Each and every spring, there’s a hot new crop of cool tools and other stuff that we boaters can use to make our lives on the water better. Of course, most of it costs big bucks. So what does 2015 have in store for the spendthrifts among us? After perusing the winter boat shows, checking all the catalogs, and Googling until our fingers bled, we found a slew of handy but inexpensive gadgets and gear. Then we begged, bartered, and borrowed, in order to test all of it and make sure inexpensive didn’t mean “cheap.” After putting everything through the ringer, we boiled it down to a list of top 10 things we think you’ll want to know about.
1. Cuda Titanium Bonded Pliers
At $50, these things are a serious bargain. They sit comfortably in your hand, slide smoothly open and shut, and have separate tungsten carbide line and wire cutters. These are the first pliers I’ve had actually work with braid fishing lines, and that includes trying some pairs that cost literally three times as much. The hinge is sealed to prevent water intrusion, so these should last a bit longer than most regular pliers, too. Check them out at Cuda. Continue reading….