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King of the gangplank, Besenzoni has a passerelle for almost every sized boat, from basic manual gangways to top-of-the-range retractable passerelles operated by a three-stage telescopic hydraulic system. Its latest efforts to completely take over the world of stern-to boarding focus on size, or rather the lack of, with a brand new retractable passerelle called the Super Compatta PI 691. A ‘letterbox’ retracting style, the big news about the Super Compatta PI 691 is its extremely compact storage box of just 1.2 metres long by 15cm high, allowing it to be fitted in places previously too small, such as sailing boats and more importantly for MBY readers, sports boats with outboard engines. The actual passerelle it contains extends 1.5 metres, and as well as extending outwards, it also tilts upwards, meaning it can even be installed in a swim platform and tilted up to meet the quay. Finished in polished or powder coated stainless steel, it has manual stanchions which slot in to make a rope handrail and a solid teak base. Besenzoni has also brought out two larger models that benefit from smaller storage boxes. The PI 563 is squarer and more contemporary, and the PI 583, which has more classically styled oval rails. Both are suitable for larger boats than those for which the Super Compatta is intended. The standard model is available up to 8 metres long but, as with all Besenzoni products, it can be made to size. Despite being larger, thanks to its retractable four-stage telescopic sections, the space required for the storage box is much smaller than that required for the three-stage gangways. Both models can be tilted upwards and downwards. There is a full-width footboard with a maximum width of 50 centimetres from edge to edge. A remote control and a control panel for operating it from the cockpit are provided as standard, but it can also be operated via the Besenzoni Control Device App, which can be installed on up to eight devices.