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BEST BOAT GADGETS UNDER $50
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Holding Tank De-Odorizer
The M/V Tapawingo no longer has any holding tank odor problem. The fix was under $30! I went to a local pet supply store and got one of those aquarium aerators for under $30 and plumbed it to blow fresh air into the holding tank with scraps of tubing and stuff that I had on hand. It is injected into the tank via a plastic tube that goes almost to the bottom. There is some bubbling noise in the V-berth area but not where we sleep. I think another visit to the pet supply could add a diffuser that looks like a rock or something you see in aquariums that would help the noise. We just unplug it or turn off the inverter at night if it is a problem.
The theory is that bad, smelly bugs live in stale water and nice smelling ones live in water with lots of oxygen. Works for us and we haven't added any of that expensive fu-fu liquid in two years now.
Unlike the pricier version sold at marine stores our system runs on 110VAC but that isn't a problem. We almost always have AC on via the inverter, generator or shore power.
Bruce Evertz, M/V Tapawingo
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Map Wheels & Safety Signals
My nominee for great gadget under $50 is the Scalex Map Wheel. This amazing little device looks something like a digital thermometer, with 6 pushbuttons, an LCD display, and a small black wheel at one end. Rolled across a chart, it very accurately measures distances. Traditionally, one would use dividers for this, but the Map Wheel is much faster and easier, especially with long and convoluted courses. Moved forward, it adds distance - moved backward it subtracts, making distance comparisons with two alternate routes very quick. It can be set for stat miles, nautical miles, or kilometers, and has about 20 preset chart scales. Additionally, you can manually enter any scale not in its presets, and even determine a scale on an unmarked chart by measuring between two points of known distance - like latitude tics. It runs on two AAA batteries, and turns itself off if left unused. They are available at Captain's Nautical for about $35.
Another boat device I just bought- and I hesitate to call it a "gadget", since it is a serious piece of safety gear - is a Greatland Rescue Laser. If you haven't seen one of these, go to greatlandlaser.com and read about it. They are the first real advance in rescue signaling I've seen in years. There are 3 models, about the size of small flashlights, extremely simple and robust construction, made in Anchorage, AK. Rather than a small dot of light produced by a normal laser, they project a very narrow fan-shaped beam. If you orient the 'fan' vertically, and pan the laser very slowly horizontally, the beam will be seen as a brilliant flash as it passes by the line of sight of a distant target. Greatland says the mid-size one I bought is clearly visible for 20 miles at night, 3 miles in daylight, and will light up reflelective tape on a lifejacket a mile away in low light. They claim - and I confirmed - 72 HOURS of use with 2 AA batteries. This laser has become a permanent part of my onboard gear, and I encourage you to check the website for a better description than I've given. Available from Seattle Marine & Fishing Supply, under $80.
Best regards,
Dave Helland
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Have you made a great gadget, a wonderful widget or a terrific tool for under $50? Share it with your fellow boaters! Send your ideas to waggtalk@waggonerguide.com. The best ones will appear here.
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