New Gear
Celebrate YOUR Classic Kit!
What has served you well?
CLASSIC KIT Email [email protected]French manufacturer Guy
Cotten began creating bespoke
clothing for the fi shing industry
in 1964. This was the period of
heavy, uncomfortable, easily-
damaged oilskins made of coated
cotton. Guy Cotten’s yellow oilskins
made of coated ‘nylon’ were much
stronger and far lighter. In less than
four years, all the users of Breton
fi shing harbours chose to wear
Guy Cotten oilskins.
Yachting circles caught on in 1966,
when sailing clubs in South Brittanywere equipped with the company’s
famous yellow oilskins – the light
Rosbras jacket with its double fl ap
combining self-grip fasteners
(Velcro) and a zip which was more
practical than the pea jackets
available at the time. Guy Cotten
claims these oilskins were the
precursor to clothing designed
specifi cally for sailing.
Since then, the range has
developed with increasingly
technical wear designed for
trans-oceanic and round-the-worldGuy Cotten yellow oilskins
voyages. New technology
has brought the Dremtech+
breathable textile clothing and
the introduction of materials
without any traces of lead
following European regulations
coming into force in 2012.
The Isolatech system is said
to improve comfort and reduce
condensation by using the
double-glazing principle to
minimise the difference in
temperature between the
outside and the inside
of the garment.
http://www.guycotten.comTwo waterproof
backpacks
Aside from the obvious size difference
between the 20lt Henri Lloyd Dri Pack Rucksack and
40lt Musto Evolution Waterproof backpack, there are many other
style differences. Priced at £55 (£39 in the sale at the time of going
to press!) the Henri Lloyd backpack is constructed from 100%
waterproof thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material. The Henry
Lloyd is incredibly light with a small horizontal clasp, while the far
weightier Musto has a much thicker vertical clip and feels far more
heavy-duty, with padded protection for items inside.
Both rucksacks include a dry roll closure and air-release valve
design to reduce bulk and maximise storage space on board, plus
adjustable padded shoulder straps and
padded backs for comfort. They both
also have a separate water-resistant
front zip pocket for small essentials. At
double the size, almost double the
price (£109) and more than
double the weight, the
40lt Musto backpack
also features an internal
organiser and padded
laptop section, plus a
waist adjuster. It is
made from 100%
PU-coated polyamide and
is available in black, red
and ‘platinum’ grey.
http://www.henrilloyd.com
http://www.musto.comEberspächer UK
Eberspächer UK Ltd
has announced that a
noise reduction pack
will be added free of
charge to all future
orders for Airtronic or
Hydronic heater kits,
with the exception of
their 16 to 35kW range.
The fully insulated
fl exible exhaust silencer
(which usually costs around £250 as an extra), together with the silenced
fuel system, should ensure that noise levels are signifi cantly reduced.
Another development from the company is that the Hydronic range
of marine water heating systems now have modern touch-screen
heating control systems for improved marine heating and windscreen
demisting capability.
Find Eberspächer UK at stand C042 at the London Boat Show.
http://www.eberspacher.com
PBO verdict
Both rucksacks feature a simple, effective design: just chuck your
stuff in, roll down the top, secure the clips and you’re ready to go.
I was impressed with the lightness of the Henri Lloyd waterproof
backpack, which can hold lots of stuff while remaining compact.
The extra features of the Musto design make for a much heavier
weight, but the benefi t of the rucksack style is that this is evenly
distributed so it’s less noticeable when worn. The Musto’s slightly
glossy material also seems to be more hardwearing. The Henri
Lloyd version is already looking a little scuffed but it has had more
use, just because it’s such a handy size! Laura HodgettsInternational
Safety Products
(ISP) ‘Super-
Comfort’
lifejackets
ISP have launched a new generation of
‘Super-Comfort’ infl atable lifejackets,
promised to offer unrivalled comfort
and complete freedom of movement.
The range comes in three different
models, with buoyancy from 170N to
320N. Features include AIS integration
and QR-readable product servicing and maintenance labels to help manage
service intervals and improve safety. Top of the range is the SC-320 lifejacket
which incorporates a zip-front waistcoat design and twin pull-forward
adjusters. Other features include twin high-strength soft-loop harness loops
for attachment to the boat, plus new welded and sewn clear inspection
windows. AIS integration using Ocean Signal’s MOB1 unit will automatically
alert all AIS-enabled chart plotters in a fi ve-mile radius of a man overboard
once the lifejacket is infl ated. Prices start from £75 for the lowest buoyancy
grade and range to £199 for the highest. http://www.ispl.co.uk