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.

Watermakers - The first generation of these systems required
considerable manual input to operate. Now,
watermakers are more sophisticated and
require far less operator attention. The biggest
considerations for the voyager now are capacity
and installation questions. We’ll examine these
aspects of watermakers and more.

Ocean Navigator’s handbook on passage-
making, Ocean Voyager is packed with
offshore cruising information. This annual
issue covers communications, electronics,
weather, electrical systems, safety, voyaging
skills and more.

Sun, wind and water electrical power — As the efficiency of solar panels climbs, and as wind and water generators grow more powerful with improved designs, have these tools become capable enough to handle all the power needs of voyaging sailors? We'll discuss this question and other aspects of gaining power from sun, wind and sea.

In this issue's special section on Yacht Security we look at the various options for boat security and monitoring systems. Voyagers have more expensive gear than ever aboard their boats and are increasingly looking to secure their vessels from intruders, both when they are aboard and when they are ashore. In our first story we look at the types of alarm and monitoring systems available. In our second story we get a first hand account of a voyaging couple's search for a vessel security system. We also learn about the features of the system they finally decided on and describe how they installed it themselves. In our power voyaging column we examine oil analysis. ABYC master technician Steve D'Antonio discusses the importance of oil analysis done right for letting you know what's happening with your engine. In our Ocean Voyaging section we have a story on dodging lightning - the third part of a series on the biggest challenges a voyaging couple faced in their 50,000 miles. Ellen Massey Leonard describes her encounters with the threat of lightning and what she and her husband did to prepare their boat for a possible strike. In a story on the marine environment we have an examination of the ubiquitous nature of plastic trash in the world's oceans and what individual sailors can do about it. In part ten of our celestial navigation series, we look at how to take and reduce sights of the four navigational planets: Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn and we provide a step-by-step guide to star and planet sight reduction. Plus, the nav problem and much more.

In this issue's special section on Voyaging Boats we look at offshore vessel design. There are many options and choices — monohull, multihull, light displacement, heavy displacement, etc —  and most voyagers have an opinion about what works best. In the first story on voyaging boats we'll hear from a selection of live aboard voyagers about why they chose the type of vessel they sail. Our second story is a testament from a circumnavigator on why a pilothouse-equipped sailboat was the best choice for him on his voyage around the world. In our power voyaging column trawler expert Jeff Merrill writes about how to teach your boat to talk to you – how to do vessel monitoring when you are away from the vessel. In our Ocean Voyaging section we have a story on the worst breakdowns - In the second part of a series on the biggest challenges a voyaging couple faced in their 50,000 miles, Ellen Massey Leonard describes two of the worst breakdowns they suffered she and her husband experienced on their voyages. A broken transmission between Australia and the Keeling Island in the Indian Ocean and an engine off its mounts in the Panama Canal, where no sailing is allowed. In a story on the voyaging life, a live aboard voyager describes the difficulties of doing the laundry while full time voyaging. In part nine of our celestial navigation series, we provide a step-by-step set of instructional articles on the hows and whys of navigating by celestial bodies. In this installment we look at star sights. Plus, the nav problem and much more.

In this issue's Special Section on Safety we look at how staying safe while voyaging involves many factors from avoiding bad weather to fire safety to wearing harnesses and PFDs in rough conditions. In the first story we'll hear from two voyagers who used their radio and their medical training and experience to assist in a carbon monoxide poisoning on a nearby boat. Our second story reviews voyagers' choices in harnesses and tethers. We look at she of the features and offer info on how to pick one that suits your needs. In our Power Voyaging column we consider prop shift alignment. ABYC master technician Steve D'Antonio discusses the importance of having a power voyager's prop shaft and  set up properly to prevent vibration and other problems. In our Ocean Voyaging section we have a story on worst weather passages. A circumnavigator describes two of the worst stretches of weather she and her husband experienced on their voyages: A nasty storm off the Cape of Good Hope and a series of gales that hammered them in the Arctic while sailing off the Alaskan coast. She relates the experiences and tells what they learned about dealing with bad weather. In our Voyaging Tips section a liveaboard voyager discusses what to look for in anchor swivels and how to use them properly. And our Celestial Navigation series has part eight on this still useful navigation tool. In this installment we look at running fixes and the relative value of various types of LOPs and fixes. Plus, the Nav problem and much more.

