Sailing uses the power of the wind to move, so why not use the power of the sun to charge your batteries? Solar panels offer the best way to charge boat batteries. This method can also save the engine from being used just for charging. Getting the best solar panels for sailboats means choosing the right size and power for your boat. But, how much power will you need? Will your panels be able to keep up even on cloudy days? Do you plan to sail in cold water or deep in the tropics? Do you need the panels to

When it comes to embracing the beauty of the open sea or navigating rivers and lakes, having the right sailing equipment is essential. Whether you’re an experienced sailor or a novice looking to…

Fulcrum Guide PFD: We design our Fulcrum PFDs to have an unobtrusive fit that conforms to a variety of body shapes. Our most full-featured version has a lots of pockets and tow-belt compatibility to make your multi-day trips easier and safer.Front panels are split with a horizontal hinge point to fit male and female bodies of many shapes wellHigh waist back minimizes ride-up on kayak cockpitsAdjustable sides and shouldersZippered front pocket is big enough for large pocket cameras and has a key clip and mesh drainage panel on bottom. Zip mesh pocket on front holds energy bars, etcRadio/GPS pocket with stretch mesh gusset for drainage and expandability and buckle closure for security2 stretch-neoprene side pockets with zippered closuresKnife attachment point on frontStrobe attachment point on backCarabiner quick release point on shoulderReflective piping for night visibilityTow-belt compatible. All pockets have side slots for threading a belt beneath pockets and their contentsXS/S fits chests 85-100cm, M/L fits chests 100-120cm, XL/XXL fits chests 120-130cm

Those who love adventures in water and sailing know about sailboats. Sailboats are vessels that run on wind power. And its controlling mechanism falls upon

Harnessing the power of the wind is a wonderful feeling, but it does mean one thing: You'll have to obey the rules of the wind. When your destination is near where the wind is coming from, you can’t just sail directly there. Learning how to tack and jibe is one of the first steps you’ll need to take if you want to start sailing. While tacking and jibing themselves are simple concepts, there are some important things you need to think about. A good tack means knowing why, when and how you’ll be tacking. Read our simple steps and learn

Thinking about sailing shoes may bring up visions of well-dressed people lounging on deck in -- you guessed it -- deck shoes. These are most likely in nautical colors paired with a Breton t-shirt and chinos to complete the look. That's what the adverts say anyway. But finding the best sailing shoes for you involves a lot more than a Monaco-backdrop. Sailing shoes provide all sorts of protection and are a key part of your sailing equipment. Finding the right sailing shoes means taking into account lots of variables, including the kind of sailing you're planning on doing. We don't

The sailboat, ship, yacht we are familiar with has a monohull but the catamaran is a uniquely designed boat with two hulls, not only that instead of a solid

When you are sailing in the water you don't want to be at the mercy of waves, tide,s, and winds.

Sailboats have evolved over the years in various shapes and sizes, but the most eye-catching point is how the manufacturers have used the technologies to

Sailing terms can be confusing especially for people who are new to sailing. Are ropes the same thing as lines? Why are ropes referred to as sheets? Let’s

Self-tailing winches are a great upgrade - but expensive. Luckily, there are a couple of budget ways to create your own self-tailing winches.

Vessel equipment and vessel pieces are complicated to procure from suppliers. Boaters that are newto the picture might find the costs were confused from by themselves that they might happen for mai…

Here's where people with sailing equipment for sale advertise their stuff entirely free of charge. If you're looking for used sailing gear or other used boating accessories, here's where to find it!

If you're serious about sailing, you know that a reliable compass can make all the difference. I've tested many compasses and read tons of reviews of other sailors, and here are my absolute favorites.

This SUP carrier lets you transport up to 2 surfboards or SUPs on your roof rack. Saddles adjust to accommodate your boards, and padding protects against scratches. FlipFit brackets allow tool-free mounting on most crossbars. Tie-downs included. Great Prices for the best watersport carriers from Thule. Thule SUP Shuttle Stand-Up Paddleboard Carrier with Tie-Downs - Roof Mount - 2 Boards part number TH811XT can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.

If you're looking for a simple Marine GPS chartplotter, made by a reliable brand, and want a good deal as well, there's an easy answer. In this article, I'll share my recommendation.

