Issue 123: Nov/Dec 2018
Zippers made zippy
I love this stuff. E-Z Snap Zipper & Snap Lubricant really works. I had some tough-to-use zippers aboard: the cheap plastic ones sewn into our dodger windows and the metal ones on my tool bags. After one liberal application of this protectant/lubricant they worked better than ever — and they’ve continued to work smoothly for a couple of months.
I expected the product to be thin, like the Teflon-based sail-track lubricants I’ve used, so when I opened the tube, I was surprised to see a flat opening rather than a nozzle of some kind. But the product is viscous and slimy, and pressing the opening flat on the surface of the closed zipper and running it along the length works perfectly. I did not test this on any snaps. For more information: iosso.com. —Michael Robertson, Good Old Boat editor
Boating information at a glance
Navigation Rules, Weather Forecasting, and Coastwise Piloting are among the several subjects Davis Instruments has condensed onto its Quick Reference Cards made of durable weatherproof plastic. Colors and graphics bring to life a vast amount of information on the cards, which are available in paper-size (with holes punched for storing in a three-ring binder) or pocket-size.
I’ve used the Coastwise Piloting card to identify a symbol on my chartplotter, saving me a trip to the cabin to dig out Chart No. 1. Large vessels in my sailing grounds often use horn signals, and the Navigation Rules card includes descriptions of sound signals, right-of-way rules, an aids-to-navigation key, and much more. Much of this information is probably available in an app, but I appreciate the physical cards I can grab from a coaming box, refer to, and then toss back in without a care. For more information: davisinstruments.com. —Jerry Thompson, Good Old Boat contributor
Soles with holes
I live in flip-flops unless I’m headed to a wedding or funeral (and even then that depends on the wedding or funeral). So I deemed myself the perfect tester when Ventolation asked me to try out a pair of its Bali flip-flops. After walking around in them for three months, I do recommend them, with a caveat. The shoes are marketed as unique in their ability to shed sand, first through holes in the footbed to a vacant space below and from there out holes in the sides. Frankly, sand accumulation has never been a problem I associate with flip-flops. These shoes do shed sand as promised, but testing them side-by-side with conventional flip-flops, I didn’t find this to be an advantage. But . . . this same design also results in a footbed that ventilates and is particularly comfortable in a cushioning/massaging kind of way on any surface. These are my go-to flip-flops for comfort. They also dry very fast (so they don’t squeak for a block after getting wet), and the footbed is removable for thorough cleaning when necessary. They’re constructed of all man-made materials. For more information: ventolation.com. —Michael Robertson, Good Old Boat editor
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
