BLUE WATER SAILING • June / July 2017{ NEW&NOTEWORTHY }
I
f you have owned your boat long enough, then you will
probably have too much stuff onboard, stuff that you know
you will need one day, but not necessarily every day. Also, a
lot of us have flammable items on board that could be trou-
ble in a fire or even contribute to starting a fire. For those
of us who keep our boats in marinas, adding a dock box is
just like having your own mini-storage unit where you can keep
paint and thinner, spare lines and hardware, and much more.
Better Way Products is a leading manufacturer of dock boxes
and offers them in a range of sizes and colors. The boxes are
made of fiberglass with gel-coat finishes, are UV resistant and the lids,
built with sandwich core construction, are strong enough to sit on. For
more information log on to http://www.dockbox.com.WHEELS FOR YOUR DINGHY
T
he modern lines of today’s new cruising boats, with low pro-
file cabins, flush deck hatches, below-deck anchor lockers and
windlasses, are a pleasure to look at. But, big stainless steel deck
cleats, which are necessary on any cruising boat, can look ugly in
the new style environment. Accon Marine offers its new and el-
egant solution to this problem. Their new 209 Series Lifting Cleats
fold away to the flush position at deck level when not in use so you
won’t stub a toe or ruin your boat’s look. When ready to dock, the
cleat pops up and is ready to take a heavy line. The cleats are avail-
able in sizes from 4.5 inches to 10 inches. For more information log
on to http://www.acconmarine.com.M
odern dinghies with outboards, especially
RIBs, are heavier than ever and hard for one
person to move up a beach or across a parking
lot or lawn. Folding wheel systems have been
around for a long time and are used by a lot of
long-term cruisers. Davis Instruments recently in-
troduced their take on dinghy wheels with their
new Wheel-a-Weigh, which comes in two mod-
els, Standard and Extra Duty. The wheel systems
can be installed by anyone handy with tools. The
wheels fold up and down and are held in place
with quick-release detent pins. And, they can be
removed when not needed. For more information
log on to http://www.davisnet.com.SELF-STOWING DECK CLEATS
DOCK BOX LIKE MINI-STORAGE UNITBEAT THAT HEAD AND HOLDING TANK ODOR
A
ny boat with a marine head, hoses, a holding tank and thru-hulls is bound to develop a certain odor over
the years. While holding tanks can and do give off an odor, the real culprits in the crime often are the
hoses that run from the head to the tank and then from the tank to the thru-hulls. Standard, plastic hoses
of the type used in most production cruising boats simply do not keep the odor contained. But, there is a
solution. Thetford Marine offers their Tecma HosePLus 38 which has been designed
specifically for use in marine head systems and is the most impermeable hose on
the market. The vanilla-scented hose is also built to last, using highly flex-
ible butyl rubber that’s resistant to abrasion, ozone, seawater and marine
chemicals, and reinforced with double steel wire. For those who
prefer PVC, or have a unique installation, crush-resistant Tecma
HoseHelix 38 is an ideal choice. For more information log on to
http://www.thetfordmarine.com.