An AIS EPIRB is a vital safety device for marine vessels, offering significant advantages in emergency situations. Here are some of its key benefits:

• Faster Rescue: AIS EPIRBs transmit a digital signal containing precise location information, allowing rescue authorities to pinpoint the vessel's distress quickly. This can significantly reduce response times and increase the chances of a successful rescue.

• Enhanced Accuracy: Compared to traditional EPIRBs, AIS EPIRBs provide more accurate location data, reducing the search area and improving the efficiency of rescue efforts.

• Additional Information: In addition to location data, AIS EPIRBs can transmit information such as the vessel's identification number, call sign, and distress message. This can help rescue teams better understand the situation and tailor their response accordingly.

• Integration with AIS Systems: AIS EPIRBs are designed to work seamlessly with existing AIS systems on board vessels. This integration can provide additional information about the vessel's status, such as its speed, course, and heading, which can be valuable for rescue planning.

• Improved Safety: By providing faster and more accurate emergency response, AIS EPIRBs can significantly improve the safety of marine vessels and their crew.

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a vital safety device for individuals involved in marine activities. Here are some of the key benefits it offers:

• Emergency Distress Signal: PLBs transmit a powerful distress signal that can be detected by satellites worldwide. This ensures that help can be summoned even in remote or isolated areas.

• Rapid Response: When activated, a PLB sends a precise location to rescue authorities. This allows for a swift response, potentially saving lives.

• Small and Lightweight: PLBs are designed to be compact and easily carried. This makes them ideal for individuals who may be far from a vessel or other means of communication.

• Multiple Frequencies: Many PLBs operate on both 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz frequencies. This ensures compatibility with various search and rescue systems.

• Durability: PLBs are built to withstand harsh marine environments, including exposure to water, salt, and extreme temperatures.

• Easy Activation: PLBs are typically designed for simple activation, even in stressful emergency situations.

In essence, a PLB provides a reliable means of communication in the event of an emergency at sea, increasing the chances of a successful rescue.

A water-activated strobe light is a crucial safety device for marine vessels. It offers several advantages:

• Enhanced Visibility: When activated by water contact, a strobe light emits a bright, flashing light that is highly visible in low-light conditions or at night. This increases the vessel's chances of being spotted by other boats, aircraft, or rescue personnel.

• Emergency Signaling: Strobe lights can be used as a distress signal, alerting others to a potential emergency. This can be particularly important in situations like capsizing, sinking, or engine failure.

• Durability: Water-activated strobes are designed to be durable and withstand harsh marine environments, including exposure to saltwater, moisture, and extreme temperatures.

• Easy Activation: These devices are typically activated automatically upon contact with water, eliminating the need for manual activation in emergency situations.

• Compact Size: Strobe lights are often compact and lightweight, making them easy to store and carry on board.

• Long Battery Life: Many water-activated strobes have long battery life, ensuring they are ready for use when needed.

People write to us all the time in the comments, wondering how we’re going to have an autohelm on the boat. Well, here she is. Hydrovanes are simple, mechanical devices that steer the boat—whether it’s a tiller or wheel, double-ended or with a transom… they’re very versatile and will work great for Arabella.

Success! $4,000 raised of $4,000

Thank you, David F., Simon A., Alan S., Rotui K., Scott B., Ryan F., Evgenia K., David M., Gabriele P., Scott H., Liam R., Francisco P., William R., William P., William T., Federico D., Jeffrey H., James M., David W., William (Bill) D., Rebecca A., Douglas V., Paul J., Alan B., Eric J., Claudia S., Felix H., Jonathan P., Ralph W., James W., Harry H., David S., Keegan C., Rickard P., Anthony M., Darren H., Tom T., and Peter A.!

Thank you so very much to Ralph W. for pushing us over the finish line!

This 600-watt generator will work while the boat is sailing, topping off the batteries on long passages so we don’t have to run the motor or rely on solar that might be shaded by the rig as we’re moving along. It’s efficient and wonderfully built—we did see an example model at the 2021 Annapolis Boat Show.

