Solar Panels: Go Rigid If You have the Space…
Movies can be corny, but Jack Sparrow nicely summarized the romance of sailing: "That's what a ship is, you know. Is not just a...
Leaping Into Lithium
Your dock neighbor just switched out her old 12-volt lead-acid batteries for lithium-ion batteries. Should you? The lithium solution will be more expensive, but...
The Importance of Sea State in Weather Planning
We all want a crystal ball that tells us exactly what we will be in for during a passage, however long or short it...
Do-it-yourself Electrical System Survey and Inspection
So, you’ve finally purchased that new (or new-to-you) boat of your dreams. As with any budding relationship, put this honeymoon period to good use...
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...
The Tricked Out Tillerpilot
Self-contained tillerpilots are a simple and darn handy means of steering a smaller sailboat, particularly when sailing solo. For the singlehander a tillerpilot is...
Resolving Common Steering Problems
Your steering packed it in and you are stuck with either your emergency tiller or an emergency rudder and tiller. These often require the...
Sketching Out Installation Options
I worked through the alternative steering geometries and forces using trigonometry. An easier way to evaluate various installations is to use a triangle, ruler,...
Essential Tillerpilot Accessories
Tillerpilots don’t come with the even the most basic accessories we need, so our options are to order overpriced widgets or to improvise.
RETAINER (PHOTO...
A Modified Tillerpilot Setup
Having two different locations for attaching the tillerpilot to the tiller can be a practical alternative for smaller boats that won’t produce loads that...