From Contributor Norm Laskay

Small boats have always been about doing more with less. The Everglades Challenge is a great example of that still going on. But, things are changing as science and innovation pull many ahead and leave wood and canvas behind. While I can’t say that I will see all of the following in my life time (at my age the finish line is just around the next bend, or maybe more appropriate for a nautical blog, just over the horizon) these changes to small boat sailing are in the not to distant future.
 
In the last five years I have seen a great leap in vessel electronics and electrical systems. In the yacht sector a pristine classic used boat loses value because it doesn’t have the electrical wiring to support large integrated nav systems, entertainment systems, computers and microwaves. Commercially, a tug or pushboat that may have had two 30 KW generators now will have two of 60 KW or larger.  A supply boat that would have two 99 KW’s will now have two or three of 350 KW.
 
The future is electricity. Or, maybe more specifically for small boats, batteries.
 
Solar panels will continue to get more efficient and more powerful for a given square area.  Batteries will continue to get more efficient and more compact, with larger storage capacities. Meanwhile, the equipment run by electricity will continue to get more efficient and more compact.
 
I can see a small sailboat with an integrated navigation system. A lap top and GPS running a chart plotter and autopilot. A mast-top sender providing wind speed and direction to vectoring software interconnected to the GPS and autopilot. I know some small boat sailors already have some of these onboard.
 
While electrically powered anchor, halyard or sheet winches are not necessary on our small boats, I can think of times single handing when it would be wonderful, and the safe thing to do, to control any one of those winches from the cockpit with a remote control device.
 
The iPod is already playing Handel’s Water Music, or maybe La Mer. Or, maybe some old cuts from Aqualung.
 
The night lighting is all approved low draw LED.
 
At anchor the GPS anchor watch guards you while you read by modulated LED lighting or watch a DVD on the laptop. In the right location you may even be online via a wireless air card.
 
While a fan or two might keep things comfortable, I can’t see a small boat with the capacity for air conditioning, electric heat and electric cooking.  There are limits to electrical storage and high draw appliances. I guess for the frost-biters I could add electric socks and gloves.  A little further into the future, as the study of electro-magnetics and atomic power progresses, a hollow core rudder would be a great place for a nuclear powered generator.
 
You already have your cell phone and mounted or handheld VHF.  You may have a SPOT rescue/message device, or what I prefer, an ACR Resqfix personal EPIRB. The latter has dropped $50 in price in the last year so it or its McMurdo counterpart may become very affordable in the future.
 
I would not be surprised if bits and pieces of what I mentioned here might show up in some sailor’s homes in the next few weeks. Others might show up years in the future but they will show up. (Well, I’m not sure about the nuke generator in a rudder).
 
Have a safe and family filled holiday season. May you in the south get in a Christmas or New Years Day sail and may you in the north remember all the great sails of last year and plan the ones ahead.