Success! $4,500 raised of $4,100

Thank you, Kevin L, Durell B., David W., Jason G., Gary C., Paul J., Adam L., James W., Benjamin B., Scott K., Neel S., Bryan R., Katherine D., James C., Roger S., Chris W. and Dennis C.!

Thank you, Butch W. (our friend Cottonwood in the credits), for generously matching the first four donations and then again for pushing us over the halfway mark!

Thank you, Matthew C., for generously getting us to within $1,000 of our goal!

Thank you, James C., Edward D. and Daniel L., who originally gave to the EchoTec Watermaker.

These sturdy Marelon siphon breaks are not the most glamorous item here on the list, but vented loops are necessary, silent guards in any system that needs to drain overboard by way of through-hull fittings. They also stop siphoning between water tanks. We’ll need about 6, but could need as many as 10 in various sizes: 3/4", 1", and 1 1/2".

Success! $485 raised of $450

Thank you, Jerry D., for funding one vented loop!

Thank you, Marc L. for funding two vented loops!

Thank you, Debbie T. for funding one vented loop!

Thank you, James C., for funding one vented loop!

Thank you, Suann S., for funding one vented loop!

Thank you, Paul J., for funding two vented loops!

Thank you, Maurice K., for funding one vented loop!

Thank you, John Ferguson, Tim B. and Shmuel A.!

Now, this one here is a tad glamorous, if you ponder for a moment that this beautiful thing will only have the fish admiring it for its looks. Meanwhile, abovedecks, we’ll be enjoying dependable, appropriate propeller pitch, more of our engine’s designed horsepower (two-bladed propellers get shaded by the sternpost), and better backing capabilities. It’s also repairable: should a single blade be damaged, each one can be removed and replaced without needing to replace the entire works.

We’re working with AccuTech Marine Propeller in Dover, New Hampshire (Annie B’s hometown!)—and they’re wonderful, helpful people who are also providing our propeller shaft and special tools.

Success! $3,145 of $2,800

Thank you, Diogo B., Brian C., Mark P., James C., Joe C., Paul J., Robert D., Bridget C., Paul S., Ed F. and Irwin H.!

Thank you, Paul S. and Andy C., for taking us over the finish line for the propeller!

We are choosing one of three watermakers, all of which come with the same price tag but which draw different amounts of power. What do we like about EchoTec? Everything in their units is made of high-grade austenitic stainless steel. Plus, there’s nothing proprietary—all of the components can be obtained and maintained globally: standard filters, membrane elements, and many spare parts are widely available.

Success! $5,500 raised of $5,500

Thank you, Claudia and Stephen R. for funding the entire EchoTech Watermaker.

Believe it or not, this boat is going to be at a dock in less than a year. These 15” round fenders will also be good for when we anchor somewhere for a while, want to go on a sail and leave our anchor set, while leaving this behind as a temporary pickup for when we get back. We’ll keep a few deflated in case we need them, too. We’ll be wanting 5 or 6 of them.

Success! $400 of $400

Thank you, Frederick D., for the gift of one fender!

Thank you, Deborah T., for the gift of one fender!

Thank you, Paul S., for the gift of three fenders!

We’ve spoken with Mantus Marine about our anchoring needs, and they’ve recommended a 45 lb primary and 65 lb primary secondary M2 Anchors. After speaking with them at the Annapolis Boat Show, they’re also going to give us a deal, which we’re very thankful for. We’ll be adding swivels to those, as well as an M2 chain hook. Safe and sound in any anchorage and hooking hard in pretty much any bottom material, we’ll be sleeping well with these!

Success! $3,000 raised of $3,000

Thank you Kevin T., Anthony R., Douglas P., Brenda G., William B., J.B.L., Reilly O., Stephen H., Loyd S., Josh V., Mark F., Patrick T., Kramer L., Brianna D., Noah F., Gabriele P., Craig M., Robert K., Kevin M., Rodney N., Justin K., Bart H., Benjamin S., Jeff M., Herman D., David H., Alexander T., Edward D., and Irwin H.!

Thank you Chris C., Steven M., and Stephen S., who originally gave to the Workbench Hardware fund.

