Rupert Holmes previews the latest marine products
Topper race packs
Allen Brothers has developed a set of six race packs for Topper sailing dinghies.
These are designed as easy-to-install kits using top quality line cut and spliced to the optimum length, along with Allen’s high-tech hardware, including Dynamic blocks, Tii-On blocks and aluminium cam cleats, that make sail trim and setting adjustments quicker, easier and more accurate straight out of the box.
Packs are available for the vang (kicking strap), Cunningham, outhaul, mainsheet and traveller.
There’s also a rope pack with painter, plus daggerboard and rudder elastics.
TOPPER RACE PACKS
Price: £17.58 to £227.88
Contact: allenbrothers.co.uk
The Boat Data Book 8th Edition
Originally published almost 50 years ago, this treasure trove of invaluable information has been updated by the original author, naval architect and writer Ian Nicolson, who’s still working in his 90s. For this 8th edition, he’s had help from his son, Richard, a hugely experienced surveyor, delivery skipper and racing sailor.
It remains a valuable reference for both DIY boat owners and marine professionals, with clearly presented data covering topics as diverse as what size winch to fit for different purposes on different boats, the breaking strengths of stainless steel rigging wire, recommended sizes for seacocks, anchor chain specifications and much more.
THE BOAT DATA BOOK 8TH EDITION
Price: £32.99
Contact: bloomsbury.com
Allen Vang King gas strut
There’s nothing new about gas struts that lie alongside the vang (kicking strap) that hold the boom up without the need for a topping lift. However, Allen Brothers’ latest product was developed as not ‘just another gas strut’. It therefore offers a number of useful features that aren’t always available on existing products.
Key elements include the three reinforced stainless steel ferrules at the bottom of the strut that offer a range of rigging options and easily customisable set-ups. These include dead-end rope attachments and shackles or blocks to increase the purchase. The Vang King is intended for boats of up to 26ft (8m).
ALLEN VANG KING
Price: From £612
Contact: allenbrothers.co.uk
Laser Tools wire brush set
How many times have you intended to start a job only to find you don’t have the appropriate wire brushes to get going? This new 24-piece set from Laser Tools goes a long way towards solving that problem, though they’re made of copper-plated steel wire, so won’t be suitable for every purpose. Nevertheless, all have a 6mm shank that suits any standard format drill and maximum rated speed is 4,500rpm.
The set includes six each of 50mm and 100mm diameter flat-type crimped wire brushes, and six each cup style
