Sail Far Live Free

It's holiday season and the message boards are starting to fill with threads about "gift ideas for sailors", so I thought I'd offer up some ideas of my own based on sailing gear we're currently using (or plan to use very soon!). Look for more detailed reviews for many of these products in the near future. Ronstan Quick-Lock Winch Handle : Perfect for the grinder in your family, these new winch handles from Ronstan feature a one hand grab-and-release mechanism that is...quick! They're available in 8" and 10" models with single grip or palm grip. I've got a 10" palm grip model that I'll be testing out early next year on our Catalina 34. I like the longest handle I can get for maximum leverage, but if the space around your winch is limited by a dodger or other hardware, consider the smaller 8" model. Carmanah M550 Marine Lantern : This new self-contained and solar powered marine LED lantern is rated for 1-3 nautical mi

" A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries. " -Unknown While I don't know who first made the above statement, I'm pretty sure they must have made it before LED flashlights powered by lithium batteries became available. Reliable lights are a near necessity while cruising and LED's have made it so battery powered lights use very little energy while still providing bright, usable light. This past season I made a wholesale switch to LED's on our sailboat, both in the cabin fixtures and flashlights we carry. I'll save my thoughts on using LED's in cabin fixtures for another post, but today I want to shine the spotlight on a brilliant little flashlight. I'm not going to profess to you that I've found the holy grail now that I've got an LED flashlight. In fact, I'm guessing most of you probably already have one too. They've become so common now that you can buy them at the dollar store and throw them away for a new one wh