belongil Beach, New South Wales at speeds of up to 45 km/h.

If you’re still not convinced that this is one of the coolest boating water toys to hit the market in years, then check out the video above of Rob and Morgan Wylie crossing the English Channel on Fliteboards in 2021. It’s not just for pros either, this is another boating water toy that’s got Hugo’s personal seal of approval.

Price: €13,200

Watch our Fliteboard test drive video

Awake Rävik S

This 30-knot electric jet board makes waveless surfing even cooler

The Rävik One and Rävik S are the latest in an exciting line of electric jet boards that can offer endless, waveless surfing. The electric surfboard concept continues to gather pace with two cool looking boards from Swedish brand Awake.

The Rävik One uses an 11kW brushless electric motor to achieve a top speed of 30 knots (9 knots faster than the YuJet and almost as quick as the petrol-powered Jetsurf that we covered in 2020).

MBY editor Hugo Andreae recently tested one, proving that even a surf-sceptic in his 50s can learn how to ride one in just a few hours.

Price: €15,900

Watch out test drive video of the Awake Rävik

Seabob F5 SR

The original and best underwater scooter

It’s long been a contender for the most desirable boating water toy out there, and now the redoubtable Seabob has been given even more grunt by its makers.

Dubbed ‘F5 SR’, this little beauty is the most powerful watercraft in the Seabob F5 series. Its E-Jet Power System delivers a mighty 745 Newtons of propulsive power – roughly two-and-a-half times as much force as a bullet leaving the muzzle of a rifle.

To keep its pilots on the straight and narrow, two rear fins provide stability and help improve manoeuvrability.

Price: €17,800

Read more about the Seabob F5 SR

Narke Electrojet GT95

Carbon-hulled Jet Ski gets 50% power boost

We’ve all been there. An idyllic bay, the perfect sheltered anchorage, anchor set just so, bimini rigged, the first long cool drink of the afternoon and it starts – the dreaded Jet Ski of a neighbouring boat, droning up and down and up and down as everyone on board takes a turn and none have the wit to travel more than 500 metres in either direction.

Well, salvation might finally be at hand in the futuristic shape of a carbon fibre e-Jet Ski from Hungary nicknamed the Cyberjet!

A three-seater personal water craft, this new Narke Electrojet GT95 model is powered by a 95hp e-motor. This represents a 50% increase on Narke’s 65hp debut model, which was launched at the 2018 Cannes Yachting Festival.

Price: €47,500

Read more about the Narke Electrojet GT95

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Head to Amazon’s dedicated boating page for more marine products.

This article Best boating water toys: 12 ways to make your boat even more fun appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

It is said that boat shoes can be like people: Some you’re comfortable with, others you’re not. For this reviewer, slipping on a pair of Wuzzos Corinthian Pro deck shoes for the first time was like meeting somebody you warm to instantly.

It’s hard to pin down why exactly, but the magnetism was there from the off. It could have been the build-quality – these are undoubtedly sturdy and well-constructed shoes – it might have been the attractive styling and detailing, or perhaps it was down to the feel of the plush, padded insoles which greeted my feet.

But, more importantly, how would they fare over time? Would they be able to cope with the rigours of a salty life at sea, and what about our boatyard’s hardstanding, largely comprised of hogging aggregate that’s notoriously unforgiving on the feet?

Article continues below…

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That first fit was several months ago. Since then, they’ve seen heavy use, both on the boat and off, and are still going strong. Just as comfortable as they were on day one, their appearance is largely unchanged despite having been soaked more than once.

The occasional squirt of protector has been applied to the suede uppers, but nothing more. Inside, the Micro Fresh odour-eliminating antimicrobial treatment appears to be doing an admirable job.

The shoes have also retained their shape with no noticeable stretching and Wuzzos’ multiple claims about the soles of the Corinthian Pro – that they are non-marking, UV resistant, anti-aquaplaning – have all stood the test of time.

The soles are also substantial and flexible, which makes crossing our yard’s hardstanding painless, something we can’t say for other shoes we have worn while boating.

Harder to evaluate has been the shoes’ Wave-Shock feature, which refers to forward-facing structural panels incorporated into the white outsole designed to limit torsional twist and absorb impact.

Wuzzos say Wave-Shock minimises energy transmission from the shoe to the body and thus helps prevent injuries to ankles, knees and so on.

We’re delighted to report we feel no more cranky today than we did when we started wearing the Corinthian Pros, so on that basis Wave-Shock gets a tick in the box too!

Wuzzos Corinthian Pro are not cheap to buy, but our experience points to a pair of shoes which are going to go on and on – and that suggests a cost-effective purchase in the long run.

Price: £120 (inc. VAT)

Buy it now on Wuzzos.com

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Read YBW’s guide to the best boat shoes on the market right now.

This article Tried and tested: Wuzzos Corinthian Pro deck shoes appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Whether you want to add underwater cameras, smart navigation systems, or simply keep all of your devices charged up, there has never been such a dizzying array of boating gadgets.

As part of our 2021 Editor’s Choice, we trawled through the myriad of boating gadgets on the market to pick out what we think are the best of the best.

Read on, but be warned – you may be tempted into spending even more money on your boat…

6 of the best boating gadgets available right now

Iris 735 camera

Super-compact bulkhead camera

We’ve not been out and measured all its competitors ourselves, but we have no reason to doubt Iris when they tell us their IRIS735 micro-compact camera is the world’s smallest through-hull/bulkhead unit of its type.

Measuring 28 x 36mm and projecting just 8.5mm from the panel to which it is mounted, the IP67 waterproof rated IRIS735 is equipped with a 2.9mm wide angle lens and a Sony Starlight sensor for low light operation.

In our opinion it’s a tiddler that punches well above its weight as it enables you to keep an eye on hidden areas of your boat via a choice of four video formats: TVI, CVI, AHD or CVBS.

Read more about the Iris 735 camera

Article continues below…

Editor's Choice: Vesper Cortex

Editor’s Choice: 878 Smart Apparel

Icom IC-M94DE VHF

World-first VHF radio with AIS

Billed as the world’s first marine hand portable VHF radio with a built-in AIS receiver, the Icom IC-M94DE was always going to catch our eye.

But the range of features incorporated into this new generation – although instantly recognisable as a member of the Icom handheld family – doesn’t stop there; for the IC-M94DE’s veritable spaghetti alphabet of safety attributes continues with DSC and GPS.

The unit excels in many other ways too: It’s powerful, pumping out 6W of radio frequency output, and the 1500 mW of audio output should provide ample volume at all but the noisiest of helms.

Read more about the Icom IC-M94DE VHF

Scanstrut ROKK Wireless Active phone charger

Waterproof iPhone/Android charger

Many of us have dreamed of a mobile phone charger for boats that’s compatible with both Apple and Samsung products and many other brands too.

