Get Hitched


Many a boater has suffered from trailer-hitch coupling problems at the launch ramp, but now you can do something about it with DuraSafe's Couple-Mate Trailer Alignment Device. Made from double-dipped, zincplated steel, this clever little two-piece device consists of a drawbar attachment and a V-shaped shield that will effectively guide your trailer coupler directly over the hitch in a mere matter of moments. If you're looking to make your time at the launch ramp a little less stressful, the Couple-Mate may be just the ticket.

It retails for $39.99. (800) 221-0516, www.durasafe-usa.com.


Airborne Timepiece


The perfect accessory for any hotshot wakeboarder who wants the bragging rights to his gravity-defying hangtime, Dropzone's HangTimer sports watch actually measures your airtime, starting from the moment your board (or tube, waverunner, etc.) leaves the water. Billed by Dropzone as the "James Bond of sports watches," the HangTimer uses an internal, tri-axis accelerometer to measure the time you spend airborne, while simultaneously storing the history of your last 10 jumps and calculating your average hangtime from that information.

The multifunctional watch clips easily to your PFD or
boardshorts with a carabiner-style hook, keeping the
HangTimer secure while you're bombing wakes or simply
talking trash to your friends about the heady-sick
tantrum you've just executed.

Retail is $99.99. (800) 640-3892, www.hangtimer.com.


Unlimited Power


Yes, I took a day off of work; yes, I waited in line for 8 hours outside in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees; and yes, I did it all for a phone. As a connoisseur of all things Apple, I somehow felt obligated to stand in line with my fellow Apple nerd brethren and await the arrival of the revolutionary handheld device known as the iPhone. With wallet lightened and my new gizmo in hand, it was only a matter of time before I began searching for the perfect accessories to bring the iPhone with me for those long days on the water.

Enter XtremeMac's InCharge Auto, a sleekly designed charger for both iPhone and iPod that's compatible with any 12-volt accessory outlet. During an afternoon on the lake, my iPhone battery dies, but thanks to the InCharge Auto, I'm able to fire it up in no time, making it the perfect accessory for when you're on the go or on board the boat.

The handy little charger provides maximum protection against power surges that can occur even during normal marine operation. Additionally, the added USB cable length allows you to browse your music and videos, and surf the Web with ease, while adding increased mobilty for those lazy days when you're lounging in the sun.

It retails for $19.95 and is available at your local Apple Store and online at www.xtrememac.com or www.apple.com.


Go Geocaching


Outsmart and outmaneuver those pesky Geo-muggles in the worldwide sport of Geocaching with the Lowrance iFinder GO GPS. This 16-channel compact GPS+WAAS handheld has 32 MB of built-in memory, and it comes preloaded with background maps of the continental United States and Hawaiian Islands. It has up to 1,000 waypoints and event markers, 100 routes, and 100 retraceable plot trails, with 10,000 points on any given trail. Special spots can be marked with more than 40 different graphic icons. For boaters, in particular, the full-featured iFinder includes satellite-updated coastal navigation aids to help you avoid such pleasant situations as wrecks, inclement weather and other obstructions.

The iFinder GO retails for $79.99. (800) 324-1356, www.lowrance.com


No More Knots


Thank the good people at Slide Anchor. All that time you spent in the Scouts learning how to tie those frustrating knots might just be rendered obsolete with the release of their new Danik- Hook. Looking as if it were adapted straight from the pages of a rockclimbing catalog, this innovative anchor system makes the task of tying and retying your anchor line a little less troublesome - scout's honor! Manufactured from 100-percent marine stainless steel, Slide Anchor's Danik-Hook features an integrated ring for bouy lines, adjusts easily for differences in water levels, and it adapts from 3/8- to 5/8-inch diameter anchor lines.

The Danik-Hook retails for $35. (909) 590-5923, www.danikhook.com.


Drag Fishing


Fishing your local lake just became slightly easier with Davis Instruments' Fish Seeker. Eschewing the need for heavy lead ball sinkers or downriggers, this inventive little trolling planer can adjust to any trolling depth from 5 to 80 feet. The Fish Seeker uses a simple snap-swivel system, which requires anglers to attach the rod line to lettered holes in the front and the leader line to numbered holes in the back. A simple chart (which comes with the planer) makes it easy to select the appropriate setting and holes for the intended trolling depth. The Fish Seeker works well in both salt and fresh water with a 6- to 25-pound test line, and it can be  used with either live bait or lures at trolling speeds of up to 2 mph.

The Fish Seeker comes in clear, hot pink or chartreuse colors, and it sells for $7.50. (800) 678-3669, www.davisnet.com.


6-Pack Tux


Lose those plastic sixpack rings with Built NY's latest neoprene beverage tote. Made from the same material as wetsuits, this reusable tote keeps up to six bottled beverages cold for approximately four hours while you're busy catching rays out on the open water. And it does so while occupying a minimum amount of space. After a full day of challenging wakeboard runs or a long morning battling fish, your beverages will be cold and right onhand to quench that allconsuming thirst.

The retail price runs between $19.99 and $22.99. (212) 227-2044, www.builtny.com.