How to Build an Electric Boat
By Dan Fannon For quite some time, I’d wanted to build a boat. But what kind of boat? Would it float when it was done? …
Find squadron members with mobile member search
By Dan Bartell Have you ever been away from home and needed to call a United States Power Squadrons member but didn’t have the person’s …
Add shapes to your boat with PVC pipes
One of the oldest and ubiquitous polymers, PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is used for water toys, rafts, boat curtains and many other marine applications. I …
Floating boat lift keeps boat clean, accessible
I retired last September with plans to spend more time at my homemade tropical paradise in Flamingo Bay, Florida. We are right on the water, …
Size matters with marine wiring
Last spring I installed a new combination sonar (depth/fish finder) and GPS on my boat, which replaced separate units. The new unit has a 7-inch …
News sails breathe new life into old boat
By Jeffrey Taylor I replaced the jib on Principia a couple years ago and had the mainsail made to order just last year. The old …
Alternative solutions for long-lasting trailer lighting
Manufactured by a reputable local manufacturer, my boat trailer gets the job done, but the submersible lights, or more correctly the electrical system, suffers and …
Solar-electric hybrid power refit
By Phil Shelley As an engineer interested in renewable energy, I’ve long considered the viability of electric propulsion for marine vessels. In recent years, large …
Build a DIY shore power test adapter
When you’re out cruising this summer, you may find yourself at a marina slip wanting to use shore power to charge your batteries and run …
Refurbishing trailer bunks by replacing worn carpeting
As simple as boat trailers seem, they are fraught with problems. If it isn’t the lights, it’s the wiring; if the lights work, the wheel …
Troubleshooting outboard problems while underway
By Rick Lavoie Before starting to troubleshoot outboard problems on the water, make sure to secure the boat. Anchor if the boat could go aground …
Build a DIY flagstaff for your powerboat
I’ve been vacationing in Southwest Florida for longer than I have been a member of United States Power Squadrons. I haven’t visited every yacht basin …
