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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
How To Maintain A Small Boat’s Electrical System
Well intentioned friends and relatives often make comments along the lines of, “Aren’t you scared of being out on the ocean, all alone, in...
Lightning Protection 101
We now have permanent research satellites in orbit whose sole function is to monitor and study global lightning activity. Like so many areas of...
Install a Standalone Sounder Without Drilling
Are you one of those sailors who believes there are too many holes in the hull of your boat? Have you ever wondered if...
DIY Electrical Panel Replacement
When repowering our 1978 Islander Bahama 30, I was well aware that part of the engine replacement would have to include a serious look...
Testing CIGS Solar Panels: Are Most of Us Holding onto an Inferior Technology?
We've been running solar on our boat for a decade, and after dealing with the rapid degradation of our latest SunPower flexible panels, we...
Can a Normal Sailor Actually Buy a Foiling Dinghy Now?
Foiling sailboats used to belong to the extreme edge of the sport: America’s Cup teams, SailGP, Olympic sailors, Moths, kite foilers, and high-performance racing...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Catalina 470 Used Boat Review
Although it conforms to CE ratings for ocean sailing, this boat is better suited for coastal cruising in comfort and short offshore passages. It's got a great set of layout options for living aboard.
