Three years ago, my wife and I were 87 miles offshore when the steering cable snapped in 8-foot seas. The VHF radio worked, but our hail was answered by static. The single piece of gear that turned that nightmare into a tow-home story was the 406 MHz EPIRB bolted to our cockpit bulkhead. That moment […]

Last summer, I watched a fellow angler's bass boat take on water two miles from the launch ramp. The Coast Guard reached him in 18 minutes, but the only reason he stayed afloat was the boat safety kit strapped under his console. That moment changed how I think about marine safety equipment. Our team spent […]

If you operate a vessel 16 feet or longer, federal law requires at least one USCG-approved Type IV throwable flotation device on board. I have spent the past three summers reviewing, tossing, and abusing throw cushions, ring buoys, and rescue throw bags from my own 19-foot center console and kayak. Below are the 10 best […]