Bruce Bauchmire, Lewis Center, Ohio
John De La Franier, Portbay, N.Y.
Marcus Rosehill, Kaneohe, Hawaii
Danny Criner, North Chesterfield, Va.
Tom Gilbert, Atlanta, Ga.
Jennifer James, Lake Anna, Va.
Some boat owners feel a magnetic compass is redundant to electronic navigation, but when weather conditions warrant slow speeds, GPS can become maddeningly difficult to use. The SuperSport Venture SS-PR2 magnetic compass from Ritchie Navigation not only displays an accurate heading even when stopped, but instantly shows minute course changes, making it ideal for pontoon or deck boat owners.
Made in the USA, the SuperSport Venture features a bright blue 3 3/4-inch CombiDial card. For viewing at any angle, the card’s side has 5-degree incremental and 30-degree numbered marks, while the top has 5-degree marks and heading letters.
The SuperSport Venture is made for the jarring and bouncing that’s common in smaller boats such as pontoon boats. The card is set on a scientifically matched sapphire jewel that rides on a hardened steel gimbal. Combined with built-in compensators, the dial moves smoothly without spinning or jumping.
Like all Ritchie compasses, the SuperSport Venture SS-PR2 is 100 percent repairable. MED Wheelmark certified, it comes with a five-year warranty with an MSRP of $239. (www.ritchienavigation.com)
The US Total Boat Registrations Report was recently released by the NMMA and there were 12 million boats registered and documented in the U.S. in 2021, up 1 percent compared to 2020. The top five states for boat registrations in 2021 were Florida (1), Minnesota (2), Michigan (3), California (4) and Ohio (5).
After reaching a new high in 2020, it was also reported that outboard engine sales in the U.S. posted a single digit decline in 2021, down 6.6 percent to 307,800 units. Despite the drop from 2020, unit sales in 2021 were the second highest total in the last 14 years and 29 percent above the average of 238,921 units from 2008–2021.
A new series of marine loudspeakers designed for use in the most demanding marine audio installations has just been released. The new KMXL horn-loaded coaxial loudspeakers incorporate several unique features that set them apart from traditional marine speakers.
The KMXL series builds upon the success of KICKER Marine Audio’s KMTC and KMFC horn-loaded tower speakers and brings much of this same technology to smaller 6.5-inch, 6×9, and 8-inch loudspeakers that can be installed in traditional coaxial speaker mounting locations.
A proprietary high-frequency horn design gives the KMXL series sonic performance and provides incredibly smooth and easy listening, even at extremely high volumes.
The UV-treated grilles come in both charcoal and white and like all KICKER Marine Audio products, the KICKER KMXL series’ cones, baskets and grills, are UV and salt fog tested and certified to withstand the marine environment. The speakers incorporate RGB LED lighting and you can add up to 20 colors and 19 lighting modes by adding the small and lightweight KMLC lighting remote ($49.99).
The KMXL speakers come in 3 sizes and start at $649.99. (www.kicker.com)
The LinkUp Intelligent Battery Sensor from Veratron makes monitoring a vessel’s current energy status network display easy. Featuring simple plug-and-play installation and configuration, it’s ideal for any type of boat owner.
It measures six critical parameters: voltage, current, temperature, state of charge, health and function. This real-time information helps users understand charge/discharge status, battery aging, and future engine cranking ability.
Highly adaptable, supports both 12V and 24V standard, gel and AGM battery types with maximum capacities of 249Ah. Installation is a simple matter of connecting the terminal to the negative battery pole and the LinkUp Gateway Module to the NMEA 2000 backbone or LIN network. The integrated wireless antenna provides easy pairing with the mobile app.
The 12V/500A retails for $267.99 and the 24V/250A for $359.99 and both come with a two-year warranty. (www.veratron.com)
The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) recently announced the 2023 grants for its George H.Bush Vamos A Pescar Education Fund, the eighth round of grantees since it launched in 2014. The funding will help 16 programs in eight states bring fishing and boating experiences as well as conservation education to Hispanic families.
Over $109,500 in grants were awarded with state agencies fully matching that amount to bring the total funding to approximately $221,000 for the grantees. (www.takemefishing.org)
The Milennia MIL-S3501 from Prospec Electronic is an affordable outdoor compact stereo speaker. Ideal for boating and other powersport applications, the 3-1/2-inch mid-range speaker puts out powerful, commanding sound.
The speaker was engineered for continual outdoor use and is rated watertight to IPX5 standards, surviving extreme wet and humid conditions. At only 4 inches in diameter, the integrated graphite-colored grille of the S3501 will fit into the tightest dash or console. An integrated gasket allows for simple installation requiring only a 3-inch cutout and only 1.5 inches of clearance. The Milennia MIL-S3501 speaker sells for $24.95 each. (www.prospecelectronics.com)
Few things are more annoying than a leaky seam, especially when relaxing on your pontoon while water is dripping overhead, turning the adventure into misery. Iosso’s Seam Sealer is the fast and easy way to waterproof stitched seams.
Seam Sealer coats the necessary areas with an invisible non-silicone waterproof barrier. It works well on both natural fabrics and synthetics and can even work with some vinyl and vinyl laminates, which helps make it ideal for boat covers and other outdoor gear.
With its built-in sponge applicator that runs along both sides of the seam, it’s easy to use and once applied you just need to let it dry for 24 hours. Made in the USA, a 4-ounce bottle of Iosso Seam Sealer retails for $8.52. (www.iosso.com)
The Abu Garcia Revo Rocket Casting Reel excels at techniques where speed and efficiency are a must. This reel is the perfect addition to any boater’s fishing experience with its new asymmetric design and lightweight aluminum frame as well as the handle side plate that makes for a more compact design.
Talk about control: the Revo Rocket has an IVCB-6 brake system for ultimate controlled cast. Designed with 10 stainless-steel bearings and 1 roller bearing along with a 95mm handle with oversized knobs for increased power and torque, it can drag at a maximum of 18 pounds. The gear’s ratios are 10.1:1 (43.5 inches per turn) and it retails for $329.95. (www.abugarcia.com)