And now there is one. In fact, in a consumer sector seemingly unable to agree on a universal charging port, we think the Scanstrut ROKK Wireless Active provides a refreshing breath of fresh air.

Better still, designed from the ground up for marine use, the unit has an IPX6 waterproof rating, works off 12 or 24V and can even charge mobiles inside non-metallic waterproof phone cases, thereby making it an ideal boat bolt-on.

Read more about the Scanstrut ROKK Wireless Active phone charger

Clarion speakers

Boat sound system with built-in lights

No boat party would be complete without a decent onboard entertainment system, and for anyone wanting to go beyond sound alone and dazzle their guests with a full son et lumière experience, Clarion’s new CMSP speakers are well worth a listen and a look.

That’s because in addition to pumping out crisp, clean sound, each model in the range is offered with integral RGB LED lighting to add a colourful helping of grist to the mood music mill.

For those more inclined to Radio 3 than Radio 1, non-illuminated versions of the speakers are available too.

Read more about Clarion speakers

The Orca Display kit is based on a 10.1in ruggedised Samsung Galaxy Active Pro with a RAM mount and charger

Orca Co-pilot

The Google Maps of boating

What makes Orca Co-pilot different to normal chartplotter? Well, to begin with, Orca supports cellular internet connectivity.

This allows the system to automatically update charts and synchronise routes across devices without using SD-cards or other data transfer solutions.

Orca Co-pilot is also cloud-powered, which means it processes engine, battery and other boat information in the cloud to give boaters automatic trip logs and insights into such things as fuel consumption and abnormal engine behaviour.

Read more about Orca Co-Pilot

Raymarine Clearcruise AR

Augmented reality for boaters

Raymarine has long pushed the boundaries of boating gadgets, and its ClearCruise AR system marks another major step along the way on the firm’s never-ending advanced marine systems journey.

In fact, ClearCruise AR (the ‘AR’ stands for Augmented Reality) is an industry-first which has been developed for Raymarine’s Axiom multi-function displays to help skippers make smarter and quicker navigation decisions.

AR manifests itself in practice by blending high definition video from networked marine cameras with on-screen graphics to display and identify nearby AIS traffic, navigation aids and waypoints.

Read more about Raymarine Clearcruise AR

This article Best boating gadgets: 6 of the best options for upgrading your boat's tech appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Having been brought up on a strict diet of plastic and Melamine boating crockery, we were sceptical as to just how safe these glasses would be on board. So we decided to try the NUDE Ahoy tumbler for ourselves.

NUDE’s non-slip secret lies down below, where an all-but-invisible band of grippy silicone has been incorporated into the tumbler’s base. It certainly holds fast on the level, and gentle tilting of our table demonstrated its resistance to movement too.

At sea, the glasses performed well on a fine, calm-ish day, coping with the swell and movement of the waves we encountered without any issues.

Article continues below…

Tried and tested: Icom IC-M94DE VHF radio with AIS

Tried & tested: Gill OS3 Coastal Jacket

To determine the limits of this sticky customer, we decided to run a definitive tilt test and a comparison with a similar but non-non-slip tumbler – the outcome of which you can see in our video.

In other respects, the NUDE Ahoy tumbler compares favourably to other glasses. It’s heavy, fits well in the hand and its attractive appearance would grace any table.

Despite the impressive performance, we still have reservations about using a glass tumbler at sea, where accidents can and do happen when you’re least expecting them.

Take for example a typical day at anchor in the Solent, where even on the calmest of days violent swells and choppy wave patterns can occur suddenly and without warning – regulars at popular spots such as Osborne Bay will know exactly what we mean.

We fear that no matter how grippy the tumbler, they would likely end up scattered like everything else on the table. And while these substantial glasses might well be capable of withstanding a knock or two, we’d be hesitant to risk it.

Price: €35 for a set of four (inc. tax)

Buy it now on eu.nudeglass.com

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

This article Tried and tested: NUDE Ahoy non-slip glassware appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

When I grew up, tennis balls were white, cameras used film and a word processor was a pencil with a rubber on the end. Life was simple back then.

Coats were easy too; raincoats were raincoats, (mac if you were posh), but as sure as anoraks would morph into rally jackets, the inexorable march of time has seen a new breed of overgarment evolve – which in Henri Lloyd’s case is known as the Seadale 3-1 all season jacket.

In fact, this fine piece of clothing is actually two pieces of clothing – a waterproof Sea Jacket outer and an Airedale inner down jacket – which work in combination to provide solutions for three different weather conditions (hence the ‘3-1’ bit) namely: cold and dry, mild but wet, and cold, wet and windy.

Article continues below…

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Tried & tested: Gill OS3 Coastal Jacket

Given that each of these three situations occur every ten minutes or so during the typical British summer, we figured that testing the Henri-Lloyd Seadale would present us with no practical problems. And so it turned out to be…

First of all came the cold and dry weather of early summer. A fresh day (don’t be fooled by the picture) on the Solent gave us the ideal test setting for the Airedale.

Apart from doing its best to electrocute me with a hefty bolt of static as I removed it from its plastic bag, the quilted jacket behaved well all day. Inside its 100 percent Nylon outer shell is a filling described as 80/20 duck down/feather 650 Fill Power.

What that adds up to is a jacket which keeps you warm and comfortable for as long as you choose to wear it. At no time did the chill of the day permeate through, nor did it become overheated.

As this product is sold as a combination, we found the Seadale jacket on its own a touch on the loose side. But when the heaven’s opened, the full two piece came into its own.

With the Airedale providing the inner warmth, the Seadale jacket sneered at the weather. If it could have said, “Bring it on”, it would have done. For even in a downpour, not one drop of water managed to permeate its Eco Bionic water resistant coated outer.

With both the outer and inner elements of the combo looking great too, the Henri-Lloyd Seadale 3-1 all season jacket gets a big thumbs up from the MBY Tried & Tested team.

Price: £275.00 (inc. VAT)

Buy it now on Henrilloyd.com

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

This article Tried and tested: Henri-Lloyd Seadale 3-1 all season jacket appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

In addition, the unit has full DSC functionality and with 6W of transmit power and 1,500mW of audio output it’s powerful too (compare to, for example, Icom’s IC-M25 Euro unit, which outputs 5W and 550mW respectively). To find out how the beefy new IC-M94DE performs in practice, we headed out for a day on the Solent.

Our first test was to check the power. From our anchorage in Osborne Bay off the Isle of Wight, we made a radio check call to the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) at Calshot. Although almost 5 miles distant, the station was in our line of sight.

The NCI immediately pinged back a ‘loud and clear’ response – and it certainly was at our end too. A second call to Cowes Yacht Haven, just two miles away but around the headland, proved too much though and our call went unanswered.

