If your feet, knees and back get sore when standing at the helm, one of SeaDek’s new Dual-Density Helm Station Pads (about $120) might help. SeaDek made its name with closed-cell EVA foam-cushioned nonskid. The new mat takes that concept further. An 18-millimeter low-density foam bottom absorbs shock, while a 3-millimeter medium-density top layer with a brushed texture provides traction, whether wet or dry. Testing by SeaDek indicates that the mat is 50 percent softer than SeaDek’s original single-density helm pad and requires 60 percent less force to compress. Thanks to six heavy-duty hook-and-loop fasteners, the helm pad can be easily removed to access hatches underneath.
