Whether it’s their trusty old boat moccasins or the newest polarized sunglasses, sailors love to talk about their gear. Read about what equipment is needed for both you and the boat, from basic rigging to the latest electronics, with reviews of popular products.
Give the sailors you know something special and appropriate for sailing—a gift not for the boat but for that special person aboard.
Winches are used on mid-size and larger sailboats for hoisting and trimming sails. Since a variety of sizes and types of winch handles are available for cranking the boat’s winches, it’s important to consider a number of factors and differences among handles before choosing the right ones for your boat.
Lazy jacks are used to neatly hold the mainsail on top of the boom after being lowered.
All sailboats should carry a horn for making signals to warn other boats of their presence when sailing in fog with reduced visibility. Three basic choices for a foghorn include compressed-air horns, manual horns, and VHF radios with foghorn signals through a hailer.
If someone falls off your boat, you need a way to rescue and retrieve that person. You could throw a life ring with a rope attached, but that method has drawbacks. The LifeSling is currently the best device and system for rescuing a person overboard and getting him or her back on the boat.
When it’s warm you’ll want to wear boating sandals rather than shoes. The best are the Keen Newport boating sandals, which grip the deck well, are waterproof, and protect your toes.
Most deaths during sailing occur because the person falls or is knocked off the boat. It’s not enough just to be careful and try to hold on. When conditions warrant, sailors should use a safety harness tethered to a secure fitting on deck. Different kinds of safety tethers are available for those with varying preferences.
When circumstances increase the risk of falling off your boat, wear a safety harness and clip in with a tether. Use jacklines on both sides of the deck so that you can stay tethered if you have to move about on the deck.
For many different reasons sailors may have to climb the mast—to retrieve a lost halyard, to inspect or fix rigging, to replace the anchor light bulb, etc. Different methods have evolved from simple mast steps or a bosun’s chair to newer products such as the Mast Mate and ATN TopClimber. Each has different advantages and disadvantages.
Learn about EPIRBs, VHF marine radios, the Digital Selective Calling (DSC) system, and the Coast Guard’s distress call response system.
The new Rocna anchor from Australia has challenged the class CPR and plow anchors. The Rocna is better for new boats and may be worth the cost for an older boat too.
Use a soft shackle to attach jib sheets to the jib sail's clew for a lighter, softer, safer knot.
Shop first online because only a small percentage of equipment is actually stocked in stores. Shipping is free to your local store if you place your order at the store. Also take note of their low price guarantee – if you find the same item at another national supplier, such as Defender Marine, print out the lower price quote and take it with you to the store and request the lower price.
Defender is one of the least expensive online stores for purchasing marine equipment and gear. Dependable and fast delivery.
