When you are installing your VHF, arguably the most important consideration is where to place the antenna. You know it should be as high as…

With a good VHF radio, you will be able to hear other people’s transmissions loud, and clearly. Occasionally, however, you may find that there is…

A Personal Locator Beacon, or PLB, is a small satellite communication device used to signal for help in an emergency. Unlike EPIRBs, which are registered…

When you check websites like marinetraffic.com or vesselfinder.com, you can see the location of any ship in the world. They draw data from AIS, then…

As a crucial piece of search and rescue equipment, you have probably seen SARTs for sale in many nautical stores. Maybe you even have one…

EPIRBs are a small part of a much larger system which includes beacons, satellites, mission control centres, aircraft and vessels. Together, they have saved hundreds…

You may have seen them on boats, in aircraft, or even in hiking shops. Maybe you have purchased one yourself, or are considering buying one….

A sextant is a highly accurate scientific instrument, used for measuring the angle between two objects. Its best-known use is in celestial navigation when you…

EPIRBs and SARTs are both used to indicate your position in an emergency when you need rescuing at sea. The main difference between them is…

When you are installing navigational equipment to your boat, you have almost certainly asked yourself whether you really need everything on the market. AIS, in…

Electonic engineers are very familiar with the details and differences between NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000, but I am a navigator, not an electronics specialist….

AIS is a useful tool to assist watchkeepers in carrying out their duties. It does improve the safety of navigation for everyone, but like everything,…