Converting battery power to alternating current Issue 62 : Sept/Oct 2008 An inverter is an electronic device that converts direct-current (DC) power (the output of your boat’s battery) to alternating-...
Complying with regulations Issue 63 : Nov/Dec 2008 It seems that recreational vessels anchored without anchor lights are more the rule than the exception. However, the International Regulations for Av...
Up to 50,000 of these stalwart gasoline engines were built between 1948 and 1980 Issue 64 : Jan/Feb 2009 In 1948, the Universal Motor Company of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, introduced a new engine model that ...
A remote-control searchlight on a sailboat is a bright idea Issue 65 : Mar/Apr 2009 While preparing my Caliber 28 for a recent solo sail up the East Coast, I was in search of an affordable searchlight...
A “bag of tricks” has the power to connect you, anywhere Issue 65 : Mar/Apr 2009 Cruising is full of surprises, but one you don’t need, and can easily avoid, is arriving in a strange marina to find th...
Electronic vapor detectors safeguard you from invisible threats on board Issue 68 : Sept/Oct 2009 We have all heard these or similar stories about sailors who’ve had lucky escapes when gases or vapors...
Unruly wires get herded onto a bus Issue 72 : May/Jun 2010 Recently, a failed torque damper required the removal of our good old boat’s good old engine. I made arrangements with the yard boss to have ...
Converting light fixtures to use LEDs Issue 72 : May/Jun 2010 All the lighting on my sailboat now uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which consume only about one-tenth of the battery power the old inc...
Ascertain their state of charge the eBay way Issue 73 : Jul/Aug 2010 I suspect most good old boats are used infrequently and, when they’re used, the engine is run just long enough to get to and from t...
Taming an electrical nightmare to further a cruising dream Issue 74 : Sept/Oct 2010 When our boat, Asia Marie, a Westsail 32, acquired us in the summer of 2007, she came with a wish list of projects w...
Accepting the limitations set this sailor free Issue 78 : May/Jun 2011 Many of the boats owned and loved by subscribers to this magazine came with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. That so many ...
Lightning induces a review of current lighting Issue 82 : Jan/Feb 2012 When a nearby lightning strike zapped my sailboat’s electronics and lights, I learned a lot more about the implications of conver...
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 ...