Article continues below…

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Next we looked at the AIS functionality. Here, there are three list options; Target, Danger and Friends. Menu options allow the user to call, navigate to or plot each item on the list, and an alarm can be set to sound whenever a target is closer than the CPA (Closest Point of Approach) and TCPA (Time to CPA) settings.

While the radio’s AIS functionality is impressive and obviously valuable from a safety perspective, in operation we found using it challenging. This was partly due to the screen size – admittedly large for a handheld but nonetheless still a bit small for our old eyes – and partly due to the number of AIS-equipped craft around us cluttering the display with an abundance of AIS triangular markers.

Although we were unable to test it for ourselves, the radio’s DSC mode offers all you would expect, including individual, group and test calls to other stations as well as distress calls.

Moving on to navigation, we keyed in a waypoint (up to 50 points can be stored), and set off for it. On arrival, a pop-up screen appeared and the unit sounded an alarm bang on cue.

Although navigation is limited to the chosen waypoint only, in our view the radio provides excellent back up should a boat’s chart plotter fail.

Our final test – the radio’s Float’n Flash feature – was carried out in the safety of our bathtub rather than at sea.

Two final comments: Firstly, before departing, we went to charge up the unit and were disappointed to find no 12V lead in the box – our unit was delivered with a 240V charger only, obviously not helpful for anyone out at sea without a mains supply.

Our other observation is that the IC-M94DE does not have the touch and feel appeal of its smaller and more shapely Icom cousins – it’s larger and chunkier – but we appreciate allowances have to be made to accommodate the functionality of this feature-packed unit.

MBY rating: 3/5

Value rating: 3/5

Price: £349.95 (inc. VAT)

Icom IC-M94DE deals

Buy it now on Amazon

Buy it now on icomuk.co.uk

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Head to Amazon’s dedicated boating page for more marine products.

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

This article Tried and tested: Icom IC-M94DE VHF radio with AIS appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

As a foul weather jacket, this is one rough, tough customer. Constructed of XPLORE two-layer waterproof and breathable fabric coated with XPEL water-repellent, stain- and odour-resistant technology, and with cuffs featuring adjustable polyurethane inner seals, plus a YKK Aquaguard zip with internal storm guard, this coat has the lot.

It has useful safety features too, with reflective patches on the sleeves and a hi-vis hood making it easy to spot crew members on deck after dark.

We tested the OS3 Coastal Jacket in a number of conditions, ranging from dry chilly days to wet, thundery ones, and found it to be bulletproof in terms of its weather resistance.

Article continues below…

Editor’s Choice: Zhik INS100 jacket

Tried and tested: Henri-Lloyd Seadale 3-1 all season jacket

Included in our trials was a typical British summer’s day on the south coast where black skies gathered and the heavens opened unleashing a mighty downpour on the unsuspecting OS3, which happened to be on the pontoon at the time.

This proved to be an ideal test for the XPEL coating, the performance of which was nothing short of amazing. Drenched with rain droplets, a quick shake and the water simply flew off – every single drop of it. XPEL, we concluded, has to be what ducks’ backs are made of…

Inside the OS3 Coastal Jacket the wearer feels thoroughly spoilt and cosseted. In no circumstances did we find ourselves uncomfortable. Unlike some waterproofs which cause the body to overheat and end up just as wet had you not been wearing it, the XPLORE breathable fabric does its job brilliantly.

The high-cut, fleece lined collar is great too as it keeps your neck warm no matter how hard the wind is blowing. Zip the jacket right up and tighten up the drawstrings on its inbuilt rain hood and you’re ready for anything.

As a foul weather waterproof, it’s hard to fault the Gill OS3 Coastal Jacket. Just one point to bear in mind is that it is not an all-in-one solution – in cold weather, you’ll likely welcome an extra layer or two.

Price: £185.00 inc VAT (Men’s OS3 Coastal Jacket)

Buy it now on Amazon.co.uk

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

This article Tried & tested: Gill OS3 Coastal Jacket appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

For our trial, we headed to Osborne Bay, just off Queen Vic’s bolthole on the Isle of Wight, on an uncharacteristically balmy early summer’s day.

The mirror-calm water was inviting and the mercury was rising aboard the boat, but despite the positive omens the Bramblemet weather station was reporting a sea temperature of just 16.8° Celcius – more than enough to cause a sharp intake of breath by any measure.

The first part of the experience demonstrated just how efficient is the snorkel’s ‘Dry-top’ system, courtesy of its on-board ‘buoy’.

Article continues below…

Editor's Choice: Nautibuoy Platform

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Designed to prevent water coming in should the wearer take a gulp while underwater, the Subea Easybreath immediately locks off the air supply at the moment of submersion. Upon resurfacing, blow out and the buoy is released.

Whether a trickle did get through on our test, it’s hard to say. For if it did, the automatic purge valve fitted to the mask did its job well – we did not notice any water ingress.

Before jumping in, we had adjusted the Subea Easybreath’s head straps – which form an ‘X’ shape across the back of the head – so the mask sat comfortably without putting too much pressure on the face. A gentle tug of the adjusters was all that was necessary.

We deliberately didn’t press the mask to the face, scuba diver style, upon entry to see what would happen – answer, nothing; the snorkel stayed put.

The remainder of our trial was unremarkable; the Subea Easybreath performed admirably to the point where you could almost forget you were wearing it.

Just one point to note is that we only tested the mask while surface swimming – the Dry-top system only works while the snorkel is vertical, meaning it may let in water during duck dives or free diving.

Given that Subea Easybreath’s designer and retailer – the sports outlet Decathlon – spent seven years perfecting the product, its performance should not come as a surprise.

Our only criticism is that despite the snorkel’s clever construction of separate areas for vision and breathing, we did experience some fogging initially, possibly due to the coldness of the water.

So for our second plunge we tried rubbing a little washing up liquid into the inner lens, which fixed the problem completely.

After that, everything went swimmingly…

MBY rating: 5/5

Value rating: 5/5

Price: £24.99 (inc. VAT)

Subea Easybreath deals

Buy it now on Decathlon.co.uk

Buy it now on argos.co.uk

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

This article Tried & tested: Subea Easybreath full face snorkel mask appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

The description offered by its makers reads, “the perfect technical lightweight cross-over jacket for life afloat and ashore”, leaving no doubt as to who this garment is aimed – us boaters.

They even promote it with the hashtag ‘Made for Water’. What we particularly like about the Zhik INS100 is that this is no in-yer-face product; it makes its own unique fashion statement quietly, without really trying.

Or could it be that the converse is true – it succeeds precisely because it conceals its street-style, trend-setting light beneath a bushel so well?

The jacket’s clean lines, with no frills and modest branding, might make the casual observer think there’s nothing special going on here.