So, you want to know what are the best dive watches of the year? A dive watch is a time piece that's designed to be taken underwater while scuba diving. It's a tool that divers use to monitor their elapsed dive time. While dive computers have replaced the need to use a dive watch, many people choose to wear one as a back up in case the computer fails. These watches are clearly built for diving but they're also great for swimming, skiing, sailing and any other sport your watch might get wet. There are simple watches that cost less

If you live where it drops below freezing and your boat is more complex than a dinghy, you need to winterize. Failing to winterize can cost you money and time with avoidable repairs and make you miss the start of the boating season. I'll make a confession up front - I damaged my first boat by not winterizing properly. You'll want to learn from my …

Flat Earth Kayak Sails Code Zero 0.8 production version. Flat Earth Kayak Sails Code Zero 0.8 prototype. I have previously reported on my findings of the Code Zero prototype, which I was testing for Mick McRobb of Flat Earth Kayak Sails. Just in case anyone thinks that bias may have crept in because I was part of Mick's test team, or because it was a "special" made to a higher standard than available to buy... I went out and bought one of my own, back in May from the European distributor Kari-tek. I bought the sail and the mast but supplied my own fitting kit. Kari-tek are to be congratulated for supplying all components separately. The shaping, materials and construction of the retail version is identical with the exception that the two small leach battens have been dropped. As my traditional FEKS had developed some looseness on the leach after I had used it for some time, I was interested to see if this omission might have some performance issues. I have used the production version extensively over the last 3 months and tested it against both the Code Zero prototype and the traditional FEKS. I have used the Code Zero both day sailing and when fully loaded on a camping trip and have sailed it in winds up to the top of force 5/ bottom of force 6 (18 to 23 knots as measured by a hand held anemometer). I am delighted to say that the performance of the Code Zero retail version feels identical to the prototype. It is a superb sail and a real step forward from the traditional sail (which itself was already one of the best solutions for kayak sailing). photo Mike Connor. In this photo, taken on the west coast of Bute, you can see that the Code Zero on the left has a vertical cut and the traditional on the right has a horizontal cut. For a full comparison of the Code Zero prototype versus the traditional sail please see here for my original review. Two final points. First, the new colour strips have attracted favourable comment. Mike really fancied my white/blue combination to go with his new blue Cetus MV and has since bought one and given his traditional sail to his daughter. However, I am a bit sorry that the all white sail is not available in the UK as I particularly like the sail that way! Secondly, I have tried the Code Zero sail on a carbon fibre mast. I used the outer end of a tapered tubular carbon fibre batten from an old 8.5m windsurfing racing sail. I cut a length that had the same overall stiffness (bend) as the FE aluminium mast (but due to the taper, it was stiffer at the bottom and softer at the top). I thought the sail with the carbon fibre mast performed well on its own but when sailing alongside a Code Zero on an aluminium mast, I thought the carbon fibre mast allowed too much twist in force 4-5 off the wind and force 3-4 upwind. Those that tried it preferred the feeling of extra power in the aluminium mast. A sail really needs to be cut for a specific mast (windsurfers will appreciate how critical matching a sail to a mast is). I doubt that it would be worthwhile for Mick to introduce a carbon fibre option due to the expense. The weight saving was only 105grams. So I have stuck the carbon fibre mast back into my pile of broken windsurfing gear and gone back to using the standard aluminium mast. PS although most of the comparison testing was done on Cetus MVs, the new Code Zero sail works well on a wide range of kayaks, I have used it on P&H Quest LV, P&H Cetus MV, P&H Delphin, Rockpool Alaw Bach and Valley Nordkapp LV.

Rebreather diving has gained popularity over the last few years. As you can imagine, these high tech dive units are not cheap. As with any large investment, buying your first rebreather can be daunting. Before you make the big purchase, it's crucial that you dive and test out a variety of different models. But where do you start? How do you know what's the best rebreather for your style of diving? Though rebreathers all perform the same task: removing additional CO2 from the breathing loop while adding the necessary amount of oxygen or nitrox - The way different models execute

A high-quality regulator is the most important piece of gear you can buy as a SCUBA diver because it allows you to breathe underwater. That's why most divers make it their first equipment purchase! But, with hundreds of designs to choose from, you might not know what “reg” to choose. If you need some help shopping, this article is for you. We'll walk you through the best SCUBA Regulators on the market, and all the top features and considerations to keep in mind when comparing models. Keep reading to learn more. For more of our top scuba gear recommendations, check

Buying new anchor your chain for your boat can be more complex than it sounds. You can't just walk into a marine store and order

We did a major upgrade on our solar charging and we now live almost totally on solar power. Here's what we did (mostly DIY) and the cost.

