52 | BOATINGMAG.COM | MARCH 2018
BOAT DOCTOR///BOATINGLABPHOTOS: COURTESY PAPAGO INC.SEE MORE BOATINGLAB TESTS AT BOATINGMAG.COM.PAPAGO
GOSAFE 760 DASH CAM
Dash cams are all the rage overseas and
are used to support legal proceedings in
the case of mishaps and litigation. This
GoSafe 760 Dash Cam (us.papagoinc
.com) is designed with a 140-degree
forward-facing camera built into the dis-
play. The rear-facing 120-degree camera
has an adhesive tilting mount. The display
can offer a constant split-screen image of
the front and back camera, or switch at the
punch of a button. Video is captured on a
microSD card up to 128 MB. A G-force sen-
sor tells it when to print to the card or, if the
car is parked, will tell it to begin recording.
ALSO COOL: The GoSafe 760 optical
sensor can identify and notify the driver of
upcoming stop signs, pedestrians or obsta-
cles. As stoplight traffi c pulls away, it will
signal you to hang up and drive.
INSTALLATION: Mount the monitor on its
adjustable suction cup or adhesive base in
the vicinity of the rearview mirror. A but-
ton on the front adjusts the forward-facing
camera lens up or down for the optimum
view. It can be powered by a 12-volt re-
ceptacle or hard-wired to a power point
such as the ignition-switch accessory cir-
cuit. The rear-facing camera is powered
by a mini USB cable threaded through
the chassis.
PROS: We love the traffi c tools that warn
about stop signs or pedestrians in our path.
Dash cams that record events leading up to
an accident are popular in many countries,
and this is an effective one. When aligninga hitch, the narrower 120-degree camera
angle seemingly enlarges the hitch point,
easing ball and hitch alignment.
CONS: The compact screen doesn’t
interfere with forward visibility and is com-
parable in size to backup displays built
into the rearview mirrors as factory equip-
ment. But it requires careful observation
when being used as a backup camera or
when hitching up. The rear-facing camera
connections aren’t waterproof, so the cam-
era must be mounted inside the vehicle
cabin — that works fi ne on SUVs but not
pickup trucks.
COST: $250; bestbuy.comPAPAGO
GOSAFE TPMS 100
This tire-pressure monitor system
saved a trailer tire for me on a recent
200-mile trip. The rear tire picked up
debris from a car crash and began
to lose air. Without this device, it
would have defl ated, overheated and
shredded before I could see or feel the
problem. Four watch-battery-powered
pressure sensors replace valve-stem
caps. They remain dormant until the
trailer reaches a speed of 10 mph, then
they transmit tire air pressure and
temperature to an LED screen on a
12-volt receptacle plug. The simple
device allows you to adjust normal
tire pressure to establish alarms when
pressure exceeds or bleeds below a
preset level. The sensors also report
tire temperature in Fahrenheit or
Centigrade and tire pressure in
standard or metric values.ALSO COOL: A USB charging slot
in the display lets you keep your
phone charged.INSTALLATION: Installation is simple,
but it took me an hour to determine the
correct order of installing the sensors
so each one reported the correct tire. It
also took time to program the tire-
pressure settings and pressure-alarm
limits, and choose metric or SAE read-
ings. Keep the included tools handy;
you’ll need them to remove the caps
to infl ate or defl ate the tires. Read and
understand the directions before you
begin. It’s a 30-minute job if you do.COST: $83.05; walmart.comMighty
Small but
mighty, it
records traffi c
and watches
your back.