In this issue's Special Section on Weather we look at the cycles of good weather and bad, both of which are of major interest to the voyaging sailor. In the first story we'll compare the modernized version of the voyaging meteorologist's primary tool: the barometer and recording barograph. Our second story reviews the major weather routing service providers with a roundup of the products they provide. Our third story takes a speculative look at how some observers are suggesting that the amount of bad weather is increasing in areas like the Southern Ocean and singlehanded worldwide races may be getting too dangerous. In our Power Voyaging column we look at voyaging papers, the necessary paperwork you'll need when power voyaging in foreign waters. In our Ocean Voyaging section we have a story from way back in 1975: Two Navy pilots with very little sailing experience  sail across the Gulf of Mexico in a stripped-down Ericson 25. Not surprisingly, they encounter a few surprises. An endearing story about just getting out there and doing it and being lucky! In a story on the voyaging life, a live aboard voyager looks at the value of having some language skills other than just English when going voyaging to distant ports of call. And in Celestial Navigation series we have part seven in which we look at using the H.O 249 sight reduction tables and plotting a line of position. Plus, the Nav problem and much more.

In this issues's Special Section on Batteries we start with a story in which we examine how voyagers can determine the best level of battery capacity they need on their boat depending on how many electrical loads they have on board. Our second story details a voyager's custom battery charging system for his house battery bank and engine start battery. Our third story looks at lithium Ion batteries, why they are achieving wider acceptance among cruising sailors and provides a sample of the various units available. In our Power Voyaging column voyaging couple James and Jennifer Hamilton describe how they fixed the wireless remote control for the lifting crane on their Nordhavn trawler. In the Ocean Voyaging section we have a story on a challenging passage to French Polynesia — a voyaging couple on a cruising catamaran, early in their voyaging career, make a stormy passage from the Galapagos to the Gambier Islands. In our continuing series on celestial navigation we focus on how time zones work and how we can get valuable info from the Nautical Almanac. In a story on diesel engines, 2019 CCA Young Voyager Award winner Ellen Massey Leonard describes trying to "coax" a seized-up diesel back into action while in a small marina in Australia. In our Voyaging Tips section a liveaboard voyager describes using custom cut pieces of old flip-flop sandals for a variety of tasks around his boat. We also have a look at the earth's magnetic poles, the reason for magnetic variation and how the location of the magnetic pole is changing. Plus, the Nav Problem and much more.

The 2019 edition of Ocean Voyager starts with the Bluewater Gear section. We have an interview with liveaboard voyagers Sue and Bob Dall and they describe their gear setup. Next is a piece on how bypass oil filtering can improve the cleanliness and effectiveness of engine oil and make for more reliable engine. Following that we have a article on what causes stainless steel corrosion and why it is so destructive. The final piece is a look at caring for an engine while voyaging and looking for clues indicating possible trouble. 
The Offshore Safety section starts out with an interview with voyagers Erik and Emily Orton and how took their five young children with them while voyaging. Following that is a piece on how weather and the ocean are linked and why it affects marine weather. Next is a look at some pre-packed abandon ship bags. And to finish the section we have a story on how voyagers can protect themselves against crime and piracy. 
The Voyaging  Skills section opens with an interview with voyaging couple Alisa Abookire and Mike Litzow, who talk about the skills needed to go cruising. A piece on finances and dealing with money when voyaging is next. Then an article on families and the challenges a voyager faced with three young children aboard. And we end with a piece on crew dynamics as a sailor describes how voyagers are the perfect candidates for a Mars mission because they know how get along in a confined space. Plus, the Ocean Almanac, Fiddler's Green, The Year in Review and From the Taffrail.

