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Knowing When It's Time To Upgrade We all know that technology is perpetually advancing, and marine electronics are no exception. How do you know when it's time to buy the latest and greatest on the market? Several professionals from the marine electronics industry share their philosophy on upgrading and replacing equipment. Knowing what questions to ask, your threshold for upgrades, and the benefits and advantages of what's new on the market will make all the difference in your decision-making process. By Bill Parlatore

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The Benefits Of A "Re-Volting" Project Regardless of the size of your boat, you should be able to properly power all your systems on board and have your sources of power in an easily accessible and maintainable location. When the single 8D battery that powered both the house and start functions of Norman Blinn's 34-foot Mainship Pilot died, he had the opportunity to reconfigure not only his power source, but also the layout of an essential shelf in his engine room. Learn the considerations and process for converting your power supply from a single battery to two. By Norman R. Blinn

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DeFever 56: The Latest Of The Pedigree It's been some time since we last reviewed a DeFever trawler, but this line of boats has continued to prove popular on the water, and each new model has more to offer. We bring you the DeFever 56, a boat with spacious everything--from the galley to the saloon to the master stateroom walk-in closet to the engine room--there is room for everything. She is a sturdy, cable, and comfortable boat, perhaps one of the best for living aboard ... you decide! By Bill Jacobs

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A Fluke Encounter Some cruising stories you just coudn't make up, and most of these experiences are worth sharing because of the lessons in them and in the fact that they could happen to anyone on any boat. Reader Stephan Plager had the misfortune of hitting a California gray whale while under way in his Riveria 43. The whale was OK, but his boat was not. There is much to learn from Stephan's experience! By Dr. Stephan D. Plager

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Who Said, "Man the Helm?" To pursue her sportfishing passion, Ali Johnson has to be able to drive the boat. She learned all she could to be the captain of her family's 55-foot Fleming and their 24-foot Shamrock. Ali's confidence and passion for boating and fishing has her behind the helm of these boats and inspires the equality that should exist on board. By Ali Johnson

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Welded Wonders: Aluminum Cruisers When you hear aluminum boat, what do you think? Rugged, metallic, strong, breaking through ice? Well, you might be right if you were thinking about one type of aluminum boat used for trekking off the coast of Alaska to catch fish. But aluminum boats are a craft that have a viable place in the trawler market. A look at five different styles, sizes, and layouts of aluminum cruisers will have you thinking way outside the box on these trawlers. By Robert M. Lane

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The KVH Story Part of the cruising under power lifestyle involves having the comforts of home aboard our boats. Things we like to have aboard are satellite television services, high-speed Internet, voice communication with home--and KVH is a company that makes these amenities possible afloat. Steve D'Antonio had a chance to tour the Middletown, Rhode Island -- based company to meet the people and see the processes behind these products that make staying connected while cruising possible. He also met Arent Kits van Heyningen, the founder of KVH and got the full story of the company. By Steve C. D'Antonio

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He Writes the Bible of Boating: Elbert S. "Mack" Maloney Most would agree that one piece of literature--Chapman's--lies at the heart of seamanship. Mack Maloney, co-author of this esteemed guide, is a trawler owner with a boating history that we admire and respect. Get to know the man behind the bible of boating. By Tom Neale

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Sterling Atlantic 43 You may have seen this new trawler from Brazil at the 2005 boat shows. The first hull we saw was gleaming in mahogany; the second had a lower-maintenance exterior with fiberglass in place of the wood. The Sterling Atlantic 43 has a layout fit for a couple's cruising with an occasional guest. Her style comprises traditional Brazilian woodwork and techniques, mixed with modern accessories and design. By Steve D'Antonio

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Running The Reef North To Nova Scotia Nova Scotia resident Henry Fiorillo first saw his boat--a retired Canadian coast guard vessel--in PMM's classifieds, and within six months, she was his. Delivering her home himself (with a capable crew) would acquaint him with some of the vessel's quirks and systems, but she wasn't giving up all of her secrets without a fight! By Henry Fiorillo

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Running Ruth South As a sailor coming over to the dark side, Bill Rosen was looking for certain qualities in his first trawler. When he found his ideal trawler--a retired Prince Edward Island fishboat--he figured he could do some refit work on and then deliver her, with his son, from PEI to her new home port in southern Maryland. It wasn't an easy delivery, but with due care and caution, it was a successful one. By Bill Rosen