Hard to believe, but you can still get a personalized welcome mat, bath robe, towel or other gift for the boaters on your list delivered in time for the holidays.

Where? At Boat Name Gear - offering high quality items embroidered with boat names.

Sweatshirts, hats - you name it, you can get it - with a boat name on it, at BoatNameGear.

But you better hurry if you want these guys to personalize your gift and get it to you in time for the holidays! Check out BoatNameGear now!

Labels: On the Web, Products

Black Friday has come and gone, but there are still plenty of deals available on gifts for boat owners at Boat Name Gear - offering boaters high quality shirts, caps and more, personalized with their boat names.

For example, check out their brand new personalized robes.

This luxurious robe will help you relax - on or off the boat.

Get any boat name custom embroidered on the left chest of this comfortable robe, making it a great personalized gift for every member of your crew.

Order this robe today for FREE SHIPPING and Guaranteed Delivery By 12/24

Check out this robe now

Labels: Boat Names, On the Web, Products

Are you enjoying a long weekend thanks to Columbus Day?

The folks at BoatNameGear decided that a great way to celebrate a nautical holiday like Columbus Day would be to offer 20% savings to their nautical-minded customers. Not a bad idea given our current economic environment.

Use coupon code UMBUS between now and October 15th to save 20% off any order at BoatNameGear.com.

BoatNameGear offers shirts, hats, welcome mats, towels and more - personally embroidered with your boat name. Unlike other sites that sell that type of stuff, BoatNameGear only focuses on stuff for boaters, and doesn't have any lofty minimum order amounts. And, your stuff is custom made and shipped within a few days - not weeks!

Hurry, this coupon expires October 15, 2008:

coupon code: UMBUS
Website: www.BoatNameGear.com

Labels: Economy, Products

Wrap your rope around a dolphin. A dolphin cleat, that is.

This is an idea that I can't believe had not been thought of already (maybe it has?) because it makes so much sense. Add form to the functionality of one of the most basic items on any boat or dock with cleats designed as dolphins or bass!

The geniuses behind these cleats are from a company called - of course - Creative Cleats based in Holland, New York. I only wish I thought of it first.

http://www.creativecleats.com/products.htm

Labels: Products

That's what it looks like to me, anyway.

Check out this new WiFi device being produced in the UK. It simply plugs into your USB port on your laptop, and lets you access Wi-Fi hotspots from nearby marinas or other businesses on-shore offering the service that your laptop's traditional wi-fi receiver wouldn't normally pick up.

Buy it for under 200 Euro at one of these stores:
CactusNav
MesLTD

Thanks to WiFiFreeNet for the tip, and to BYM for announcing the product.

For more on the subject of Wi-Fi at marinas, visit WiFiMarine.org.

Labels: Products

Have you been thinking about getting a new mobile device, but waiting for iPhone prices to drop?

If you are looking for all the same features, but weren't sure if you wanted to pull the trigger on an expensive smartphone, you might want to consider this. The brand new BlackBerry device which was released today includes one important feature that the iPhone is missing: GPS.

Now you can check your email, surf the web, make a phone call and navigate to the Dock & Dine all with the same device!

Labels: Products

Out on the water, your fancy 65-piece marine toolset in its bright yellow plastic carrying case probably WILL sink if you drop it over the side, and it probably WON'T save your hide as many times as Rescue Tape will.

Rescue Tape is small enough to justify keeping a couple of rolls on the boat (and one in the truck). It's actually a self-fusing silicone tape so there is no adhesive to wear away; it seals air- and water-tight.

At 700 psi, it should keep any hose leaks at bay until you can get assistance.

With the ability to resist 8,000 Volts and 500° F (260° C), temporary electrical cord repairs are not a problem.

For more information, or to buy a couple of rolls, visit RescueTape.com.

Labels: On the Web, Products

With GPS units coming down in price and getting smaller, it is no wonder that the technology is now available to track your yacht while you are not even on it!

Why do you need a yacht tracking gadget?

Well, if you regularly charter or rent your boat out (or if you were thinking about it but were afraid your boat would be sailed off the end of the earth), then you might benefit from this type of device or service.

Also, if you have loved ones who sail frequently and you may enjoy having access to a yacht tracking system so you can track their whereabouts for your own peace of mind.

Other applications may include tracking for boat races, businesses involved in boat delivery, or even fishing boats. Imagine how useful this would be if you owned two or three (or 20) fishing boats that were out at sea and you wanted to see where they all were from the computer in your cozy office.

Yacht tracking systems are available from many companies today, and therefore you can get a good price and reliable support if you shop around.

Some of the companies we found offering these systems are:

Yacht-Control, which is owned by the Azimut Group, which I don't think has anything to do with Azimut Yachts.

Ocean Tracker seems inexpensive and even let's you view some yachts that are actually being tracked right now on their site.

US-based Valeo Corporation does a good job of explaining how this type of service has become more affordable and is no longer just for multi-million dollar fleets.

Lastly, check out iBoatTracks.com and see if you can figure out what the heck they do. My best guess is that they set up tracking services for free for some of their friends and family members, but maybe if you contact them they'll set it up for you, too!

Labels: Products