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I'll abbreviate manufactures as to not have repercussions. I have all G except the autopilot. I just changed out an old S for a new S. Read about issues with calibrating the G AP that I didn't want to deal with. The G MFD just plugs into the S AP via NMEA 2000 and provides tracking. G...

Installing the actual devices is pretty straight forward. You'll probably be cutting holes and doing a little glass work. Running the cables can be a huge task depending on access. Usually whatever internal holes that cables fit through are crammed full. I just spent a week installing a new...

Not sure how to check the electrical side other than to load it up and see if it takes it. FYI, when you shut down a gen, you're supposed to run it unloaded for a few minutes for cool down. That's more for the electrical side than the engine. I'd take a NL with that many hrs over anything else...

What is the mystery of Li batteries. Seems like the nay-sayers like to promote the hazards of explosion or boat fires. Only the extremely experienced should dare to even connect the leads to them. The charge and potentially discharge profiles are different. So if the inexperienced attempts...

Keep in mind that your fwd stateroom hatch is there for escape purposes also. Even though the Hewes may fit on the bow it will probably restrict the hatch from opening unless you're on something in the 70 ft range. You also have a 1200 lb moment trying to rip itself off your deck. That moment...

I spoke to one of the reps for Alexseal at last year's boat show and brought up the no-wax feature of Awlgrip. He got into technical stuff over my head pretty quickly but said you could buff the Alexseal every 3 years or so if you need to and not have to wax. That's a plus for me, cause once...

I've been reading about the Alexseal and it appears to be much easier for the non-professional. #1 if you mess up or need to repair you can sand it, blend and buff it with existing paint. Not so with Awlgrip. However, once it's painted with Awlgrip you never have to wax or polish the boat...

All good advise as usual. If you're new to this as you insinuate, your best approach would be to find the right captain first before buying the boat. Someone knowledgeable and trustworthy to help you with the selection process. You want to know when to walk away far before getting into the...

Anything but an inflatable is going to gouge the side of your boat when it hits it. I'm not the only one that drives it, so that's a requirement for me. Also, 5 minutes of sitting sideways and facing forward to operate a tiller and my back hurts. For my solution a 12 ft inflatable with a...

Depending on your assets, I've heard Florida is a good place to die compared to some other states.

Mechanicals have less failure modes to leave you stranded, but with the right knowledge and spares, electronically controlled engines are very reliable. Most will go into a limp mode if something really bad goes out and they have indicators on what's bad. Carry a few sensors and maybe even an...

Since you have the choice, don't overlook the east coast of SF, or possibly even the Bahamas. The east coast offers all the over-crowding of the west coast, but with it you have an abundance of boat facilities and technical experience. I would venture to guess that between Stuart and Ft...

When a compressor starts it will pull multiple times more amps than normal running. This can momentarily cause a voltage drop especially if you have a small battery bank. So your refrigerator ends up shutting itself off from low voltage.

'throwing a substantial wake that rocked the snot out of all the boats in the anchorage." Forums are a great place to post the name of the boat responsible.

No storm coverage - can't get it. Went back home, and put out a spider web of anchors and lines. My dock is reasonably well protected and not a lot of other boats around to come lose and bang into it. It was supposed to be a cat 5, coming from the SW but turned into a non-event. Originally...

I'm on the east coast and tried to access the Okeechobee Waterway to dodge a hurricane a day, maybe 2, before forecasted impact. Couldn't get through the lock - too many boats in line.

Just to be clear - 10mm socket or 10mm threads?

Before you get too far into it, talk to an insurance agent and find out what training and experience is needed for the size boat you decide on. Over a certain length and you are going to possibly need a captain for a period of time. Also, find out where you are going to keep it. There are...

Heard this somewhere years ago when everyone was bashing Bayliners. Some guy buys a Bayliner runabout to take his family to sandbar and some light skiing etc. Has a blast with it for a few weeks. Then mentions how great boating was and how much fun he's having at a party, and someone asks...

As mentioned, insurance is going to be an obstacle. You can probably overcome your lack of experience by hiring a captain for some period of time. So figure that into you budget. Also, older boats are getting increasingly hard to find a carrier, so unless you want liability only you may not...

From observations on older non-top tier and some top tier boats, sealing around doors, windows and port holes are their downfall. It goes undetected for too long and gets expensive to fix, sometimes more than the boat is worth. Usually, price point boats use lesser grade hardware also. An...

Don't mean to step on the main subject of this thread, but seems like it's coming to an end, so think it's a logical place. I fully understand plotting and passed the test, but think it's somewhat archaic. I believe there is some value in understanding it and gives you a basic understanding...

I thought that technically a private mooring was illegal precisely because it interfered with others anchoring. I've even witnessed owners trying to summons law enforcement to force someone off a mooring and being told they have no more right to the mooring than anyone else. There are...

This is where good brokers earn some of their commission. If you can't come to an agreeable price up front, then you don't want to go any further. Many long-distance transactions are negotiated without seeing the vessel first. Most brokers know the sellers bottom line and don't want funds...

Sounds like a lot of work was recently done. Check for leaks and make sure your bilge pumps are working. Start the engines and look them over at the dock before leaving. Are belts properly tightened or are they slipping or showing vibration? Anything dripping? Check all the wiring and...