Product Roundup

By Brian Hagenbuch

ccording to recent gures from A the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, drift gillnetting for salmon is currently number one in fatalities in Alaska, with most deaths caused by falls overboard.

Not like we do not all know this, but most fatalities could be avoided by the consistent use of PFDs. And of course we all know the counter arguments, especially in drifting. The snag points that most PFDs add make it di cult to work around nets, but there are options.

The Kent Rogue or Rogue II are the most unobtrusive vests with the fewest snags. These neoprene otation vests are not Coast Guard-approved and will not keep you a oat all night or buoy you if you bonk your head, but it has 12 pounds of otation and can save lives by providing enough otation to shed heavy raingear. It can easily be worn under a coat and is actually a nice core layer on cold, stormy nights when danger of swamping or stumbling is high.

The newer in atables o er far more buoyancy and are getting better at reducing snag points. They work well for setnetting and can at least be a good option for skippers or for delivering. Mustang Survival sets the bar here, with a number of designs that have Coast Guard approval and either in ate manually, automatically when immersed in water, or a combination of the two. The new MIT 70 Automatic In atable PFD from Mustang is especially spare and provides 15.7 pounds of otation.

Mustang’s Khimera line was originally developed for paddle sport and is a good option. Because they are made for paddling, the Khimera PFDs are low pro le, with big arm holes and general ease of movement. They combine 7.5 pounds of foam otation with another 13 pounds when in ated and are very wearable.

Mustang has also revamped its oat coat with the new Catalyst Flotation Jacket. At $369.99, it is an investment, but a worthy one. Not only does it provide 15.7 pounds of otation, it is also warm and waterproof, with features like hand warmers and an integrated hood.

New options are making PFDs harder to argue against.

www.kentsafetyproducts.com www.mustangsurvival.com

By Brian Hagenbuch

rap-around gas station glasses W seem to be the industry standard for summer shing in Alaska, but those looking for a little more complete protection for their eyes might consider a larger investment. In a recent, extensive online debate among Bristol Bay skippers, the three brands that came up most were Maui Jim, Native and Costa del Mar.

Silver Bay Seafoods chose Maui Jim for a spring gift for its eet, and for good reason: Many claim Maui Jim makes the best lenses in the business. Among several lens materials, the best bet for the Alaska summer salmon is likely the SuperThin glass, which is 32 percent thinner than standard glasses and o ers Maui Jim’s crispest optics and best scratch resistance — the latter key for the constant grime and brine clearing that is inevitable while shing.

Four di erent base tints are available, with the Maui Rose and HCL Bronze probably the best options for cutting glare o the water while maintaining contrast. A prescription option is available for most styles.

Developed by and for sport shermen in the early 1980s, Costa del Mar provides another high-end option with an entire line dedicated to shing. Costa claims its proprietary 580 lens cuts haze and blur of light over the water while knocking down yellows at the 580-nm light spectrum, thus increasing reds, blues and greens, and making for a sharper image. The 580G lenses are the glass version — almost necessary for multi-season use — and are not too heavy. Most styles can take prescriptions. Costa is bit cheaper, but for both Maui Jim and Costa, expect to pay north of $200 for anything with glass lenses, and of course more for prescriptions.

For the deckhand or the highly-leveraged skipper, Native Eyewear provides a quality option for under $100. Most Native styles come in a wide, regular or narrow t, with six lens colors; gray is always good for maximum protection.

Maui Jim, Costa and Native are all good options for eye protection.

mauijim.com costadelmar.com nativeyewear.com

With incentives pushing more boats to bleed, MARITIME FABRICATIONS hopes THE BLEEDING EDGE will streamline the process. This handheld tool has a cross-pattern serrated blade design for cruising through a deckload of arteries. An injection-molded, ergonomic handle aims to relieve fatigue and make it easier to hit your targets. The handle will also take a lanyard, or you can buy it with a PVC holster for rail mounting. Blades are replaceable and silicone gaskets keep water out. If you or your youngest deckhand are going to be on hands and knees bleeding fish all day, it is advisable to get some good kneepads. There are some fleece pants that come with kneepads, but those can get hot. ARC’TERYX’s LEAF COMBAT KNEE CAPS are light and articulate nicely for all-day wear while providing enough protection from the diamond plate. The elastic bands have T-locks (more reliable than Velcro) and the profile is low enough to wear under bibs. About the size of a cigar, the RESCUEME MOB1 from OCEANSIGNAL is the world’s smallest AIS locating beacon for crew overboard. It is compatible with most inflatable life jackets and will start sending an AIS signal within 15 seconds of the inflation of the PFD. The beacon also has a bright strobe that is activated when the AIS is activated and will stay on for more than 24 hours. The battery has a seven-year life span, and the device comes with a five-year warranty.

MARITIME FABRICATIONS www.laconnermaritime.com

leaf.arcteryx.com

www.oceansignal.com

Named after the late, great Geof Bowser (RIP, Geof, we will miss seeing your smiling face and impeccable Coffee Point sets), the BOWSER PIVOT from MARITIME FABRICATIONS is a safer, more efficient levelwind pivot. The pivot can rotate up to 270 degrees, directly from picking position to a flat hang alongside the drum, and can be handled by a single crew member. It eliminates the motion of the pivot swinging forward where it is a potential hazard to crew. As the red, wood-handled fish picks have some fishermen feeling like they’ve become less reliable over the years, the KILLER INSTINCT FISH PICK could be a better option. The handle size is about right, and the stainless blades can be replaced, which extends the life of the pick. The plastic does not wear out, and they float high in foamy holds, the bright green making them easy to spot. The pick hook itself can be easily modified with a grinder. XTRATUF missed a bit with its first two versions of ankle boots. The Ankle Deck Boot did not hold up to deck work, and the Wheelhouse was a little clunky. To ensure success this time, they went back to the well with the LEGACY ANKLE DECK BOOT. It has the same fit and commercial-grade construction as the time-tested Legacy 15-inch boots, but is lopped off at six inches. Twin elastic gore patches at the ankle and sturdy pull tabs make for easy on and off.

MARITIME FABRICATIONS www.laconnermaritime.com

www.killerinstinct.biz

www.xtratuf.com