| Are you confused by all the recommendations for | | | | colored lens after dark to protect your night vision. |
| personal sailing safety gear? Your personal gear must | | | | Make sure to carry a full set of spare batteries. If your |
| be compact, fit on a belt or inside your sailing shorts | | | | mini light uses AAA batteries, slide them into a tall |
| pockets, and be waterproof. Keep these five tools on | | | | plastic, cylinder shaped, prescription bottle. If it uses AA |
| your person no matter where you choose to sail. | | | | batteries, store them in a plastic soap dish and secure |
| 1. Sailing Knife with Marlinspike | | | | it with a few rubber bands. |
| Choose a knife with an all stainless straight or serrated | | | | 4. Hand bearing Compass |
| (saw-like teeth) blade. Select a 4" blade for folding | | | | This champion of mini compasses looks like a rubber |
| knives and 4"-6" for straight blades. | | | | coated hockey puck with a neck lanyard. It's a |
| The better marine knives come with a marlinspike--a | | | | magnetic compass made just for the yachtsman. |
| pointed, metal spike, joined to the knife with a hinge. | | | | These marine compasses are filled with heavier fluid |
| Buy a separate marlinspike in a sheath if you decide to | | | | to keep the compass card from sticking to the sides. |
| use a straight blade knife. Use the marlinspike to splice | | | | Use it to find your position or check your sailboat's |
| three-strand nylon line or open stuck shackle pins. | | | | steering compass. Give this invaluable navigation tool a |
| 2. Needle-nose Pliers | | | | permanent berth in your sailing navigation tool kit. |
| You know the aggravation of trying to get a grip on an | | | | 5. Small Line or Sailcloth Strips |
| anchor shackle pin, bolt head, or pipe. Enter the | | | | Do you need more line to lash the headsail to the |
| needle-nose! Get a pair with comfortable, nonslip grips, | | | | lifelines or an extra tie for a furled mainsail? It seems |
| equipped with a wire cutter near the hinge. Use them | | | | you never have enough short pieces of line ready at |
| to tighten or loosen shackle pins, cut electrical wire, or | | | | hand. |
| change cotter pins in your sailing rigging. | | | | Carry four or five 18" -24" pieces of small line or strips |
| 3. Mini Light with Night Lens | | | | of dacron in a pocket. In a pinch, you'll be ready without |
| Find a light small enough to fit into the palm or your | | | | having to dig through a sail locker for more tie-downs. |
| hand. The best for boating come with a button on the | | | | As a sailing skipper, you need to stay prepared with |
| end of the cylinder for click-on, click-off operation. It | | | | the best sailing safety tools close at hand. This list will |
| needs a holster and snap on night lenses (red or blue). | | | | get you started in selecting the best gear on the |
| Use your light during the day to check your engine or | | | | market to keep you and your sailboat crew safe and |
| bilges located in dark compartments. Snap on the | | | | sound. |