jim rosenthal
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
- Messages
- 11,050
- Hatteras Model
- 36' CONVERTIBLE-Series I (1969 -1977)
There used to be a publication called Powerboat Reports, which had no ads and also did comparison surveys of boats and products for boat owners. PBR folded years ago, but their sister publication, Practical Sailor, is still around. Every year they publish a roundup of things they've tested recently, and some of those things will be useful to boat owners on this forum even though we aren't sailors (except for you, Maynard, and you, Pascal
)
So, here are a few items they thought well of, which might also be useful to some of you all:
-Shields Poly-X sanitation hose. They tested (in lab and on boats cruising) several of these, and this was the winner for ease of fitting, odor resistance, and ease of cleaning. It's twenty bucks a foot, more or less, which ain't cheap, but a boat that doesn't stink is worth $20/foot. Total overall length.
-AWAB and ABA hose clamps: 316 stainless, serrated bands, very resistant to corrosion. A winner in their tests of all the popular brands sold in marine stores.
-IMTRA Gibraltar lights: I actually have the tungsten/halogen version, but they are now available in a bicolor red/white LED version. Not cheap, but very well made and work extremely well. Retail $200, but probably cheaper from Pyacht.com.
-Alpenglow cabin lights; also very well made, not much RF if any, handsome design and enclosures.
-Eisenshine clear vinyl cleaner/buffer: this might be of use to someone who wanted to get a few more years out of an aft enclosure. Again not cheap, but given the cost of new isinglass, maybe worth it if it gets you another year or two.
I don't think any of the other products they recommended have much utility to us on Hatteras Yachts. But if you need a roller furler for the spinnaker on your Hatteras, let me know and I'll send you the link.
It's worth mentioning that these products are not OEM for our boats and that none of this competes with Sam's. Sam's foot the bill for this forum and our space here and I am not going to recommend anything or anyone trying to eat their lunch.

So, here are a few items they thought well of, which might also be useful to some of you all:
-Shields Poly-X sanitation hose. They tested (in lab and on boats cruising) several of these, and this was the winner for ease of fitting, odor resistance, and ease of cleaning. It's twenty bucks a foot, more or less, which ain't cheap, but a boat that doesn't stink is worth $20/foot. Total overall length.
-AWAB and ABA hose clamps: 316 stainless, serrated bands, very resistant to corrosion. A winner in their tests of all the popular brands sold in marine stores.
-IMTRA Gibraltar lights: I actually have the tungsten/halogen version, but they are now available in a bicolor red/white LED version. Not cheap, but very well made and work extremely well. Retail $200, but probably cheaper from Pyacht.com.
-Alpenglow cabin lights; also very well made, not much RF if any, handsome design and enclosures.
-Eisenshine clear vinyl cleaner/buffer: this might be of use to someone who wanted to get a few more years out of an aft enclosure. Again not cheap, but given the cost of new isinglass, maybe worth it if it gets you another year or two.
I don't think any of the other products they recommended have much utility to us on Hatteras Yachts. But if you need a roller furler for the spinnaker on your Hatteras, let me know and I'll send you the link.
It's worth mentioning that these products are not OEM for our boats and that none of this competes with Sam's. Sam's foot the bill for this forum and our space here and I am not going to recommend anything or anyone trying to eat their lunch.