Satellite communications providers continue to expand their offerings for satphones and satellite data. And should the large LEO-based satellite constellations that have been announced actually get launched, high-bandwidth satellite-based Internet at sea will be possible. We’ll look at the present and possible future of marine communications.

In this issue's special section on Offshore Boats we have a story that looks at what makes up the elements of an offshore yacht. In the first story we look at trends in recent offshore boats and where voyaging boats may be heading. Our second story is an interview with an offshore sailing instructor in which he discusses how he chose and has outfitted his boat for regular offshore work as a training platform for ocean seamanship. In our Power Voyaging column, trawler expert Jeff Merrill looks at watchstanding dos and don'ts on long passages aboard a power voyager. The Ocean Voyaging section has a story on a passage to San Francisco in which a voyaging couple sails south along the foggy, rock-strewn lee shore of the northwest coast and ends their trip with an inspirational passage through the Golden Gate. In our continuing series on celestial navigation we focus on  the importance of Local Hour Angle (LHA) and how to calculate it. In a story on marine electronics, voyagers describe using a satellite "hotspot" while crossing the Indian Ocean. In a piece on voyaging lifestyle, two voyagers describe how, while in a village on rarely visited part of north Fiji, voyagers rely on the local village justice approach to recover a lost anchor and chain. And in a piece on coastal navigation, we look at how foghorns nationwide are getting changed over to a new mariner-actuated system via VHF radio, how does this approach work for the mariner on the water? Our writer tries out the new system.  Plus, the Nav Problem and more. 

In this issue's special section on networks we have a story that looks at Internet connectivity via WiFi and cellular networks from the standpoint of practical issues like cost and coverage. A second story is a survey of live aboard voyagers that looks at what gear they're using and why. In our Power Voyaging column we look at a system behind stockage spare parts for your vessel and why one of the  best systems is the Noah's Ark approach of bring two backups. The Ocean Voyaging section details a Pacific passage from the tropics to Alaska. A voyaging couple crosses the North Pacific from Pohnpei in Micronesia to Sitka, Alaska. They must deal with cold and fog and shipping traffic. How will they handle the elements on this long challenging passage? In our Voyaging Tips section we examine cell phones — a live aboard voyager discusses the best approach to cell phone service plans for cruisers. An article on weather strategy shows how a voyaging couple made a "rookie mistake" when deciding on a weather window for a passage from Fiji to New Zealand — and they pay the price. In a piece on the marine environment we ask: After you've used a CO2 cartridge for inflating a life vest or some other piece of gear, how do you properly dispose of it? The author discovers the answer. And in our continuing series on celestial navigation we delve into navigational astronomy - or why the sun moves the way it does. We also describe the celestial sphere and the navigational triangle and tell why they're important. Plus, the Nav Problem column and more.

In this issue's special section on Safety we start with a story in our safety section we look at innovation in safety via a series of innovative new products introduced this year.  We'll see how these offerings have the potential to increase voyager's well being while passage making. A second story looks at inflatable PFDs and the importance of maintenance to insure these flotation devices are reliable in an emergency. In our Power Voyaging column marine systems expert Steve D'Antonio examines the important of circuit overload protection. In the voyaging interview we talk to marine electronics installer Bill Bishop and ask him about what voyagers should know about current electronics and where the field is heading. In the Marine Technology Notes column we describe a possible upcoming modification to AIS. Future Class A AIS units could include real time weather data from ships. We'll look at what it might mean for voyagers using Class B equipment. In our Ocean Voyaging story we have a well-observed account of passing through the Panama Canal. This issue's installment of our celestial navigation series we discuss setting up a plotting sheet, how to do dead reckoning plotting and how to deal with current set and drift. We also have a feature story profiling a competitor in the singlehanded Golden Globe Race. In a second feature story we interview a high latitude weather router from Iceland. Plus, Chartroom Chatter, the nav problem and more. 

