Category: Security

12/09/2026

Orca attacks, solutions and fixes of fortune

Orca attacks and interactions with sailboats have become a major concern for sailors navigating the Strait of Gibraltar, the Atlantic coast of Spain and Galicia. In this episode of The Low Cost Sailor, we take a practical look at what happens during an encounter with Iberian orcas, why they so often target a sailboat’s rudder, what sailors can do, and how to deal with serious […]

Electronics Security

10/09/2026

Homemade Wireless MOB (Man Over Board) Device

What happens if you fall overboard while sailing alone? In this episode, we put several traditional Man Overboard (MOB) safety techniques to the test and build a simple DIY wireless MOB safety system for around €25 that can automatically stop the boat’s engine if you fall into the water. We test different methods for preventing a man overboard situation, look at ways to improve your […]

Electronics Security

10/05/2026

The WiFi gas alarm that saved my boat

In this post, we are going to see, which for me is the best Gas alarm that you can have on your boat. Mainly, because, during confinement, except mine from ending up on fire. But I also discovered that it is not only capable of detecting a butane leak, but it can also detect the emanations of the batteries when they are overcharging and are […]

Life on board Security

17/04/2026

How to Choose the Best Ropes for Your Boat and Save Money | Complete Guide for Sailboats & Motorboats

If you own a boat, sooner or later you will need to replace some rope. It could be a worn halyard, old mooring lines damaged by the sun, a stiff sheet, or an anchor line that no longer inspires confidence. And then comes the big question: Which rope should I buy and how much should I spend? Today the market is full of options: nylon, […]

Electronics Sailing Security Technology

15/03/2026

The cheapest AIS emitter on the market, for your boat

Hello sailors, Today we’re going to test the cheapest AIS transponder I’ve been able to find — and of course, it’s Chinese… very Chinese. Officially it’s marketed as a fishing net locator, specifically the “SOCOTRAN Net Locator”, but we’ll see that in reality it is a perfectly functional AIS transponder. We will be able to program it with our boat’s identification information so that other […]

Security Technology

31/10/2025

Seeing in the dark

🌑 The Challenge of Sailing Without Lights Sailing at night is one of the most intense experiences for any skipper. When the sun or moon disappears, the sea becomes an environment without visual references, where the human eye can barely distinguish shapes and dangers multiply. At The Low Cost Sailor, we set out to answer a very specific question: 👉 Is it possible to sail […]