But take a closer look and you’ll find a host of features to commend it. For example, there’s its construction. The Zhik INS100 is made of Vecta, a fully waterproof, two layer hydrophobic breathable fabric which promises comfort whatever the weather decides to throw at us.

A soft mesh lining maximises air flow, adding further to the comfort, and when the going gets really tough an additional coat of DWR – Durable Water Repellent – is there to turn the jacket into a duck’s back; water just runs off of it.

All seams are fully taped with critical joints further reinforced for durability and personal effects are kept stay safe and dry inside the two external zipped side pockets and a discreet chest pocket.

As a brand, Zhik’s claim to the water runs deep – since its formation in 2003, its range of wetsuits and dinghy gear have become a popular choice among sailors around the globe.

The firm was the Technical Clothing Partner for two teams in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 and the Official Technical Clothing Supplier to Alex Thomson Racing for the 2020 Vendee Globe Campaign. And with a pedigree like that, the Zhik INS100 surely has to be worth a look.

Price: £129.95 (inc. VAT)

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This article Editor’s Choice: Zhik INS100 jacket appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Gone are the traditional tartan cylindrical drawstring bags beloved by those spotters lurking outside the bus garage, replaced by a new generation of high performance, high capacity holdalls more akin to what mariners might have once have called a seabag.

For our selection we’ve chosen the Pro-Sports waterproof duffel from bag and case supplier OverBoard.

Available in three sizes – 40, 60 and 90 litres (funny how waterproof bags are measured by how much liquid they can hold…) – OverBoard duffels provide full protection from the elements.

So no matter whether its water, dirt, sand or dust, your belongings should stay safe, dry and clean inside whichever size Pro-Sports bag you choose.

A quick trot around the product reveals a host of attractive features. The Overboard Pro-Sports is made from a hard wearing, tough PVC tarpaulin, and it floats should you drop it in the briny.

That’s due in no small part to its seamless welded construction, which also contributes to its water tightness, in terms of which the bag itself is rated Class 3/IP66, while its weatherproof front zip pocket earns a tick in the Class 2 IP65 box.

What this means is that the Pro-Sports should be able to comfortably handle the British weather and/or a quick submersion.

Dotted around the Overboard Pro-Sports are a number of handy pockets; in addition to the quick access front zip mesh pocket, there are side mesh zip pockets and an a wet/dry pocket inside the bag.

Four D-rings give multiple attachments options, and lugging the thing around is made easy with a choice of a top carry handle or an end haul handle (of which there are two on the large 90-litre bag).

And if hauling is not your thing, simply attach the padded back straps supplied with every bag and turn your duffel into a rucksack.

Or should that be knapsack, or maybe even backpack, in today’s parlance?

Price: £79.99 – £104.99 (inc. VAT)

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This article Editor’s Choice: OverBoard Pro Sports duffel bag appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

In common with every other product in the company’s range of eyewear the Zennor sunglasses – are upcycled from plastic intercepted from the oceans by this pioneering, Cornwall-based firm.

The idea was the brainchild of founder Harry Dennis, who decided the time had come to do something useful with some of the 640,000 tonnes of fishing nets he claims are lost or discarded every year.

By regarding these strong and durable spent nets as a misallocated resource rather than waste, Harry set about creating his business proposition.

A selection of great looking sunglasses of which the Waterhaul Zennor is the model we believe will be of interest to the boating community.

That’s because the Zennor features a chunky wrap around frame that grips securely and prevents glare from light straying into the field of vision from the sides.

The Zennor is made entirely of old trawl nets and fitted with polarised polycarbonate lenses.

They’re lightweight, offer a high level of UVA/UVB protection and are fully sustainable – for even if you break them, or just decide you no longer want them, all is not lost.

That’s because every pair of Waterhaul frames are covered by the company’s ‘recycle and replace’ lifetime guarantee.

All you have to do is return your frames and Harry will repair or replace them for free. It’s what he calls a ‘circular economy’, part of his mission to achieve a 100% recycling rate.

If you think all this sounds too goo to be true, it isn’t – and it doesn’t stop there either. Every pair of Waterhaul Zennor sunglasses comes in a sustainable cork tri-folding hard case.

Every element of the company’s supply chain has been audited to ensure it is free from single-use plastic.

So even if your Zennors do have to go back to Harry, they’ll coming winging back to you in a harm-free recycled wood-pulp pack. Impressive, eh?

Price: £75 (inc. VAT)

Buy it now on Waterhaul.co

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Read our guide to the best boating sunglasses on the market right now.

This article Editor’s Choice: Waterhaul Zennor sunglasses appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Galloping to the rescue of everyone who’s ever been caught out in the rain (i.e. all of us) comes the Musto 65L carryall.

A dry carryall designed to withstand whatever the heavens and oceans decide to throw at us, including torrential rain, cloudbursts and heavy spray.

Offered in a single black and grey colourway, the Musto 65L carryall has the look of a tough no-nonsense bag that certainly means business.

A glance at its features shows this very much to be the case. Central to its storm-proof design is a bonded construction which does away with the need for stitching and zips – the very places water likes best.

Instead, the carryall features a rollover, watertight top that’s secured with a buckle. And if too much air gets trapped inside when the joint is sealed, there’s a handy built-in pressure release valve – Musto have thought of everything.

The bag itself is made from durable coated polyester, which is resistant to abrasions, dirt, saltwater and UV rays.

We think the translucent window on the front, which helps you check your belongings without having to open up the bag, is a particularly useful feature, especially if it happens to be raining at the time.

There’s also a nameplate to aid identification, and for those who prefer lugging to wearing, the bag’s adjustable padded shoulder strap can be easily removed.

Measuring up at 70 cm long by 30 cm high and 30 cm wide and with a 65-litre carrying capacity, the Musto 65L carryall provides sufficient space for a long weekend away, making it an ideal choice for many in the boating community.

Price: £85 (inc. VAT)

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For Frédéric Dumas, the eponymous hero of this story, was one of a trio of Frenchmen who helped bring diving to the masses, his two chums being Phillipe Taillez and Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

What’s more, Dumas was involved in the development of the diving regulator, thereby cementing his place forever in the pantheon of sub-aqua gods.

All of which means the watch bearing his name comes with a certain maritime promise – one which, in our view, does not disappoint.

Drawing its inspiration from the watch shapes and designs of the 1970s, the Spinnaker Dumas is a beefy timepiece with a distinct retro feel about it.

Offered in a choice of eight faces ranging from a super-subtle grey with orange trim to a yellow so bright it would surely scare off a Great White, there’s a trim option for everyone.

The watch is topped with scratch resistant crystal glass and its marine grade, octagonal stainless steel case has an exhibition back, which we liked as it means you get to watch the cogs doing their stuff.

