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Deck Hardware Decisions

When you’re planning your boat’s refit, upgrading the deck hardware can go a long way toward making sailing easier and safer.
deck hardware, anchor bridle

Mantus Anchor Bridle

Available at mantusanchors.com Courtesy of the Manufacturer

At the end of a long day, once you’re anchored, you want to stay put and have a comfortable night. Using an anchor snubber takes the strain off of the windlass once the hook is set. A nylon rode works well for this, as it has enough stretch to dampen most of the tugging and jerking that can happen on a breezy night. The Mantus Anchor Bridle ($180 and up; mantusanchors.com) consists of a three-strand nylon rode with chafe protection, heavy-­duty shackles and thimbles, and a chain hook, and now the bridle is available in a setup just for catamarans.

deck hardware

Seaview Cable Glands

Buy It Now Courtesy of the Manufacturer

With all the cool electronics available for your boat, there’s a good chance you’ll need to run a cable through the deck at some point. The Seaview Cable Gland by PYI ($20) is a housing that you place over the hole on deck. It features a ­tapered rubber plug in the middle, which you drill through for the ­cable run to get a watertight seal. The ­housing is available in several ­materials and finishes.

deck hardware

Lewmar VX1 Vertical Windlass

The gearbox now features a water-­ingress ­protection cover. Courtesy of the Manufacturer

Lewmar (lewmar.com) has ­revamped its line of vertical windlasses to make them ­lighter, ­stronger and more efficient. The VX1 vertical windlass has a hybrid-­polymer chain gypsy, which allows for quieter, jump-free ­operation. Under the deck, the gearbox now features a water-­ingress ­protection cover, and there is flexibility in the placement orientation of the gearbox.

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deck hardware

Harken High-Load Snatch Block

Available at harken.com Courtesy of the Manufacturer

Most cruising boats have at least a couple of snatch blocks available for spinnaker lines or to ­adjust a jib lead. The Harken high-load snatch block ($340 and up; ­harken.com) features a soft loop to attach to the deck, and the side plates are easy to open and then lock solidly into place. A ­captured Velcro strap holds the block ­securely closed.

deck hardware

Hella NaviLED 360 Anchor Pole-Mount Lamp

Available hellamarine.com Courtesy of the Manufacturer

Be seen at night! Even if you have a masthead anchor light, in some cases it’s prudent to have an anchor light closer to water level. The Hella NaviLED ($100 and up; hellamarine.com) ­anchor pole-mount lamp can be seen for at least 2 nautical miles and is available in fixed or fold-down models. The housing is completely sealed with an IP67 water-resistance rating.

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