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You need windshield wipers if you operate in rain, fog or heavy seas where waves splash over the bow and hit the windshield.

That is the correct answer. :thumb:

The quality of the audio output of a VHF radio has nothing to do with the quality of the antenna. It has to do with the audio circuit of the radio and the speaker. It is possible to adjust the frequency response of both the audio circuit and the speaker to emphasize the frequencies where...

Remember that if you store your dinghy on your swim platform, you will no longer have an available swim platform. You may not be able to climb back into the boat if you fall into the water and you won't be able to enter or exit the boat via the swim platform at docks or marinas. Think about...

PVC is great for straight runs, but you will need flexible hose at the ends. Boats move more than houses.

If your boat has internal potable water tanks, fill them and just use your water system and pump as you normally would. There is no need to turn the pump off.

Since the sender requires electrical contact with the engine block to function, I would not use pipe dope or Teflon tape.

Some people have appliances on their boats that require 120 volt (or 240 volt) AC power to work. Air conditioning, large refrigerators, washer and drier, etc. They typically run a genset 24/7 unless they are on shore power.

What you are missing is that charging a battery takes power from the engine that would otherwise be used to propel the boat. A 200 amp alternator would use considerably more power than a typical 60 amp alternator. Driving the 200 amp alternator would also require more and heavier belts to...

The wire gauge is printed on the insulation every 12" or so.

That is not ABYC compliant. This is: https://www.westmarine.com/ancor-nylon-flanged-spade-connectors-P009_275_004_013.html...

PLEASE! Back away and put the wire cutters down. Get some competent help with this replacement. If you don't know what you are doing, you could make a mistake that could be lethal at some point. There is no shame in hiring a pro to do what you don't know how to do and you aren't going to get...

I think you will find that many of those "no-wake" zones are bogus signs put up by waterfront homeowners and can (and should) be ignored. Look for the official state logo on any no-wake sign or buoy.

This is the correct answer. Actually, it's probably closer to 95% until you actually enter Florida.

You have the option to contact a different company and see what they have to say, but nobody on an Internet forum who hasn't inspected your boat can tell you if you need service ports in your tank.

It's dumb to say that you are done with a particular vendor. If you have Internet access, you have the ability to shop for price and value for just about any product. I recently bought a dinghy from Defender because they had the best price (including shipping which was free in this case). I...

Remember that the "power brick" converts 120 volt AC to 12 volt DC. Cutting off the brick and connecting the TV directly to your boat's 12 volt system ignores the fact that your boat's voltage could be 14.5 volts or even higher when the batteries are being charged. This could damage the TV.

Yes, but the inverter is drawing power 24/7 even though you may be using the appliance just a few minutes or a couple hours per day. This can draw down your batteries faster than would otherwise be the case.

You are misjudging the amount of water that can come from a 1/2" hose hooked to an unlimited supply of water at 60+ PSI.

Yea, Walmart doesn't have any. And unless you want to plug in an inverter every time you want to watch TV or deal with the standby current 24/7, you are better off with a 12 volt TV. A google search will find a bunch of choices. I got one from amazon.com, but it couldn't be controlled with a...

Asking for legal advice on a boating forum will get you nowhere. And you are not going to get a response that you can print out and hand to a marina owner that will change his/her position. Some marinas cannot accept liveaboards because of local laws or ordinances. Some cannot accept...

You would get more reliable advice from your engine manufacturer than you will on a web forum, but my "advice" would be to forget about it. You won't save enough money and you will risk damaging your engine, especially if it is a newer model. If fuel costs are a big concern for you, you might...

This is what we do. Not just to prolong their life, but to remove the chance that some passerby or dock neighbor will borrow it to rinse out his holding tank. :eek:

That is what we do as well. I have heard and read stories about boats sinking at the dock because of failed water hoses and connections when connected to city water.

Did this ever work correctly or is this a new problem? Has anything changed? Who installed this system, you or a pro? Have you checked the wiring diagrams furnished with the equipment to make sure it is wired correctly? Fuses and fuse holders have nothing to do with this. You didn't need to...