New Page-Turner Celebrates Tacoma’s Odyssey
Before summer comes to a close, here’s another great read about a local maritime legend, the Odyssey, a 90-foot wooden yawl that’s been a Tacoma waterfront fixture for nearly half a century. In “Tacoma’s Tall Ship: The Extraordinary Journey of the Odyssey,” author Emily Elizabeth Molina tells the exciting story of the ship’s storied, 86-year career. Built in 1938 as a pleasure boat for the Vanderbilt family, the Odyssey hosted luminaries on worldwide cruises and was donated for top-secret U.S. Navy service during World War II before finally settling into its Tacoma home for use as a training vessel. Alert readers will recognize Molina’s name from this magazine, where several of her articles on historic vessels have appeared (including one in this issue; see pages 52-59). The paperback will launch next month by Arcadia Publishing, but orders can be taken now as a perfect gift for boat lovers and history buffs. $25 // amazon.com
See the Light with Sionyx’s Nightwave
Now that darkness is descending earlier as we head into the fall season, this new night-vision camera will help boaters cut through the murk of the lengthening twilight hours. Nightwave, from Sionyx Marine, operates in ultra-low light conditions, using a Black Silicon CMOS sensor and a 16mm F/1.4 lens to provide clear digital images in color. The 44-degree field of view gives boaters a wide area to scan for obstacles, debris, and buoys, even on cloudy or moonless nights. Water-resistant with an IP67 rating, Nightwave is built for rugged maritime use and comes with a flexible mounting system for most boating surfaces. The camera includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication and connects directly to all major-brand, multi-function displays. It can also supply live, high-resolution video images at a 60 Hz frame rate to mobile devices, allowing boaters to navigate from anywhere on their vessel. $1,895 // Available via Fisheries Supply, fisheriessupply.com
A Fly-Fishing Shirt Runs Through It
Nothing says “Alaska” like a short-sleeved fishing shirt, right? Well… while the temperatures are starting to dip in the Northwest, this Alaskan Guide Shirt is still suitable for use this month before the true rainy season returns. Made from pre-shrunk cotton twill, the button-up shirt is a lightweight, warmer-weather variation of Filson’s famed flannels used by fishers, ranchers, and outdoor enthusiasts for decades. Two expandable, gusseted chest pockets with button-close flaps provide secure storage for small objects, lures, and tools. Center-back shoulder pleats also provide a full range of movement while casting. The machine-washable shirt comes in a wide range of colors and plaid patterns, but we were especially taken by this blue-gray design depicting intrepid fly-fishermen performing a ballet of line-casting techniques, making it a garment that’s as informative as it is fashionable. $87.50 // filson.com
For Dry Hands, This Stuff Is the Balm!
Fishing is mostly a challenge for the mind, but hours-long expeditions can take a toll on the body, as well—especially the hands. For all the anglers out there who may not heal quite as fast as they used to in chilly, damp air, this Fisherman’s Balm, developed by Waterbody, is created specifically for the needs of maritime workers. The herbal-based hand balm is made of natural beeswax and infused with a blend of organic sunflower, vitamin E, Sitka spruce, and cedar oils. The recipe also includes essences from willow, plantain, yarrow, and calendula plants to help restore moisture to dry, chapped skin and soothe aching muscles. The balm can also be massaged into sore and tired feet, shoulders, and other areas of the body that endure long exposure to the elements. $12 per 0.7 oz. tin // akwaterbody.com
A Dash of Seaweed for Your Popcorn?
Most of us prefer sprinkling a little salt or butter on our crunchy snacks. But this delicious twist can give your next bucket of popcorn an extra nautical tang during movie nights. Made from organic nutritional yeast and dried seaweed, this Alaskan Popcorn Blend Kelp Seasoning from Barnacle Foods adds a deep, savory flavor not only to popcorn, but also to salads, rice, or roasted veggies. Another suggestion: Add the ground-up flakes to the rim of a Bloody Mary to give it some added, unexpected zest. Celebrate the bounty of the sea while you enjoy the many health benefits of Alaskan kelp, including vitamins, antioxidants, potassium, and minerals, such as iodine. $8.95 per 2 oz. jar // barnaclefoods.com
Gotta Get a Gruden Guppy Boot
Grudens are known for creating tough, heavy-duty boots for hard-working boaters, but that doesn’t mean their kids can’t have fun, too. These adorable Guppy Rain Boots are perfect to keep the tootsies dry for pint-sized beachcombers and future mariners. Whether they’re jumping through puddles or making sandcastles, these 100 percent waterproof boots, constructed with 360-degree reinforced rubber, are designed to shed water, mud, sand, and debris. The natural, non-marking, gum-rubber soles also provide a tight grip on slippery decks. More important for parents, these durable Guppies include an easy-to-grab heel pull to make putting on and taking off the boots as easy as possible with squirmy toddlers. Seen here in a stylish navy blue with tiny crab graphics, the boots are also available in gray, pineapple yellow, pink with white anchors, or a camo-style design with olive, brown, and forest green fish. $50 // grudens.com
