The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site
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.
Colin and Louise serve up a master class on delivering an older and long-unsailed boat through difficult waters and adverse weather, and even have fun doing it.
So far in this series of chapters we have been looking at the benefits and drawbacks of the renewable options. Now let’s pull it all together.
Can we replace diesel fuel generation (main engine or separate) with wind, solar and/or hydrogenerators? Yes, but there’s stuff to know to avoid wasted money and disappointment.
It’s tempting to think that the more cool stuff a boat has, the better she is for cruising, but that approach can make the boat slow and uncomfortable. Eric explains how to tell when adding gear has gone too far.
The final cockpit reveal, discussing the improvements made since Version 1, including new and very cool renderings.
Colin is waiting for the weather, as happens to all cruisers, and muses on the history of an iconic port, boat design (old and new), derelict boats, and the ongoing process of getting in tune with their new-to-them She 36.
Does buying a Watt & Sea make sense? It’s complicated, depending on boat size and type, as well as usage profile.
After many hours of toil in the boatyard to make her passage-ready, Colin and Louise start the long passage home to Scotland, testing the boat and gear as they go.
A diesel engine that’s been badly overheated will probably never run reliably again. A total cruise ruiner. Let’s not let that happen to us.
Colin shares his safety checks and upgrades made before the long delivery passage home to Scotland.
Choosing fire extinguishers for a cruising boat is a lot more complicated than it may appear. Here’s what Phyllis and John ended up with after consulting experts.
Figuring out where to mount and how to secure a liferaft can be one of the most vexing problems in offshore boat preparation.
Colin continues the story of making a basically sound, but nearly half-a-century-old, boat ready for sailing. Vital reading for anyone buying a used boat.
Further refinements to the mast climbing system we figured out last year. Even after 50 years of climbing masts, we are still learning.
John shares which raft he and Phyllis would buy for various cruising scenarios and why.
So far in this series we have got deep into the technical weeds of how autopilots work, and how to make them work better. Now let’s look at some simple tips, several of which will help with vane gears too.
It’s tempting to just shop for the “best” liferaft, but it’s way smarter to think first about why we are buying one.
How to set gain, counter-rudder, and trim to make an offshore passage faster and more comfortable, and save battery, too.
Now Colin and Louise have found and bought their new boat, the real work begins…but they got the basics right. Here’s how.
Maxime and Vincent have been hard at work over the last couple of months refining and improving the Adventure 40 deck design. Let’s take a look.
We can make a huge difference to comfort, speed, and electrical use by manually adjusting our autopilots.
How smart and expensive an autopilot do we need for offshore shorthanded cruising? Lots of options. Here’s how to make sure we don’t select the wrong one and that we get what we paid for.
Comparing fore-reaching to heaving-to and streaming a Jordon Series Drogue as storm survival strategies as well as equipment and techniques required for safe fore-reaching.
After two years of diligent searching, one of the most knowledgeable boat buyers anywhere has selected his next offshore cruising boat, and an attainable one, too.
Many cruisers have already made the jump to lithium. But what if we would like to delay the considerable expense and complications of lithium, but want to be ready at a later date?
Trucking a boat can be a viable, and in some cases less expensive option than sailing her, but what are the pitfalls?
A recommended kit that weighs less than sixty pounds and tool budgets for coastal and offshore cruising, as well as refits.
A hair-raising account of a boat-lift collapse and tips to reduce the chances of this happening to us.
In the last interior arrangement reveal article we covered the galley, head, and storage areas aft. Now let’s move forward into the salon and forward cabin.
It’s easy to assume that the bigger the battery bank and solar array the better, but there’s a much better way to optimize the system for a live-aboard cruising boat, which will save a bundle of money too.
Up to now in this series we have been looking at going up the mast in sheltered water, but when we need to go up offshore everything gets hugely more difficult and risky. As usual, preparation is the key to safety and success.
A good galley, storage, and head layout are much of what makes an offshore live-aboard cruising sailboat great. The A40 design nails these requirements.
Boats are not square so it’s often necessary to mount gear at an angle and/or on a curved surface. Here’s the easy way to do that.
John highlights four more dangerous mistakes he has made and seen many others make too. With these mistakes fixed, he is now reasonable happy with his system.
From time to time we get a question asking us to opine on whether a modification to the boat or rig will be strong enough. Let’s look at that.