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Ray Ville

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Ray Ville has been a Navtech Certified Marine Surveyor since 2009. He has surveyed vessels in Canada and the Dominican Republic, where he currently resides. During the summer, he flies back home to Canada and lives aboard his 1982 Mirage 33 in the North Channel of Lake Huron.
Boat Maintenance

Seven Common Boat Problems You Can’t Ignore (and How to Fix...

During the survey on this CS 36 in the Dominican Republic, the author found widespread moisture, hidden core rot, and structural concerns beneath her freshly painted topsides.(Photo/ Ray Ville)
Boat Maintenance

Not All That Glitters Is Gold: A Surveyor’s Cautionary Tale

The freestanding 62-ft. carbon fiber mast eliminates the rigging maintenance typical of stayed rigs, with the thicker aerodynamic profile engineered to flex under load like an aircraft wing—spilling wind in gusts and providing stability without shrouds or stays. Photo courtesy of YachtWorld.com
Sailboat Reviews

Freedom 45 CC Used Boat Review

The Mirage 33 has a well laid out cockpit but it is a bit difficult to walk around with the wheel nearly touching the side benches. Coaming is high making it a comfortable and dry seating area. (Photo/ Ray Ville)
Sailboat Reviews

Mirage 33 Used Boat Review

Inside Practical Sailor

Sailboat Tech: What’s Worth it and What’s Not

This DC panel was tagged as being a fire hazard, which should be at the top of your list in terms of project priorities. (Photo/ Ray Ville)
Boat Maintenance

How to Prioritize Projects on Your New-To-You Boat

Sailboat Reviews

Morgan Out Island 36 Used Boat Review

The hull, rudder, keel and prop should be clean and dry. This 1982 Mirage 33 was perfectly prepared. (Photo/ Ray Ville)
Boat Maintenance

How To Prepare Your Boat for a Survey

Although the cause of this delaminated rudder is unknown, In most cases the delamination comes with age. Also, a small nick from hitting a rock or coral will let water in and, if not attended too, the delamination will worsen in time. (Photo/ Ray Ville)
Boat Maintenance

Pre-Purchase or Insurance Survey: Which One Do I Need?

Latest Videos

This 1997 Sailboat Costs $350,000… Here’s Why - Hampton 43 video from Practical Sailor
Video

This 1997 Sailboat Costs $350,000… Here’s Why – Hampton 43

Can a 1997 sailboat really be worth $350,000? In this video, we take a deep dive into the Hampton 43 pilothouse cutter, a heavy-displacement...
Marinas Are Quietly Banning Older Boats video from Practical Sailor

Marinas Are Quietly Banning Older Boats

The Fastest Cruising Sailboat in the World? video from Practical Sailor

The Fastest Cruising Sailboat in the World?

Inspection Checklist: Sailboat Buyers Guide video from Practical Sailor

Inspection Checklist: Sailboat Buyers Guide

Latest Sailboat Review

Sailboat Reviews

Rhodes 22 Used Boat Review

Designed by Phillip Rhodes back in 1960, the Rhodes 22 is a trailerable cruiser for a couple that wants the amenities of a larger boat without putting up with the hassles and expenses of a larger boat. It's clearly not a racing boat. It's also not a "shoehorn special," whose claim to fame is how many persons it can sleep. And it's not an inexpensive boat for its size. The Rhodes 22, from its inception, has been a purpose-built boat. And, with a history of detail improvements and some innovative thinking, it meets that purpose quite well.