The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site
Choosing the right BMS is the first and most important task when buying a lithium-battery system for an offshore voyaging boat.
Several reasons to consider buying an eWincher, even if the loads are comparatively low, particularly if the halyards on your boat are run aft to winches under the dodger.
When something new and cool is released, it’s always tempting to assume it’s better than the older simpler option, but is it?
With modern weather reception and analysis tools we can plan our cruises and voyages as much as two weeks ahead. John shares how.
This year our annual holiday post is all about the wonderful people…and boat, in our lives.
We bought a lovely easily driven offshore cruising sailboat, but it’s all too easy to screw her up if we don’t heed these tips.
Most discussions about weather reception and analysis in the cruising community end up focused on the tools and technology. But that’s not what matters. In fact, planning fun and safe cruises is all about how we USE the tools and THINK about weather. That’s just what this chapter, based on some 25 years of real cruising experience, is about.
A follow-up, with some significant changes, to our article on a failed Spade anchor.
Which hardware and software should we use for weather downloading and analysis? Lots of good stuff out there. Here’s how to choose.
Very few boats have a good automated bilge pump and flooding alarm system. Let’s fix that.
When an anchor many of us have come to trust over two decades fails catastrophically, it’s time to think about why and what we can learn.
It’s comforting to believe that weather forecasts are always right, but we all know that’s not true. Here’s how to assess the chances that a given forecast will be wrong in a bad way.
John explains one of the most important criteria for selecting an offshore voyaging boat, and one of the most ignored.
So far in this series of chapters we have been looking at the benefits and drawbacks of the renewable options. Now let’s pull it all together.
Can we replace diesel fuel generation (main engine or separate) with wind, solar and/or hydrogenerators? Yes, but there’s stuff to know to avoid wasted money and disappointment.
The final cockpit reveal, discussing the improvements made since Version 1, including new and very cool renderings.
Does buying a Watt & Sea make sense? It’s complicated, depending on boat size and type, as well as usage profile.
An honest evaluation from a thinking guy, who carefully evaluated his usage before pulling the trigger on an expensive piece of gear, not a fan-boy video.
A diesel engine that’s been badly overheated will probably never run reliably again. A total cruise ruiner. Let’s not let that happen to us.
Choosing fire extinguishers for a cruising boat is a lot more complicated than it may appear. Here’s what Phyllis and John ended up with after consulting experts.
Figuring out where to mount and how to secure a liferaft can be one of the most vexing problems in offshore boat preparation.
Further refinements to the mast climbing system we figured out last year. Even after 50 years of climbing masts, we are still learning.
John shares which raft he and Phyllis would buy for various cruising scenarios and why.
So far in this series we have got deep into the technical weeds of how autopilots work, and how to make them work better. Now let’s look at some simple tips, several of which will help with vane gears too.