[I’m not much of a fisherman.

Captain Richard Rodriguez of the BitterEnd blog brings us this story:

It’s embarrassing to admit, but I have NOT hopped aboard the iPhone bandwagon. Yet.

The folks at Rose Point Navigation Systems have released a beta of the new Coastal Explorer 2010 product. Navagear readers already know that I use Coastal Explorer 2009 aboard my boat. So my "executive summary" of Coastal Explorer 2010 should come as no surprise: the best navigation software on the market is getting better.

No, I'm not paid by Rose Point. My only compensation is that I get free software to test and review, which I then put to use aboard my boat, if I like it. And I like it. Of course, I am obligated to remind readers that this discussion encompasses my experience with unreleased beta software that may or may not include all the features discussed.

So what's new in Coastal Explorer 2010?

The list of new features is actually quite short. Jeff Hummel, Rose Point's Director of Sales and Marketing, explains why: "It's not about features, features, features. It's about making the features you already have better and easier to use."

Sometimes I hear long-range cruisers suggest that a flare gun could be a suitable pirate-defense weapon. While I’m in no position to offer a judgment on the merits of such a strategy, how about a flare gun Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud of? :-)

Captain Richard Rodriguez over at BitterEnd seems to be featuring gear and gadgets recently. He periodically posts quick reviews of products he uses under the heading “Things That Work.”

I’m always learning something new from Captain Richard Rodriguez of the BitterEnd blog.

On my little boat, I don’t usually worry much about chafe. But during a minor blow during which I put my 6-kg Rocna anchor to the test, I was a bit surprised to see that my anchor line had chafed a bit more than I would expect for a simple overnight stay, at the bow roller.

You know, folks, I do my best, but there is just an awful lot of marine technology to keep up with these days!

[It’s a press release, of course, but the concept makes sense to me. Any of our talented Navagear readers have experience with marine toilets that can use either fresh or seawater? —Tim]