News

Elkhart County, IN Sheriff’s Department has purchased several CLEAT-MATE kits for use in their police vehicles.New Buffalo, MI Police & Fire Departments have purchased CLEAT-MATE kits for use on Both rescue boats and vehicles.

If a member of your crew falls overboard can you get them back in the boat? Swim ladders often aren't enough if the person is injured or incapacitated. In this video, Boating editors discuss a lifesaving device that offers one solution to this problem.The Cleat-Mate (cleatmate.com) is a cleat-, or rodholder-, mounted system intended to assist in getting a disabled person from the water.For your convenience, we've provided time codes for different aspects of the video below. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more great videos!00:11 Intro1:14 Impetus for invention.2:47 Video demonstration. 3:55 Detailed system explanation.7:24 The Belt.8:49...

Leader PublicationsBy: Beau Brockett Jr.Published 8:55 am Friday, February 7, 2020 BUCHANAN — Buchanan resident Jerry Hinz watched someone nearly drown in his arms at a New Buffalo marina in October 2019. Now, he has developed a product in hopes of preventing such an event from occurring. Hinz, owner of Hinz Landscaping/Snow Busters in Buchanan and South Bend, created the Cleat-Mate and accompanying accessories. The ratchet system is meant to allow someone of any strength to reel in a person in distress or heavy objects in minutes. Its accompanying products are meant to make the Cleat-Mate adaptable for a plethora...

Bob was one of the first to have his boat launched in the chilly waters of Lake Michigan in April of 2019. While working on his boat, his dog slipped off the dock into the 30 degree water. All he had at his disposal was a line which he quickly fashioned into a loop. After some tense moments and quite a struggle, he and his girlfriend were able to get the loop around his 90 pound pup's neck and after what seemed like hours, was able to pull his dog to safety. After hearing Bob's story, Jerry Hinz introduced him...