Chandlery: 04/15/04
Suunto M9 Wristop ComputerIn the trend towards miniaturization in electronics, there's a fine line between true utility and whiz-bang cleverness for its own sake....
The Pull of Pushbuttons
A friend dropped by the office when we were working on a review of the Magellan SporTrak PRO Marine handheld GPS receiver (to appear...
Networked Systems: Furuno vs. Raymarine
Big screens and big bucks—Raymarine and Furuno offer completely networked electronics packages that allow monitoring—and complete control—from more than one location.
Magellan FX324 Map Color
Magellan makes a creditable comeback with this colorplotter. We found the ergonomics good, but viewing the cartography in direct sunlight was almost impossible.
Electric Bilge Pumps
All the familiar denizens—Shurflo, Rule, Lovett, West and more—showed their stuff.
Color LCD Fishfinders Under $1,000
Furuno leads the pack again with its top-performing, easy-to-operate FCV 600L, trailed closely by Garmin’s new and impressive 320C.
Chartplotter-Sounder Conversions
You can add a conversion kit and transducer to a chartplotter/radar display, and have robust sounder capabilities without needing another screen. We evaluate conversion kits from Garmin, Furuno and Raymarine.
LED Flashlights
The SureFire L1 Lumamax and the Tektite Expedition Star take Best Buy honors. Incandescents may not pale in comparison, but they're fading fast.
Just the Numbers, Please: A Stand-Alone Sounder Sampling
The Raymarine ST40 and ST60 shine in our test of nine sounders. Smaller and less expensive units from Norcross and Uniden also deserve consideration.
Monochrome GPS Plotter-Sounders
Need a sounder and a chartplotter but don’t have the space or the money for two separate units? A monochrome combination unit might be the answer. Pickin's are slim: either Garmin or Lowrance.
Why This $1M+ Sailboat Might Be The Best Bluewater Cruiser in...
The Bluewater 56 is one of the most misunderstood offshore cruisers in the sailing world — and today we’re diving deep into what makes...
Latest Sailboat Review
Rethinking Sailboat Structure
When it comes to describing a sailboats most valuable attribute, its surprising how varied opinions can be. Staying afloat should be our first priority, and although you seldom read or hear much about it at boat shows, the structural elements that hold a sailboat together are an all-important consideration.