Gear & buying guides.

Honest reviews of what's worth the money. The safety kit we'd actually buy, across price points, with no affiliate kickbacks shaping the verdict.

4 GUIDES · UPDATED MAY 2026

Handheld VHF — the one to buy in 2026.

Floating vs non-floating, DSC and GPS, battery life that matters in a grab-bag. What we'd carry and what's a waste of money.

BUYING GUIDES

Floating, DSC, GPS, battery life. The features that earn their place and the marketing you can ignore.

Vessel-registered EPIRB or personal PLB? When you need both, and the one we'd carry on a coastal passage versus an ocean crossing.

Buoyancy ratings, auto vs manual inflation, crotch straps and sprayhoods. What to buy for inshore, coastal, and offshore.

Coastal vs offshore packs, valise vs canister, service intervals. The raft that matches your actual sailing, not the brochure's.

NEXT REVIEW · COMING

Sea-state apps, AIS transponders, jackstay systems — what we benchmark next.