Top Boating Gear For 2020

Let’s face it, most of us don’t go to boat shows to see new boats so much as we go to see all the latest boating gear. The reason is simple – even if you’re not in the market for a new boat this winter, new accessories let any of us easily update the one we already have. You get the fun of a new toy without breaking the bank, and that’s why marine accessories are always the center of attention at any boat show.

Here’s a quick look at some new boating gear that caught our eye, and which should begin to hit the market just in time for this winter’s boat shows.

ACR Electronics ResQLink View

ACR ResQLink View Personal Locator Beacon

ACR Electronics’ ResQLink View is the only buoyant Personal Locator Beacon designed using the feedback from actual rescue survivors – and who would be better qualified to say what works in an emergency situation and what doesn’t? A new digital display shows its exact status for peace of mind, while infra-red and LED strobe lights assist rescuers to find you by day or night. With multiple mounting options and customized skins, the PLB has a multi-constellation GNSS receiver for even faster faster location download.

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Garmin GPSMAP 86i

Garmin GPSMAP 86i

Garmin’s GPSMAP 86i handheld GPS is a compact, easy-to-use backup navigator with InReach satellite communication capability, so you can also use it to send and receive two-way text messages, track and share your journey and, if necessary, trigger an interactive SOS to get emergency help via the global Iridium satellite network. This is boating gear that can keep you safe when things go wrong on the water. You’ll love it if you ever lose power miles from shore and have no other way to call for help.

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ICOM IC-M37E

ICOM IC-M37E

Radio Ga-Ga

Every boat should have a portable VHF, and the new ICOM IC-M37E is a compelling choice with its large keys and easy-to-grip design. Featuring 6 watts of power and a 700 mw speaker, it delivers more than 12 hours of operating time before the low battery alert warns you to put it back on charge. Fully dustproof and waterproof, it includes a useful channel history function stores the last 5 channels used, a mute function and more.

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Mercury Marine 1st Mate kit

Mercury 1st Mate

Mercury Marine also seems to have safety front-of-mind these days, as evidenced by its all-new 1st Mate kit, which it describes as the world’s first engine-integrated Man OverBoard (MOB) system. It can keep track of up to eight passengers who each wear a wristwatch-type wearable called a FOB. If someone falls over the side and the radio signal from their FOB is broken, 1st Mate will either sound an alarm or automatically shut off the engine – a great option when boating alone. It can also be set up to automatically send notifications to emergency contacts if you go over the side. As an added benefit, Mercury notes that 1st Mate doubles as an effective anti-theft device, since the engine won’t start if the FOBs are out of range.

Yachtgrabber

Yacht Grabber

Ever try to clean a boat hull while the boat’s still in the water? It’s hard, because as you push against the hull with your scrub brush, all you do it push yourself away from the boat. The Yachtgrabber is an innovative piece of boating gear that offers up a brilliant solution. This is the only marine suction cup that can be operated from one hand. It even floats so if you slip, you don’t lose it. Just attach to the boat, clean away the debris, then release and reposition yourself farther along the hull. You’ll have the boat clean in no time, and you won’t go mad in the process.

Strex Fasteners

Strex Fasteners

Installing or removing traditional boat covers can take time and leave your fingers feeling numb as you do up or pull apart one metal snap after the next. Strex Fasteners replace the metal snaps on boat covers with soft plastic pulls that make putting the cover on or off as easy as it gets. The new fasteners install in a few minutes with no special tools required and work great – one reason they won a prestigious Innovation Award at the 2019 IBEX Show. It seems simple, but this is the type of boating gear we can get behind.

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