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Belowdecks & Amenities

Little things that are hardly necessary but nice to have start in the galley.

Those Extras you Don’t Need But Love to Have

As a full-time live-aboard, you learn to make some sacrifices. You ultimately become your own little island so you must learn to ration your...

Three-Model BBQ Test

If you're looking to grill onboard, you're likely going to buy a BBQ that runs off of propane. Even though marine cockpit-mounted barbecues used...

Alcohol Stoves— Swan Song or Rebirth?

Vaporized alcohol stoves have long been praised for their safety and simplicity. For decades, Origo’s popular vaporizing alcohol stove dom­inated the small boat market,...

Living Aboard with an Alcohol Stove

When we downsized from a cruising cat to a sporty trimaran, we also downsized to an Origo stove. Familiar to many small-boat sailors, the...

Choosing the Right Fuel for Your Alcohol Stove

By law, ethanol is subject to considerable taxes and restrictions on sale unless denatured (rendered undrinkable) by adding solvents or other unpalatable ingredients. The...
600-watt solar panel system on Summer Twins 28 sailing catamaran Caribbean Soul 2. (Photo/ Clifford Burgess)

Thinking Through a Solar Power Installation

The practical aspects of your solar panel system will be governed by the design and size of your sailboat, your overall project budget (%...
A lithium conversion requires a willing owner and a capable craft. Enter the Privilege 435 catamaran Confianza.

Can You Run a Marine Air-Conditioner on Battery Power?

Our 16,000 BTU MarinAire A/C is sufficient to maintain our Privilege 435 catamaran at under 26.5°C (80°F) on days up to around 35°C (95°F)....

Are E-bikes Worth the Extra Weight and Cost?

I’m an avid cyclist. I raced in college, and I still take my college bike on my cruising cat and just hang it on...

Preparing Yourself for Solo Sailing

Last week, I covered some of the things I suggest you need to think through on the boat before heading out solo. Now, what...

How to Handle the Head

Many pumpout facilities are actually dumped in municipal wastewater treatment facilities that can be overwhelmed by the addition of treatment chemicals. Spring is boat prep...

J Boats J/9 Sailboat Review and Boat Tour

Are you interested in a fast day sailor? The 28 foot sailboat J/9 from J Boats boasts the most comfortable J cockpit ever on...

Latest Sailboat Review

Tartan 37 Used Boat Review

The Tartan 37 is a moderately high performance, shoal-draft cruiser built between 1967 and 1988 by Tartan Marine, a company that helped usher in...