Sail Far Live Free

As sailors, many of us are acutely attuned to energy conservation while onboard and away from the dock. In other words, we don't like running a generator or our engine to recharge batteries just to keep the refrigerator going if we can help it. And even if that's not your mentality, I'm sure you could still use some extra cold storage space as provided by quality cooler. This summer, we used Pelican's 20QT Elite Cooler  at the dock, on the dinghy and while sailing/cruising on a routine basis. This is one well-built and tough cooler. You'll get your first clue about those attributes when you pick it up because it's heavier (16 lbs empty) than you might expect for it's relatively modest dimensions. In fact, it weighs much more than standard Igloo and Coleman coolers that have twice the capacity and a quarter of the price. The benefit is that Pelican Elite coolers can stand up to harsh treatment and easily serve double duty as a bench/seat. But why are t

"The secret to having it all is knowing that you already do." Is it really that simple? I suppose it very well could be. The catch to that fun little statement is that it requires a commitment to contentment. I love a good quote (as you can tell from the intro's to the majority of the posts on SailFarLiveFree), but this one challenges me deeply. There are moments when I let my guard down and realize that all I need is already right there in my grasp. But then there are other moments when I'm conflicted by my dreams, my desires, my possessions and the knowledge (false knowledge?) that I lack some things. Sometimes I feel like I lack physical possessions, but there's a lot I'm still striving for emotionally and spiritually too. If I'm totally honest, I'm not convinced that I already have it all. Which is probably why I don't. This is all very circular! This is having it all, right? So without getting too metaphysical, I thought I'd

"Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow." - William Pollard I'm a bit paranoid about power on our sailboat. We've got 3 group 24 12 volt deep cycle batteries, a quality high-output alternator and a variety of solar panels (2x 7w, 1x 14w, etc.) but we still don't run the refrigerator unless the engine is running and we're without AC accessories (such as fans) when we're away from the dock cruising. The options for alleviating these woes for sailors have traditionally been bigger solar panels (100w+), noisy wind generators, towable hydrogenerators and gas powered portable generators such as the Honda eu2000i . Now it appears there's going to be another option that provides much of a gasoline powered generator's benefits without the noise, pollution and necessity to carry a highly flammable and explosion fuel to keep it powered. Renogy has been run

Spring commissioning always involves taking inventory of spare parts, gear and safety equipment to make sure we're prepared for the season ahead. Invariably, it feels like our flares are expired every spring, though in reality I believe they have a shelf life of about 3 years. When they are truly expired, I'm always at loss for how to properly and safely dispose of them. Replacing them requires a $40 purchase. These are minor hassles for the inherent safety (and USCG compliance) that carrying the flares onboard provide. But have you read the what the USCG says about electronic alternatives? From Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart 175.130: Any of the following signals, when carried in the number required, can be used to meet the requirements of 175.110: 1) An electric distress light meeting the standards of 46 CFR 161.013. One is required to meet the night only requirement. 2) An orange flag meeting the standards of 46 CFR 160.072. One is required to mee

"At the end of your life, you're not going to remember all the knick-knacks and gadgets you had around you ... you're going to remember how far you could see when you looked out on the horizon.  - Amy Lukas Have you seen the t-shirt that says "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy a boat and that's just about the same thing"? Best friends Amy Lukas and Mary Catterlin would argue that you don't even have to buy the boat. Instead, you can build one from a single cottonwood tree and sail it on a 1,200 mile 93 day circumnavigation of Lake Michigan that's filled with happiness. I suppose it started with Mary wanting to own a boat but not being able to afford one. So naturally she decided to make one. A downed cottonwood tree provided the materials. She then spent three years carving the hull out of the tree trunk and creating her very own dugout canoe. Makeba (mah-KAY-buh) was born. With Amy's help, outriggers and a sailing rig from a Su