Best forward-looking sonar: 5 units tested - Practical Boat Owner
WEBMay 10, 2016 · The plotter offers two forward views: LiveVü and RealVü 3D. LiveVü will look familiar to fishfinder users, with the classic blue screen and smeared lines, coloured to show the strength of the echo. RealVü scans a 60° arc ahead of the boat to build a picture of the seabed ahead, similar to the Echopilot 3D.
Best electric outboard motors: 9 of the best options on the market
WEBJun 9, 2021 · Mitek: 2.6-20hp electric outboard motors. Italian-based Mitek makes a series of outboards where the drive is enclosed under a cowling and the power is fed in from a separate battery bank. “Our outboard sales are focused on the portable market, from 2.6hp up to the newest 15hp and 20hp,” says sales manager Silvia Peduto.
Best inflatable boat: 9 compact tenders put to the test
WEBSep 9, 2021 · Inflatables are everywhere: paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, tents, kites and wings – and inflatable boat technology has long been a practical option for tenders, RIBs, liferafts and lifejackets. But what the ‘new wave’ of inflatable boats brings to the practical boating landscape is the air floor, which makes very stable, very lightweight tenders a very practical option for people with ...
Best antifouling paint: 8 leading options in head-to-head test
WEBApr 17, 2023 · In June 2021 we coated the hull of a Hardy Commodore 42 with eight of the best antifouling paint products. The motorboat Raymariner, which is the test boat for Raymarine, is based in the Solent and is used three or four times a week for trialling the company’s electronics.. The aim of the test was to compare traditional copper-based annual antifouling paints with a number of longer lasting ...
Which adhesive sealant is best? - Practical Boat Owner
WEBJun 9, 2015 · PRICE per 300ml: £19.09. Buy now from Amazon. This is a fast-cure (one-day), one-component polyurethane structural adhesive/sealant, suitable for above or below the waterline. It stays flexible, allowing for structural movement: stress caused by shock, vibration, swelling or shrinking is effectively absorbed.
Antifouling: Everything you need to know - Practical Boat Owner
WEBOct 31, 2023 · If your existing paint is flaking, you need to prime any bare or flaky patches. Scrape away until all the flaky paint has come off, then feather the edges by wet sanding them. Generally speaking, self-eroding antifouling can be safely applied over the top of hard, but applying hard on self-eroding should be avoided.
Lithium boat batteries: 12 of the best options tested
WEBJun 15, 2021 · Emrhys Barrell tests a dozen 12V lithium boat batteries (60-120Ah) with integral charge monitoring and the results are surprising. TAGS: affiliates. Boat owners have long relied upon the lead-acid battery to start their engines, run electric lights and, these days, to power inverters to run household items such as …
12 diesel bug treatments tested - Practical Boat Owner
WEBSep 8, 2016 · Fuel QC’s cATP test, step-by-step. 1 Draw a sample of contaminated fuel into a syringe from the interface between the fuel and water – this is where the diesel bug will be found. 2 Filter a sample of the fuel through a 0.75 micron filter attached to a syringe. This removes the fuel, leaving the micro-organisms and debris in the filter.
Keel types and how they affect performance - Practical Boat Owner
WEBJun 19, 2023 · Pros: Reduced wetted surface area leading to increased boat speed. Better windward performance and handling than full length keel. Rudder on the aft end of the keel improves self-steering ability on some designs. Cons: Under engine, this keel form has a large turning circle ahead and poor control astern.
Best boat varnish: 7 top options for gleaming woodwork
WEBOct 13, 2022 · A traditional marine spar varnish — albeit a good one — is Interlux’s Schooner Varnish. With an alkyd base, 47% of tung oil solids, and UV inhibitors to boot, this product is a well-balanced one-part product that is suitable for a variety of uses. This product can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed. Reasons to buy.