Gear Locker
New Products
December 20, 2007
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.