12V Wiring Systems
8 Boat Wiring Mistakes That Cause Fires
Eight common boat wiring mistakes that lead to onboard fires, and the simple marine-grade fixes that keep your 12V system safe and…
Marine Solar Power
Wiring Solar Panels in Series or Parallel
Series adds voltage, parallel adds current. A hands-on guide to wiring a boat solar array the right way, with worked numbers and…
Marine Battery Banks
7 Battery Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid
Most dead boat batteries were killed by small habits. Here are seven battery maintenance mistakes and the simple fixes that add years…
Lithium Battery Upgrades
5 Lithium Battery Mistakes That Kill Banks
The five lithium battery mistakes that kill marine banks early, and the simple fixes a working boat electrician uses to make them…
Marine Electronics
VHF Radio Myths and Range Truths
More watts does not mean more range. Here are the VHF radio myths that mislead boaters, and the antenna-height truths that actually…
Marine Electronics
Do You Need Radar on a Small Boat?
Do you really need radar on a small boat? A marine electrician on the real costs, power draw, and when a compact…
Inverters and Charging
Choosing a Marine Battery Monitor
A plain-spoken guide to picking a shunt-based marine battery monitor that finally tells you the true state of charge of your house…
Inverters and Charging
Why Your Inverter Keeps Tripping
Six real reasons a boat inverter keeps tripping, from skinny cable to overloaded circuits, and the quick dockside fix for each one.
12V Wiring Systems
Marine Grounding and Bonding Basics
A beginner-friendly guide to marine grounding and bonding, how they differ, and how to keep your fittings from corroding.
Marine Solar Power
Do Boat Solar Panels Work in Shade?
Boat solar panels still make power in shade, just far less than you would hope. Here is how much you lose and…
Marine Battery Banks
Starting vs House Battery: The Difference
A plain-spoken guide to starting vs house battery differences, when each one wins, and the simple two-bank layout most boats should run.
Lithium Battery Upgrades
LiFePO4 Bank Sizing for Liveaboards
A dockside, step-by-step way to size a LiFePO4 house bank for full-time liveaboard life, worked through with real numbers from a 38-foot…