Practical Boat Owner – June 2019

Anti roll stabiliser

So called fl opper stoppers have long

been valued by cruisers seeking to

reduce the amount their boat rolls in an

anchorage (see Andrew Simpson’s

column, PBO March 2019). This is

especially true for those who sail smaller

and older boats with a relatively narrow

beam that are more likely to roll through

larger angles.

If you have a bit of spare time they are

not diffi cult to make, but Spanish

company SWI-TEC has launched the

Stabilizer, a ready-made folding version to

an optimised

design that it says

reduces vessel

movement by up to

50%. The principle

is very simple

• hinged damping
  plates allow the
  weighted ‘box’ to
  fall easily towards
  the seabed.
  These plates
  close when the
  unit is lifted upwards when the boat
  rolls the other way, thus slowing the roll

Revamped oilies

Gill has renewed its popular core
offshore range of foul weather gear.
Features include an offshore
height fl eece-lined collar, plus
fully lined high visibility hood
and waterproof zips on the
hand warmer pockets. There’s
also a D-ring attachment for
tools or a kill cord and deep
cargo pockets. The salopettes
have adjustable braces, thigh
pocket with D-ring, and are
available with a drop seat
for women.
Price: salopettes £225,
jacket £285.
■ gillmarine.com

Claudia Myatt buffs

Buff neck
warmers have
always been
popular with
sailors – you
can wear them
as scarves,
headbands,
hats, bandanas
and balaclavas.
When PBO’s cartoonist Claudia Myatt
found there were no nautical designs
available she commissioned Buff to
produce her own design full of boats
and colour.
Price £18.50 including p&p.
■ claudiamyatt.co.uk/shop

Happy Hooking –

The Art of

Anchoring

The third edition of

this popular tome

on anchoring

provides a

comprehensive

guide having been

fully updated and

reworked, with new

equipment,

reviews and many

new illustrations.

“There are lots of

people using

outdated or inferior

equipment that, for the most part,

came with their boat,” says co-author

Daria Blackwell. “They struggle with

the equipment and often give up, or

are just too terrifi ed to sleep well. The

introduction of scoop-type anchors,

which made anchoring ever so much

easier and safer, is now already

decades old.”

“Even in a fi eld as mundane – or

engaging – as anchoring, there are

always improvements, new fi eld tests

and new manufacturers,” adds Alex

Blackwell. “We feel it’s our

responsibility to ensure innovations are

brought to light and to keep the

discussion about safety alive.”

Prices: £22.89 (print), £5.79 (Kindle)

■ whiteseahorse.ie

in that direction.

The device is deployed

from the end of the main boom or

spinnaker pole, weighs 8.2kg (18lb), folds

fl at for easy stowage and comes with a

stowage bag.

Price: r333.

■ swi-tec.com

NEW GEAR