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Hi Jim, I think the use of "propogated" versus "replicated" is a nit in this situation, but I'll bite anyway. The error was not replicated. The error in the derived vector charts is different from, but caused by the origInal raster chart error. It is not a replica. Since people like Garmin and...

We're adding the AT365 to the table in the article now. Thanks for the suggestion! We originally didn't include it in the table because despite sharing the same hull, the two boats are very different, and I expect the buyers would be different as well. The AT365 is a single cabin boat (versus...

Yep, I was going based on Lifeline 6V GPL-4CTs (2x6V=12V) https://www.amazon.com/Lifeline-Marine-AGM-Battery-GPL-4CT/dp/B0029XJ1U6 $399US each on Amazon - so closer to $800 for 12Vx220Ah.

AT and Airstream? You should check out our blog (Riveted - link in my signature line). We've done extensive cruising in the area you're looking at - Puget Sound through the top of SE Alaska - 500+ nights aboard the past two years - bunches of posts on destinations. (Also tons of Airstreaming in...

Well, lithium is expensive, yes. But to do a realistic total cost-of-ownership comparison with AGM batteries... Lithium costs - in round figures today - $1K per 100Ah at 12.8V. Assuming lithium provides 80% usable capacity without damage, that's $1K for 80Ah usable. $12.50 per usable 12V Ah...

Hi Pete, A few clarifications: - A Max Marine system is not a "WiFi Booster". It has a feature that does this, but it is a "bonus" and not the main function of the device. It does offer some of the benefits of a WiFi booster (better performance when using marina WiFi), but this feature, called...

The primary thing a phone as a wifi hotspot will not be good at is range (distance from the tower where you can have data service). A phone broadcasts with very low power and has a tiny antenna. My router uses diversity antennas (2 of them) and each antenna is larger than an entire cell phone...

Hi Peter, The advantage of the solution we use (Max Marine) in making cellular data connections is pretty substantial. The radios in the router are superior to the radios in a typical cell phone. The use of an external diversity antenna to reach cell towers gives significant advantages, and...

We may not be the "normal" case, but we both work full time, probably 35-60 hours per week online, running an internet business. Before the internet - well, we'd have different jobs, and perhaps no boat. I'd maybe be spending those 35-60 weekly hours in a big corporate building somewhere...

We are able to boat because we are able to stay connected. We run a business full time, and we are still able to be on the water more than half the year. Without WiFi on the water, we'd be relegated to a few weekends and maybe one 2-3 week trip per year. It's not that we love being connected...

Really good point! I think I'll experiment with walking the re-bulk voltage back a tenth at a time, and see what that does in terms of letting the pack settle back to a more comfortable SoC on shore power. Because we also have the solar in there, generally contributing less than the steady-state...

I agree with a lot of what's been said above. In SE Alaska, AT&T is BY FAR the best option. Verizon and T-Mobile are almost useless except in and around a few towns. We have spent both of the past two summers there, and depend on our connection to work while we're cruising. In BC, Verizon and...

CMS - great points! Correct, voltage is not a good indicator of SoC - particularly on lithium with their very flat voltage curve. The way we are set up to charge with our shore charger is: "Bulk" charge until 14.0V. Then - "Absorb" charge for 45 min at 14.0V Then - "Float" - no charging...

We use Nespresso on our boat, and in our Airstream trailer. We've spent about 500 nights aboard the boat and probably have 2-3 cups per person per day. We've spent over 750 nights in the Airstream with the same consumption. Both machines have been rock solid (Nespresso Pixie) The quality of the...

Pete - VERY sorry about the dinghy incident. We were listening to that unfold on the radio as we left Walker Cove... Glad nobody was hurt! You are absolutely correct about the freezer space issue! When you're cruising in BC or SE Alaska and there are often no stores for a week or more, you need...

Way too much technical info about charging lithum That's a VERY good point, and perhaps it warrants some explanation - at the risk of being too technical and writing way too much. There are several things to consider when maintaining and charging LiPeFO4 batteries. The four most important...

@Trundlebug - Your two-tank system sounds interesting! Unfortunately, there is zero available space in our Nordic Tug 34' engine room to add even a slightly larger water heater. In fact, when we eventually have to replace or service the one that's there, it will be a definite "ship in a...

One more note on the "cost" part of the equation... 4 Lifeline GPL-4CT 220Ah 6V AGM batteries (the max that fits in our limited space) would cost $315 each - so $1260 for a set. That would give us 220Ah usable at 50% discharge. At 50% discharge, those batteries have about a 500 cycle life. It...

Well, this is gonna blow my nerd credentials right out of the water but... I don't know what regulator we have. (hangs head in shame as propeller beanie spins slowly to a halt) It's the stock regulator that came with the boat new. Our engine is a Yanmar 6BY3 260 with a 150A alternator.

As we said, about half of that 450Ah is running the water heater full time (which is really just a convenience - nice to have hot water when you turn on the tap, and not be turning breakers on and off, running the generator for short runs at irregular times, etc. If we take that out, we're at...

Hi all, I wrote the article in question, so I thought I'd pitch in with a few comments: First, we understand lithium is well in the "early adopter" stage for boats. I'm an electrical engineer by training and we generally like trying out new technologies, so we decided to be the "canary in the...