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Read more: Victron NG Smart Lithium BatteriesBen Stein, over at Panbo, has just published a good review of the new Victron NG LiFePO4 batteries and related BMSs, well worth the time to read for most any cruiser who is even faintly interested in lithium batteries. I won’t try to duplicate the excellent job Ben has done describing what makes this new […]
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Read more: Norseman 447Some thoughts on one of Bob Perry’s best designs and buying older cruising boats in general.
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Read more: Getting Tether Length Just RightDon’t assume from this photo that I make all my tethers this way. I only use dynamic climbing rope (DCR) in low-traffic areas because of the roll-under-foot danger. More on this and much more about tether construction in the chapters linked to below. Also don’t get confused by the tools and fittings in the photo, […]
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Read more: Radically Swept-back SpreadersI have seen a lot of weird stuff in my day but…
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Read more: Right Sizing an AlternatorReplacing the stock alternator on our engine is one of the most useful upgrades to a cruising boat but how can we make sure bigger is not too big?
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Read more: Taking The Week Off
We will not be publishing any Articles or Tips this week, or for most of next. My daughter has just finished her residency and is now a fully qualified board certified paediatrician and so we are off to visit her and help celebrate the culmination of 12 long years of study, exams and residency (including […]
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Read more: Multihull and Monohull Storm Tactics ComparedStorm tactics differ between monohulls and multihulls, so here’s a look at each of the ways to survive a storm at sea, with the benefits and drawbacks of each depending on the number of hulls.
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Read more: Jordan Series Drogue Double-Proved EffectiveA breaking wave bearing down on Nehaj with JSD deployed ©Susanne Huber-Curphey, all rights reserved One of the things that makes me crazy is offshore sailors who claim that getting rolled upside down is just a risk of being out there; yeah, I’m looking at you Don McIntyre. The other, and related, thing than makes […]
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Read more: Quote Of The DayWow, does this ever hit a sore spot for me. I catch myself doing this all the time. But, worse still, I bet there are more times when I don’t even notice I have succumbed to the behaviour. Still, one of the few benefits of getting older is that time and experience has given me […]
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Read more: The Sinking of “Gunga Din”My thoughts on the loss of Gunga Din, a well-built, but older, Sweden Yachts 41.
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Read more: Catamaran, Trimaran, or Monohull—Capsize RiskWhenever multihulls are discussed, capsize risk is sure to come up, but monohulls have that problem too, just for different reasons.
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Read more: Jackline Usage ThoughtsI have written a huge amount about hardware and techniques to reduce the risk of falling overboard, but just as important is coming up with our own usage rules.
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Read more: Fender Washers Are UselessThere’s a headline to attract attention! Fender washers, or penny washers, as guys of my advanced age with British backgrounds call them1, are much beloved by us yachties. Heck, I have a bunch of them, just in case I need one…except now I know I probably never will. Login to continue reading (scroll down) Learn […]
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Read more: The Relationship Between Stiffness and ThicknessOK, that headline was a test of how clean your mind is. If you didn’t immediately assume that I was writing about my current fixation, bolted joints, you failed.
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Read more: Catamaran, Trimaran, or Monohull—Motion ComfortAre catamarans really more comfortable than monohulls? What about trimarans? Like with most things, it depends.
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Read more: Impromptu ViseNot sure if this is a hack, or a kluge…or maybe just half-assed, but the rubber band worked a treat when I needed the VHF plug held still while I soldered the centre pin conductor.
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Read more: Quote Of The DayWow, while Schelling was a public policy wonk, does this ever apply to voyaging, particularly when we have only sailed inshore and so are surprised by how different things are when we head offshore.
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Read more: Asymmetric Spinnaker Sheet LengthMake ’em Long As I mentioned in an earlier Tip, we just bought new spinnaker sheets at not inconsiderable expense. Here’s why. Login to continue reading (scroll down) Learn About Membership Get to know us for FREE
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Read more: Dangerous Splicing MistakesSure splicing 12 strand Dyneema (Spectra) is easy but I’m also seeing a lot of dangerous mistakes.
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Read more: Limiting COB Drag Risk On A Smaller BoatAs boats get smaller, building a system gets more difficult and more compromises must be made, but it is doable.
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Read more: Backing Plates Must Be ParallelBolting fittings down on deck seems so simple, and it is…as long as we follow some common sense rules.
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Read more: Sail Buying TipsNew sails are expensive, here’s how to get the most for your money.
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Read more: Which Snap Shackle Is Stronger?Some thoughts on snap shackles, particularly for use on spinnakers.
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Radar Collision Avoidance, Part 2—Turning Plotting Into Action
10 CommentsReading Time: 11 minutesMembers
Read more: Radar Collision Avoidance, Part 2—Turning Plotting Into ActionIn the last chapter Eric covered plotting, now he explains what course changes to make to avoid collisions, as well as to reduce the stress of getting too close to another boat.
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Read more: Q&A Offshore Communications in 2025Yes, there are a lot of options out there, but actually making the right call today is simpler than it has ever been before.
