Impermanent illumination for impromptu parties Issue 85 : Jul/Aug 2012 Every once in a while, although the Vera May is really not a party boat, her cockpit is the venue for a small evening gathering. ...
Plumbing parts ensure it’s waterproof Issue 98: Sept/Oct 2014 When I unpacked my bright shiny new anchor windlass 30 years ago, I was impressed by the very capable-looking foot switch. Because I could...
Wireless systems depend on this wire Issue 94 : Jan/Feb 2014 Coaxial cable, or coax, is used for transferring radio-frequency energy from one place to another. It was invented by English engineer Oliv...
It lets wires in and keeps water out Issue 98: Sept/Oct 2014 So you’re planning to add solar panels and a wind turbine to your boat. How can you lead the wires belowdecks without creating yet another ...
An old boat’s wiring gets a facelift Issue 96 : May/Jun 2014 When repowering Natasha, our 1978 Islander Bahama 30 (see “Repowering to a Sail Drive,” July 2013), I was well aware that, as part of the e...
Use the proper wire for safety and reliability Issue 97 : Jul/Aug 2014 Household electrical wire, automotive wire, and marine-grade electrical wire are all very different. When subjected to the vibrat...
Give it the best antenna cable you can Issue 100: Jan/Feb 2015 Acouple of years ago we unstepped and repainted our mast. While it was horizontal and easy to work with, I inspected the wiring. Some of ...
Simple rules ensure safety and reliability Issue 99 : Nov/Dec 2014 Sooner or later, if you own your boat any length of time, you will have to deal with replacing or adding a DC electrical circuit. Per...
Making the right connections Issue 101 : Mar/Apr 2015 For electrical wiring aboard boats to meet recognized standards for safety and reliability, wires should be connected to equipment and other wires...
Basic steps for making reliable connections Issue 102 : May/Jun 2015 If you own an older boat, an important skill to master is the proper technique for soldering electrical connections. At some point,...
Chargers that work only with a charge Issue 103 : Jul/Aug 2015 We turn the key to try to start the engine and . . . nothing. This might not have been so bad, but our Pacific Seacraft Dana 24, Sockdola...
Silent power for home comforts afloat Issue 103 : Jul/Aug 2015 There are only two practical ways to get AC power on board when not plugged into shorepower: with a generator or with an inverter. Althou...
Proven procedures keep the juice flowing Issue 103 : Jul/Aug 2015 I joined the Navy right out of high school many years ago and they saw fit to teach me to be an electronics technician. Throughout my ...
Find the fault with a multimeter and a flowchart Issue 104 : Sept/Oct 2015 When one of your engine instruments stops working, it’s good to be able to diagnose the problem yourself. If you know how to ...
Cooking up volts in the galley Issue 105 : Nov/Dec 2015 Jones was a large man who said everything with a smile, even if he was insulting you. As I walked into the marina’s restaurant and bar, a favori...
Wired to a solar panel, it knows when it’s dark Issue 106 : Jan/Feb 2016 Wouldn’t it be nice if someone sold an automatic switch for a masthead anchor light? There may be one for sale, probably online...
Diodes overcome a dearth of switches Issue 106 : Jan/Feb 2016 I recently replaced the fragile and outdated original plastic circuit breaker panel on Nurdle, my 1979 Bristol 35.5. As part of this proje...
Track down trouble using logic and the right tools Issue 107 : Mar/Apr 2016 Electrical wiring on a typical good old boat has a tough life. The combination of salt, water, copper wire, and electricity ...
Low-wattage lighting at low cost Issue 107 : Mar/Apr 2016 One of the best things that has come along for boaters (and homeowners) lately has been LEDs for lighting. They’re cooler in operation, seemin...
Put an anchor light on automatic Issue 109 : Jul/Aug 2016 After receiving a citation for not having an illuminated anchor light while moored in Miami’s Biscayne Bay, I did some research on how to buil...
Generating electricity via the prop shaft Issue 108: May/June 2016 When we are anchored for any period of time, our solar panels and wind generator pretty much keep up with our power needs. On a passa...
Making two wires do the work of three Issue 110 : Sept/Oct 2016 While I have never seen it in a physics textbook, I think there is an electrical law particular to good old boats. I call it Churchill’s...
Don’t be shocked by aging insulation Issue 110 : Sept/Oct 2016 When we were in Patagonia a few years back, we tied up at a marina in Puerto Montt for several weeks. We dug out our power cables a...
GOB’s troubadour tests conductors with an electric baton Issue 111: Nov/Dec 2016 As part of a major refit of our Tartan 37, Higher Porpoise, we decided to replace all the in-mast conductors whil...
Clip-on solar lights illuminate and identify Issue 114: May/June 2017 For about $5 each, I made wireless lights that I can install anyplace on the boat we have a 1-inch rail to clip them on to. They b...
A tour of the marina was illuminating Issue 114: May/June 2017 My good fortune to live on a small barrier island in Florida is offset by the misfortune of full-time employment that requires me to comm...
A new alternator delivers on the promise of faster charging Issue 116: Sept/Oct 2017 Electrical systems aboard cruising sailboats hang by two threads: the capacity and reliability of the batteries and...
Making it himself, he controlled both the design and the budget Issue 123: Nov/Dec 2018 While the electrical system aboard our Alberg 35, Tomfoolery, might have been state-of-the-art when she was buil...
An alternator puzzle leads down an illuminating electrical rabbit hole. Issue 130: Jan/Feb 2020 For several days while anchored off a remote Pacific island, wind and solar power took care of the batte...
Rethinking a battery lifting strap results in a longer-lived piece of essential boat gear. Issue 130: Jan/Feb 2020 Batteries are heavy. In a sailboat they are best positioned low, near the centerline,...
