Get a Handle On It

Most of the handles and rails on our boat are industrial style. They are strong, usually u-shaped, or sometimes a crank style handle. The crank style handles are seen a lot on trailer winches, anchor winches or even the umbrella handle that raises and lowers the patio umbrella we have bolted to the dock alongside the boat. The heavy-duty life of marine equipment, and even comfort utility, or toy items mandates the use of strong, easy to grip handles like you get from an industrial handle. You'd think manufacturers would know that, but there are plenty of times I am surprised to see a lesser quality or impractically frilly handle, grip, or crank where strength counts just for the sake of 'pretty.' Pretty is nice, of course, and some industrial handles look nice too, but pretty doesn't beat out functionality. Personally, I wouldn't want to be stuck in the middle of the river with a barge coming at me, unable to lift my anchor because a pretty gadget crank tore apart in my hands... would you?