Sea.
We cover gear for the people running boats, liveaboards, weekend cruisers, anyone whose office sometimes has a wake. We pick carefully, we rank, and we name the things worth skipping.
Boat Gear: The Complete Guide.
The whole-boat picture, in one place. Every system on a 20 to 45 ft coastal boat, organized by what to buy first, with what the law requires and the one guide we trust for each.
Read the cornerstoneNavigation
Best Marine GPS Chartplotters: The 5 We'd Buy in 2026
Get Seen: 3 AIS Transponders We'd Run in 2026
Safety
Best Inflatable Life Jackets: 5 We Trust on Deck (2026)
The Beacon That Brings Help: 5 EPIRBs & PLBs (2026)
Electrical
Best Marine Batteries: The 5 We'd Wire In for 2026
Keep the Bank Topped Up: 5 Marine Chargers (2026)
Best Marine Solar Panels: 5 That Earn Their Deck Space (2026)
Get Every Watt: 5 Marine MPPT Controllers (2026)
Best Marine Inverters: The 5 We'd Buy in 2026
Know Your Real State of Charge: 3 Battery Monitors (2026)
Anchoring
Best Marine Anchors: 5 That Actually Hold (2026)
Raise Anchor Without the Backache: 5 Windlasses (2026)
Best Marine Anchor Chain: The 5 We'd Buy in 2026
Docking
Protect the Hull: 5 Boat Fenders We'd Buy in 2026
Communications
Best Marine VHF Radios: The 5 We'd Mount in 2026
A Radio in Your Pocket: 5 Handheld VHFs (2026)
Best Satellite Communicators: 5 We'd Carry Offshore (2026)
Starlink for Boats: The Internet Setup We'd Run in 2026
Plumbing
Best Bilge Pumps: The 5 We'd Trust to Keep You Dry (2026)
Maintenance
Seal It Once: 5 Marine Sealants We'd Buy in 2026
Best Boat Cleaners: The 5 That Actually Work (2026)
Run the numbers first.
Boat Safety Gear Requirements Checker
Enter your boat's length and a few details, and see the gear the US Coast Guard generally requires you to carry, plus the gotchas owners trip on.
Open the checker → CalculatorSailboat Battery Bank & Solar Calculator
Turn your onboard loads into the house-bank size, solar array, and charge-controller numbers you actually need.
Open the calculator → CalculatorAnchor Size & Scope Calculator
Size the anchor for your boat, then get the scope and rode to deploy for the conditions you're anchoring in.
Open the calculator → CalculatorBoat Fender & Dock-Line Size Calculator
One boat length gives you the fender diameter and count, plus the dock-line diameter and the length to cut your bow, stern, and spring lines.
Open the calculator → CalculatorMarine DC Wire-Gauge Calculator
Enter your load, run length, and voltage for the AWG that satisfies both voltage drop and ampacity, the ABYC way, plus the fuse to match.
Open the calculator →We don't run a lab. We read deeply, weigh the consistent problem over the loudest complaint, and rank for your situation, not best overall. We don't take vendor decks or sponsored placements, and the commission never sets the order.
Our methodology →