Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite mate? Take a look at this offerings in Southern Boating’s 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
The Burano Wheel by Stella is a head turner that can enhance any boat’s decor. Schmitt & Ongaro Marine’s new offering is suited for cruisers, runabouts, ski and wakeboard boats, and upscale pontoons. MSRP $275; schmittongaromarine.com
Coastal Art Maps capture the be
auty of the shoreline on hand-drawn maps. Take your pick from 28 maps or send in y
our custom order. MSRP from $110; coastalartmaps.com
Designed in the shape of a sailboat, RHINSHU creates unique sounds to mimic acoustic wooden instruments. Enjoy hours of music with positive therapeutic benefits. MSRP $2,950; rinshu.net/en
Don’t get wet feet! The Giller Men’s Shoe from Tucket Footwear is named for the “gills” on the sides and outsoles, which allow water to drain instantlly. MSRP $60;tucketfootwear.com
Smathers & Branson introduces their holiday line that includes boating inspired hand-stitched and needlepoint products such as these iPhone cases. MSRP $39.50;smathersandbranson.com
Moisturize your first mate’s sun-drenched skin! Jindilli’s Hydra-Opulence body lotionis a unique formula combining macadamia oil and aloe vera. MSRP $29.99;jindilli.com
Protect your personal electronics with their own wetsuit! Gulf Marine Technologies’ FrogSuits are waterproof, brightly colored and well-padded. They float if they go overboard but include a lanyard to secure it to your boat. MSRP from $30; gulfmarinetech.com
The shade you need for fun under the sun. Pawleys by Costa feature a combo of high quality Monel metal and nylon. Pictured: Retro tortoise with blue mirror. MSRP $259; costadelmar.com
Sling it over your shoulder for hands-free carrying! The IceMule is a portable, soft-sided ice bag that’ll keep ice frozen for up to 24 hours.MSRP starts at $49.95. icemulecoolers.co
Show your love for the ocean with one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry from master inlay artist Craig Lavin. Custom orders are welcome. MSRP contact company; handcraftinlay.com
REACTOR introduces its limited edition Ionic Poseidon, replacing the monochrome look of most watches with an iridescent, color changing finish using a process borrowed from the knife industry. MSRP $1,250; reactorwatch.com
Nautical Scout‘s silicone, collapsilble cookware saves space on board. Choose kettles, pots, pans, steamers, and more! Seven-liter bucket MSRP is $31.99; nauticalscout.com
Most yachtsmen dream about cruising to an exotic destination. Turn dreams into plans withDream Cruising Destinations: 24 Classic Cruises Mapped and Explored.MSRP $25; bloomsbury.com
The Matador Droplet wet bag is the ideal compact solution for aprés-swim garments and towels! It fits on a keychain and expands large enough to hold a whole outfit or a dripping wetsuit. MSRP $14.99; matadorup.com
Explore the underwater world with your personal drone. Deeptracker’s easy to use robotic camera can take you to depths up to 450 feet. MSRP contact company. deeptrekker.com
Take your pick among this limited edition of Hand-Beaded Nautical Pillows from MMDesigns for a simple and chic decor that reflects your passion for the ocean. Available in eight different patterns. MSRP $150;mmdesignsllc.com
Spice up your onboard meals with this selection of unique aromas from faraway lands. RawSpiceBar is a subscription box that delivers freshly ground, exotic spices that aren’t available in most grocery stores. MSRP $6/month;rawspicebar.com
Expand your boat with an inflatable, terrace platform that extends your entertainment area— and fun! ProPad is a new portable platform that extends around the transom and motors and is available in several sizes. Contact seller for MSRP; propadusa.com
by Nathalie Gouillou, Southern Boating Magazine December 2015
Oregon Inlet bid process delayed
The bidding process for a 10-year contract to run the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center on North Carolina’s Outer Banks has reached a standstill. Mariners looking to use the Center should find business as usual this year, but that could change next year. The National Park Service granted the current operator a yearlong extension with plans to reevaluate the process. After 40 years of running the marina the board of the Fishing Center had to bid for a 10-year contract to operate the business, which was originally created in the 1960s by local charter boat captains. The Park Service is the owner of the facility within Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the north side of the inlet. The Park Service had extended the solicitation period for its prospectus. After reviewing one bid the service offered a contract, but it has not been signed. The bidding document included a requirement that insurance coverage would have to increase from $300,000 to $6 million. “The contract that they presented has quite a few differences in it than in the past,” said Kenneth Brown, vice president of the Fishing Center’s board. “We are in the process of trying to find a common ground with the Park Service to try to keep Oregon Inlet Fishing Center a viable business.”
Chesapeake Catch is a new online app that acts as a personal log to record your catch, post photos and help managers keep track of the Chesapeake Bay’s most popular fish—rockfish (striped bass), redfish (red drum), speckled trout, croaker, yellow perch, and shad. Chesapeake Catch is a local affiliate of Angler Action, which pioneered the system for collecting data from anglers to inform fishery management. The national project first launched in Florida with an app and website for recreational anglers to log data about snook catches. The data helped managers at the Florida Wildlife Commission to advance snook recovery in the state.
Chesapeake Catch is led by Bay area anglers to gather data so that natural resources personnel can make informed fisheries management decisions and policies, and it puts fishermen in touch with other local anglers to chat and to learn. “Anglers have a huge investment in good fisheries management, because we want more fish to catch for years to come,” said Ed Liccione, former chairman of the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland. “Chesapeake Catch helps us track what we’re catching and connect with other anglers but also makes our catch count in decisions about conservation and management.”
Bill Goldsborough, Director of Fisheries, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, added, “Good data makes for good management, and both make for better fishing. We can all have a voice in better fisheries management with Chesapeake Catch, and I encourage all anglers who care about the future of fishing in Maryland to download the app.” Fishing guides, recreational fishing bloggers and other anglers involved in organizations such as the Maryland Sportsman Foundation, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Environmental Defense Fund, and Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association participated in the working group behind Chesapeake Catch. Download it in iTunes or the Google Play store. chesapeakecatch.com
By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating February 2015
Choosing paint colors is easy peasy with the Interlux Paint Guide App. Free for Apple IOS and Android smartphones and tablets, the app includes a useful quick reference guide, information on topsides, varnishes, undercoats, and more. A store locator and paint estimation tool calculates exactly what you need and where to get it. Available for download from the iTunes App Store or from Google Play. FREE; yachtpaint.com/usa
