Equipment: Cooling without energy - and other innovations in boat equipment

Cooling without electricity with the Qool-Box

The German company Qool from Würzburg has launched its innovative cool boxes in two sizes, the first products in the company's still young history. The "Box M" has a capacity of 27 litres and costs 430 euros, while the large "Box L" version can be filled with up to 43 litres and is available for 540 euros. For 20 euros more each, the boxes are also available in the black "Eco+" version, whose outer shell is made from at least 25 per cent recycled material. This is old plastic that is shredded, processed and reused to make the body and lid.

The thermal insulation of the passive Qool boxes is provided by vacuum insulation panels, which are said to insulate up to ten times more than conventional insulation materials. The cooling elements are available for three different temperature ranges, all of which must be pre-cooled in the freezer beforehand. The "Temperature Elements" are available for the temperature range from minus 20 to minus 10 degrees ("Standard Frozen"), for minus 2 to plus 2 degrees ("Standard Cool") and for temperatures from plus 2 to plus 8 degrees ("Controlled Fresh").

We tried it out. In practice, the Qool cooler, fully loaded with water bottles, maintained the target temperature range of between plus 2 and plus 8 degrees for around six days in a room with temperatures between 23 and 27 degrees; a very good result.

The only minor drawback is that the folding handles can cause problems on the boat. On the one hand, they are quite small for people with large hands, and on the other hand, the mechanism is sometimes a hindrance when passing them on.

• More information: qool-products.com

Robust thermo coffee pot

With the Rambler plunger jug from Yeti, you can make fresh coffee anywhere. The jug is made of stainless steel, is double-walled and has vacuum insulation. The filter, called Groundscontrol, is designed to separate the ground coffee from the brewed coffee when the plunger is pressed down, preventing the coffee from staling and becoming bitter over longer periods of time. The inside of the jug has a ceramic coating, which should make it easy to keep clean. The jug can also be cleaned in the dishwasher. It is available in five colours and two sizes with a capacity of one or two litres. The smaller model delivers around four cups of coffee and costs 125 euros. The large version holds more than six cups and is available for 150 euros. With the optional lid, the jug can also be used purely as a carafe.

• More information: Yeti.com

Glare-free view

The Italian optical specialist Rudy presents the Nyad eyewear series. Depending on the lenses used, the sunglasses can be optimised for different types of sport. The Polar 3FX version is particularly interesting for water sports enthusiasts. It is designed to prevent glare and eliminate reflections on the surface of the water as well as enhance contrast. The frame is made from a polymer derived from castor oil and is said to be very robust. The goggles weigh just 30 grams. The price varies from 130 euros to 200 euros, depending on the lens selected.

• More information: Rudyproject.com