The Newport International Boat Show kicked off the fall show season with a nice selection of both sail and powerboats docked together on the Newport, RI, waterfront. This week, we showcase winners of the new products contest, in the gear and equipment categories.
Thru-Hulls, those fittings that penetrate your boat’s hull below the waterline, are some of the most critical components aboard. Proper operation and maintenance is of the utmost importance to the safety of your boat.
Staying overnight aboard a boat is one of the great pleasures of cruising. Fresh ocean breezes and the gentle lapping of the water can soothe you to sleep in a way like no other. Having a comfortable bed/bunk is imperative. Finding the right boat mattress makes all the difference.
Learn how modern outboard alternators charge lithium battery banks, what can go wrong, and how to keep your boat’s electrical system balanced.
As a world class adventure rower, I’ve become partial to the bronze oarlocks made by Thomas Machine & Foundry of Washington state. A visit to the foundry showed me what truly timeless craftsmanship is all about.
Right up there as one of the more important electrical components on a boat, alternators are responsible for keeping the batteries charged and supplying electrical energy to onboard systems. How they work, and what signs to look for when they don’t, should be part of your regular preventive maintenance regimen.
Are your boat registration numbers on your dinghy looking frayed or are some of them falling off? I found an easy solution that looks good and lasts longer.
Thinking of upgrading the batteries on your boat? Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries have some clear advantages over lead acid and AGM batteries and their prices are starting to come down.
There is nothing that says you have reached the pinnacle of yachting decadence like boating with a hot tub. How can you manage to kick back in the warm bubbly water, refreshing drink in hand, and unwind from a long day of boating if your boat is only 26’ long?
The Digital Age has produced a new kind of marine autopilot that only requires a non-intrusive DIY installation and your smartphone—the iHoy Captain. While traditional hydraulic autopilots and multifunction displays remain standards, this newcomer allows boaters on a budget to have the convenience of an autopilot.
Sometimes, even on the best designed boats in the world, you just want to snap your fingers and have a few extra seats appear. California-based Further Customs has a line of inflatable boat chairs that quickly and easily deliver those extra seats you need, ok maybe not by snapping your fingers.
After a long and busy winter, I realized that several boat projects had gotten pushed aside. Guilt and dirt pushed me to get help, which led to the wise choice of hiring some young entrepreneurs to help cleanse both my boat and my conscience.
Nobody wants their party to get pooped out. Holding tank ventilation is an important part of a boat’s waste management system, but foul smells can ruin the atmosphere. Enter Perko’s new Odor Eater absorption system.
Having internet onboard is becoming pervasive as more people want to stay connected. Starlink is a game changer, but how do you control its use, and do you still need ways to get online other than satellite?
With so much to see at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, Best4Boats split coverage into a series. Part 3 features Arnie Hammerman’s standout picks.
If you like stand-up paddle boarding but want a board that is so unique you can display it in your house as art when you are not using it Little Bay Boards is for you.
The Best4Boats team saw so many new boats and products at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show that we split our coverage into a multi-part series. In Part 2, Publisher Arnie Hammerman and Editorial Director Norris Comer highlighted several standout boats and new marine technology from the show.
Simrad Yachting Marine Electronics released their new Navico NSO® 4 Chartplotter series in Miami. These new MFDs are designed to be easy to use with their new NEON™ operating system, an ultra-fast Qualcomm® 8-core processor that delivers 35% faster boot times, ten times quicker auto-routing for seamless navigation, and increased storage capacity compared to previous models. The new series includes 16-, 22-, and 24-inch full-HD,…
Furuno launched two new series at the show: the TZMap line, designed to be stand-alone MFDs, and the TZtouchE MFDs, which are fully networkable. They look identical, and both have touchscreen controls and a choice of 9” or 13” screens. The TZMap series is designed for smaller boats that don’t require complex networking. Because the user interface is the same as the more complex networkable…
A United States Coast Guard (USCG) ruling set to take place April 1, 2026 paves the way for electronic visual distress signaling device (eVDSDs) dominance over traditional pyrotechnic flares on the water.