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Ten boating gadget gifts.

December 1, 2006

TivoliSongBook-ISClear Tunes
Tivoli Audio's first-ever digital portable radio, the SongBook ($159.99) is a travel clock/digital radio that's perfect for your boat's cabin. It has a highly sensitive digital AM/FM tuner for clear and precise reception, and an adjustable, telescoping FM antenna and built-in AM antenna. The radio features a "seek" function to automatically search for signals around the world. It also features an "on demand" blue backlit LCD display that shows the station tuning, as well as a digital clock that includes an alarm and 20-minute sleep timer. (877) 297-9479, www.tivoliaudio.com.

Inka-Pens-IS Extreme Pen
Designed by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the I nka Pen's ($25) replaceable, pressurized ink cartridge and watertight, O-ring sealed enclosure ensures that it will write at any angle, and even underwater. Constructed from hardened, stainless steel and carbon-fiber composite, it attaches securely onto clothing, gear or keys, and offers excellent corrosion resistance in the most severe environments. (303) 443-5121, www.writeanywhere.com.

Sony-ISSplashy Grooves
Sony's first splash-proof marine CD head unit, the Sony HS70MW ($295.99), is resistant to both sunlight and saltwater. The model features a water-deflecting chassis cover, a UV-resistant faceplate finish and a red key illumination/white display configuration for superior visibility. It plays MP3, WMA, AAC and ATRAC formats, and comes satellite- and iPod-adapter ready. (800) 488-7669, www.xplodsony.com.

ZelcoSensor-ISForever Light
The advanced technology of Zelco's Sensor LED Flashlight ($21) makes turning the light on or off effortless. The two super-bright, white LEDs produce a clear, crisp beam that can be seen more than a mile away. LED bulbs are energy efficient since they last for 100,000 hours and never need replacing. An override button on the bottom of the flashlight keeps the power off until you want it on. Two AAA batteries provide a burn time of approximately 17 hours. (800) 431-2486, www.zelco.com.

SeaLifeWaterproof-CameraShark Shot
SeaLife's DC500 Underwater Digital Camera ($499.99) features 5.0 mega-pixels and 3X optical zoom for clear and colorful pictures. It comes with a "Shark Mode" that eliminates shutter lag so you can avoid missing fast-action shots in or out of the water. This compact, one-button camera comes in a protective, rubber-armored case that's rated to a depth of 200 feet. (856) 866-9191, www.sealife-camera.com.

Hour_Meter_hi-resTracking Time
For determining the operating period of an engine in elapsed hours, Sunpro's Hour Meters ($45.99) are ideal for tracking the running time of your boat for scheduled maintenance, rental-use time, and warranty and service records. Both an analog and digital readout are available, complete with necessary mounting brackets for display. (216) 898-9200, www.sunpro.com.

CordPro-ISCord Control
The Cordpro ($14.95) is a power cord management device that takes the struggle out of untangling cords when you are out on the dock on your boat. This donut-shaped contraption prevents cords from getting tangled by allowing only the desired amount of cord to be dispensed. Just feed the cord into the Cordpro, insert the plug end of the cord into the wall, place the Cordpro wherever desired, grab the opposite end and unwind. The remainder of the cord is neatly kept contained inside the Cordpro, untangled and ready for immediate use. (800) 700-6784, www.cordpro.com.

AMRE-Case-ISSaving Case
The S3 Amabilia AMRE2300's ($119.90) industrial-strength protection exemplifies the new line of high-impact, waterproof cases from Italian designer Amabilia of High Performance Resin Cases (HPRC). The lightweight, watertight protective case offers the ultimate protection of electronic items out on the water, including cell phones, photography equipment, GPS units and two-way radios. (888) 924-2440, www.s3cases.com.

UniversalTool-IS-rotBionic Multitool
The first in a series of multi-tools of the award-winning Bionic Wrench® technology, Loggerhead Tool's ImmiX™ Universal Tool ($74.95) blends the functionality of up to 34 full-sized tools in one universal design. This compact multi-tool features two retractable, stainless-steel knife blades and assorted standard screwdriver heads. It has an electrolysis nickel finish and comes in a durable synthetic case with a leather belt loop.  (888) 564-4374, www.loggerheadtools.com.

Ryobi-ISBuff Power
For early season wax application or mid-season sprucing, the powerful Ryobi One+ System's P430 18-volt Buffer/Polisher ($29.97) cordless buffer/polisher enables boaters to quickly clean and buff. At 4,000 orbits a minute, the 6-inch orbital pad handles a large working surface area in no time, with a Grip Zone that allows for an easy one- or two-hand operation. The unit comes with an application and buffing bonnet and is available exclusively at Home Depot. (800) 525-2579, www.ryobitools.com.


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