In this issue's special section on marine electronics we look at how one voyaging couple approached the issues around electric charting, networking and gathering weather data. We find out about the choices they've made and why. Our second story investigates the best way to recharge your iPad using your boat's electrical system. A tablet is charged on the test bench using an inverter monitored by test software. In our power voyaging column Trawler expert Jeff Markell looks at the often under appreciated manual bilge pump approaches to dewatering your vessel. Our marine technology notes column talks about datum differences in Beidou, the new Chinese analog to GPS and how its different datum might induce errors. Tech notes also highlights a new all-in-one WiFi and cell phone antenna unit. In our ocean voyaging offering, we have a story on surviving a hurricane en route to the Northwest Passage. While on a circumnavigation, a solo voyager encounters Hurricane Harvey in the North Atlantic. He deals with high winds and seas and thinks it might spell the end of his journey. Also in this issue we debut the first installment of our celestial navigation series. Part one covers the thumbnail sketch of celestial and a review on latitude and longitude and chart projections. In the field of yacht design we have a report on a new keel configuration as designed by and promoted by a cruising sailor. This Triakel design is said by its inventor to provide boats with a variety of benefits. In an investigation of unusual destinations we get a report on the port at the end of the world: Ushuaia, Argentina. It's the last harbor before Cape Horn a kind of "sailors' base camp" for expeditions to Cape Horn and Antarctica. Plus Chartroom Chatter, the Nav Problem and more.

In this issue's special section on communications we have a story on getting the right satcom package is an important decision for voyagers. We'll look at a strategy for making this satcom system choice. A second story looks at backing up your computer files and how to use the cloud for backup even when you're away from home wile voyaging. And our last special section story shows that HF SSB is still around as a tool for voyagers. We examine a new HF SSB Atlantic radio net set up the Seven Seas Cruising Association and four coast stations in the U.S. and the Caribbean. The net will provide information and assistance to voyagers in the Atlantic. In our power voyaging column marine systems expert Steve D'Antonio examines exhaust systems for marine diesels and outlines what elements are most important for smooth operation. In this issue's ocean voyaging story a voyager and his shipmates assumed they knew what would happen on a voyage in the Trade Winds from the Canary Islands to St. Lucia. The Trades turned fickle however, resulting in areas of dead calm, forcing a route far from rhumb line. It was a learning experience for all onboard. Next, a live aboard voyager writes about common sense navigation and why it's still important to use all the navigation inputs available to you to stay off the rocks. In a cruising lifestyle piece, circumnavigator Ellen Massey Leonard describes how she and her husband preferred a more traditional, spartan approach to boats and accommodations when they made their circumnavigation on their first boat. And now with boat number two they continued the practice on a recent trip to the north coast of Alaska. In a piece on the Iridium GO!, a user explains why he is an enthusiastic customer of the Go! product for satellite communications. We also have a correspondence piece from a boat owner on bilge pumps and how the bilge box system on her boat keeps the bilge clean and dry. And in this issue's voyaging tips piece a voyager relates how, after many years of using an insulated backstay for their HF SSB radio, he decided to take a new look at the issue and go with a different approach. Plus Chartroom Chatter, the Nav Problem and more. 

Our annual issue on voyaging has a section on Blue Water Gear that starts with an interview of Liveaboard voyager Peter Smith explains his equipment philosophy and the gear setup of his 52-foot aluminum sloop Kiwi Roa. Then we have a story on primary fuel filtration. Marine systems expert Steve D'Antonio explains the importance of a reliable filter setup. Next voyager Robin Urquhart conducts a survey of fellow voyagers and looks at the elements that make up a great voyaging boat. We follow with a story by a voyaging couple recounting their decisions to either replace or overhaul their boat’s engine. 

In the Offshore Safety section we have an interview with cruisers Jack and Zdenka Griswold who talk about safety on Kite, their Valiant 42, during their circumnavigation. Next is a story on marine weather: High Definition Weather. Meteorologist and weather router Ken McKinley explains how the newest GOES 16 weather satellite will improve forecasts. We also have a medical story on dealing with a head wound at sea. Carol Archer, who sails as crew aboard the Swan 100 Virago and who is a former emergency room RN, describes suturing a head wound at sea and follow up after care. The last story is  on immersion suits. An immersion suit is a vital piece of safety gear for anyone sailing in anything but strictly tropical water. We'll look at what's available.

