4 minute read
Goods & Gear
BY RANDY WOODS
Cruise Though ’22 with Waggoner Guide
Before shoving off, every boater needs to be acutely aware of the shifting shoals and new marine regulations. That’s why the Waggoner Cruising Guide is often regarded as “the bible” for every captain in the Northwest. This year’s spiral-bound edition includes comprehensive, up-to-date information for marinas, anchorages, and waterways, from Puget Sound to Alaska’s Inside Passage. The guide provides all-new dock diagrams, anchorage maps, and overview maps, plus countless other updates for marinas, eateries, border procedures, and Covid-19 considerations. Also new to 2022 is the book’s “Wild About Wildlife” theme, featuring sidebar articles about various marine species, as well as common land-based fauna, such as raccoons, beavers, and bears. More updates can be accessed via smartphone by scanning the guide’s QR codes for the latest information throughout the year.
$39.95 // waggonerguidebooks.com Say ‘Welcome Aboard’ with Woven Rope Doormats
Ropes are essential for tying up boats, raising sails, and hauling in the daily catch. Now they can help keep your vessel clean while also welcoming visitors. Made by fifth-generation lobstermen from Maine, these hand-woven, water-repellent doormats from The Rope Co. resist mold, mildew, and insects, and only need an occasional shake out or hose down to remove excess dirt. The all-weather, 1.25inch-thick mats can withstand year-round exposure to snow, rain, mud, wind, and sun, with additional UV protection to allow colors to fade naturally over time. Available in a variety of sizes, the durable mats work best on anti-skid surfaces and come in a wide variety of marine-themed color combinations.
$105-$255, depending on size // theropeco.com Grant a Fish Wish with Salmon Sisters Bottles
This 20-ounce insulated bottle from Alaska-based Salmon Sisters will show how much you care about healthy salmon runs in the Northwest, and it keeps your drinks at the perfect hot or cold temperature at the same time. The leak-free, threaded lid and Thermo 3D double-wall vacuum insulation ensure that nothing gets in or out until you want it to. Surrounded a hard-shell powder coat finish with a handsome salmon graphic, the stainless steel bottle can go upstream in any weather. For extra fish-friendliness, Salmon Sisters is donating 1% of all merchandise proceeds to the Give Fish Project, which supplies wild Alaska seafood to the Food Bank of Alaska.
$39.99 // aksalmonsisters.com
Ugo’s Waterproof Phone Pouch Keeps Calls Afloat
Dropping your phone into the briny deep no longer means your information is eternally doomed to Davy Jones’ Locker. The waterproof SLIM smartphone pouch from Ugo Wear allows you to stay connected, thanks to the thermoplastic polyurethane shell and uZIP airtight zipper, making your phone impervious to moisture. Should the constant wintertime rain be too much, the clear plastic panel is touchscreen friendly and allows you to keep talking, texting, recording, or shooting selfies—all with your phone still tucked away inside. Best of all, the salt-, chlorine-, and UV-resistant pouch floats, so any phone that is fumbled overboard can be easily retrieved. This limited-edition pouch doesn’t skimp on style with a forest-green, brushed canvas casing. There’s even room for credit cards, IDs, licenses, key fobs, and extra battery chargers.
$74.99 // ugowear.com A Kick Turn Beanie to Turn Heads
Whether you’re switch backing uphill on a snowy trail, cruising through the sea spray of a winter squall on the Sound, or just enjoying a cold night on the town, this stylish Kick Turn Beanie from Seattle’s Outdoor Research is sure to keep your head warm, with its breathable, moisture-wicking recycled yarns. The snug, rib knit folded cuff helps keep your ears protected from the chill while keeping the beanie in place in high winds. Made of 70% Primaloft Eco Polyester, the knit cap also features a nifty mountain graphic design to suit your adventurous sensibilities. Available in blue and white colors or black and purple for a sleek look.
$36 // outdoorresearch.com Das Boots from Grundéns Show Who’s Boss
Never take a wrong step with these new Deck-Boss boots from Grundéns. Designed for Pacific Northwest rainfall, the heavy-duty, 15-inch-tall footwear provides all-day endurance and comfort for even the toughest jobs on board. The high performance fishing boots are flexible for an easy range of movement and feature protective toe reinforcements and injection-molded uppers to help prevent delamination and cracking. The patented Herkules Grip compression-molded rubber outsole gives the boots the most stringent level of slip-resistance certification—perfect for constant use on dangerously wet decks. A 1-inch groove holds a strong silicone band that helps keep pants and legs dry in all kinds of winter weather.
