Jewel of Portland

I was pulling the pictures of the HelmsMate Outboard Extension Handles off my camera, and ran across a shot I took of the Willamette River in downtown Portland, Oregon a couple weeks ago. Tom McCall waterfront park starts just to the left and the odd little building on the dock to the right of the marina is a seafood restaurant with dock side drive up service. Across the river, under the first arch of the bridge is OMSI and moored outside the museum is the submarine USS Blueback.

New Product Review - New HelmsMate T & TE Model Outboard Motor Tiller Extension Handles

If you troll with a kicker or trolling motor, you may have discovered that it is a stretch to steer from the best seat. If you sit clear in the stern, you may throw the boat out of trim, or develop a back kink from twisting and leaning to reach the tiller. If so, an outboard tiller extension handle may be just the ticket. They are designed to attach to your existing outboard tiller giving you the extra reach you need.

We carry the HelmsMate Extension Handles by Ironwood Pacific, and were pleased to evaluate and add two new handles to their line-up. The New Models -dubbed T and TE are much shorter than any of the previous Ironwood handles, measuring in at a fixed 18" for the T model and an adjustable 17" to 23" for the TE model. These are a welcome addition to this line-up as we've talked with a few customers who had purchased the longer versions and sawed them off to get to these kind of lengths.

In addition to the anodized aluminum shaft, the two new HelmsMates share other qualities with their big brothers. They utilize the same universal clamp as the longer models, which is really universal. It consists of a marine grade nylon clamp which you shouldn't mistake this for ordinary plastic because it is really tough. I took one of my samples out, laid it on a cement floor, and stood on it with all my weight (200 lbs.) on one foot, then bounced up and down a few times. It flexed and deformed a bit , but sprang right back and there was zero sign of cracking or distress.

The universal clamp comes with a 1/8" thick heavy rubber sizing sleeve that fits many tiller handles perfectly. If your handle is a little thicker, you can slide the sleeve out and if youn eed even more room, just grab the clamp ears and spread it open wider. for some of the smaller motors with a really thin handle, Ironwood Pacific provides what they call a second sleeve. It is a sheet of rubber that you can wrap around the handle from a partial turn to several turns to get the exact fit you need. It doesn't come included, but they will send yo one for free if you find you need it. As you can see from the picture above, there is a big cut-away that allows easy access to the kill switch.

The Helmsmate T Model is a fixed 18" length, but the Helmsmate TE is extendable from 17" to 23". I like the fact that there is a positive lock system consisting of a spring loaded metal button that locks into one of a series of holes in the outer shaft. It took me a couple tries to get the hang of it, but once I did it was very simple and it stays where you put it. This system means that I have to adjust in abut 2 1/2" increments, but I don't picture ever needing more fine control than that. It is a real contrast to the cam-lock systems used by some of the other tiller extension handles I've tried. On the most recent cam lock version I tried, it didn't take opening and closing the mechanism more than a handful of times before it got a little loose. Imagine twisting the throttle, only to have the cam slip and suddenly you lose throttle control and your length setting is lost. I'll take the positive lock over the cam any time.

In summary, these two new handles have all the features that have made the Ironwood Pacific HelmsMate one of my favorite trolling motor extension handles. They fit well on a variety of gas outboard motors and electric trolling motors, they are made in the USA, and they have a very attractive price. We are able to offer the T model at $14.95 and the TE at $18.95.

Dock De-icer Offerings Expand Again With Addition of Pyramid Oil-Free Dock De-icers

Our goal is to offer the most comprehensive offering of dock de-icers anywhere on-line. If you've visited SavvyBoater.com, you may have seen that we offer the entire catalog of Ice Eater Dock De-icers by Powerhouse, including all 4 de-icer models in both 110V and 220V with the full range of cord length options. We also carry all of PowerHouse Ice Eater's de-icer accessories and de-icer replacements parts.

We also offer a wide selection of Kasco Dock De-icers and de-icer parts and accessories. People have been putting their trust in Kasco Marine de-icer for over 40 years, and Kasco has leveraged those years of experience to produce a efficient, durable de-icer, that will stand up to the harshest environments.

We are pleased to announce that we have added the Pyramid Oil-Free Dock D-icers by Pyramid Tech. Why another line of Dock De-icers? We feel that the unique design of the Pyramid oil-free de-icers has a real appeal for users that are interested in protecting the environment or anyone who needs to de-ice a sensitive aquatic area. While standard Dock de-icers may contain a gallon of oil, the oil free de-icer uses only an ounce or two right at the seal. In addition, a higher starting torque motor allows them to use a tighter seal, further reducing the potential for a leak. The Pyramid Tech dock de-icers are very competitively priced, offering an environmentally friendly option, without having to pay a premium.

Pyramid Tech Dock De-icers are available for 110 volt power in the following sizes:

• Pyramid Model 6205D Dock Deicer - 1/2 HP clears roughly 40'-50' of ice.
  
• Pyramid Model 6208D Dock de-icer - 3/4 HP dock de-icer clears approximately 60'-75' of ice.


• Pyramid Model 6210D Dock De-icer - 1 HP dock de-icer which will clear about 80'-100' of ice.

Note: Ice clearance is approximate and depends on a wide variety of local variables including water depth in the de-icing area, overall size of the body of water, temperature and weather conditions. These figures are provided by Pyramid Tech and are based on dock de-icer installations in mid-state New York.

If you are interested in reviewing the full specifications for the Pyramid Tech Oil Free Dock De-icer line, visit our product Pyramid Tech De-icer Product Comparison and Specifications page.

To aid you in your de-icer decision, we have also developed a Powerhouse Ice Eater Dock De-icer Comparison and Specifications page and a Kasco Dock De-icer Comparison and Specifications page.