September 9, 2021
Ten years ago, St. Margaret’s Bay (Halifax), Nova Scotia-based SailTimer Inc. made the first sailboat wind sensor that could transmit to smartphones/apps. Now the company is moving some of the same wireless and sensing technology into DOT-approved LED trailer lights.
Trailer lights have hardly changed in 100 years; the wiring is time-consuming to install and not very reliable. A perfect target for wireless innovation, Speedy Trailer Lights solves those problems (patent pending). Just attach the left and right lights to the back of the trailer, and they’ll flash all turn signals, brake lights and tail lights while you are right there; no going back and forth to turn on different switches.
No need to dismantle your vehicle taillights and wiring. No adapter to buy. No more deciphering large numbers of wires in your vehicle tail lights to connect to 4 wires on a trailer connector or transmitter. As we enter the era of electric cars and autonomous navigation, you do not need to connect any wires at all with these smart trailer lights.
There is a carbon-fibre battery pack inside the left and right lights, with the same type of rechargeable lithium battery cells as in many laptops and electric cars. The replaceable battery pack provides an estimated 30 hours of typical use between charges. Full details at the official launch.
top view of unit shows submersible (IP68) on-switch and micro-USB charging socket
By Andy Adams
By Katherine Stone
Over the last decade, sailcloth weaving equipment has evolved and allowed the production of low crimp warp oriented woven cloth of medium to heavy weights. We have had light weight warp wovens of 200g/m2 (4oz) or lighter for much longer than that, but the finer denier weaves of light sailcloth allowed that with older looms and setups. Why is this important? This new loom technology is very important because it allows sailmakers to make better warp cut woven sails for boats 25-50’ long.
Many boaters prefer the clean appearance and greater safety of modern pull-up cleats that retract flush into the deck when not in use. But depending on where they need to be installed, limited mounting room can make it difficult. Series 490 Rectangular Pull-Up Cleats from Accon Marine feature a sleek, compact design that allows use in even challenging spaces where other flush-mount hardware simply won't fit.
I filled up last week at $1.90. Pundits are suggesting that prices will stay high throughout the summer. Radio and TV news have been flooded with ‘man on the street’ interviews that show the impact on the average driver. How will these prices affect the average boater this year? Will we see more hours spent on the docks and fewer on the water? Will fuel efficiency become a top-of –mind selling point? Will we see a shift toward electric marine engines?
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