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Electronics

DIY: Cruiser’s Navigation Lights

Unlike the owners of many new production boats, we planned to use our brand-new 44-foot sloop, Red Thread, as our family home for five years.

Shore-Power Upgrade

Wiring a boat for shore power is a by-the-numbers project requiring more care than skill. Alternating current (AC) can be as dangerous as a cornered

Doppler Marine Radar is Here

Exclamation marks, curse words…honestly I had trouble holding myself back when Furuno and Garmin both announced new solid-state radars at the Miami Boat Show in

Surveyor’s Notebook:Electrical Alert

I often see poor electrical installations on boats, but here is a real classic. The owner of this boat wanted to install a switch for the air conditioning water pump, but there was no room for it on the shore power breaker panel.

USB Electronics Charging Offshore

It was easy to gather a slew of devices on board Gizmo that hunger for a USB power supply at least occasionally. Heck, when the Verizon Android Galaxy phone is providing an LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and also streaming Bluetooth audio to the Fusion IP700 stereo as it is now—

Tested: Raymarine aSeries MFD

The frozen Raymarine aSeries MFD had almost finished a two-day low temperature test, but that was only the beginning of its suffering. Next it had to run another two days in a high-temperature cabinet with 85 percent relative humidity, followed by 19 more days of torture as part of Raymarine’s ERT (Early Reliability Test) Qualification Process.

Vavuud Wind Meter

The Vaavud wind meter (currently being distributed in North America by Ronstan) is both accurate and truly pocket-friendly, with a compact two-cup durable plastic rotor and low friction PTFE bearings.

15 Apps for Navigating with your Apple or Android Device

In recent years it has become more feasible than ever to navigate using a smartphone or tablet. Apps have improved to the point where they rival paper charts and chartplotters. With so many good navigation apps available, the question is: which is best for you?

Know How: Nav Station Makeover

Having had so much fun upgrading the systems on our project Norlin 34, it came as something of a shock to realize that after installing a windlass, propane system, new winches, new portlights and new genoa sheet tracks in the space of three years, I had run out of things to do.

Fitting a New Holding Tank Sensor

If your boat has a holding tank, chances are it doesn’t have a level gauge. This is odd, as you’d think they would be standard on all new boats, but in fact, just the opposite is true.

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Back to Bermuda

Friends and crew of a boat lost in the 2024 Newport Bermuda return to the racecourse

The refreshed version of the 1160 features buoyant reversed bows that help the boat surf above waves.

Seawind 1160XL

The smallest end of the Seawind range proves itself during a spicy sea trial. 

The 52 has the recognizable Leopard profile.

Leopard 52

On a blustery day, this new multihull flagship keeps calm and carries.

Map provided by The Annapolis Sailboat Show

The Annapolis Sailboat Show Returns

Amidst a construction shuffle, America’s biggest sailboat show will look a little different this year. The City Dock Resilience and Revitalization Project is reshaping Annapolis’

Reversed bows and a low profile give this cruiser a svelte, sporty look.

Balance 502

Aspiring distance voyagers will find this newest cat a perfect fit.

Warwick-Collins-keel

Ask SAIL: Tandem Keels  

While checking in on my parent’s boat at the yard, I saw this unusual keel. What’s the purpose of it?  — Maddie Doherty, via sailmail@sailmagazine.com

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