Boat Windshield Wiper Buying Guide: Motors, Arms and Blades That Fit
Buy a wiper as a matched system: a sealed marine wiper motor with the right shaft length for your windshield thickness, the right sweep angle for your glass,…
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Boat Buying Guides
Straight answers on choosing, sizing and installing marine gear, written to help you buy the right part the first time.
Marine Stereo and Speaker Buying Guide: Bluetooth, Zones, Tower Speakers
Buy a marine-rated stereo and speakers, not car audio. Look for a water resistance rating (IPX6 or IPX7), UV-resistant materials and corrosion-resistant hardware. Pick a head unit with…
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Marine Compass Buying Guide: Mount Types, Sizing, Placement and Compensation
Every boat with electronics should still carry a magnetic compass, because it works when GPS, batteries and screens do not. Pick the mount style that fits your helm…
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NMEA 2000 Networking Guide: Backbone, Tees, Power and Rules
An NMEA 2000 network is a backbone cable with a terminator at each end, a power tee feeding 12V into it, and a T-connector plus drop cable for…
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Marine Autopilot Buying Guide: Hydraulic, Wheel and Tiller Pilots
Choose your autopilot by your steering system first. Boats with hydraulic steering need a reversing hydraulic pump sized to the steering cylinder. Sailboats with a wheel can use…
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AIS Buying Guide: Transponder vs. Receiver, Class A vs. Class B
An AIS receiver lets you see ships and other AIS-equipped boats on your chartplotter. An AIS transponder (transceiver) lets you see them and lets them see you. For…
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Marine Radar Buying Guide: Radome vs. Open Array, Range and Doppler
For most recreational boats from about 20 to 40 feet, an 18 to 24 inch radome is the right radar. Choose an open array (3.5 feet and up)…
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Marine VHF Antenna Buying Guide: Gain, Length, Mounting and Cable
Most powerboats should run an 8 foot, 6 dB VHF antenna. Sailboats should use a 3 foot, 3 dB antenna at the masthead, and larger sportfish and yachts…
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Marine VHF Radio Buying Guide: Fixed-Mount vs. Handheld, DSC and Range
Every boat that leaves sight of the dock should have a fixed-mount VHF (25 watts, wired to a tall antenna) as its main radio, plus a floating handheld…
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Fishfinder and Transducer Buying Guide: CHIRP, Imaging and Mounting Explained
The transducer matters more than the screen. Pick a fishfinder with CHIRP sonar, add down imaging or side imaging if you fish structure, and choose the transducer mount…
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GPS Chartplotter and Fishfinder Combo Buying Guide: Screen, Sonar and Charts
Buy the biggest screen your helm can fit (about 7 inches for small boats, 9 to 10 inches for most center consoles and bay boats, 12 to 16…
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