West Marine's New Year's resolution: go boating more in 2005!(Advertorial)(Advertisement)

We all know what it's like to make a resolution and not keep it. That exercise bike still languishes in the garage--right next to the unicycle you promised to learn to ride. This year, why not make a resolution you can actually keep?

Boating and watersports can improve your life, bringing fun, relaxation, family time, exercise, stress relief and closeness with nature--we think everyone should do more of it. We've got solutions to every obstacle (or excuse): boating's too inconvenient, too expensive? New products and technology are available to solve all that.

Step 1: Make Boating Easier

Aspects of boating can be a pain in the stern. Here are a few of the newest products to boost convenience and minimize the hassle.

Marine technology is getting smaller and smarter--there's no better example than the Mystic Handheld--a GPS and a VHF radio all in one. For small boats, the skipper wants to communicate and check coordinates, but may not have the space for separate fixed- mount instruments. Juggling two handhelds is worse--one of them will end up in the drink. With Mystic you only need one unit--glance at the large LCD display for graphical chart info and speak into the DSC-enabled VHF radio. Easy.

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Powerboaters' lives will be made easier by the Ringprop the ingenious new ring-enclosed propeller with no exposed blade tips--preventing weed fouling, rope wrapping, dings and damage from rocks and reefs--not to mention added safety for your hands and feet. And the manatees will thank you, too!