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Solar Panels

Know-how: Solar Updates

Sixteen years ago, I installed solar panels on my boat. At the time, the peak efficiency at converting sunlight to electricity was around 16%. Today’s

Power Sails, Sails Built with Integral Solar Panels

Alain Janet is pretty talkative these days, and with good reason. The head of the UK Sailmakers loft in southern France, Janet has spent most of his adult life making sails and working on how to make them better—not just for sailors, but also for the environment.

Know How: Upgrade to Energy Independence

When we bought Sea Spell, our 38-foot sloop, we realized she needed a major power upgrade. The existing electrical system was adequate for a boat kept in a slip, plugged into shore power and used for occasional weekend trips, but we intended to live aboard and cruise to distant tropical islands.Far from land, there is no grid to plug into. Instead, we now generate power with a

Sail magazine October book cover

October Issue Sneak Peek

The temperatures are starting to cool off, the days are getting shorter, and your October issue is on its way. Here’s what’s coming up.

A man sailing a dinghy with an electric motor

Dinghies-Compact Kickers

Small electric outboards are becoming increasingly popular for everything
from dinghies to small race boats. We put three new models to the test.

The boom furling powered by Laughing Gull’s electric winch snagged Tamsin’s arm, resulting in a trip to the hospital.

Electric Winch Warning

Though they’ve made sailing easier and more accessible, electric winches must be treated with appropriate caution.

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