The 120-click uni-directional turning bezel offers genuine functionality, essential for a watch capable of reaching 300 metres, a depth far in excess of anything a recreational diver is ever going to experience.

At the heart of the beast is an automatic self-winding Seiko movement, which provides accurate timekeeping and a date read out, and the entire package wraps around your wrist courtesy of a handsome Milanese mesh bracelet.

We think this is a watch which would look good anywhere – either on the surface or underwater.

It’s comfortably chunky, pleasingly weighted and by combining form, function and style, its makers have done a great job.

Best of all, there’s no question that the Spinnaker Dumas delivers an awful lot of watch for its relatively modest price tag.

Price: £315 (inc. VAT)

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This article Editor's Choice: Spinnaker Dumas appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

The brand which caught our attention here is Sealskinz.

Which we think is a devilishly smart name for a product which is waterproof, warm and breathable and keeps your fingers moving whatever the weather.

The Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Glove features a trade marked technology known as Fusion Control.

This bonds the liner and outer shell to a unique hydrophilic membrane creating a 100 percent waterproof fabric with excellent breathability.

It also eliminates any movement between layers, enabling the glove to fit much closer to the skin.

In addition to providing high dexterity and a wide range of movement, the glove offers a significant improvement in grip, precise control between the glove and equipment and, say Sealskinz, zero risk of liner pull-out or slippage.

It also performs highly on the thermal regulation and moisture control scales, and is touchscreen compatible to keep your smartphone happy.

In addition to its hydrophilic membrane, the Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Glove comprises three individual components.

There’s an inner layer of Merino wool to keep the hands warm and the outer Softshell layer has a grippy suede palm.

There’s also a Velcro fastening cuff to prevent water from running up your sleeve.

The result is a rugged, dependable and good looking all rounder, and as such is a fitting item to grace any kit bag.

As Sealskinz themselves point out, wet and cold hands can lead to all manner of problems from blisters and numbness to a generally unpleasant and miserable experience.

By comparison to, say, ski gloves, the asking price isn’t excessive and in our opinion Sealskinz’s products are built to last – this is a glove which very much gets the thumbs up from the MBY team.

Price: £45 (inc. VAT)

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The Gamin Quatix 6x Solar may be classified as a smartwatch, but there’s no doubt in our minds that its extensive range of capabilities make it far smarter than your average smartwatch – it took us all afternoon to find something it couldn’t do!

Leaving aside its multitude of non-nautical features (which even run to 2,000 built-in ski piste maps complete with difficulty rankings) the Garmin Quatix 6x Solar offers full connectivity for mariners.

This means boaters can hook up compatible kit, such as Garmin chartplotters and transceivers, and stream all manner of data – water depth, engine rpm, wind and so on – direct to their wrists.

The watch also supports Garmin’s range of Bluechart G3 charts, and an autopilot app allows the wearer to change heading and follow a GPS route no matter where they are on the boat.

Waypoints can also be marked remotely.

Garmin today owns the popular Fusion audio brand, so every Quatix 6x Solar comes complete with the Fusion-Link Lite app which gives the user control over any compatible Fusion entertainment systems fitted to the boat.

At the business end of things, the watch mechanism is encased in a hefty and handsome titanium case measuring a substantial 51 x 51 x 14.9 mm.

A matching titanium strap is fitted and the whole thing looks and feels immensely robust.

Depending which mode the watch is in, solar charging can give up to 24 days of battery life.

Our only criticism is that the unit’s 36.5 mm sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel display can be a little tricky to read in some light conditions – a touch more contrast wouldn’t go amiss.

But this smartwatch more than makes up for this with its all-round stellar performance.

It’s not cheap, but bearing in mind all the things it can do, we reckon the Quatix 6x Solar represents great value for money.

Price: £999.99 inc VAT

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It’s a rare occasion on a large motor boat that there’s a need for heavy-duty waterproof clothing.

Maybe if you were in heavy rain with reduced visibility and felt the need to steer from an outdoor helm; but largely a warm, light coat is more useful.

This is exactly what Gill has gone for with its Hydrophobe down range of jackets and gilets for men and women.

Traditional down is warm and light but loses its insulation if it becomes damp.

To combat this, Hydrophobe down is treated with a water-repellent finish that helps it to resist water and dry more quickly if it does get a soaking.

Additionally, the outer layer of fabric has its own water-repellant treatment to help keep the damp at bay.

What does this mean in practice? Well, it’s certainly warm enough, and in the various rain showers we’ve been caught out in during the our so-called spring, we can attest that.

The Gill Hydrophobe Down does a fine job of keeping you dry. It’s light and comfy and very easy to roll up and stuff into a bag, and it’s useful having zip pockets when you’re on the water too.

This jacket has two on the outside and one inside, ideal for ensuring something precious doesn’t disappear into the depths.

The main zip is a little bit small and fiddly and the thin soft shell outer layer looks vulnerable to tearing if snagged on anything sharp.

But that said our Gill Hydrophobe Down jackets are still going strong two years on and remain the default choice for both of us whenever an extra layer is needed.

Price: £108

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This article Editor's Choice: Gill Hydrophobe Down Jacket appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Sadly, they are no longer being made but Clarks has taken on the baton by continuing to manufacture its own range of Orson Harbour deck shoes.

Similar in looks and style to the Orson Drifts, they appear to offer all the same benefits of the originals but without the Musto branding.

Made from soft water resistant leather with a Rock rubber sole featuring a micro-siped tread pattern for maximum wet surface grip, they are said to perform every bit as well as their predecessors.

A unique AquaDX drainage system also ensures that any water that does wash over the sides will soon drain out again to stop your feet swilling around in their own leather pond.

It even features special Agion anti-bacterial technology to guard against the onset of that uniquely awful smell of an over-ripe deck shoe stuffed in a hot, damp boat locker before it’s properly dried out.

Available in either dark brown and tan or blue and chestnut leathers and in sizes from 7 to 11 including half sizes, it shouldn’t be hard to find the perfect fit and style for you.

We’ve yet to try these new Orson Harbour boat shoes for ourselves to see if they really are as comfortable as the original Orson Drifts but if they are a worthy successor to this much loved classic then they deserve a permanent place on the annual Editor’s Choice list, if only to keep Hugo quiet!

Price: £85

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Since then, countless new models have followed, with more than a million sold in over 100 countries around the globe.

Inventor Kikuo Ibe, big daddy of the G-SHOCK, got something right for sure by pursuing his dream to create the unbreakable timepiece.

While many of us have marvelled at the features of our G-SHOCKs over the years (while simultaneously struggling to read their teeny-weeny instruction leaflets) once in a while a really special new model emerges.

And with the limited edition Casio G-SHOCK Frogman – which has been designed in conjunction with no lesser body than our own Royal Navy – that’s exactly what we’re talking about here.

