| Writing
in the previous issue about several products that won Innovation Awards
at the recent Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show got me thinking
about the aftermarket gear I've personally found to be particularly
functional, smart and/or well-made. You know what I mean — the stuff
that makes you think, "Wow, now this was really worth the money!" So here are some of those products. I don't have any affiliation with any of the manufacturers, nor anything to gain by plugging any of them. They're simply things that I consider to be exceptional products and that I figure other private-boat anglers might like to know about. While researching my book, The Angler's Guide to Trailer-Boating Baja, I spent a year and a half dragging my own boat all over Baja, which is a pretty good way to separate what works from what doesn't. SEAL-approved Shock-absorbing Deck Mat The technology used in Sea Shocks shock-absorbing deck mats was originally developed for the decks of the Navy SEALs' high-speed assault craft, which is probably higher praise than anything I can say. The company claims Sea Shocks reduce shock transfer from your boat's deck to your body by up to 90%, and I believe it. I got a mat four or five years ago, when they first hit the recreational market, and the difference between the Sea Shocks mat and the mat I'd been using previously was remarkable. The Sea Shocks mat stays in place, offers good traction even with bare feet, and truly does wonders for the knees and back. The mat runs $149 and can be ordered direct from the manufacturer at www.seashocks.com. Non-skid Cleaner On my last big research trip in September 2007, the plan was to fly into Loreto, pick up the boat and truck, head over to Bahía Asunción and Bahía de Tortugas, and then return to Loreto and fly home. Hurricane Henriette prevented us from getting back to Loreto, though, and we ended up driving all the way back to Reno. The problem was that Christine's cover was still in Loreto. So she spent the Reno winter uncovered and accumulated some ugly brown leaf stains on her deck. In the past, I've tried three or four different nonskid cleaners, as well as a few other things, like Soft Scrub and swimming pool cleaner. Some worked better than others, but they all required a lot of manual labor. So I was very pleasantly surprised this spring when I tried Marykate Cleaning Detail Heavy Duty Non-skid Deck Cleaner. These were some seriously ugly stains that boat soap and one other nonskid cleaner I had in my garage didn't even touch. But the horrid-looking, opaque, olive-green Marykate juice took them right off with a few seconds of scrubbing. Lord knows what might be in this stuff, but it sure works. It's around $17 a quart and available at West Marine and most other marine supply stores. Aluminum Anchor This one is no secret. All you have to do is read a few anchor tests to figure out that the aluminum Danforth-style anchors made by Fortress are about the best you can buy. I've been using one as my primary anchor for about five years now, and it sets and holds more securely than any of the numerous steel anchors —ranging from bargain-basement to top-shelf — I've used. Frankly, I have no idea what makes the Fortress anchors better. The material? The beveled edges on the flukes? The shape of the flukes? Tighter tolerances? Who knows, but for whatever reason, they out-hold most or all other Danforth-style anchors in one objective test after another. The Danforth design isn't great for muddy or grassy bottoms, but we don't have many of those in Southern California. It's as good as anything in sand, and nothing works well in rocks. The Danforth design is also the easiest to manage and stow on small coastal fishing boats. As with most things, you get what you pay for, and Fortresses aren't cheap. My little four-pounder, recommended for 16- to 27-foot boats, runs about $170. For comparison, the basic West Marine brand steel Danforth-style anchor in a comparable size is $33. Next-gen Rod-riggers I touched briefly in this column on Tournament Grade Tackle's remarkable rod-riggers a year or so ago when I first discovered them. Since then, I've used them extensively, and I'm even more impressed than I was to begin with. I absolutely love these things, and I wish a few SoCal retailers would start carrying them. With every other offshore-suitable (non-plastic, in other words) rod-rigger design I've seen, you have to lean over the gunwale and actually pull the rod butt out away from the boat to remove it from the rigger. That's not a big deal until there's a fish on the line, and then it's both difficult and a little dangerous. With the TGT riggers, on the other hand, you simply lift up and in. The TGTs also place the reel directly over the gunwale instead of outboard. They don't get your rod tips quite as far out, but the tradeoff is that you can let line out, reel in and adjust your drag without leaning over. The reel is cradled securely in a rubber-lined "seat" so it can't rotate when you turn the handle. Also, the riggers incorporate a patented "Z-notch" at the bottom of the mount that locks them securely into your flush-mount gunwale holders so they can't be inadvertently lifted out. To get them out, you have to first twist and then lift. Like Fortress anchors, TGT riggers are expensive but worth it. They run $289 a pair, but they're light-years ahead of any other offshore rod-rigger on the market. Order them here. |