Chuck B – Page 3 – SV Sparklemuffin

Ashley Stopper Knot – The Easy Way

Posted on April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 by Chuck B

For some reason the knot-tying resources on the internet make the Ashley stopper more difficult than it needs to be. Here’s the simple three-step method I use to tie it.

Furuno TZT9F / TZ Touch 3 Review and Info

Posted on March 26, 2021March 27, 2021 by Chuck B

The DRS4D-NXT is a fantastic radar. Unfortunately, it requires the use of a Furuno display. I encourage you to avoid the mistake I made and instead patronize a vendor that respects and supports international standards like S-57 charts (details below)—if such a vendor even exists today. I cannot in good conscience recommend an ecosystem built…

Pros and Cons of a Smaller Sailboat for World Cruising

Posted on February 20, 2021January 27, 2022 by Chuck B

There’s an almost limitless number of things to consider when planning an extended world cruise in a sailboat. Some considerations have more, or larger, ramifications than others. Perhaps top of the list is the choice of sailboat. Followed closely by the size of the sailboat.

Scanmar / Mystic Stainless Boarding Ladder

Posted on January 30, 2021January 30, 2021 by Chuck B

The addition of the Monitor self-steering vane necessitated removing the ladder at the transom. As a result, it was time to consider another option for a boarding ladder.

Monitor Self-Steering Vane Pro Tips

Posted on December 5, 2020November 16, 2021 by Chuck B

Finally, after long last, got a Monitor self-steering vane installed! Bought it unused from a bloke who used to work for Scanmar and has installed literally hundreds of these over the years. He’s commensurately knowledgeable about the steering vanes, and had these genius tips to share.

Vesper Cortex Review

Posted on November 16, 2020January 3, 2021 by Chuck B

I’ve been excited about the possibilities for the Vesper Cortex ever since first hearing about it. It just makes so much sense to combine VHF and AIS in one unit. In a nod to this other vendors are now scrambling to catch up. It was also the simplest way for me to get VHF capability…