Two of the more frequent requests we have been receiving lately are how to find crew or find a boat to crew on. So we decided to post what we know about this topic and then open it up for you to add to it.
Two More Anchor Selection Criteria
John forgot two important anchor selection criteria in the last article, so this one fixes that.
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Specifying Primary Anchor Size
How to select the size and material (galvanized steel, stainless steel or aluminium), for the primary anchor on a cruising boat.
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Are Refits Worth It?
It seems like a logical way to own a good offshore sailboat. Buy an older and a bit rundown but fundamentally decent boat and refit it. But does it really work? To explore that important question, I have a true story to tell you.
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Planning a Refit—It’s a Lot About You
How to decide if a refit is right for you, including how to avoid the oh-so-common human failings that can turn a refit into a budget-busting rebuild.
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A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—Introduction
Before we even start a refit we must think about our own skills and a place to work. Then it’s time to move on to buying the boat.
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The Case For Roller-Furling Headsails
Roller furling headsails are ubiquitous, but they are not without their drawbacks. John looks at ways to deal with that and make roller furling work well at sea.
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Electric or Diesel-Electric Drives for Voyaging Boats
Electric and diesel-electric (hybrid) drives have become all the rage in recent years. But are they really a more efficient option for offshore cruising sailboats? In this chapter we take a solid and arithmetically rigorous approach, based on advice from two professional engineers with substantial experience of electric drive use on land, to cut through the hype and answer that question.
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A Fundamental Danger Of NMEA 2000 Networks
NMEA 2000 Networks are fast becoming the standard on sail and motorboats but it’s important to guard against a fundamental weakness that can leave us with no position or radar and few good options.
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