The workbench inside Arabella will speed up the buildout of the interior and provide a resource for self-sufficiency while voyaging. That means this bench hardware will go to good use from the time it arrives at the shop and onward after launch. The funds will go toward purchasing a hold-down clamp, a couple surface clamps, three Wonder Dogs, planing stops in two sizes, a couple of surface dogs, and a hold-down post.

Success! $500 raised of $500

Thank you, Kevin B., for funding all of the Veritas Workbench Hardware who says he gave, “in honor of my father and [Steve’s] grandfather, men who inspired, taught, and encouraged us to dream dreams and achieve goals greater than most others will think possible. The workbench is the centerpiece of our relationship with wood, and the place that I spent many hours with my dad. My father has graduated, but I see a lot of him in your grandfather. You are truly blessed to have a man such as him in your life. Take the opportunity now to tell him you love him, thank him for his support and encouragement, and give him a hug!”

This little heater puts out a lot of heat, which we will need, because high-latitude cruising is definitely on the punch list. It also has a great reputation for its longevity and low maintenance.

Success! $1,425 raised of $1,425

Thank you, Dick P., for your generous donation to cover the entire cost of the diesel heater. Funds raised above the needed amount have been applied to the Cowl Ventilators.

Fresh air even in the worst weather, or when we’re ashore adventuring, is what a cowl ventilator is all about. We’d like four of these for Arabella, each of them is $862.

Success! $3,857 raised of $3,448

Thank you, Eric W., Bill L., Paul R., Paul S., Stan & Jenni A., Schiavi F., Noel S., Peter E., Anthony M., Joseph Y., Barend G., Steven O., Jukka G., Greg H., Patrick G., Christopher B., Jason B., Timothy E., Robert P., Jay C., George G., Ginger and Darrin S., Albert F., Jay C., Gene L. and David B.!

Thank you, Paul S., for funding one bronze cowl ventilator!

Thank you, Karen B., Ben B., David H., Joseph K., Steven R., Daniel Q., Henry D., Steven O., Brian B., and Irwin H., who originally gave to the cabin heater.

A lot of gastronomical memories are going to be made with this baby. Cooking is a big part of live aboard life, and this is the stove we’d love to do it with.

Success! $2,725 raised of $2,725

Thank you, Alex D., Wesley C., Robert H., Michael E., Patrick C., Loren P., George H., Brian S. and Brianna D.!

Thank you, Gene L., Michael E., Pamela P., David S., Clifford H., Rich A., Louis H., Brian S., James K., and Anne B., who all originally gave to the Air Head!

Thank you, Paul S. and Rick M., for your very generous donations to the items we are unable to procure from ShipMate and are now applied to the stove.

Thank you, Keith R., Michael L., and Edward D., who all originally gave to the deck prisms!

It’s not glamorous, but it’s very important.

Success! $1,029 raised of $1,029

Thank you for funding the entire Air Head, Roger S.!

Light from above is pulled belowdecks by these very traditional, solid glass deck prisms. We need three of them, each are $270. Clicking on the picture will take you to the listing for the 12.5” x 4.5” rabbeted prisms as listed on R&W Rope.

Success! $810 raised of $810

Thank you, Robert K., for the gift of funding two prisms!

Thank you, Brian C., for the gift of funding one prism!

Fresh air abovedecks will funnel into tight spaces with these beautiful, and important, pieces of deck hardware.

Success! $420 raised of $420

Thank you, John R. for the gift of funding one mushroom ventilator!

Thank you, Jason L. for the gift of funding one mushroom ventilator!

Thank you, Chris W. for the gift of funding one mushroom ventilator!

Foot pumps are great because you can be hands free while pumping water for washing dishes or hands. We need three of these Whale Gusher pumps, which have parts kits that are easy to stock should the pumps inevitably need servicing after a few years of use. Whale Gushers are reliable and easy to repair, and their customer service is top-notch. Each is $115.

Success! $344 raised of $344

Thank you, Robert H., for the gift of funding two pumps!
Thank you, Geoffrey S., for the gift of funding the final pump!