The Voyaging Skills section starts with an interview of Phil and Aimee Nance discuss skills learned aboard their Dufour 45, Terrapin. Then we have a story on getting ready for to cross the Indian Ocean. Patrick and Rebecca Childress explain preparing their Valiant 40 for a big ocean transit. Next is a story that examines the issue of getting and storing provisions on a voyaging boat. Finally, in our From the Taffail end page is a story that humorously describes a voyaging couple's problems and how they might have been due to a strange outside force. Plus, our Ocean Almanac items, the Year in Review and Fiddler's Green.

Communications: Improving technology has made satcom ever better at squeezing more data into a smaller package. The result is more attractive capabilities for data usage via satcom. The Iridium satellite system is joining GMDSS and satcom is a growing field, and while HF SSB is still used by many voyagers, its importance as a communications mainstay is receding. The present and possible future of marine communications will be our focus.

In this issue's special section on anchoring we discuss how effective anchoring  is a key skill for voyagers. We review of the available anchoring technology and how that tech has worked for one experienced voyager. So-called "new-gen" anchors are now-gen for many cruisers who appreciate their many attributes. We'll look at what makes these the latest-greatest, and how they perform in the wild. A second piece reviews anchoring technique. How to employ various configurations of lines and anchors to keep your boat securely in port. In our power voyaging section we examine propeller removal. A power voyaging boat needs propellers in good shape for maximum efficiency and that means should a prop be damaged or otherwise need replacement, the prop needs to be removed from the prop shaft. Our ocean voyaging story tells of circumnavigating Vanua Levu. The southern and eastern coasts of the Fijian island of Vanua Leu are frequently visited by voyaging boats. The western and northern coasts of the large island are, however, less visited. A pair of liveaboard voyagers make the trip around the island and meet many friendly villagers who welcome to their vibrant little communities. IN a story on electronic charts a voyager looks at recent yachts groundings and the subject of chart accuracy at various zoom levels. The advent of electronic navigation has revolutionized the boating industry by providing a means for sailors with minimal navigational experience to access the planet using GPS and electronic charts. But there are still issues with charts that require attention for safe navigation. In our voyaging tips section we look at voyaging gadgets. A sample of really useful voyaging gear from handheld depth sounders to laser rangefinders to headlamps and label makers. Having gear like this on hand will help make voyaging easier. We also have a story on ways voyagers can reduce plastic. A voyager looks at ways the community of voyagers can help remote island people to collect and  recycle plastic items like water bottles. Also, a story on the vanishing lands of the Chesapeake: A voyager returns to cruise Chesapeake Bay after many years away and discovers how sea level rise is changing the islands and the navigation of this shallow estuarian bay. Plus Chartroom Chatter, the Nav Problem and more. 

In this issue's special section on Networks, we have a story on how boat networks, specifically wireless networks, have taken voyaging vessels by storm and now many boats are equipped with wireless setups. Our first piece will include an overview of how wireless networking functions and what's available from the big 4 (Furuno, Garmin, Raymarine, Navico). We'll also touch on the upsides and downsides of the technology. And take a look at the hardware and how to make the most of what it offers. Our second piece will examine recent developments in wireless networks and speculate on what might happen in the next five years as satellite-based Internet providers deploy constellations of spacecraft in low Earth orbit. In our Power Voyaging section we look safety requirements. There is some safety gear that's required by the Coast Guard for vessels the size of a power voyager. We'll look at the USCG requirements for safety gear on board and we'll also check into what some other countries require as well. For our Ocean Voyaging story we have an account of power voyaging in Norway. Marine systems expert Steve D'Antonio goes aboard a Fleming 75 power voyager for a 700-mile passage from Denmark north through the fjords of Norway, from the small Danish town of Lemvig, across the Skagerrak waterway to landfall at the Norwegian coastal town of Rekefjord and then north, culminating with a visit to the famous fjord cliff of Pulpit Rock. In a piece on weather, we look at the Intertropical Convergence Zone. A voyager looks at this global weather feature that has its sometimes exasperating features. 

