Gear

Five New Marine Accessories

Or are they?

By Kevin Falvey

Updated: October 29, 2014

“Wireless lights.” Oil lamps have been around for centuries. These are from Weems and Plath.

“Satellite Navigator.” That would be a sextant, like this Mark 25 from Davis Instruments.

“Heading Sensor.” A compass. This is a “Navigator” model from Ritchie Navigation.

“Night Vision Device.” We always called ours a ‘spotlight,’ and have tested many, including this West Marine rechargeable light.

“Voice Command.” Cupped hands help, but a megaphone like this brass reproduction from Amazon.com will make your voice carry like that of a doryman working the Grand Banks in the fog.

In our culture, almost every product is packaged and sold with either a stated or implied “new and improved” as one of the biggest selling points. Marine accessories are no exception. And with the 2014 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show kicking off the boat show season, I’d like to share my thoughts on some marine accessories marketed as “new” that, in reality, have been around for a long time.

So click “next” to start your tour of five “brand new” marine accessories categories that actually aren’t new at all.