Ocean Navigator - July/August 2020

In this issue

Weather: Given that the consequences of getting caught in a major storm can be unpleasant or worse, the number-one issue for most voyagers is getting reliable, useful weather data both in port and at sea. We’ll do a review of both the sources and the uses of weather info so you can make better decisions about your offshore passages.

Desperately Seeking Solutions

Voyagers and closed borders

7 mins

Problems in the emergency beacon network

When voyagers purchase and register an EPIRB, they have a reasonable expectation that should they activate the beacon, the Sarsat system will swing into gear and rescue them. And in many places around the world, that expectation is well-founded. Two recent cases of EPIRB activation, however, suggest that even the best, most reliable EPIRB might not help you in an emergency.

4 mins

How we found the right boat

My wife, Clarice, and I talked about living aboard a boat for years before we made the plunge. Here are some of the considerations we worked through.

6 mins

Sea of Cortez in the time of coronavirus

We’d left the dinghy on the beach and hiked up to a isolated coastal rancho (family farm) to resupply our fresh vegetables. It was 25 miles north of Loreto, far from even any village. Cruisers on the VHF net said the rancho made excellent goat cheese.

5 mins

Stuck in the U.S. Virgin Islands

“You couldn’t have picked a better time to be living on your sailboat” seems to be the sentiment of many of our friends as they see pictures of us snorkeling the clear waters off St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic. In many ways, a sailboat makes a great home for being isolated and self-sufficient.

6 mins

Amazing trades

A perfect passage from Cape Town to Barbados is a magical end to a circumnavigation

10 mins

The humble yet capable marine VHF

Although marine VHF radio has been around for a while, it has not only remained useful but is also still a vital part of any vessel’s safety equipment. In fact, VHF units are so capable that many cruisers may not even be aware of all the things they can do. And even with the advent of cellphones, VHFs are still important to any vessel’s communications system.

10 mins

Satcom for the sailor

When long-range cruising, it’s nice to get away from it all — but some of us still must remain connected. We are spoiled on land with Internet access at speeds of 300 Mbps for prices as low as $50 a month. The same speed at sea may cost you $50,000. Therein lies the challenge: How can we surf the Internet at sea without blowing the entire communications budget?

2 mins

In serious hot water

Devising a multiple-input system for producing hot water

10 mins

Mid-ocean plague ship disaster

NAV PROBLEM

2 mins

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Ocean Navigator Magazine Description:

Ocean Navigator magazine is for voyagers, both power and sail, who want to know more about their boats, their gear and the techniques to make them better voyagers. Whether you are crossing oceans or making coastwise passages, Ocean Navigator will help and inspire you.

Our editorial offices are located in Portland, Maine, but we cover voyaging topics for sailors and power voyagers from the Southern Ocean to the North Sea, from South Pacific atolls to rocky coasts and the Great Lakes.