I've just completed a detailed analysis and comparison of the leading 5 marine charting apps for Android smartphones and tablets. There are some significant differences potential users should know about before purchasing or depending on an app when on the water. For my own sailing needs, Memory-Map is the best of the lot, followed by MX Mariner or, if you prefer vector charts to raster charts, Navionics Marine and Lakes. Coming in last are two apps that start out free to hook you in: Marine Charts Lite and NutiCharts Lite.

There's a temporary sale price at Defender Marine that's lower than I've ever seen for inflatable PFDs, including a model with harness. Every boater should know that a PFD is the single most important piece of safety equipment on a boat, and inflatables are not only highly effective but also less bulky and comfortable enough to wear all day. And of course inflatables now meet USCG legal requirements. Give yourself a late holiday gift to prepare for the coming sailing season!

Winter is a good time to start shopping for a sailboat, not least because you're less likely to make an emotional decision and buy a boat too quick because it's warm and you can't wait to get out on the water! Winter's good for taking your time to research boats and really figure out what it is you want and need. Here are the best websites not only for finding available boats but also for learning about your options, equipment choices, and price ranges. Enjoy the photos and daydreams, and stay warm while you prepare to seal a deal!

Those of us who sail in northern climes tend to read more in the winter when our boats are on the hard - and what better to read than books involving sailing? If you enjoy mystery novels and thrillers, you'll like "Circle of Bones" by Christine Kling (a liveaboard sailor-writer), which I just finished reading. It got me through a few cold winter nights while needing a Caribbean fix, with many good scenes aboard boats and a plot intricate enough for the most discriminating reader. Check it out!