[ SMART GADGETS AND STYLISH PRODUCTS THAT REALLY FLOAT OUR BOAT ]
G O ODS & GE A R BY RANDY WOODS
Give your inflatables a breath of fresh air Is your family feeling deflated about missing out on the summertime fun last year? Keep their inflatable water toys at full pressure this boating season with the iD20 Hi-Speed Inflator from Rule. Powered by a 300-watt motor, this portable pump comes with adjustable nozzles to get any inflatable at full capacity in no time. The pressure (20 ft./min. @ 2.6 psi) can get a four-person dinghy ready to launch in under two minutes. When it’s time to head back to port, the iD20 can be used to deflate any inflatable just as quickly for easy storage. The lightweight, 12-volt unit also includes an air release valve to prevent overinflation or overheating of the pump. $77.34 // available from Fisheries Supply in Seattle, fisheriessupply.com. Raise a glass to orca whale health! With whale-spotting season already upon us, time to stock your boat’s galley with ice cold beer that supports the marine ecosystem as it refreshes your guests. A partnership between Seattle-based Two Beers Brewing and The SeaDoc Society conservation group has led to a new India pale ale (6.4% ABV), called Southern Resident IPA in honor of the orca whale population found in the Pacific Northwest’s Salish Sea. Sales of the hoppy brew—with
32
hints of grapefruit, pineapple, and light pine— will be used to raise awareness of the plight of these endangered marine mammals, which are threatened by pollution and diminished stock of their primary food source, Chinook salmon. $9.99 for a six-pack of 12-ounce cans // twobeersbrewery.com. Celebrate spring, salmon with floral headband When the winds pick up on your next cruise, this stylish headband from Vermont-based clothier Skida can provide a splash of color while keeping ears warm and toasty. The versatile Mint Tulip Nordic headband helps block UV-rays and is made with a lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking poly-spandex material that can be worn as a scrunchie or flat for extra comfort. Skida has also partnered with Salmon Sisters, a woman-owned small business that provides 1% of all proceeds to the Give Fish Project food bank in Alaska. Keep the hair out of your face and fight off the chill while helping people in need of healthy, fresh fish. $18 // aksalmonsisters.com. Keep warm with cool, cozy blankets The weather may be warming, but as all Northwesterners know, we’re still in for some chilly nights and rainy mornings ahead. To help fend off the cold, this cozy Heritage Blanket from Authenticity50 will suit any berth, salon, or stateroom. Made “seed-to-stitch” in the U.S. of 100% American-grown cotton from a family-owned, Maine-based mill, the blankets are woven in a timeless herringbone pattern that will be durable enough to last for generations. The Heritage Blankets come in throw, queen, and king sizes to fit all kinds of maritime uses. Keep your family warm while supporting an all-American company, founded by Northwest-based husband and wife entrepreneurs; available in Prairie Yellow and Coastal Blue colors. $169 // authenticity50.com.
