Building a Seamanlike Lithium Battery System
Lithium batteries have many benefits, but are too complicated and fragile, and not fault tolerant enough, to be relied upon exclusively on an offshore boat. Here’s how to fix that.
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Two More Shore Power Safety Upgrades
Two fixes many production and new-to-us boats will need to make the high-voltage shore power system safe.
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9 Tips To Select Seamanlike Gear
When we plan to head offshore in a cruising boat we need to think carefully and differently about how we equip the boat.
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Adventure 40 Keel—Strength and Grounding Resistance
If we cruise for long enough, we will likely run aground. The Adventure 40 will forgive us and have a keel that will withstand the stress of offshore voyaging for decades.
This article will be useful to all cruisers, regardless of the boat you plan to buy.
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Adventure 40 Keel—Draft and Shape
The A40 keel draft and shape will be optimized for great performance when sailing offshore.
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Download Cruising Sailboat Rig Checklist
The rig checklist is ready for download and links to five articles of in depth inspection tips and advice on fixing the problems you find.
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When Stuff Goes Wrong At Sea
It’s easy to feel competent when things go well at sea in a yacht, but the real learning begins when stuff goes wrong.
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8 Tips To Prevent Lithium Battery Load Dumps
Load dumps on a cruising boat are dangerous. Here’s how to prevent them, including some special tips for “drop in” owners.
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Why Lithium Battery Load Dumps Matter
Load dumps are an intrinsic danger with lithium batteries installed on cruising boats. Here’s why, and why we need to fix it.
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Cruising Sailboat Roller Furler and Track Inspection
Modern sail-handling system have made offshore sailing safer and easier, but they also demand regular inspection and maintenance.
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Positioning of Wood Plugs For Seacocks
Offshore sailboat safety regulations call for a soft wood plug to be adjacent to every seacock, but does that make sense?
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The True Price of Autopilots & Vane Gears
At first glance, autopilots and vane gears cost about the same, but the reality is more complicated, and important to get right.
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Cruising Sailboat Rig Wiring and Lighting Inspection
Inspection, repair, and replacement tips for mast navigation lights, wind indicators, and lightning protection systems.
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7 Checks To Stop Our DC Electrical System From Burning Our Boat
It’s a common misconception that battery-supplied electrical systems are safe because they are low voltage. That’s wrong. In fact, there are high fire risks. Here’s why, and what to do about it.
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11 Self-Steering Vane Gear Installation and Usage Tips
Self steering windvanes have a reputation of being hard to use. Reading these tips can fix that and make us love our windvane.
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