Notice Not affiliated with the Master Mariners Benevolent Association (MMBA) or any successor organization. v.2026.05
Gear

Gear Guides

Equipment-focused guides covering what to buy, how to configure it, and what actually matters when conditions deteriorate. For technique and seamanship, see /seamanship.

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Gear guides are equipment-focused. They cover selection, configuration, integration, and the failure modes you should know about before you need to. For sail trim, anchoring technique, heavy-weather handling, and navigation practice, the seamanship section is where to look.
Safety

Safety Gear That Actually Saves Lives (and What to Skip)

The tier system from USCG minimum to offshore racing required: life jackets, tethers, EPIRBs, PLBs, flares, and man-overboard recovery. What keeps you alive and what lives in the locker.

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Communications

VHF Radio: The Most Important Tool on the Boat

Channel 16 protocol, DSC distress calling, MMSI registration, AIS integration, and fixed vs handheld radios. Why most boats have a DSC radio they've never configured — and how to fix that.

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Navigation

Choosing and Using a Chartplotter

Garmin, Simrad, Raymarine, B&G: why mixing ecosystems is painful. Chart subscriptions, the iPad question, NMEA 2000 integration, paper charts, and offshore routing tools.

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Communications

Offshore Communications Beyond VHF

HF/SSB radio, Iridium satellite phones, Garmin inReach, Winlink email, and GRIB weather files. What each system does, what it costs, and the escalation order when things go wrong 600 miles out.

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