John Goes Sailboat Racing and Learns Stuff
John went racing on a big Swan and learned a lot about asymmetrical spinnakers, accompanied by a big piece of humble pie.
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Protecting Our Boat’s Underwater Metals From Corrosion
A relatively inexpensive testing rig that every boat owner should have and use regularly.
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Going Alongside (Docking) in Current—Backing In
Backing our boats into a confined space is difficult enough normally, but what if we need to do this with current and wind? John explores how to, and when not to.
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Details Matter—Engine Failure at Sea
It’s easy to spend big money on our boats but still miss little details that will have big consequences once we go to sea.
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Going Alongside (Docking) in Current—Turning in Confined Spaces
Bringing a boat alongside with current flowing can be demanding, but what if we have to turn around, too? Here’s how.
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Going Alongside (Docking) in Current—Fundamentals
There are few greater challenges in cruising than coming alongside in current, particularly if it’s blowing. Here is a step-by-step way to dock in current.
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Helping a Member Choose an Anchor
A real world example demonstrating how each of us must think carefully about our own needs when selecting an anchor, not just blindly follow tests or anecdotal reports.
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A Good First Aid Kit
Some thoughts on selecting a good first aid kit for cruising and then deciding what to add to it.
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Why I Won’t Power Our Boat With a Portable Generator
We often see cruisers using a portable gas generator to feed their boat’s shore power, but is that safe?
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Setting and Striking a Spinnaker Made Easy and Safe
Some of the most fun and satisfying sailing we can do is under asymmetric spinnaker. Here’s how to set and strike one safely with a sock, even offshore and in big breeze.
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Check Your Boat Shore Power System
Shore power safety is something most of us don’t think about much, but here’s why we should, based on a scary real world experience, and some checks we should all make.
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Our New Boat Selection Process—Part 1, Fitness For Mission
The first, and most vital, step in buying a boat is to define the mission. Here’s how well our new boat fits our plans for her.
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Cruiser’s Tool Kit—Wrenches
It’s impossible to maintain an offshore voyaging boat without a good set of wrenches (spanners) and sockets. Here are the tools we chose and why.
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29 Tips To Get Insurance For Offshore Voyaging—Negotiating Cover
I Part 1 we looked at eleven ways to make ourselves and our boats more attractive insurance risks. Now let’s look at the tough job of negotiating the best deal
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29 Tips To Get Insurance For Offshore Voyaging—Us and Our Boat
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to get insurance for ocean passage making, but these tips will help.
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