Issue 137: March/April 2021
Waterproofing Wounds
I’ve often found it a challenge to keep cuts or other wounds clean and dry while I’m sailing—or doing anything on the water. DrySee’s waterproof bandage is a practical and effective solution. It’s liquid-indicating and see-through, making it easy to see whether water is getting in (or whether the wound itself is leaking). The bandage’s gauze perimeter turns blue when liquid has broken the seal. The gauze square in the center, which covers the cut or wound, also turns blue when it gets wet.
I took a shower with the 2-inch DrySee bandage on my leg and it performed well, keeping my “wound” area dry. In fact, to observe the liquid indicating change of color, after the shower I peeled back the edge of the bandage and applied liquid to the perimeter gauze with a wet cotton swab (note the blue color of the upper-left part of the bandage perimeter in the photo). This bandage is strong, and the waterproof seal is reliable. They’re available in 2×2, 4×4, and 5×10 inches. For more information: drysee.com
Repurposing Winches
Most of us think of winches as having pretty much one purpose, but the WinchWidget takes that idea and says, “Phooey.” Instead, this gadget inserts into the handle socket atop any winch and locks in place. From here, it becomes a platform for all manner of stuff, from cameras to cups.
WinchWidget sells a cupholder and a solar light bracket; the cupholder will hold a coffee cup or most standard drink containers, while the solar light bracket is designed to work with solar rain gutter lights, which you can find at hardware stores. The fitting also includes a standard 1/4-inch, 20-thread-count screw socket that fits camera and cell phone mounts. You can even buy an 8-inch table that fits into this socket, turning your winch into a cocktail-hour goodies platform.
The build quality and materials seem good. Admittedly, I’ve not used the WinchWidget often since my initial evalu¬ation, but I think that’s because my 31-foot sailboat has enough space that I don’t really need to repurpose a winch. But aboard a smaller sailboat, where cockpit space is at a premium, this could be a real asset.
For more information: boat-gadgets.com/WinchWidget.html