In this issue's special section on Safety, we have a story on how the safety equipment for Man Overboard (MOB) situations has changed from the simple MOB pole to a variety of devices from throwable MOB poles that automatically inflate to electronic units that signal via Bluetooth and AIS. We'll look at what's available and what makes sense for voyagers. In our second story, we "ride along" at a life raft inspection station as they inspect, inflate and repack an offshore raft. We'll cover the details of the process and point out what voyagers need to know about their rafts, inspections and service intervals. We'll also have a piece about a visit to Viking Liferaft's R&D facility in Bergen, Norway. In our Power Voyaging section we look at dealing with onboard alarms and how to react to them properly. Trawler expert Jeff Merrill outlines a strategy for alarms control that will make you a better alarm first responder. For our Ocean Voyaging story we have an account of sailing the northwest coast of Borneo. A voyaging couple discover the Malaysian coast is an intriguing mix of national parks, crocodiles, impressive cities, good marinas and no pirates. In a piece on gear and equipment, we look at anchor snubbers and why to use them. In our Voyaging Tips column we show an inexpensive and easy way to make new fender covers for your boat. In a piece on batteries, we ask the question: is it time for lead acid batteries to move over? The predominate chemistry for marine batteries has long been lead acid. But now a new chemical mix is making a play for widespread use: Lithium Ion. While still expensive, Lithium Ion cells have a variety of advantages that just may make them the battery system of the future. Plus the Nav Problem, Chartroom Chatter and more.

In this issue's special section on weather, contributing editor Ken McKinley looks at some of the intriguing visualizations available online, such as the whole earth compilation of data on the website Earth. Using tools like this website and others can make the weather situation less of a riddle. Our second story looks at one of the most popular ways voyagers get their hands on gridded binary weather files: SailDocs. We'll take a look at how this service from the SailMail Association works so efficiently and so well and see what features and changes might be coming for the way voyagers get these GRIB files in the future. In our power voyaging column Trawler expert Jeff Merrill continues his "dialed in" series that provides infer to power voyagers about how to maximize their vessels. Merrill has covered subjects from what spare parts to carry aboard to how to operate safely at night to how to deploy and recover dinghies using a crane to how to set up systems to map sure proper maintenance is being performed when its needed. The ocean voyaging story visits Papua New Guinea's remote Ninigo Islands, an archipelago of sparsely inhabited atolls off Papua New Guinea. 

Description for July/August 2017 Issue 242.

In this issue's special section on Apps & iDevices, we have a story on how AIS functions can be performed by a smartphone or tablet app. Several company are offering apps that will provide sailors with AIS data via cell phone networks. We'll look at these apps and their pros and cons. Our second story has a survey a variety of sailing, navigation, communication and weather apps that provide useful for voyagers. We make some recommendations about which ones might prove most valuable. In our Power Voyaging section marine engine expert Steve D'Antonio explains how to read exhaust smoke and what it is saying about your diesel engine. In our Ocean Voyaging story we have a lyrical story about sailing to Greenland and the unexpected beauty and mystery a voyaging couple discovers there while visiting the capital of Nuuk, then sailing north of the Arctic Circle to fabled Disko Bay. In a piece on modern voyaging we look at the advantages and disadvantages of using smartphones for cruising photography. This issue also has an article that looks at the changes in the sailing industry and why a famous, high tech mast maker and a rigging company that pioneering rod rigging firm have experienced hard times. And how other suppliers can pick up the slack. We have an ocean racing piece about skipping high school graduation to race to Bermuda. A young sailor describes how he and a tight knit group of high school students went from racing novices to sailing in and winning the Newport/Bermuda Race. And in out Voyaging Tips  story we describe a homemade burglar alarm. A good, loud alarm with a trip wire can scare off potential thieves from trying to rob your boat. The author describes how he made a piercingly loud alarm from simple, inexpensive parts. Plus the Nav Problem, Chartroom Chatter and more.  

