Electrical

Solar Tests: Kyocera and Uni-Solar

The September 1998 issue contained test results of 10 solar panels-the Siemens SP-70, SM-50, SM-46, SM-20, SM-10 and SM-6, Solarex MSX-18 and MSX-10L, and...

Battery Monitors: The E-Meter Vs. the Sophisticated SALT

In the February 15, 1997 issue, we reviewed battery monitors and stated that Cruising Equipments E-Meter was the only one of the four models...

7 Inverters Tested: Ace is Statpower

If the prospect of consistently available 120-volt AC power on your boat sounds enticing, you might be in the market for an inverter. An...

After 17,000 Miles

Building an efficient, easy-to-maintain cruising yacht is very much an exercise in compromise and experimentation. There are literally thousands of decisions that must be...

Crimp Connections: AMP Super Champ and Ancor Our Top Picks

One of the most nettlesome areas of boating electronics is making dependable wire connections that will last for years. Because marine elements are conspiring...

Pocket Inverters: Exeltech, Statpower Stand Out

In the February 15, 1998 issue we reviewed large inverters capable of producing up to 2500 watts. For those of you with smaller AC...

5-Model Genset Bench Test

An article in the June, 1997 issue about small gensets struck a chord with readers. The report was of the type we call a...

Odyssey: A Lightweight 12-volt With Punch

The first thing we can tell you about the 12-volt Odyssey battery is that it came in the mail—UPS to be exact—which is an...

Raytheon Still Top LCD Radar

Early radar antennas needed large, open radiator arrays with correspondingly large motors to turn them. These evolved into compact, enclosed antennas that weigh as...

Offshore Log: Shurflo Pump Lacks Oomph

Our Shurflo pump has been a disappointment. At the time we installed it, it was the highest-capacity pump of its style available, and smaller...

Swann 44 MKII – The Performance Family Cruising Sailboat

Step aboard the legendary Swan 44 MkII – a bluewater cruiser built for serious sailors. In this video, we give you a full tour...

Latest Sailboat Review

Catalina 25 Used Boat Review

The Catalina 25 is not exceptionally fast, stylish, or spacious compared to newer widebody models, and while the construction and workmanship are adequate, they too are not exceptional. But because of the builder's strict adherence to a philosophy of offering a relatively spacious design, relatively well made, at a reasonable price, and backing up the product with generally good customer service, the Catalina 25 has turned out to be one of the most successful small cruising sailboats ever built, with 5,332 boats sold between 1976 and 1990, when the company ceased producing the model as demand tailed off.