Boating tips: These eight gadgets will help banish boredom at the mooring

If the boat cannot leave its berth for several days, the crew can quickly start to feel cooped up in the saloon. With the right preparation, however, an unplanned layover can be turned into productive hours or moments of relaxation. The selection ranges from space-saving equipment to film recommendations and useful items for boat maintenance.

Waterproof backgammon for when you’re on the move

The magnetic backgammon set from Yellow Mountain keeps you entertained on board, whatever the wind and waves. The magnetic plastic pieces stick securely to the board and won’t slip out of place, even when the boat is listing. The fold-out faux leather case measures a handy 23.5 by 18 centimetres when closed and can be securely fastened with a zip. The set includes a total of 30 magnetic pieces, four dice, a doubling cube and two practical faux leather dice cups, all of which can be safely stowed away in the box when closed. Available on board for 39 euros >> available here.

Foldable lamp with warm light

The waterproof Luci Original solar lantern from Biolite provides a versatile additional light source for the cockpit table or berth on sailing yachts. Weighing 125 grams, the lantern folds flat to a height of 2.5 centimetres, meaning it should easily fit on board or in a duffel bag. When needed, the lantern is inflated via a valve. The built-in lithium-ion battery, with a capacity of 1,000 milliampere-hours, powers ten warm-white LEDs, which produce a light output of up to 65 lumens. The lamp, which is weatherproof to protection class IP67, can be charged either via USB-C in three hours or independently via the integrated solar panel on the top in seven hours. It has four lighting modes: low, medium, high and flashing, with a runtime of up to 24 hours in the lowest mode. A fixed base strap makes it easy to hang the lamp. It is available for 35 euros e.g. available here.

Foldable cool box for the beach and small cruisers

As we all know, storage space is at a premium on boats, and empty, bulky cool boxes take up what little space there is. With its Snap ’N Go range, US manufacturer Coleman offers a foldable hard-shell cool box that can be compressed to a third of its height after use. The mid-range 45QT model costs €152.89 and has a capacity of 42 litres with an empty weight of 7.4 kilograms. When open, the box measures 62 by 33 by 33 centimetres. Once folded, its height shrinks to eleven centimetres. According to the manufacturer, ice remains frozen in this model for up to 50 hours. The box is designed to be completely leak-proof, ensuring that no melt water enters the storage locker. The removable inner liner is fitted with a durable antibacterial coating >> available here.

Maintenance in inclement weather

Before boredom sets in on Harbour Day: how about giving your boat a bit of a tidy-up? There are several products available to make the necessary tasks on board easier. Take citric acid, for example, which gently removes stubborn barnacle deposits from the propeller when you wrap it in acid-soaked cloths. Stainless steel fittings are kept in good condition by polishing them with Flitz Metal Polishing Paste at Mannibest restore their shine and are preserved for the long term. A special product ensures that the area under the machine remains clean Yachticon Bilge Cleaner at SVB, to detect leaks immediately, whilst mild Yachticon Boat Shampoo at SVB It cleans the gelcoat without damaging the protective wax layer.

Listening rather than reading

Just one of many examples: the audiobook “Could you take the sail out of the sun for a moment?“ provides entertainment for quiet evenings on board. In it, author and sailor Johannes Erdmann recounts his experiences as a charter skipper in the Bahamas with charming candour. On board a 13-metre-long catamaran, he was regularly confronted with bizarre situations and questions from novice sailors. Published by Delius Klasing Verlag, the audiobook has a running time of 5 hours and 39 minutes. The entertaining anecdotes are narrated by Christopher Mayer. The unabridged edition was released on 30 April 2021 and is available, amongst other formats, as Audible audiobook, for example, is available here.

The … also provides entertainment YACHT Sailing Podcast. It features inspiring stories about sailing, from which you can also learn something. The podcast is available on all the usual platforms.

Films

When the weather’s rubbish, sometimes there’s only one thing for it: head for your cabin, pull the blanket over your head and let the day at the harbour be just that – a day at the harbour. Films with a maritime theme, which perfectly capture the fascination and challenges of the sea, provide the perfect entertainment below deck. Historical classics such as The Boat and Master & Commander, which depict life in extremely confined spaces. Struggles for survival such as All Is Lost, The Storm or White Squall, which depicts the dynamic atmosphere of a young crew at sea.

Link to the streaming platforms: The Boat, Master & Commander, All Is Lost, The Storm, White Squall

Kite Fun

As soon as the rain eases off but the wind is still blowing strongly in the harbour, Decathlon’s Feel’R 180 two-line stunt kite keeps you entertained on land. With a wingspan of 160 centimetres and a height of 69 centimetres, this model flies in winds of 10 km/h or more and comes complete with two 25-metre-long Dyneema lines. The kite doesn’t take up much space and is one of the most space-saving gadgets around. It can be packed down to 112 centimetres. Price: 39.99 euros >> available here.