John takes a look at recent disturbing trends that could result in bad outcomes for us voyaging cruisers.
John takes a look at the latest news on Iridium satellite phones and GO!, some real world reports from users, and finishes with some solid purchase and usage recommendations.
Let’s face it, cruising boats are horribly unreliable, and gear failures are the most common cruise-ruiner. But we can reduce the problems a lot by thinking about fault tolerance. Here are three real world examples you can use right now to make your boat better.
John’s thinking about seasickness (yet again), climate change, RIBs, oil analysis, good books for long winter evenings…and the beach.
It’s been a while since we looked at the ultimate cruise spoiler, seasickness. Here are a couple of new-to-us remedies and an appeal for more.
John is back on one of his favourite hobby horses: tips for buying the right marine electronics for going offshore…rather than the right marine electronics to enrich the companies that make this stuff. And he wants your help on this in the comments.
Four Artnautica LRC 58s are already launched or in build. Here are some new storm survival and layout options based on John and Phyllis’ decades of living on and sailing an expedition sailboat.
Offshore motorboats could be safer, faster, and much, much, more fuel efficient. John looks at how, and some innovative boats that are making that happen.
An historical and friendly town, a pristine beach, and an UNESCO World Heritage site: Nova Scotia has it all and Colin is back with his unique travel writer’s voice to tell us about cruising there.
John’s thinking about Whitbread 60s, paying to sail, boatyards, watermakers, and climate change…something for everyone.
Are you making or ordering jacklines to keep your crew safely on the boat? John takes a deep dive into the right material, stitching, and attachment techniques. This is truly a project where the details matter.
We sometimes write about cool new gear here at AAC, but now it’s time to take a step back and remind ourselves of the vital stuff that will actually get us out there voyaging.
John’s thinking about a little bit of everything: single handed racing, cutless bearings, and prime lenses.
Unmarked channels, poorly charted bays, non-road-served islands…there’s exploring to do in the LaHave Islands.
We have shown that sidedeck jacklines are deeply flawed and may even be more dangerous than no jacklines at all, due to drag risk and the false sense of security they confer. But can we get rid of them and still work our boats efficiently? Yes, we can! Here’s how, with video proof.
A quick read that can make a huge difference to the reliability of your engine.
Andy takes a deep dive into when, if and how, to re-rig with Dux high modulus Dyneema rope. Techniques, advantages and disadvantages, it’s all here.
Andy’s a big fan of Dux high modulus rope standing rigging. He takes a look at what Dux is and some really interesting uses for it.
Lots of laying-up tips in this one. Stuff that can save you a bunch of time and aggravation.
Just what is a commercial or continuous duty rating on an engine, and should you get that? Matt starts this chapter with the reason that these ratings exist, and then moves on to how to select the correct engine duty rating for a displacement boat.
Considering a cockpit enclosure? Building one that a real sailor can love takes a deep fixation on getting the details right.