A new way to get a grip on deck clutter
Issue 66 : May/Jun 2009
“OK, Sam, slap the cuffs on her.” This line from an old B-rated cops-and-robbers movie could have a new life as good advice on how to keep your boat safe and organized while she’s docked.
The cuffs are Cable Cuffs, a patented device designed to organize and store extension cords. Cable Cuffs are adjustable: squeeze a Cable Cuff tight to securely hold any number of items; press a release lever to disengage it. The devices can be used one-handed, making them very convenient aboard a sailboat.
In addition to storing extension cords, Cable Cuffs also lend themselves to keeping shorepower cables or water hoses tidy while your boat is tied to a dock.
Cable Cuffs are available in three sizes. The small size is just right for holding the shorepower cord against the lifeline, keeping it off the deck and reducing tripping hazards and deck clutter. The medium size will accommodate shorepower cords used by larger sailboats and will also work for water hoses or for holding a single power cord against a stanchion, bow pulpit, or stern pulpit. The large size can be used to secure a combination of any of the above items to lifelines, stanchions, or pulpits.
You can also use Cable Cuffs when under way. For example, use the the large size to keep the shorepower cable neatly coiled when stowed and the medium size to secure coiled lines of a variety of sizes. Actually, the number of possible uses for the Cable Cuffs is limited only by your imagination.
Another positive feature of Cable Cuffs is that they are easy to remove and store when you’re ready to head out on your next sailing adventure.
These versatile little gadgets are priced very reasonably. We found ours at our local Home Depot, where the small cuffs cost us only 99 cents, the medium size $1.48, and the large size set us back $1.95 each. Cable Cuffs should also be available at other big-box stores, hardware stores, and tool outlets.
Jim Shroeger is a retired schoolteacher and administrator. He owned and ran a residential construction business simultaneously with his school career. His special love is woodworking, which has come in handy with a series of boats to maintain. He and his wife, Barb, currently own Sundew, a 1978 Watkins 27, which they cruise between Traverse City, Michigan, and the Cheneaux Islands, 200 miles to the north.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