Every boat should have a compass and a sailor that knows how to use it. It isn't difficult to use one - it's just so easy to make mistakes if you've never learned to use them. In this post I learn you how.

Do you dive with gloves? If you haven't been a certified SCUBA diver for long, you might think that gloves are only used in cold water. But, there are plenty of reasons to dive using hand protection, no matter what water temperature you're jumping into. In this article, we'll break down the best dive gloves on the market, handpicked to protect you in icy water, shipwrecks, caves, and beyond. A high-quality pair of gloves should cushion and insulate your hands without restricting movement. They should be easy to don and doff, fit comfortably, and offer just the right amount of

When it comes to having the right equipment for racing, sometimes it’s the littlest things that can make the biggest difference.

So, you want a composting toilet in your campervan? Here are the best ones out there, plus the one I chose for my van!

My love affair with straw hats began one summer in the 70’s when I found the first best sailing hat ever. We were cruising the…

There's no doubt that headsail furling systems are reliable and efficient, but roller reefing mainsails? The jury's still out on that one

Turns out that owning a sailboat is pretty affordable. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. In this article, I'll show you exactly what to expect. Sure, super yachts are expensive, but so is everything super (except for maybe supermarkets). But a modest, used sailboat can be as cheap as $2,500 and an additional $1,400 per year. It may come as a surprise to you that you can get a decent sailboat for as little as $1,500 on Craigslist. Average sailboat costs at a glance We've compared thousands of listings, so you don't have to. If you just want the ballpark figures, here they are: Situation One-Time Cost Monthly Cost Average sailboat for most people (26') $25,000 $470 Low budget project (22') $2,500 $115 Budget ocean cruiser (35') $38,000 $450 Best-value ocean cruiser (40') $166,000 $1,300 The average price of new sailboats is $425,000 ($127,000 to $821,000). The average price of used sailboats is $278,000 ($67,000 to $555,000). Maintenance costs are on average $2,000 - $3,000 per year, and the average total annual cost is $3,000 to $7,000. Of course the price of a sailboat depends on our choices. We decide whether sailing is a rich man's game, or actually a very good holiday investment. (It beats driving to a bungalow park for sure - both cost-wise and the experience itself.) WHAT WILL YOUR DREAM BOAT COST? Take the test (article: /cost/cost-of-chartering-a-superyacht) Why you should trust us These figures are based on our latest research which was last updated September 26th 2023. We do this research every year, giving us very accurate numbers and clear insight into the trend of sailboat prices. We've literally compared thousands of sailboat listings over the years, and we've done so methodically. The research is done by our researcher Tay, who is an engineer by trade.

If you're looking for a simple Marine GPS chartplotter, made by a reliable brand, and want a good deal as well, there's an easy answer. In this article, I'll share my recommendation.

Being able to breathe underwater is the most important function of scuba equipment. Our trusty scuba tanks allow us to do just that. If you've only been diving out dive centers, you may have never had the option of choosing a tank. So now that you are ready to buy one of your own, how do you know what is the best scuba tank for you? Scuba tanks come in many different sizes and styles. Just like the rest of the gear, some are options are better suited for you and others are not. In this guide, you'll learn what to consider when buying a

How to get the internet on a sailboat while living the cruising life, including a Starlink review. Getting internet while sailing is easy!

Medium sized cruising yachts like these are capable of serious offshore passage making, whilst being reasonably economic to maintain and operate.

If you're looking for a simple Marine GPS chartplotter, made by a reliable brand, and want a good deal as well, there's an easy answer. In this article, I'll share my recommendation.

Cruisers anchored off a small beach in the Exumas dinghy in for cocktails and chat while the sun sinks behind a distant cay. Most evenings in this idyllic spot new cruisers and old salts alike meet over plans to go fishing in the sound, the best time to avoid day-trippers in the Thunderball grotto,