I'm a technology nerd that loves playing piano, playing with new electronics, being on the water, and solving new problems.
Being a weather nerd for years, having one on the boat has always been a dream. I helped a friend install one on his boat, and had to hack some things together software-wise to make it work.
The Yacht Devices Voyage Recorder is a great device to add to your NMEA 2000 network as a "black box" recorder. Almost anything from the network can be recorded and analyzed afterwards for trip records, performance analysis, or more.
This is a story of how technology and being prepared helped us survive a very serious situation. It also reinforces how important preparedness is everywhere – at home, on vacations, in the wilderness, and on the water.
I’ve been flying drones for about 5 years. There are beautiful vistas and opportunities while sailing, and a drone is fantastic to include in your toolkit. The Mavic Pro is perfect for a sailboat.
3D printing is nothing new to boats, but I think the potential for people to create new products and ideas is just beginning. I've printed parts and pieces for various projects, but hope to create some actual products that could help boaters.
I have spent most of my professional life working on and fixing networks, and always want my personal network to be as reliable, speedy, and full of features as possible. My boats are no exception
2016 was a year of major projects on Grace, one which will not likely be repeated in terms of the depth and complexity. That is mainly because she was brand new to us in 2015-2016, and had some gaps in major systems we needed while out on the water.
Recently I had the chance to spend a few weeks working on a local marina WiFi system. The biggest issue was the perception of the boaters throughout the marina, and the need to invest in equipment to improve the signal within their boats.
Using SmartThings to control heaters and monitor temperatures on your boat is a great way to ensure things are safe during the winter.
Our boat gets dirty - all the time - and a good vacuum is essential to keeping it clean. The Dyson v6 car+boat vacuum performs amazingly well and lasts a lot longer than you would think on battery.
Amazon Echo is perfect for the sailboat. The number one use is choosing what music to listen to, which is important for the crew. In addition, quick access to various news and fact sources comes in handy while on the water.
Charging while away from the dock on the sailboat is a critical piece to enjoying your time on the water. In part 3 of my power upgrade project, I replace the alternator and regulator to ensure my new Firefly batteries are topped up.
