Installing Water Heaters
The physical installation of a water heater may seem pretty straightforward, but the devil is indeed in the details. It starts prior to purchase...
SmartPlug: Safer Power
According to multiple reports, most AC electrical fires occur at the boats shorepower inlet. To address this and other shortcomings of the standard twist-type...
Updating Onboard Electronics with N2K
A sailboat is no place for unnecessary complexity, which was the direction we were headed on my Beneteau 39, Breeze Pleeze, when it came...
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...
New Air Breeze Wind Generator Field Tested
During our wind generator test in March 2007, Southwest Windpower (maker of the Air X wind generator) provided us with a prototype of a...
Small Wire Connections: Part II
Connecting two standard-size wires is pretty straightforward: Grab a ratchet crimper, adjust it to fit the crimp connector, strip the two wires to fit...
Marine Systems: Low-capacity Electric Bilge Pumps Faceoff
In the Feb. 15, 2004 issue, Practical Sailor reported on our extensive test of electric bilge pumps, which covered products from seven manufacturers with...
Wet-Cell 12-Volt Battery Test
We last looked at batteries in our October 15, 2000 issue, when we reported the results of a test of the AGM (absorbed...
Offshore Log: Essential Forecasting Tools
Our years of sailing in New England and the Caribbean, with their stable, predictable weather patterns, left us ill-prepared to deal with the vagaries...
AGM Batteries Test Update
In our recent test of absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries, we cycled five different batteries through 30 deep cycles to 11.7 volts but only...
Beneteau 423: What You Should Know | Boat Review
Looking to buy a 40-45 foot sailboat? Considering a Beneteau 423? See a Beneteau 423 for sale? What are the pros and cons of...
