Best inflatable boat: 9 compact tenders put to the test
WEBSep 9, 2021 · Inflatables are everywhere: paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, tents, kites and wings – and inflatable boat technology has long been a practical option for tenders, RIBs, liferafts and lifejackets. But what the ‘new wave’ of inflatable boats brings to the practical boating landscape is the air floor, which makes very stable, very lightweight tenders a very practical option for people with ...
Lithium boat batteries: 12 of the best options tested
WEBJun 15, 2021 · Emrhys Barrell tests a dozen 12V lithium boat batteries (60-120Ah) with integral charge monitoring and the results are surprising. TAGS: affiliates. Boat owners have long relied upon the lead-acid battery to start their engines, run electric lights and, these days, to power inverters to run household items such as …
Best satellite phones: What to look for when buying a satphone
WEBApr 1, 2022 · Some, such as the Thuraya SatSleeve Plus, transform your own phone into a satellite device, while Iridium Go works with up to five smartphones using an app. Others, such as the Iridium 9575 Extreme, Inmarsat ISatPhone or Thuraya’s XT Pro are ruggedised handsets. A lower cost option is Garmin’s InReach Mini which, while not strictly a sat ...
Best boat battery: Pros and cons of the 5 different types of marine ...
WEBOct 28, 2022 · Both types can withstand many more charge/discharge cycles than conventional deep-discharge batteries – for example, a 7-10 year lifespan rather than a 4-5. Pros: leak-proof, longer lifespan than wet lead acid, AGM can be dual-purpose starter and domestic. Cons: twice the price of wet lead acid, up …
Best forward-looking sonar: 5 units tested - Practical Boat Owner
WEBMay 10, 2016 · The plotter offers two forward views: LiveVü and RealVü 3D. LiveVü will look familiar to fishfinder users, with the classic blue screen and smeared lines, coloured to show the strength of the echo. RealVü scans a 60° arc ahead of the boat to build a picture of the seabed ahead, similar to the Echopilot 3D.
What are the different types of seacock and when should I replace …
WEBMay 4, 2022 · Types of seacock. Seacocks (valves) are an essential part of the underwater skin fitting. Occasionally the terms ‘skin fittings’ and ‘seacocks’ are used interchangeably, but the seacock is specifically the valve that lets the water in or out. Three different types of seacocks – gate valve, ball valve and cone valve.
Best electric outboard motors: 9 of the best options on the market
WEBJun 9, 2021 · Mitek: 2.6-20hp electric outboard motors. Italian-based Mitek makes a series of outboards where the drive is enclosed under a cowling and the power is fed in from a separate battery bank. “Our outboard sales are focused on the portable market, from 2.6hp up to the newest 15hp and 20hp,” says sales manager Silvia Peduto.
Antifouling: Everything you need to know - Practical Boat Owner
WEBOct 31, 2023 · If your existing paint is flaking, you need to prime any bare or flaky patches. Scrape away until all the flaky paint has come off, then feather the edges by wet sanding them. Generally speaking, self-eroding antifouling can be safely applied over the top of hard, but applying hard on self-eroding should be avoided.
UK seabirds: How to identify some of the most common breeds
WEBJul 13, 2021 · For sheer spectacle there is nothing like sailing past a big colony in the breeding season. Most UK seabirds choose to nest in inaccessible places such as steep cliffs and small islands so the sights, sounds and smells of tens or even hundreds of thousands of birds combine with some of the most dramatic scenery.
Best marine binoculars: 10 of the best pairs of 7×50 compass …
WEBSep 21, 2016 · Buy it now on eBay. Lankhorst Taselaar Talamex Deluxe binoculars. These are floating binoculars with a compass and reticle range finder. They are 100% waterproof and have good-quality multicoated lenses.