Welcome to Keel and Cleat (keelandcleat.com). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, content, and services (collectively, the "Site"). By visiting, browsing, or otherwise using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please discontinue use of the Site immediately.
1. About Keel and Cleat
Keel and Cleat is a boating and marine accessories review publication. We provide buying guides, product reviews, comparisons, and general information intended to help boaters and marine enthusiasts make informed purchasing decisions. We are not a retailer, manufacturer, surveyor, or marine safety authority, and nothing on this Site should be treated as professional marine, safety, mechanical, or legal advice.
2. Acceptable Use
By using this Site, you agree that you will not:
- Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site, our servers, or any connected networks or systems.
- Introduce viruses, malware, bots, or any other code or material that is malicious or technologically harmful.
- Scrape, data-mine, copy, republish, or redistribute substantial portions of our content without prior written permission.
- Impersonate another person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.
- Interfere with, disrupt, or place an undue burden on the Site or the networks and systems connected to the Site.
- Post or transmit abusive, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content through any comment, contact form, or interactive feature we may offer.
We reserve the right to restrict, suspend, or terminate access to the Site, without notice, for anyone we believe has violated these Terms or engaged in conduct harmful to the Site, its users, or third parties.
3. Reviews, Opinions, and No-Warranty Disclaimer
The reviews, ratings, rankings, comparisons, and recommendations published on Keel and Cleat reflect the opinions of our editorial team based on research, available product specifications, manufacturer information, user feedback, and, where applicable, hands-on testing. These opinions are provided in good faith but are inherently subjective.
We make no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, timeliness, or suitability of any content on this Site, including but not limited to product reviews, specifications, pricing, availability, or compatibility information. Marine products, specifications, and pricing change frequently and without notice from manufacturers and retailers, and we cannot guarantee that information on this Site is current at the time you access it.
All content is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Your reliance on any information, review, or opinion found on this Site is strictly at your own risk. Always verify product specifications, safety ratings, and compatibility directly with the manufacturer or a qualified marine professional before making a purchase, especially for safety-critical equipment such as life jackets, bilge pumps, fire extinguishers, flares, and navigation equipment.
4. Affiliate Relationship Disclosure
Keel and Cleat participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn commissions on qualifying purchases made through links on our Site, at no additional cost to you.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial ratings or recommendations.
We may also participate in similar affiliate programs with other marine retailers and manufacturers. Any compensation we receive through affiliate links helps support the operation of this Site and allows us to continue producing independent, in-depth marine product content. Our editorial team maintains full independence in selecting which products to review and how they are rated, regardless of any affiliate or advertising relationship.
5. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise noted, all text, graphics, logos, images, and other content on this Site are the property of Keel and Cleat or its licensors and are protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may view, download, and print content from the Site for personal, non-commercial use only, provided you do not modify or remove any copyright or proprietary notices. Any other use, including reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication, requires our prior written consent.
6. Third-Party Links
Our Site contains links to third-party websites, including retailers, manufacturers, and affiliate partners, which are not owned or controlled by Keel and Cleat. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, accuracy, or practices of any third-party websites. You access third-party sites at your own risk and should review their respective terms and privacy policies before engaging with them.
7. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Keel and Cleat, its owners, employees, contributors, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, goodwill, property damage, personal injury, or any other intangible losses, arising out of or related to:
- Your access to, use of, or inability to use the Site;
- Any reliance placed on reviews, ratings, recommendations, or other content published on the Site;
- Any purchase or transaction made with a third-party retailer or manufacturer via a link found on this Site;
- Any product defect, malfunction, injury, or damage arising from the use of any boating or marine product featured, reviewed, or linked on this Site;
- Any errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or outdated information contained in our content.
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law, including liability for death or personal injury caused by proven negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
8. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Keel and Cleat and its owners, employees, contributors, and affiliates from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or in any way connected with your violation of these Terms or your misuse of the Site.
9. Governing Law
These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable law in the jurisdiction in which Keel and Cleat operates, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. You agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in that jurisdiction for the resolution of any disputes arising under these Terms.
10. Updates to These Terms
We may revise and update these Terms from time to time at our sole discretion, to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or the services we offer. The updated Terms will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes. We encourage you to review this page periodically so that you remain informed of any updates.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding these Terms of Service, please reach out to us through the contact information provided on our Site. We're happy to help clarify any part of these Terms or address concerns about our content and practices.