Waypoints Tips

Choosing an anchor with the appropriate holding power

Physical measurements of anchors cannot produce definitive conclusions about anchor performance, but they offer clues to likely performance in different conditions. Our analysis found that...

Hurricane Season: A season for planning

The arrival of hurricane season is always a good reminder for boat owners to put together a storm plan detailing where and how the...

Helping Your Boat Battery Survive Winter Storage

Few things are more disappointing than coming back to your boat in the spring and discovering that one or more of your boats batteries...

Zincs and Protection From Galvanic Corrosion

Use zincs to protect against the galvanic currents that are set up by dissimilar metals on your boat that are immersed and that are...

Stepping up to 24 VDC

More and more new boats in the 40- to 60-foot range are being manufactured with dual-voltage electrical systems (12 VDC and 24 VDC). So...

Breaker Panel Installations – DIY Tips From the Pros

We made some calls to a few well-respected boat yards and asked their electricians what problems they have experienced with customer-installed (DIY) breaker panel...

Inverter-Charger Terminology – What Does All That Mumbo-Jumbo Mean Anyway?

Established industry standards enable consumers to know what exactly it is they're buying. They set a benchmark for product quality, performance, and safety, allowing...

Wind Generators 101

Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical power, and ultimately electricity. This electricity can be used immediately to power equipment,...

Choosing Solar Panels for Your Boat

In simple terms, and leaving out the quantum nature of light, solar panels work by converting the energy in sunlight (or any light) to...

Three Common Errors Made With Boat Electrical Systems

Boats with AC power systems continue to give their owners problems. Many of these problems are avoidable, and some are deadly. The major problem...

43 Foot Cruising Sailboats – The Elan Impression 43

In a sea of French production cruising sailboats like the new Beneteau 37.1 and Oceanis 40.1, or the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 and 380,...
Fast Cruising Sailboat J 45 video from Practical Sailor

Fast Cruising Sailboat J 45

Latest Sailboat Review

Beneteau First 375 Used Boat Review

A Mexican vacation with her husband had Debbie Bulk dreaming of a better way to see local village life, away from the regular tourist...