Our annual issue on voyaging has a section on Blue Water Gear that starts with an interview of Fiona McGlynn and Robin Urquhart who live aboard their Dufour 35, Monark. Then we have a story on communication alternatives for cruisers. A marine communications expert looks at the latest mix of products and services for staying in touch. Next is a story on shore power transformers. Boat systems expert Steve D'Antonio explains why these units are needed for a voyaging boat. We follow with a story on emergency steering. Steering is easily one of the most vital systems on your boat, and you need to  know what to do if it fails. 




March/April ON issue no. 239

In this issue we have a special section on communications with two stories that focus on the still relevant technology of HF SSB. The first is an exploration of the value of amateur (ham) radio to the voyager. Contributing editor Wanye Canning, a licensed ham radio operator and live aboard sailor, reviews the advantages of a ham radio setup, how it is different from Marine HF SSB and why its easier than ever to get an amateur license. Our second story looks at type accepted HF SSB marine radios and how voyagers can use these units. In our Power Voyaging column You don't want to go on a voyage without a ready supply of spare parts. In part 2 of our rundown of the most needed spare parts, trawler expert Jeff Merrill reveals the second half of his list of spares you are most likely to require or that may be hard to find in foreign ports. We have an ocean voyaging story  speed sailing in Alaska in which a voyaging couple describes covering 2,500 miles from the Aleutian Islands to Port Angeles, Wash in two months. Our voyaging tips story is on navigation using Google maps - in areas of lower-quality charts, there are times when Google Maps (or Google Earth) can be a valuable addition to your arsenal of navigational tools by showing the exact locations of reefs and other near-surface features. We look at the use of foils by the race boats in the Vendee Globe solo around-the-world race. These devices are great for racing boats where the prime consideration is always speed, but would they work for voyaging boats? And in a look at the voyaging life we examine the curse of communications. For a voyaging couple cruising the world on a small budget, getting connected to the Internet is a real challenge. The Internet is essential for everything from banking to email, yet getting a good connection can be difficult when cruising in some of the more remote areas. A look at how one boat copes. Plus the nav problem and more. 

In a special section on networking, we look at onboard wireless systems and at the need for voyagers to have fingertip access to onboard systems. We'll investigate both WiFi and Bluetooth and how these communications protocols are best used depending on the hardware involved. We'll also look at various WiFi routers and see how they work with electronic hardware on the boat. In a second story on long range WiFi, we look at how voyagers are connecting using larger, more sensitive antennas and how some voyagers are using cellular connections, when in range, in lieu of WiFi. In the Power Voyaging column we have a piece on essential tools for power voyagers. In our Ocean Voyaging section we have yacht systems expert/consultant and writer Steve D'Antonio describing a summer trip on a power voyaging boat that circumnavigated the far northern islands of Spitsbergen and then steamed north to the edge of the pack ice above the Arctic Circle. In a story of voyaging adventure, a couple anchored off the Thai coast follow a jungle stream deep into the interior to find its source. The thrill of the fix — a long time celestial navigator makes the case that while using a GPS for navigation is easier, there is nothing more satisfying than celestial navigation. In our Voyaging Tips section we ask: Are you over propped? A voyager looks at how propellers are measured and what pitch means and how it relate to your boat and the size prop your boat needs to be efficient. Plus the Nav Problem, Chartroom Chatter and more.

