Cruising Accessories
These are the useful things which, although not essential, add to your cruising pleasure
!

Maxigrab Recovery Magnet
!

If you want to retrieve something from the canal which is attracted to a magnet (windlass, mooring pin, padlock . . . ) then this handy pocket sized magnet is the thing to have.

The magnet is so strong that it shouldn't be handled by those wearing a pacemaker!!

It will lift an incredible weight, yet is so small and light that it is a very handy thing to have. The stainless steel casing makes it an attractive product too.

Dimensions - 50mm long (2") - 22mm diameter (3/4")

Mooring Pin
From
!
This is a 'must have' for every boat. We have three styles, all equally effective for holding your boat on its mooring.

Windlass (or Lock Key)
From
!
A windlass is the tool you need to open and close the paddles on locks to get up or down the canal. There are a number of alternatives, which vary according to weight, price and ease of use. All our windlasses are British made quality products which will last you years (if you don't drop them in the canal!).

The standard windlass is, as it says, the standard tool. The long standard makes it easier to wind stiff paddles, but can sometimes be too long to be able to turn all the way round. The handle windlass has a rotating plastic handle which makes it kinder to your hands. The aluminium windlass is much easier to carry and after a flight of locks you would be glad you chose it! Being a much smoother surface, it doesn't need a rotating handle for comfort. The chrome windlass looks good and stays bright when the standard one goes dull or rusty. Gold Top aluminium windlasses are the low cost alternative, being unpolished aluminium. The Dunton Double is the Rolls Royce of windlasses and is often sought after by experienced lock-wheelers.

Double length Windlass
!

This is the 'Jack of all trades' windlass. It can be used as a standard length windlass or a long one, according to the circumstances. Galvanised finish.

BW Watermate Key
!

This is the key which lets you in to all the British Waterways facilities and allows you to open locked lift and swing bridges.

No boater should travel the canals without one.

Garmin Yellow GPS System
!

The purpose of having a GPS system on your boat is not really to navigate the canal - one of the canal guides is sufficient for that.

The features of the system are:

  • Accurate speed in knots or mph
  • Position in OS map coordinates (useful if you need to call one of the emergency services
  • Direction (useful for setting up Satellite TV systems)
  • Distance travelled (useful for your boat log)
  • Time you have been travelling (also useful for your boat log)
  • Altitude (something you might wonder about sometimes)

It can also give you useful information such as the accurate time, the time of sunrise and sunset or your average speed or maximum speed.

Many boaters have been sceptical about the need for GPS on the canals but once they have tried one, they wouldn't be without it

We provide this system with rechargeable batteries (from a 240 volt supply) and a 12volt cable so that you don't need to use up the batteries whilst on board.

Call us if you want more information or to discuss the best model for you.

Garmin Yellow System Mounting Bracket
!
This clever bracket allows you to attach your Garmin Yellow GPS System to your boat and adjust its angke for ease of viewing. The system can easily be removed for security or to use off the boat. (Picture shows Yellow system mounted on Bracket)

Anti-vandal Handcuff key
!
In areas where there is a vandal problem, some lock paddles are disabled by a simple lock mechanism which can only be freed by use of an anti-vandal key.

Pump-out/Diesel/Water Filler Key
!

This multi-purpose key is very useful for opening all the caps fitted to your boat. The centre hexagon is used to open pump-out and rinse-out caps, whilst the side arm is used to open slotted caps such as diesel and water tank caps.

Gas Spanner
!

If you have propane gas cylinders on board, you really need one of these to connect up the cylinders.

These solid cast spanners are not to be confused with flimsy pressed steel ones.