My name is Steve Mitchell and I write about marine electronics, technology, and internet connectivity. You can join my newsletter and get access to new articles and tidbits, check out my current boat Rendezvous, or just learn more about me and the site.
My latest articles are below, or you can check out my projects, read reviews, or investigate internet connectivity on the water. Let me know if you have any questions!
Latest Articles
What's on your boat server?
Servers are more common on boats today than ever before. Having some sort of system to run SignalK, a dedicated alerting system, or some other service has become just as integral as having a chart plotter or VHF radio.
One year after switching to power
I switched from sail to power a year ago and haven't looked back. There are pros and cons, but I am glad I made the switch!
Furuno FM-4800 VHF Radio
Furuno released the FM-4800 VHF radio in late 2018, and I have been using it since then, and really like it as my primary boat radio.
Low Data Mode helps boat WiFi use in iOS 13
As of iOS 13, there is a Low Data mode for WiFi! For many years, you've been able to limit cellular bandwidth usage, but iOS has not had a way to control the same thing for a WiFi network, until now.
weBoost Drive Reach cellular amplifier installation and testing
weBoost released the Drive Reach recently which is a more powerful and refined version of the venerable Drive 4G-X, the gold standard for cellular amplifiers since 2014. I have been using mine for a few months, and have some observations
Victron + Wakespeed + Battle Born power system
I upgrade my power system with Battle Born batteries, Balmar alternators, and Wakespeed regulators to give me way more power and longer time at anchor.
Best boat Internet systems
These are my recommended system designs for getting high quality Internet on your boat. There are several different choices depending on your budget.
Rendezvous internet setup
Having a reliable setup has always been one of my top goals, usually leveraging several technologies. This article covers the tech that I used on my boat.
Boat piano and storage
The Yamaha P-125 piano is super light, has an excellent action, a few great piano sounds, and is perfect for my boat. I also built a system to store it in a closet.
The anchor project
After months and months of troubleshooting problems, changing chain and anchors, I finally have an anchoring system that I feel very confident in.
NaviSafe dinghy lights
NaviSafe dinghy lights are easy to add to your dinghy or other small boat. They run a whole season on one set of batteries, and can be configured in many ways.
Managing internet usage on your boat
Managing your internet data usage on the boat is important both for a quality experience, and because of limited WiFi and cellular networks.
Final project push before summer trips
A sneak peek at some of the projects I am finishing up. Includes a new LiFePO4 battery bank, water pump, lights, and more.
Friday Harbor round trip
After working on lots of projects this winter on Rendezvous, I was itching to get out on the water and test all of them on a longer journey. I was delighted at the opportunity to accompany a friend and her boat up to Friday Harbor for the season, and the trip was wonderful!
Rendezvous initial networks
In the last 4 months, I have been developing my overall network on board Rendezvous. I wanted a good WiFi/Ethernet network to connect me to the outside world, as well as a well developed NMEA 2000 network for marine equipment while underway. So far, here's what I have…
