Getting Weather on the Water: From VHF to Starlink

We are in the midst of a yachting weather forecasting and awareness revolution. With satellite internet technology today’s sailors have never had so much...

The Fog of Chartplotter Complacency

Cruising the remote west coast of Vancouver Island is the dream of many Pacific Northwest sailors. The journey includes the 80-mile passage from Race...

Moisture Meters: Can You Trust Them? We Test Five Models

You've made an offer on a used boat and have retained a marine surveyor to examine the vessel prior to completing the transaction. One...
Ice buildup and frozen mooring lines are obvious winter hazards, but the hidden threat lies below deck. Cold temperatures cripple battery performance and leave unprepared cruisers without heat, engine start, or electrical power. (Photo/ Drew Frye)

Lithium in Winter: Design for the Cold, Not Around It

Winter temperatures are challenging for year-round sailors. Appropriate clothing is vital, including waterproof socks, layering for the legs and midsection, finishing off with a...

The Importance of Sea State in Weather Planning

We all want a crystal ball that tells us exactly what we will be in for during a passage, however long or short it...
The author’s choice: A single 12V 100Ah WattCycle LFP battery with integrated BMS and Bluetooth. (Image/ www.ca.wattcycle.com)

Power Up: Planning Your Lithium Conversion on a Budget

I once heard of a sailor who prided himself on sailing “pure”—no motor, no electrical, just wood and canvas. How he could dock and...
The author's 13-year-old Garmin GMR 18 HD radar served faithfully before failing early in the New England boating season, prompting a search through the secondhand marine electronics market for a compatible replacement. These are the stocked aisles at Marine Consignment of Wickford, Rhode Island. (Photo/ Todd Vorenkamp)

Navigating the Secondhand Marine Electronics Market

Electronics, unfortunately, don’t last forever. When an electronic component decides to fail on your boat, you will likely want to have it replaced. While...
This no-sew tiller pilot cover is made from a recycled dodger window. (Photo/ Drew Frye)

No-Sew DIY Tiller Pilot Cover

Although they are rated waterproof, the most common cause of death for tiller pilots is water intrusion. I've had one die from this. Like...
Raymarine i50 Depth offers audible shallow and deep water alarms, along with depth trend indicators that help the helmsperson monitor changing conditions.

Waterline or Keel? Setting Your Depth Sounder

Ever since electronic or sonar/transducer type depth sounders have been around, sailors and captains have had love/hate debates over how a depth sounder should...
SAE 2-pin conector for autohelm. The Muyimu broke, so this is now my favorite. (Photo/ Drew Frye)

Waterproof Connectors: 4 Year Update of SAE 2-Pin Connectors

I’ve long hated proprietary 12 volt connectors. This project started six years ago when the power plug on my tiller pilot failed, falling to...

Zero Dollar Cruising Dream | Halcyon 23

Could you really live on a small sailboat, go cruising cheap, or chase the sailing dream without buying a huge expensive boat? In this...

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