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Read more: ShoreFasts—Part 1, When to Use ThemMany people assume that tying to the solid land with shorefasts is safer and more secure than anchoring. But is it really? John takes a deep dive into the facts and in the process shares some interesting things about shorefasts and how to use them.
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Read more: Planning a Refit—Rudders, Repair or ReplacementNow we know that a lot of the rudders out there on older fibreglass boats will need extensive repair or replacement, what’s the best course of action, and what’s it going to cost us?
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Read more: Planning a Refit—The Problem With RuddersHow to check the rudder and why that’s a vital step of any refit.
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Read more: Yawing at Anchor, The Theory and The SolutionThere are few subjects around anchoring that get more discussion than stopping yawing at anchor. However, once we understand why it happens, the best solution becomes obvious.
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Read more: Planning a Refit—Boat ParametersBefore we start to build a refit budgeting and planning framework, we need to define the boat we will start off with as well as explore how we can correct numbers for other boats: smaller, bigger, and/or more complex.
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Read more: Retrieval of Dyneema (Spectra) Series Drogues SolvedLast summer we discovered that series drogues to Don Jordan’s design that are made from single-plat Dyneema or Spectra were extremely difficult to retrieve. We now have a solution.
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Read more: Planning a Refit—It’s a Lot About YouHow 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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Read more: Anchoring—Chain: Stoppers, Termination and MarkingIf ever there was a subject where the details matter, it’s anchoring, so John takes a deep dive into some details that will make anchoring with an all-chain rode easier and safer.
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A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—Best Hull Material
43 CommentsReading Time: 9 minutesMembers
Read more: A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—Best Hull MaterialColin completes his four-part series on going offshore cruising in a boat for less than US$100,000, with a look at materials other than fibreglass, and then winds up on a positive note.
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Read more: Anchoring—KelletsKellets are often touted in books and articles on anchoring as a way to increase anchor holding and setting reliability. But do they really work, and should you buy one?
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A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—Rudders and Keels
55 CommentsReading Time: 7 minutesMembers
Read more: A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—Rudders and KeelsMany secondhand boats out there are being sold as ready to go offshore. But what about the vital underwater appendages the loss of which often results in abandonment or worse? Colin shines the bright light of reality on this vital subject that no one else likes to talk about.
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A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—Decks, Hulls and SS Fittings
57 CommentsReading Time: 12 minutesMembersRead more: A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—Decks, Hulls and SS FittingsSo now that we have decided to focus on boats that have been well taken care of and not butchered by inept amateurs, we still need to be realistic about potential flaws in materials and construction and what it would really take in time and money to fix each. We can have no better guide than Colin as we figure that out. To that end, Colin turns his attention to seven basic construction areas where problems can…
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Read more: Anchoring—SnubbersRope snubbers are vital for those of us who anchor on all-chain rodes, but the good news is that a good snubber is a simple thing to make and rig right.
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A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—Introduction
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Read more: A Sail Away Offshore Cruising Boat For Less Than US$100,000—IntroductionBefore 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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Read more: Four Hand Tools I Should Have Bought Years AgoFour tools that every cruiser should have, but probably does not.
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The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to The Boréal 47—Part 5, Interior, Summary and Price
50 CommentsReading Time: 11 minutesMembersRead more: The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to The Boréal 47—Part 5, Interior, Summary and PriceIt’s no secret that John puts interior arrangement behind most other selection criteria when evaluating boats, but it’s also true that he and Phyllis lived aboard for some 20 years, so he applies that experience to comparing the two boats, and in the process shares a bunch of tips that will help in any boat selection. He then winds up with a comparison of price, size, and value for money between the two boats.
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The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to The Boréal 47—Part 4, Inside Watch Stations
40 CommentsReading Time: 11 minutesMembers
Read more: The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to The Boréal 47—Part 4, Inside Watch StationsInside steering stations are wonderful, but the details matter, to the point that getting them wrong can result in disaster. John compares the two very different approaches of the Garcia and the Boréal and shares tips that will be useful even if you are not considering buying either of these boats, or even if you are contemplating a motorboat.
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Read more: Insanely Cool Anchorage ToysHanging out in a lovely anchorage is a wonderful part of cruising, but what if we could also stay fit and/or play with a really cool fast sailing dinghy at the same time?
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The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to the Boréal 47—Part 3, Hull and Build
89 CommentsReading Time: 13 minutesMembers
Read more: The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to the Boréal 47—Part 3, Hull and BuildLooking at hull form and build quality is less fun than delving into cockpits and interior spaces. But the former are a lot more important, since these are boats, not condos, and a good hull form and build are vital when we actually go voyaging.
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Read more: Passage AnchoragesSure, we all like a snug sheltered anchorage but when we are trying to make the miles in a hurry using a less sheltered passage anchorage can save a bunch of time and distance. Colin shares how to pick a good one and the precautions to take when we decide to anchor out there.
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The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to the Boréal 47—Part 2, Deck and Cockpit
88 CommentsReading Time: 9 minutesMembers
Read more: The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to the Boréal 47—Part 2, Deck and CockpitSailboats are about…well sailing, so a good deck and cockpit layout is vital, and often neglected. How do these two boats stack up? John takes a look, and also shares what to look for on any offshore boat.
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The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to the Boréal 47—Part 1, Introduction and Rig
92 CommentsReading Time: 10 minutesMembers
Read more: The Garcia Exploration 45 Compared to the Boréal 47—Part 1, Introduction and RigFor over 10 years the Boréal 44/47 has been in a class of her own when we think about buying a new aluminum centreboard expedition boat, or any offshore cruising boat, for that matter. But now there is a new challenger in the neighbourhood: the Garcia Exploration 45. In this, the first of four articles, John compares the rigs of these two boats. And even if you are not interested in either boat, you will get some…
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Read more: Ultra Anchor ReviewJohn spent some time at the Ultra Anchor booth at the boat show. There were things he liked about the anchor, and one that he didn’t.
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Read more: Talking About Buying Fibreglass Boats With Andy SchellAndy Schell sails offshore more than most, and is my goto guy for the positive view on all things. We had a great chat about buying second hand fibreglass boats.
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Which is Best For Navigation: Plotter, Computer or Tablet?
136 CommentsReading Time: 11 minutesMembers
Read more: Which is Best For Navigation: Plotter, Computer or Tablet?How do we decide between the three options for electronic navigation? John provides a logical framework to make that easier.
