The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site
Despite the well-documented risks of being dragged after falling overboard, many (probably most) offshore sailboats are still using sidedeck jacklines, raising the key question: Is that solution worse than nothing? At last we have numbers to help each of us make that critical decision.
It’s vital that before we head offshore we really think about the watch system we will use. A poor system can be the start of big problems.
Adding a hard dodger to an offshore cruising boat. While this dodger was built in aluminum, the techniques and details will be useful for a similar project in any material.
What really happens when a crew member falls overboard while tethered to the boat? We know this often results in a fatality but there were no in-depth studies to help us reduce the risk. Here’s the first step in fixing that.
When we think of going cruising it’s often about exotic locations, warm waters, and palm trees, but the process of getting there requires hundreds of good decisions, or at least minimizing the bad ones.
Carrying on from the last chapter in our Rigging and Sails Online Book, here are a bunch more curated and relevant rigging tips.
John and Phyllis have used lifejackets with built in harnesses from Spinlock for over 20 years. Here’s our review of the latest version.
More about how to decide when to reef, including a mental hack and specific true wind speed examples, as well as more tips, including which sail first.
Tips relevant to the Electrical Systems for Cruising Boats Online Book
Boom brakes have never looked right to me, but now I have solid numbers, together with other reasons, to strongly recommend against them. But if you still insist on a boom brake, I have some recommendations.
Consistently reefing at the right time, particularly when sailing offshore, makes passages easier, safer, and, above all, more fun.
Now we understand the forces at work, John looks at the details of rigging a strong and easy-to-use preventer system.
Most of the chapters in this Online Book are about anchoring systems for larger boats. But what about smaller boats? What compromises can we make and still end up with a safe and workable system?
In recent years, cruising boats have got ever bigger, but what’s the safe upper limit, particularly for a shorthanded amateur crew? John used his 30 years of experience voyaging in a 56-foot boat to answer that vital question.
I think most of us know that our engine start battery should be fused, but what about the rest of the engine harness. John was shocked to find the answer to that question.
In the last two chapters we discovered that the jackline systems most of us use for COB prevention are pretty much useless. Now we are moving on to what to do about that—the good stuff.
Now that we understand the forces and angles at work, Kurt shares a method and spreadsheet to calculate the actual forces on our own boats so that we can build a safe preventer system.
To build a safe preventer system, we must first understand how the forces combine and multiply to turn the boom into a potential killer.
We have selected a good harbour to ride out a storm, now how do we prepare?
In Part 1 Colin pulled his steering apart and found some frightening defects, now he gets into fixing it right.
We are coastal cruising and a storm is forecast. So how do we choose the right harbour or anchorage to ride it out in? These 9 tips will help.
The idea of buying an old boat and going cruising is attractive, but there are also harsh realities to be aware of, like that the steering system is often a ticking time bomb. Not a lot of romance here, but lots of good experience-based advice.
Millions of words are written about managing storms offshore, but what about when coastal cruising? Here are some real-world proven strategies.
I have been frequently asked for my thoughts on systems where lithium and lead-acid batteries are connected in parallel. Here you go.
A racing boat, as long as she is not too extreme, can make a great cruising boat, but there are many things to learn before buying, and to change after.
This hurricane season is forecast to be one of the most active in history, and that means we should think about upgrading our moorings.
In the last chapter we examined an ideal fully integrated lithium system at a big price, now let’s see if we can save some money without sacrificing too much.
When choosing mechanical gear, especially engines, it’s important to understand power and torque. Many people misuse these terms to sell products, so being informed helps us make better decisions.
It’s forecast to be an active hurricane season so here is the first of two articles on preparing a mooring for storms. This one on the building a chafe resistant pennant.
There are probably no two words that are more often misused when we talk about boats than power and torque. Eric demystifies both and in the process inoculates us against some potentially expensive misconceptions.
So far in this buyer’s guide, we have covered the technical aspects of upgrading our offshore cruising boat to lithium. Now let’s compare three relatively high-cost options and the cost and benefits of each.
Matt reminds us all that it’s not about cool electrical systems, or even cool boats, it’s about having attainable adventures with those we love.
A comparison of the two regulators cutting through all the details to what really matters, and including a look at how to evaluate all tech products.
Simple rules that make maintaining our boat less frustrating and reduce the chances of a failure ruining our cruise.
Designing an electrical system from scratch for a new offshore sailboat is an interesting exercise that we can all learn from.
Most any production boat over about 10 years old will have deck fittings that need remounting. It’s a process that seems simple…until we dig in, and one that’s vital to do right.
Lithium batteries have very low internal resistance and so we must think carefully when choosing fuses.
Colin continues the story of bringing a fundamental sound, but 47 year old, racing boat back to offshore standards and turning her into a comfortable, fast and safe cruising boat, all while Scotland’s winter winds howl.
Before laying down hard-earned cash for lithium batteries, we need to calculate the peak current we will use and think about optimal voltage.
The cruising life is full of repetitive tasks. How we think about them needs to be different than the way we are programmed before cruising.
To buy the right lithium battery and BMS for our needs, we must first understand cell balancing and required monitoring.
The most important decision when buying a boat is choosing the right hull. Get that wrong and all else is wasted. Matt shines a light on how to recognize good cruising hull designs and then relates that to real boats.
Choosing the right BMS is the first and most important task when buying a lithium-battery system for an offshore voyaging boat.
Several reasons to consider buying an eWincher, even if the loads are comparatively low, particularly if the halyards on your boat are run aft to winches under the dodger.
When something new and cool is released, it’s always tempting to assume it’s better than the older simpler option, but is it?
With modern weather reception and analysis tools we can plan our cruises and voyages as much as two weeks ahead. John shares how.
Most discussions about weather reception and analysis in the cruising community end up focused on the tools and technology. But that’s not what matters. In fact, planning fun and safe cruises is all about how we USE the tools and THINK about weather. That’s just what this chapter, based on some 25 years of real cruising experience, is about.
Some years ago Colin and John explored whether or not a seamanlike offshore boat could be had for less than US$100,000. Colin and Louise have just proved we can, but there are things to know.
A follow-up, with some significant changes, to our article on a failed Spade anchor.
Which hardware and software should we use for weather downloading and analysis? Lots of good stuff out there. Here’s how to choose.
Very few boats have a good automated bilge pump and flooding alarm system. Let’s fix that.
When an anchor many of us have come to trust over two decades fails catastrophically, it’s time to think about why and what we can learn.
It’s comforting to believe that weather forecasts are always right, but we all know that’s not true. Here’s how to assess the chances that a given forecast will be wrong in a bad way.
John explains one of the most important criteria for selecting an offshore voyaging boat, and one of the most ignored.