According to the Frogman’s press release, this is a watch “built to accommodate the hostile environments faced by naval personnel – at sea and on land.”

So it should make tying up in Portsmouth Harbour a cinch, (just don’t incur the wrath of QHM by failing to call before crossing from Ballast to Gunwharf Quays – even the Frogman couldn’t help you there!)

There’s no doubt that as well as being an all-action superhero of a watch – its range of modes include Dual Time, Dive Time, Tide, Countdown Timer, Day, Date and more – the Casio G-SHOCK Frogman is a thing of considerable beauty too.

Styled in tones of cool grey with red highlights on the dial, it’s a real head-turner that’s sure to draw admirers – one of these on your wrist and dogs will likely start following you home.

The Frogman’s collection of techno-features is far too long to list here. Suffice to say it’s got the lot, and then some.

For us the pick of the bunch has to be the power-saving hands, which come to a standstill whenever the watch is in the dark – brilliant!

How would we sum up this venerable object of desire in just one word? Easy – Wow!

Price: £799.00 inc VAT

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That’s pretty much the case with the specialised clothing produced by Hungarian manufacturer, 878.

For not only does their kit employ a revolutionary material known as graphene – which won its creators a Nobel Prize for Physics – they also produce a racing jacket with a built-in 5.4″ display which connects to a boat’s instrumentation via Bluetooth to display critical navigation data.

Let’s try to unravel what 878 Smart Apparel is all about. Firstly, the graphene.

Described by the company as a ‘wearable diamond’, graphene is a form of carbon which conducts heat better than any other known material.

It also conducts electricity, is virtually transparent and is so dense that nothing (including helium, the smallest gas atom) can pass through it.

Most important from a marine perspective is that graphene is ultra-lightweight, flexible, stretchy, perfectly waterproof, stronger than steel, and provides about the same feeling of heat at both five and twenty degrees Celsius.

Then there’s the digital display. Implanted into the jacket sleeve, this features a foldable screen with a UV-protected, glare-free surface which is clearly visible in strong sunlight.

The system is set up using a downloadable app which allows the user to choose which data he or she wants to see.

For team use, different data sets can be created to suit the needs of each individual user.

Now throw into the mix some super strong layers of Dyneema hi-tech composite fabric and add a hydrophobic nano coating for good measure.

Then wrap it all up in a range of practical and functional designs to arrive at the answer to this mind-boggling techno-clothing equation: 878.

Prices from: €599 – €2,2800 inc VAT

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This article Editor’s Choice: 878 Smart Apparel appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

The Baltic Athena is the company’s first female-specific lifejacket. As such, it’s a lightweight, slim and supple piece of kit which has been designed both to look good and be comfortable and unrestrictive enough to be worn at all times while onboard.

And that’s key, for as Baltic themselves rightly point out, lifejackets only work if they’re worn – and their experience is that lifejackets which are comfortable and provide freedom of movement are the ones most likely to succeed on that front.

To further add to its appeal, the Baltic Athena has been ergonomically designed to make it easy to put on without having to pass over the head.

It’s easily secured with a padded Velcro and quick release buckle, and the auto-inflation valve is uniquely positioned on a diagonal axis low down away from the bust to prevent chafing.

Available in a singe size, 40-120 kg, the 165 Newton jacket is fully adjustable and can accommodate a chest width of 70 to 140 cm.

Completing the Baltic Athena’s lengthy list of features are padding for extra comfort, an airy mesh lining and a choice of three colour combinations; white/pink, navy/white and black/grey.

We all know it makes sense to wear a lifejacket, and if you ever happen to slip into the drink (after a drink, perhaps…) you’ll be pleased and relieved that you were wearing yours as you take the plunge.

So we applaud Baltic, who have been manufacturing lifejackets for over 40 years and live by their philosophy that it is impossible to compromise on quality and function, for this new and attractive addition to its range.

Price: £149.99 (inc. VAT)

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After all, how many boat anchors are hand made then hand polished to give them that extra sparkle – so much so in Ultra’s case you practically need a pair of welder’s goggles to look at them even on a dull day?!

In creating its super cool anchor, Ultra Marine began by setting out a stall called quality and took it from there.

Constructed of high grade 316L and 318LN Duplex stainless steel, and with a lead filled tip to achieve the optimal weight distribution.

The Ultra anchor is not only good looking and well balanced but also a tough piece of kit designed to take whatever the ocean decides to throw at it for years to come.

In fact, Ultra Marine’s confidence in its product is such that it comes with a lifetime warranty.

In technology terms, this is an advanced piece of kit too. The shank has been made hollow to lower the centre of gravity, thereby ensuring the Ultra anchor always hits the sea bed the right way up and in the attack position.

Down at the sharp end, a curved tip faces downwards to grab and penetrate without having to rely on the weight of the chain.

There’s also what Ultra Marine call a ‘scratch-catch’ point at the bottom which prevents dragging and provides an instant set when the anchor moves.

In addition to helping the Ultra anchor bury itself deeper, the side wings have been designed to stabilise the anchor as it digs in.

The underside of the unit is flat so that when the anchor is recovered it pivots on the flat section to aid the release. Lastly, there’s an anti chain-foul bar to prevent snagging and to which a trip line can be attached.

Price: From €688.80 (inc. VAT)

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He puts that down to Red Originals’ focus on producing a truly supportive, well fitting buoyancy aid that’s comfortable for the dog to wear but doesn’t impede its movement on land or in the water.

Made from soft but durable Cordura material with strategically placed foam of different thickness, it provides significant extra buoyancy for your dog.

Cordura is also hard-wearing, tear-resistant, puncture-resistant, abrasion-resistant and waterproof so it should cope with even the most energetic of hounds.

Crucially there’s also a lightly padded foam chest section rather than bare straps so that when you lift the dog out of the water using one of the two back mounted grab handles, the straps don’t cut into its abdomen.

Even the clips are positioned in such a way that you can’t accidentally pinch the dog’s fur while putting it on or taking it off.

Red is best known for its premium quality inflatable SUPs and the Red Original Dog Buoyancy Aid lives up to the same high standards.

It looks and feels like a quality bit of kit that will stand the test of time. It comes in five different sizes from extra small to extra large with a measurement guide to ensure you buy the right fit for your dog.

Hugo ordered the small for his working cocker spaniel, which fits like a glove thanks in part to a decent range of adjustment on the straps.

At £64.95 it’s not the cheapest dog buoyancy aid on the market but it lives up to its billing as a well made, well thought out dog lifejacket that your canine friend will appreciate just as much as you do.

Available in 5 sizes, please refer to Red’s chest measurements to find the most suitable dog buoyancy aid size.

