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Each year, as the fall boat shows—and the deals that come with them—appear on the horizon, we pore over the numerous products we’ve reviewed in the previous 12 months to select the cream of the crop for our Editor’s Choice awards. We hope the list will help readers better navigate any boat-show or end-of-season shopping. This year, we picked from the Best Choice products evaluated in the September 2010 through August 2011 issues. The 2011 GOTY roster includes an electric outboard, some stout bullet blocks, electric marine toilets, bilge pumps, chafe gear, and marine maintenance products like bottom paint.

Speed-gauging tools developed for racing sailors have moved beyond a simple display of measuring knots, and now offer heading data, course over ground, distance-to-line, and GPS speed-tracking features. Velocitek is leading the marine electronics field of handheld speed tools with its ProStart, while Rock City Marine's RockBox, like the ProStart, uses GPS satellite signals to monitor speed and performance. Testers looked at each model’s ease of installation, performance on the water, and durability. Testers also rated their accompanying software.

Practical Sailor 2014 Index

Practical Sailor 2015 Index

In advance of a recent summer coastal cruise, we downloaded eSeaChart navigation app, the first iPad charting program to work with Active Captain, a free service that requires registration. It cost $8 and took only a few minutes to download the charts needed for the cruising area-from Tampa to Ft. Myers, Fla.-including detailed harbor charts. One thing I liked about the charts was that they were raster charts, nearly identical to the government versions that appeal to my analog brain. Redraw rates were a little slow, as a result, but at sailboat speeds, this isn't a major issue.

After reviewing the 2005 issues of the magazine, we've selected a mix of products made to improve safety, navigation, and maintenance, as well a distinctive vessel.

The term "racer/cruiser" has been used by many builders to describe their products, with varying degrees of truthfulness. Some are really cruising boats fashioned after racing boats, but only competitive in races at the club level. Some are pure racing boats, with perhaps a dodger and an enclosed head added to qualify them as cruisers. This series of Frers/Carroll Marine boats, however, are "racer/cruisers" in the truest sense.