VINTAGE & EDITOR’S CHOICE
by The Editors
C & F DESIGN GRAND SLAM GUIDE BOAT BOX
At this late date I consider it unlikely I’ll ever enjoy anything approaching an organized life. Yet for the past 30 years now, C & F Design has done its best to give me a hand, building fly boxes and fly storage systems that can go a long way in creating a semblance of order in the array of flies that threatens to overwhelm those of us inclined to tie and carry a few more patterns than we just might need in this or our next several lifetimes. Besides producing boxes all but indestructible and legitimately waterproof, C & F developed what they now call their “universal foam system,” which allows you to easily swap foam inserts, flies in place, box to box—meaning you can use the same box, say, for an insert with countless little autumn BWOs and then replace it, another outing, with an insert holding a half-dozen ginormous Peanut Envies. And now comes C & F Design’s Grand Slam Guide Boat Box ($238), essentially a fly case, or library, for carrying 12 or 16 foam inserts, depending on the model, each insert the same as those you would have in one of their large fly boxes for your tarpon or permit or bonefish or even bluewater patterns. Guide Boat Box models are also configured for smaller trout flies and trout fly foam inserts—or whatever other combination your angling demands. Whether a C & F Guide Box can actually bring order to my flies remains to be seen—but if it doesn’t, I’ve got no one but myself to blame. www.c-and-f.co.jp
BROWNELLS QUICK-SET LATIGO SLING
Rifle slings are not on the ‘A’-list of concerns when putting a rifle together for a hunt—not, that is, unless you’ve been there many times before and know just how important a sling can be. A good rifle sling must be strong, durable, supple, easily adjustable (so as not to flop around when stalking), instantly detachable, narrow enough to fit into the natural crease of the shoulder and stay in place, leaving both hands free, and quiet in the bush. Only one sling I know of fulfills all those requirements: Brownells Quick-Set Latigo leather sling. Latigo is saddle leather, dual-tanned, supple, easily maintained and, properly cared for, lasts for years. Brownells has been offering its latigo sling for as long as I can remember, and it hasn’t changed much. It’s now available in two widths (1” and 1¼”), black or tan, with or without sling swivels installed. One size can be made to fit all: You size one to your rifle, secure the setting with a removable brass “rivet,” and cut off the excess leather. I have four, in sizes that accommodate every hunting rifle I own. Here’s Brownells description: No metal can touch your finest stock. No slips, laces, snaps, hooks or toggles to change or adjust. Just one continuous piece of fabulous leather that, through a clever design, can be set instantly to any length you want. They call the adjustment “Pull down, snap out,” and it’s just that quick. Price: $69.95, with swivels. Beat that. http://brownells.com/gear/slings
ESQUIF MALLARD
I’ve been seeking the perfect knock-around boat for so long that I’d all but given up hope of ever finding it. What constitutes my ideal watercraft? Well, I’m glad you asked. For starters, it needs to be long enough to accommodate decoys and a dog, but just short enough to travel in the bed of my truck. Say, 12 feet, 4 inches. Two people should be able to :fsh comfortably while stashing enough gear for the day (650-pound capacity), but it should still be light enough to carry if I’m going solo (59 pounds). Stable for easy movement (39.75-inch beam), but with a shallow enough draft that it glides silently over the weedy bottom in the skinniest of water. And if I’m really going to be picky, I may as well demand that it doesn’t show too much wear and tear, even though I’m going to beat the hell out of it (proprietary T-Formax material is a plastic laminate, specially designed to maintain structural memory while maintaining resistance to abrasions). Oh, and it must paddle easily, but be square of stern to accommodate a trolling or outboard motor. Impossible, you say? Meet the Esquif Mallard ($2,119/$2,299 camo), the newest boat from the family-owned Canadian paddling company that has been building canoes and kayaks since 1997. Seems my search is finally over. www.esquif.com
NEWPORT NT300 ELECTRIC OUTBOARD MOTOR
While my lifelong love affair with the combustible engine has thus far prevented me from having a wandering eye toward battery-powered automobiles, I have come to appreciate the brushless technology found in modern yard equipment. And now, thanks to the Newport NT300 ($1,199), I can say the same for outboard motors. This 3HP dynamo boasts all the attributes one would expect from battery power; it proved clean, compact, lightweight and quiet. Operation is simple, with intuitive control features like a digital throttle and LCD screen, and it requires no maintenance. Yes, you read that correctly—your days of tinkering with the boat motor are officially over. And when paired with the 36V Newport lithium battery ($949, charger included), the NT300 packs enough punch for more than 60 miles of range and 30 hours of run time. The battery is long lasting and easy to handle, promising more than 2,000 charging cycles while weighing just 24 pounds. But the biggest surprise was the immediate acceleration, torque and speed the NT300 brings to bear. There’s more than enough power for your canoe, kayak, or jon boat, and you’ll have peace of mind stashing it on a larger vessel as an emergency backup. Call it a green energy alternative we can all get behind. www.newportvessels.com