Price: £64.95

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The updates to the unit itself are relatively minor and include a sleeker, squarer and far less orange body but a better IP rating of 68 (meaning it’s dust tight and resistant to prolonged immersion in water) and improved mapping software, which automatically activates when you move, are welcome upgrades. A strap and carabiner also make the Globalstar SPOT Gen4 easy to clip onto clothing or the outside of a grab bag.

We are so used to the functionality of smartphones and tablets with their big screens that the SPOT Gen4’s interface, which consists of three main buttons, two under protective flaps and an array of LEDs, seems scarily simplistic but this isn’t a device with day-to-day use in mind.

It is set up and controlled via an online account, with pre-programmed messages that can be sent to contacts to let them know you are safe at the push of a button. It’s simple, reliable and extremely economical in its use of AAA batteries.

Article continues below…

OLAS Guardian tested: Can this wireless killcord and MOB alarm set you free?

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You need to activate one of two monthly plans before you can use the SPOT Gen4, the basic plan coming in at £10 per month. For this you get unlimited use of the Help, Check-in, Custom Message and Track functions and, crucially, the SOS service, which connects you to a worldwide network of search and rescue assistance 24/7 using the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Centre (IERCC) if you are in real trouble.

Whether it’s a preprogrammed contact or the IERCC, when SPOT sends an SMS or email it includes your GPS coordinates and a web link if the message goes via email so the recipient can view your exact location via SPOT Mapping.

The Custom Message and Check-in functions do much the same thing and allow you to inform contacts quickly that you are safe and sound but the Help button allows you to alert specific contacts in non-life threatening situations or send a direct message to roadside or marine assistance services.

For boaters – SOS aside – the Track function is the most welcome option, allowing you to update live positions on the map at intervals as short as every 2.5 minutes so that those on shore can easily keep track of your position – again via the SPOT Mapping – without having to think about it. Battery life is so good that you should be able to keep this function running for weeks, even with regular transmissions, before it runs flat.

In essence, for day boaters and those who like to stay close to home, the SPOT Gen4’s capabilities are overkill, but if you have bluewater cruising in your sights or plan to venture outside the boundaries of mobile phone signal then this compact tracker is a comforting and affordable safety net.

Price: £150 inc VAT (plus monthly plan and activation fee)
MBY rating: 4/5
Value: 4/5

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The OLAS Guardian, which is designed and assembled in the UK, is the perfect solution to this and sends low energy Bluetooth transmissions from a control box to a wearable transmitter.

If that signal is broken by the transmitter entering the water the control box cuts the engine and the MOB can either swim to the boat and climb back on board and be rescued by other crew members.

After five seconds the system resets so that those on board can start the engine and perform the rescue procedure.

With a signal range of 50ft, the OLAS Guardian gives its wearer the freedom to move around the boat to attach lines and fenders – or dash up on to the quayside – without the engine cutting out, which if you’re boating on your own is particularly useful.

Up to 15 transmitters can be connected to the OLAS Guardian, useful on larger vessels where the skipper may struggle to keep track of where passengers and crew (and pets!) are.

In this instance, via the OLAS Wireless Marine Safety app, the skipper’s tag can be set to kill the engines on contact with water but passengers’ tags activate a MOB alert without cutting power.

The app, available for Apple and Android, adds to the system’s functionality and allows the user to track each tag individually, check their battery status, pause and restart tracking and set up a non-emergency services contact who is alerted by SMS if the wearer’s tag is triggered.

So convinced are we by this product’s abilities, Deputy Editor Jack had one installed to his new boat.

Price: £229

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The system was declared fully operational by Cospas Sarsat in March 2021, which means it can now be used globally – the only restrictions being national legislation, which should be checked before use.

In creating its solution, the company has worked closely with the European GNSS Agency to implement Galileo satellite system services in its beacons in order to develop search and rescue distress beacons with the capability to receive Return Link Messages.

The Galileo Return Link Service – which allows people in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that their signal has been received and their location is known – was declared operational at the start of 2020.

The FastFind Return Link transmits the user’s unique ID and GNSS location via the global network of Cospas Sarsat search and rescue satellites.

Galileo’s Return Link Service transmits a return signal back to the user’s beacon to confirm the alert has been processed and location has been detected.

When the personal location beacon receives the Return Link Message, it displays a blue light to inform the user, whether on land or at sea, that search and rescue professionals are aware of their situation and location.

The FastFind Return Link also offers accelerated location detection with combined Galileo and GPS GNSS receivers and the tried and tested 406MHz technology which has been at the core of many search and rescue operations since 1981.

We believe that personal location beacons are an essential item of equipment for anyone venturing into the wilderness, and this particular unit appears to be a leading product in its field.

The added bonus is that all this technology is packed into a simple, rugged, lightweight, palm sized unit, making the FastFind Return Link from Seas of Solutions a worthy contender for every grab bag.

Price: from £300 (inc. VAT)

Buy it now on Seaofsolutions.com

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Read YBW’s guide to the best PLBs on the market.

This article Editor's Choice: FastFind Return Link PLB appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

That’s because in addition to pumping out crisp, clean sound, each model in the range is offered with integral RGB LED lighting to add a colourful helping of grist to the mood music mill.

For those more inclined to Radio 3 than Radio 1, non-illuminated versions of the speakers are available too.

Offered in 6.5″ and 7.7″ options, Clarion’s CMSP coaxial, full-range speakers deliver 50W RMS and 60W RMS respectively.

There’s an accompanying 10-inch subwoofer which provides 250W RMS and all speakers in the range have been designed to match with Clarion’s Marine amplifiers.

For the techno-bods among us, Clarion tell us their CMSP marine coaxial speakers feature a bridge-mounted, edge-driven, silk dome tweeter with neodymium magnet and ferrofluid cooling for outstanding high-frequency detail.

Integrated within the woofer basket, away from the elements, is a second-order, high-pass tweeter filter. With the tweeter being suspended across the woofer cone, the woofer assembly is completely sealed from the front.

This eliminates a common failure point of typical coaxial speakers. This design also creates more woofer cone surface area, which translates to better efficiency and output.

Clarion says the injection-molded woofer cone with purpose-shaped centre cap and marine-grade suspension components delivers low distortion and excellent midrange response.

The range’s 10″ subwoofer is optimised for infinite-baffle applications, thus not requiring a dedicated enclosure behind the subwoofer.

The Clarion CMSP premium marine subwoofer feature a long-excursion design capable of high power-handling, to deliver impactful low frequency response with low distortion.

It’s also available in single four-ohm or single two-ohm voice coil models for system design versatility.

Price: TBC

Buy now on Clarionmarine.com

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Read YBW’s guide to the best marine speakers on the market.

This article Editor's Choice: Clarion CMSP speakers appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

What makes the unit special in our view is that it’s the world’s first VHF radio with wireless touchscreen handsets, an integrated Class B SOTDMA smartAIS transponder and remote vessel monitoring capabilities.

