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Doug Henschen

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Doug Henschen has been sailing in and around the waters of the lower Hudson River, New York Harbor, and the Long Island Sound since the 1980s. A career editor and journalist, Doug served as associate editor and managing editor of The Waterway Guide from 1984 until 1987 and as executive editor of Boating Industry magazine from 1990 to 1996. Doug is a member of Sail America and is American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) certified on Marine Systems, Marine Electrical, Corrosion Mitigation, Disaster Avoidance, Outboard Repowering Considerations, and Boatyard Basics.
The Ballad salon offers plenty of light. Some models, like the one pictured, have upgraded teak and holly soles. Ventilation is limited to two passive overhead vents. Marius Draeger has upgraded his boat with opening rear windows, available from an aftermarket supplier in Denmark, the capital of Ballad ownership. (Photo/ Doug Henschen)
Sailboat Reviews

Albin Ballad 30 Used Boat Review

The 6-hp Tohatsu SailPro, left, weighs 60 lb. and costs about $1,900. A 3-gallon gas tank, when filled, adds about 22 lb. Add to total cost the ongoing expense of fuel, oil and maintenance. The 6- hp/3000 input-watt ePropulsion Navy 3.0, right, weighs 54 lb. and costs about $6,100 including the recommended 73-lb., 48 volt/3072 watt hour E60 battery and a 25-amp charger that can top up the battery in four hours. Electric outboards are much quieter than gas models and don’t emit exhaust, but you will have to replace the expensive battery within 10 years. Prices found online in August 2025. (Photos courtesy of Tohatsu and ePropulsion)
Systems & Propulsion

Gas Vs. Electric Outboards: Consider Your Total Sailing Carbon Footprint

Photos courtesy of Honda Marine, Mercury Marine, Suzuki Marine, Tohatsu and Yamaha Motor Corp.
Systems & Propulsion

Buyer’s Guide: 10 Gas Outboards For Cruising Sailboats

This simple home-grown device offers a choice of rudder positions and takes advantage of the mounting socket and tiller pin already set up for a Raymarine Tiller Pilot. (Photo/ Doug Henschen)
Inside Practical Sailor

DIY Tiller Lock and Emergency Tiller Pilot

Photo sources: Elco, ePropulsion, Mercury Marine, Remigo, Temo and Torqeedo
Electrical

Buyer’s Guide: 14 Electric Outboard Options From 2.5 to 9.9 Horsepower

Anchor chocks hold an anchor securely on any reasonably flat surface, but you’ll need to drill 10 holes to mount the component parts, so think twice about this option. (Photo and line drawing courtesy of Sea-Dog)
Anchoring Mooring

Handling Anchors on Boats Without Anchor Lockers

To prep items for selling online, make sure to clean them, take plenty of pictures and provide detailed descriptions, including specs. This pair of Barient #16 single-speed winches sold for $65.93 and netted the author $55.87. (Photo/ Doug Henschen)
Inside Practical Sailor

How to Sell Old Sailing Equipment

The Schaefer SnapFurl CF-500 furling system has a two-piece PVC luff foil, which snaps together over the forestay. The author discovered the plastic extrusion to be prone to twisting, particularly when reefing or furling the sail in high winds. (Photo/ Doug Henschen)
Inside Practical Sailor

Schaefer SnapFurl: Gear Graveyard

The author’s Tanzer 22 Ardmore sailing in light air on the Haverstraw Bay stretch of the Hudson River. The aged genoa’s wrinkling was due, in part, to a low-cost roller reefing system that was later replaced. (Photo/ Doug Henschen)
DIY Projects

Restoring a Classic: How to Get into Sailboat Ownership on a...

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