In this issue' special section on safety we have a story on understanding EPIRBs. We'll look at the various capabilities of three types of emergency signaling systems and see how they overlap. A story on the MEOSAR expansion discusses how the latest version of satellite-based search and rescue signaling significantly increases the coverage area and virtually eliminates coverage gaps so rescue coordination centers will be alerted sooner and rescue forces will be headed to the scene faster. Our Power Voyaging column describes the spare parts inventory that should be carried by a power voyaging boat. The Ocean Voyaging story for this issue recounts an 8,000-mile passage from Halifax to Sitka, Alaska via the Northwest Passage by two experienced Arctic sailors. A look at the latest in changing battery technology explores beyond the standard batteries long used on voyaging boats, and investigates lithium ion, fuel cells and the latest technological breakthrough — carbon foam batteries. And in our Voyaging Tips section, a voyager reviews the tips and tricks involved in sailing downwind, from preventers to boom brakes to whisker poles. More on dealing with derelict yachts: our correspondent in Florida relates how the state government is changing policies to deal with the large number of abandoned yachts. Plus the Nav Problem, Chartroom Chatter and more.  



In this issue: Shaking down the Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot by Greg Rudzinski, San Francisco full-rigged ship Balcultha by David Berson, Sailcloth diversity Voyaging sailboats slowly moving beyond Dacron by Casey Conley, Report on ethanol fuel issues and much more...

In a special section on Apps and iDevices, we conduct a survey of nine live aboard voyagers to see what they consider the best smartphone and tablets apps for voyagers. They responded with a cross section of apps that assist them in a number of tasks from weather to charting to communications. In our Power Voyaging section we ask how is a big power yacht equipped and what is the job like for the captain of such a vessel? We take a look aboard the 106-foot Broward, Illiquid. In our Ocean Voyaging section we recount a rough crossing of the Bay of Biscay, which has a notorious reputation for bad weather. Contributing editor Eric Forsyth recently crossed the Bay of Biscay in his sturdy and well-traveled Westsail 42 Fiona, with two crew and found it to be as challenging a body of water as ever. In our correspondence section a voyager deals with fluky weather and currents on a trip west across the Indian Ocean and learns that sometimes the biggest part of voyaging is just keeping on. And we have the story of a family forced to abandon ship in WWII and how they managed to survive and a look at the differences between 1940s survival gear and the modern options. The feature story for this issue is on an unusual high latitude vessel. Most voyaging boats use for high latitude work have stout melt hulls and ample pilothouses. But a voyager describes what worked and what didn’t aboard a cold-molded classic used for sailing in the Arctic. And in the Voyaging Tips section a voyager describes the various ways of preserving freshly caught fish on board a voyaging boat. Plus, the nav problem, Chartroom Chatter and more.  

May/June 2016 - This issue's special section on weather includes a story from a live aboard voyager and former research engineer who describes tracking  cyclones in South Pacific in conjunction with finding suitable cyclone holes for avoiding these storms should they make landfall. We also have an excerpt on tropical revolving storms from noted marine author and voyager Tom Cunliffe's new book, The Complete Ocean Skipper, that discusses the anatomy and movement of these storms and how voyaging boats at sea can take the safest route should they get caught in one. In our Ocean Voyaging section we have a story about a passage from Isla Mujeres, Mexico, to Cienfuegos, Cuba - how current, weather, charts and Cuban officials each had a hand in the outcome of the trip. This issue also continues our look at engine room inspections for power voyaging vessels with Part 2 by power voyaging expert Jeff Merrill. The practical side of celestial navigation is investigated by two voyagers as they adapt this venerable art for today's cruisers. We have a story that attempts to answer the age-old question "How close is too close to anchor near another vessel?" We look at textile axle technology for blocks in lieu of ball bearings. And we have the recollections of a circumnavigator about the time his boat suffered from a four-footed "guest that wouldn't leave" and how managed to settle the issue. Plus, the nav problem, Chartroom Chatter and more. 

July/August 2020

May/June 2020

Ocean Voyager 2020

March/April 2020

January/February 2020

November/December 2019

September/October 2019

July/August 2019

May/June 2019

Ocean Voyager 2019

March/April 2019

January/February 2019

November/December 2018

September/October 2018

July/August 2018

May/June 2018

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.

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Ocean Navigator - July/August 2020

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