In this video, I pull apart our Maxwell model RC10 anchor windlass for a good cleaning and re-lubrication. Since we bought the boat three years ago, the anchor has worked well, and I have done a yearly clean and regrease of the top section of the windlass. This spring, I decided to change the gear … Read more
Another summer boating season of cruising the BC coast of Canada is on the horizon. First, we have to prep our 1976 34-foot trawler, Vestri, for the upcoming launch. We keep it on the hard at a boatyard in Lund, BC, so that makes it easy to do maintenance and upgrades each spring. In this … Read more
This month, I’m testing a new Renogy solar panel called the ShadowFlux. It’s designed for better shade tolerance with 16 bus bars and 28 bypass diodes, plus it offers higher conversion efficiency, longer lifespan, and improved performance in hot conditions. I’m really interested in how it’ll work on my boat, with the mast and rigging … Read more
Today, I’m upgrading the 30-amp power inlet connection on the RV to a SmartPlug. I’ve been wanting one for a while. I already have one installed on our boat, and they’re so much safer than the old twist lock style you see on a lot of boats and RVs. Recently, my twist lock arced, so … Read more
In this video, you will see how I put together my cables for my off-grid systems in the RV and especially on the boat. I’m crimping some common sizes today, 2/0 gauge and 6 gauge, using my new hydraulic crimper that makes a nice clean hex crimp. It’s fast and does a really solid job. … Read more
Werewolf (Tundra Labs in Green Bay, Wisconsin) sent me their VFLEX gadget to test. It’s a small USB-C adapter that lets you program the output voltage to power devices, like, say, for example, 12V gear common in RVs and boats. Fair Disclosure: I received a free review sample of the product The starter kit included … Read more
I’m back with a first look at Bluetti’s new Charger 2 DC-to-DC charger. If you remember, I reviewed their Charger 1 last winter, did a couple of videos on it, and we ran it all summer on the boat with great success. I was able to draw up to 500 watts from the engine alternator … Read more
In this video, I check out the Topdon TC004 Mini thermal imaging camera. It’s a compact, budget-friendly option. I’ve used their Tornado 30000 battery charger before and love it. I have also tested other thermal imagers on the boat to spot hot spots in wiring, monitor the diesel engine, and more. They are super handy … Read more
In this video, I demonstrate my new hydraulic wire crimper. I needed to buy a new crimper because my old one couldn’t crimp the 4/0 lugs needed for a new off-grid power system project I’m working on. I chose one from a company called AMZCNC. It came with a large selection of dies, ranging from … Read more
In this video, I check out a cool new BougeRV T1 telescopic camping light. Looks very handy for both RV and boat life! This thing puts out up to 3,000 lumens total from three LED panels. That’s way brighter than a regular 60W household bulb, which is around 800 lumens. It lights up a decent … Read more
Today I’m checking out this handy KAIWEETS articulating borescope camera, great for peeking into tight spots on the RV or boat. It’s got a 5-inch screen, a 5+ foot flexible cable with a camera tip you can bend and twist using the big red dial (it folds right back on itself for 360 views), bright … Read more
In this video, I take a look at and demo a 450W folding portable solar panel from ZOUPW. The panel is very similar in design to the Renogy 400W I’ve been using for the last couple of years. In my mid-January test, it delivered up to 360 watts to my Bluetti Elite 100 power station, … Read more
I’m back at it, testing another winter RVing product (or for boating). This one is a heater from the folks at Xtreme Heaters, built just right to tuck in RV storage bays or underbellies to fend off freezes. The heater is recommended by and pairs perfectly with the EZ Snap winter skirting on the Keystone Cougar fifth wheel … Read more
Today, I’m excited to share a sneak peek at a new product I’ll review this summer on our boat—a portable air conditioner from BougeRV. Our boat doesn’t have built-in air conditioning, just fans, so on those sweltering summer days, the cabin can get pretty stuffy, especially at night. With a 3500 BTU output, this little … Read more
We enjoy summers exploring the gorgeous BC coast aboard our 34′ CHB trawler-style liveaboard boat, often in remote areas without many services. To stay out for weeks, I rely on my boat’s 1200W solar power array, 940 amp-hour battery capacity, and the boat’s ample food storage. But water management is key. The trawler has two … Read more