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Systems & Propulsion

When starting lights up the tester, that means your spark plug is good. (Photo/ David Corrao)

Dinghy Outboard Diagnostics

In my past life I worked in the automotive industry for over 20 years. In that time, I realized that the hard part about...
This Perkins M20, 3 cyl, 18hp diesel engine is cleaned, inspected and antifreeze flushed after a winter on the hard. Due to proper prep for both winter and spring, it is now running smoothly. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Spring Season Engine Start-Up for Winterized Engines

Two things, as they say, are certain in life: death and taxes. Perhaps a third would be that fuel cost will inevitably keep rising....

Solutions for a Stinky Holding Tank

No one wants a marine head that brings back memories of portable toilets, yet that’s exactly what we think of when holding tank chemicals...

Diesel Performance Additives

We think of ourselves as sailors, but we all depend on reliable power to propel us in and out of harbor, through calms and...
600-watt solar panel system on Summer Twins 28 sailing catamaran Caribbean Soul 2. (Photo/ Clifford Burgess)

Thinking Through a Solar Power Installation

The practical aspects of your solar panel system will be governed by the design and size of your sailboat, your overall project budget (%...

What Oil Analysis Reveals About Your Engine

We've all heard that if you give a diesel good clean fuel, keep it cool, and stay on top of the oil changes, its...
A lithium conversion requires a willing owner and a capable craft. Enter the Privilege 435 catamaran Confianza.

Can You Run a Marine Air-Conditioner on Battery Power?

Our 16,000 BTU MarinAire A/C is sufficient to maintain our Privilege 435 catamaran at under 26.5°C (80°F) on days up to around 35°C (95°F)....

An Unusual Sailboat Shines a Light On A Sustainable Future

In his younger days, Victorien Erussard was a long-distance solo sailor trying to save seconds per mile on big-time ocean races like La Route...

Is It Time to Get an Electric Dinghy Motor?

I’ve borrowed my dockmate’s electric dinghy. I bought my wife an e-bike and I know she would like an electric motor.  Small gas motors...

Worship Your Universal M-Series Diesel With the Marinized Kubota Block

The Universal name resonates with many of us as one of the best sailboat engines available. Despite Universal Motor Corp. no longer being in...

Hunter Legend 35.5 – Behind the Curtain

Are you interested in a 32-36 foot sailboat that's small enough to sail as a couple, big enough to sleep on comfortably, fast enough...