Compact Scuba Kits for Sailors
In general, many cruisers prefer the freedom of snorkeling to scuba diving, yet there are situations when extending the time you can spend underwater becomes a safety issue.
Safety: Lights and Shapes that Signal Status and Intentions
We have the minimum required lights, including running lights for sailing and motoring, and an anchor light. We might even have an electronic distress...
A Radio Lifeline for Cruisers
Speaking with Patricia Dallas and David Sapiane of Gulf Harbour Radio is a little like speaking to a great-aunt and uncle. Like someone who’s...
An Argument for Plain Nautical Language
I never like writing filled with subtle allegory, puzzles, and hidden meaning. But in the hands of a master, creative use of language is...
Propane Leak: How to Detect, Locate and Fix
There isn’t much that scares or worries me when it comes to all things about boats. Except two: large amounts of water coming in...
What’s the Best Sunscreen?
Social media seems to be stirring up fear that sunscreen is more than harmful than beneficial, without legitimate studies to support this fear mongering....
Safeguarding Sailors via Passage Guardian
Peter Mott has been working with radio his entire life. But only upon retiring did he start to combine his love of sailing and...
How (Not) to Tie Your Boat to a Dock
No sailor can resist the temptation to look over another sailors work, and nothing draws the eye faster than your neighbors docklines. We like to know our boat and our neighbors boats will be where we left them when we return, not rubbing together or worse. Sometimes, however, a stroll down the dock makes us nervous. This gallery of rogue docklines represents only a taste of what PS tester Drew Frye found within a short walk of his slip. How many of these will come loose during the next storm?
Responding to Emergencies: A Skipper’s Guide for Staying Calm
This article is not a “how to” on COB drills or other procedures. There is lots of good training available on that subject and...
Sailboat Safety on Deck
We often think of safety on deck in terms of PFDs, lifelines and jacklines, but the falls they protect against only happen after something...
This 40 Foot Sailboat Has the Best Owner’s Bed Ever Built...
If you’re shopping for a 40-foot cruising sailboat and actually plan to live aboard or cruise, comfort matters — and nowhere does that matter...
Latest Sailboat Review
Union 36 Used Boat Review
While not the best boat for light-air sailing, the Union 36 is a good sailboat for the bluewater cruiser. It wont get you there fast, but it will get you there comfortably and in one piece. The boats teak decks and lavish use of interior wood is attractive but requires much upkeep and maintenance. A product of the Taiwan-U.S. boatbuilding industry, the Union 36 is a heavy-displacement, full-keel, cutter-rigged double-ender designed for ocean sailing. The Union 36 is nearly identical to several other boats built during the same period: the Hans Christian 36, Mariner Polaris 36, and the EO36. According to well-known naval architect Bob Perry, the Union 36 and its cousins are all based on the design of a 34-footer that Perry was commissioned to create back in the early 70s.