Where do you put all your navigation instruments on an open boat? John Baden used to carry them on a board attached to the mizzen of his Drascombe Lugger. The problems were obvious. It added weight, there were cables all over the place - and you had to turn round to see what was going on. But then came miniaturisation ¬and everything changed. At least it did for Mr Bodan. As soon as the products got smaller, he started stuffing them into his jacket - but not just any old jacket, you understand - this was a special, custom made job with no less than twelve pockets, seven of which could be closed with a Velcro flap.

So far, he's found room for a Plastimo Echotest Depth Sounder, an Oregon Scientific Electronic Travel Barometer, binoculars, hand-bearing compass, Marine Check radar detector, DataScope bearing/rangefinder, Garmin GPS 38, handkerchief, flares, Minolta waterproof camera and Swiftech hand-held VHF.
Evaluation tests are still underway ¬but so far, the feedback is positive. My only concern is that all the extra weight could be dangerous without plenty of positive buoyancy - and that a lifejacket might only get in the way. Is there a better solution, I wonder?