If you’re a picnic boater, a fisherman, a party person in need of extra seating or dry technology, then here are some nifty boat and yacht gadgets you should check out, says Veronica Stivala.

Sounds dry

Ah, life on the high seas, where you can experience the vast expanse of never-ending blue, the soft lapping of the sea against your boat and the warmth of the sun on your skin, away from the stresses of emails, phone calls and text messages. While keeping away from this technology is fun, enjoying the silence might not be, especially for the party animals among you. The Digital Media Locker from the marine entertainment experts at Aquatic AV is a very neat solution for those keen to carry their delicate e-music on board their open boats. With a waterproof rating of IP65 and a two-way remote with a 40-foot range, the Media Locker also includes a 288W amplifier and stainless steel mounting hardware for a simple flush-mount installation.

Stay connected

OK, who were we kidding? Who really can spend a week without their phones, and (insert name of stupidly addictive game here)? WiFi is to the 21 st century what smelling salts were to anyone living in the waste-infested streets of the Middle Ages. Although you can find WiFi in practically every port, often, when on the water, you are too far from WiFi. To solve the problem you can get a range-extender like the hField Wi-Fire WiFi Adapter that offers fast Internet speeds, even if the signal is not that strong. With this device, you can be even as far as 1,000 feet from a router, and you could still get a signal.

Keep it cool

WiFi may be necessary, but food is vital. Yes we’re talking about a cool box, but not just any cool box, a really cool cool box (jeez, that was worse than the Middle Ages quip). The range-topping 236-litre Yeti Tundra 236, is a great product. Not only will it keep your food and drink cold for up to seven days at a time, but its range of accessories makes it extremely versatile. You can add a cushion to turn it into a two-man seat; strappings or chocks to anchor it to your deck; a hard-wearing lid to turn it into a stepping platform; or a selection of ice packs to refrigerate its contents for a week at a time without the need for a power source. Ideal for picnic boaters, fishermen, party people and those in need of extra seating.

Slip and slide

You’ve kept yourself on the no-technology wagon? Impressive. Reward yourself and those members of who haven’t nicked your last ice cream from your coolbox with a ride on an inflatable floating island (really) or a banana boat. Jobe Sports offers a huge range of inflatable toys and slides in a wide range of sizes and designs, including an island designed to tow up to six people. It has an easy boarding platform, and made of heavy duty PVC has comfortable neoprene backrests for the riders. Alternatively get hold of a waterslide. Offering a 45 degree inflatable slide and individually built to each yacht, Aquaglide offers the ideal accessory for yachts at anchor.

You can add a cushion to turn it into a two-man seat or a selection of ice packs to refrigerate its contents for a week

Shock no more

Submerged objects will never ruin your sailing trips again with the smart Safety Torque System. This nifty gadget is basically a reusable hub and driveline protection system that automatically releases and resets in the event of an impact. It absorbs the shock load and slips, protecting your expensive drive shaft, gears and prop from serious damage and enabling you to re-engage drive and get yourself home, without a vast repair bill or any need to call the rescue services.

Staying safe

How do you like the sound of an advanced security system that not only displays your boat’s position on your phone or computer, but also feeds you live data about your on-board gear, including battery voltage to speed, bearing, equipment malfunctions and flooding. With the C-Pod Security System you can even manage your boat remotely by activating (or deactivating) electronic equipment while at home or on holiday. You can get alerts sent to 10 different recipients by email or text message and all data is saved on C-Pod’s servers, enabling them to transfer information to authorities around the world.

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