HarborWatt started with a blown fuse and a ruined weekend.
Years ago our founding editor, Elliot Marsh, watched a friend’s brand new battery monitor go dark two hours into a trip. The cause was a single crimp done wrong behind the panel. The boat was fine. The wiring was a tangle no owner should have to face alone. That afternoon became the reason this site exists.
What HarborWatt is
HarborWatt is an independent publication about marine electronics and 12V boat power. We cover the systems that keep a boat alive: battery banks, lithium upgrades, solar, inverters, charging, and the wiring that ties all of it together. Everything here is written for real boat owners, not for engineers.
Why we exist
Marine electrical information is scattered, dated, and often plain wrong. Forum threads argue in circles. Product pages promise the world. Meanwhile the shift to lithium has left thousands of boaters guessing about chargers, alternators, and cold-weather safety. We built HarborWatt to be the calm, trustworthy reference we wished we had when we were the ones sweating over a wiring diagram at the dock.
What we solve
Most readers arrive with one of three problems. They want more capacity without cooking a battery. They want power at anchor without dragging a generator around. Or they are chasing a gremlin that quietly drains the bank overnight.
Our guides work through each of these with real numbers, clear steps, and the safety notes that actually matter. We would rather over-explain a fuse than watch a reader guess.
How we work
Every article is written from hands-on experience and checked against recognized marine standards, including guidance from the American Boat and Yacht Council. We test gear the slow way, by living with it on the water across a full season. When something fails, we tell you, because the failures teach more than the wins.
We do not publish sponsored articles, and we do not let manufacturers approve our words. If we ever earn a commission through an affiliate link, we disclose it clearly, and it never changes what we recommend. You can read the details in our Editorial Policy and Affiliate Disclosure.
Our promise
We will keep the writing honest, the specifics accurate, and the safety guidance conservative. Boats, water, and electricity make an unforgiving mix, and we treat that responsibility seriously. If we get something wrong, tell us, and we will fix it fast.
Thanks for reading, and fair winds.
Our content standards
Accuracy first
We check specs and safety guidance against recognized marine standards and update guides when better information turns up.
Plain language
No jargon walls. We explain terms the first time we use them so a first-time boat owner can follow along.
Independent
No manufacturer controls what we say. Any affiliate relationship is disclosed and never shapes a recommendation.