I showed up late at Ben Ellison’s house. It was mid-June and already dark. I could tell Ben was up past his usual bedtime considering
Written by Ben Ellison on July 31, 2017 for Panbo, The Marine Electronics Hub While I do think that Gizmo offers a bountiful spread of
There are many reasons for Gizmo’s late launch last week — travel, getting old, boatyard miscommunications, etc. — but perhaps the most interesting one is what it took to properly retest Pettit Hydrocoat Eco bottom paint.
I was already inclined to try Firefly Oasis AGMs, and the switch from two conventional 8D AGMs to a four Firefly bank naturally led me to rethink Gizmo’s battery storage, cabling, charging, and monitoring systems.
The time has come. I’d already sensed that Gizmo’s AGM batteries were on borrowed time; But the real issue is what to do next.
Behold the 39-foot trawler Bliss about to anchor behind Gizmo in Pulpit Harbor. She’s a custom Jay Benford design that already turns heads, but note the cabin top presence of both Inmarsat FB150 and Iridium Pilot antennas.
The competition around sonar burns hot on many fronts and the more the merrier, I say.
A Master of Quiet Cruising
This imposing 55-footer is a comfortable, well-appointed coastal cruiser primed to take on more ambitious journeys.
To sell your boat in a buyer’s market, be honest and consider working with a professional broker.
After navigating the Pacific coasts of the United States and Mexico and wintering in the Sea of Cortez, Jeff and Kami Fehr rang in 2026 by transiting the Panama Canal aboard their meticulously refit Selene 59, Dock Holiday.
Smarter steering means frequent, but only short, glances at the chartplotter.
Howard Chen’s Bold Vision in China
How one liveaboard crew found comfort and confidence by choosing paravanes over high-tech stabilization systems.
Great Lakes Cruising Story: Family, Failures & Perseverance
An Aspen Power Catamarans rally raises the adventure bar with a trip up Vancouver Island’s untamed west coast.
Boats designed with these appendages, as well as retrofitted models, enjoy a wealth of benefits.
