A New Spin on Dependable Crimps and Splices
Our test focused primarily on the small-wire connections tensile strength, with and without solder, but we also looked at their durability under tough environmental...
Practical Sailor Tests 4-horsepower Electric Outboard
Exploring the benefits of electric propulsion is an ongoing effort at Practical Sailor. As we test products currently on the market, we also keep...
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...
The Best Sailing Gear of 2010
With the end of the year approaching, Practical Sailor editorsoffer the annual selection of Editors Choice products for the Gear of the Year lineup....
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...
Ensuring a Safe Space for Batteries
When charging, lead acid batteries generate hydrogen from the electrolysis of water, and some acid gases, the amount of which vary with the battery...
Marine Wiring: Are the Pricey Options Worth the Cost?
Cruising sailors have long had a love-hate relationship with their onboard electronics for one simple reason: Water and electricity don't mix. Water with dissolved...
Testing Marine Battery Monitors
Our test gear comprised a ProMariner ProNautic 12-40P battery charger; West Marine-branded, flooded-cell, deep-cycle battery with a 75-amp hour rating; and two 120-volt, 70-watt...
Mix of Water, Amps, and Heat Calls for Caution
It is surprising to see equipment with no moving parts carry such an array of safety warnings. But any time water and higher-voltage AC...
Cabin Lights
Among all the energy demands aboard a modern boat—electronics, pressure-water systems, watermakers, autopilots, refrigeration, and so on—it's simple DC cabin lighting that's often the...