Hold Everything with the RAILBLAZA Mounting System – CUSTOMIZING YOUR BOAT HAS NEVER BEEN SIMPLER

RAILBLAZA Pix Running Light

By: John Kerr

One of the biggest complaints we hear from our readers is ‘why we don’t run more new products’. They often say; “if we don’t know we can’t buy” and there is truth in that. There are lots of new niche products launched every year, but few are advertised and promoted widely and many sadly are never found. We have begun a quest to look for the ‘neat stuff’; the products that are actually here in Canada and in stock at your local chandlery.

One product I love is RAILBLAZA, it’s a wonderfully designed mounting system with numerous accessories and tons of flexibility. Made and designed in New Zealand, this is a quality product from packaging to presentation. Installation was very easy, it literally took minutes using just a simple screw, nut, and screwdriver at the four points of the rectangular base. More common in the kayak and fish space, RAILBLAZA has a ton of applications on bigger boats too!

RAILBLAZA is built around its StarPort mount HD – a rectangular, four-point installation base. This comes with everything you need, including high quality stainless fasteners. All their products are made from high quality, UV stabilized, engineered polymers, stainless steel and anodised aluminium. The design engineering is brilliant, where extra strength is required, the polymers used are fiberglass reinforced.

What I love about the StarPort mount is that it can be surface mounted and remain in 2 variations for a lower profile. Its rail version is well done; it allows so much flexibility and versatility in mounting anything on your rails like phones, and tablets. From top to bottom, the base measures less than 1” at it’s tallest point. For comparison, other deck mounts sit 2” off the deck.

On my old boat I am always trying not to drill holes and RAILBLAZA allows me to have the equipment mounts anywhere I need them while providing a strong and robust attachment I can count on. The camera mount is perfect! Very lightweight, yet durable and adjustable to many directions. My pictures all look like a professional took them. GoPro easily mounts to this accessory! What I really like with RAILBLAZA is the slide locking mechanism fits to all of the bases and the versatility of effortlessly re-tasking the numerous accessories from one base to another. On our boat, we are consistently moving drinks, cellphones, tablets and cleats all over the boat depending on the day and crew.

I also like the RAILBLAZA’s running lights (optional) and its ability to be on board as a second system or effortless mount on the dinghy when night running is required.

All in this a great product and I bet you don’t just buy one! My solution; start with two! Take the time to visit: www.railblaza.com

Video Gallery

Neptunus 650F Review

Neptunus 650F 400

By Andy Adams

Over the years Canadian Yachting has had the pleasure of doing several boat review articles on new Neptunus models and we are familiar with the qualities that Neptunus is famous for. They have all been exceptional yachts, but this is the one I would most want to own myself. It’s a personal choice and a matter of taste as to whether you would prefer to have a sedan express model or a flybridge but in my opinion, the flybridge layout offers some wonderful attributes.

We met with Neptunus Managing Director Jan Willem De Jong this past fall to take the new Neptunus 650F out in Lake Ontario. 

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Destinations

The Other Virgin Islands

Sunset off St John

By Mark Stevens

I was first seduced by the United States Virgin Islands during a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola to begin one of our earliest British Virgin Islands charters nearly twenty years ago.

A perfect sunset off St. John with St. Thomas views for backdrop.

Clearing Pillsbury Sound, surrounded by voluptuous emerald mountains as the ferry sliced through royal blue waters, I was struck by the unspoiled ambiance of St. John, the island gliding past our starboard beam and the irresistible charm of a village called Cruz Bay visible from our quarter stern.

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Lifestyle