All of this combines to make the Vesper Cortex a formidable product by any measure, and especially in terms of safety.

That’s because in addition to its core radio functionality, Cortex incorporates three key safety features – collision avoidance, man overboard (MOB) and anchor watch – in a single, neatly packaged unit.

It also combines built-in sensors and NMEA2000 connectivity with a free entry-level monitoring package that allows users to keep watch on factors such as power, bilge and depth on their smartphones.

For those looking for more comprehensive insights, an upgrade to Cortex Monitor Premium unlocks real-time vessel status, alert notifications and device control for systems such as refrigerators and heaters.

Vesper’s smartAIS technology is particularly impressive, as it not only continuously monitors and alerts boaters to potential threats from other AIS-equipped vessels around them but also allows users to make direct DSC calls by simply touching the image of a vessel on screen and pressing ‘call’.

When Cortex detects an AIS MOB activation, it immediately sounds the alarm and provides continuous updates on location, bearing and range.

The unit’s anchor watch function also demands an honourable mention as it not only provides information to crew members on board, but can also be monitored remotely via the Cortex Monitor app.

The Vesper Cortex hub can accommodate up to ten tethered or portable rechargeable handsets, five directly to the hub’s Wifi and five via a boat network for increased range.

Handsets are IPX8 and equipped with a four-inch Gorilla glass multi-touch display. Wet and glove capable, the touchscreen is optically bonded for wide-angle and sunlight viewability.

Completing the long list of features, Vesper tell us the handset’s 10W speakers are as loud as a train, but clear as a bell. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Price: £1,914.50 inc VAT.

Buy it now on Vespermarine.com

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Read YBW’s guide to the best marine radios on the market.

This article Editor's Choice: Vesper Cortex appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

And now there is one. In fact, in a consumer sector seemingly unable to agree on a universal charging port, we think the Scanstrut ROKK Wireless Active provides a refreshing breath of fresh air.

Better still, designed from the ground up for marine use, the unit has an IPX6 waterproof rating, works off 12 or 24V and can even charge mobiles inside non-metallic waterproof phone cases, thereby making it an ideal boat bolt-on.

And on the subject of bolting it on, Scanstrut have made that easy too; all it takes is four screws to secure the unit onto any flat surface, with the IPX6 installation secured by way of a waterproof cable pass-through.

When it comes to charging, the ROKK Wireless Active has self-aligning, high grip jaws which ensure phones are held tightly and in the optimum position.

A smart LED indicates when a phone is charging and the unit incorporates a thermal cut-off protection system.

The charging technology itself is Qi-certified, meaning it has been independently rigorously and vigorously tested to a standard laid down by the Wireless Power Consortium.

In addition, Scanstrut have done their own harsh environment testing, including vibration, impact and on-water trials.

UV stabilisation and the use of premium grade materials throughout should keep the ROKK Wireless Active looking good for a long time to come.

And after a salty weekend away exposed to the elements, all that’s needed is for the whole unit to be rinsed clean with fresh water – how easy is that?

In our view, this product will be welcomed by numerous boat owners and their crews – after all, how often is it that everyone on board has the same type of mobile?

Now, it doesn’t matter any more in this one-size-fits-all approach which largely does away with the tedious need for individual charging solutions.

Price: £138.00 (inc. VAT)

Buy it now on Amazon.com

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This article Editor's Choice: Scanstrut ROKK Wireless Active appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

Sharing the key IPX6 waterproofing and 12/24V operation features of its Active cousin, the 157mm-deep ROKK Wireless Nest fits snugly into a 130.5 x 82mm aperture cut into any available space on the boat.

Once there, it’s a permanent fixture which promises to deliver many hours of phone charging pleasure – all you do is pop your phone in and the Nest does the rest.

Once inside, charging begins instantly. A grippy mat prevents the phone from sliding around, with the front lip of the fascia providing an additional safety barrier.

We were pleased to note that Scanstrut have thoughtfully added a thumb cut-out to the lip so phones can be retrieved easily.

Another neat feature is what Scanstrut call their Foreign Object Detection system, which means the ROKK Wireless Nest can distinguish between phones and other items such as wallets and keys, making it a handy place to store personal belongings when it’s not busy charging.

Like the Active, the Nest can accommodate any type of wirelessly-chargeable mobile up to 176 x 92mm in size, and with, for example, a chunky Samsung S9 measuring in at around 145 x 70mm most phones are going to fit.

But what about the water getting in, we hear you say? Well, while your phone may not take kindly to a dousing, it’s not a problem for the Nest as it has a built-in drain point to which an 8mm internal diameter waste pipe can be connected.

There’s no doubt in our minds that the Scanstrut ROKK Wireless Nest would make a discreet but functional addition to any boat – what’s more, it’s priced to go too.

Price: £107.99 (inc. VAT)

Buy it now on Amazon

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This article Editor's Choice: Scanstrut ROKK Wireless Nest appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.

In fact, ClearCruise AR (the ‘AR’ stands for Augmented Reality) is an industry-first which has been developed for Raymarine’s Axiom multi-function displays to help skippers make smarter and quicker navigation decisions.

AR manifests itself in practice by blending high definition video from networked marine cameras with on-screen graphics to display and identify nearby AIS traffic, navigation aids and waypoints.

The AR display updates in real time and a stabilising sensor ensures the images are kept on an even keel. Key navigation objects appear on screen in their charted positions along with information on the next destination waypoint.

Axiom displays operating with ClearCruise AR provide an easy-to-use interface which allows users to change the displayed range and instantly turn information on or off.

ClearCruise AR installations comprise two individual elements Firstly, an Axiom multifunction display (running Lighthouse 3.7 or later) is needed to display the visuals.

Secondly, images are captured using an Augmented Reality Pack combined with a camera or cameras – the system can accommodate up to ten cameras for all-round vision.

There are a number of camera options, with Raymarine’s CAM210 or 200 IP Marine Camera or FLIR’s M132 and M232 thermal cameras all being compatible candidates.

Included in the Augmented Reality Pack is the required stabilising sensor. Badged AR200, this sensor consists of a high-precision GNSS/GPS receiver and a nine-axis Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) sensor with NMEA2000 (certification pending) or Raymarine’s SeaTalk connectivity.

It all sounds quite teccie, and it is. But once the system is installed all the geek-speak will be behind you, leaving you with an easy-to-use safety enhancing system that’s bound to be the envy of the marina.

Price: From £1,195.00 inc VAT

(This price is for the cheaper T70453 Augmented Reality Pack which includes CAM220 Eyeball camera, AR200, STNG 1m Backbone, T-piece & 10m Raynet Cable)

Buy now from Raymarine.eu

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This article Editor’s Choice: Raymarine ClearCruise AR appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.