Safety & Seamanship

Offshore Log: In Search of the Magic Finish

Most varnishes don’t last long in the tropics and, unfortunately for Nick, Calypso has a laminated captrail that requires protection.

WAAS Up? New Acronym Stands For Better GPS Accuracy

Raytheon's Raychart 320 is consistently more accurate than two conventional DGPS units from Raytheon and Garmin — and it's less expensive.

Safety Alert: Life Raft Repacker Cited

On September 15, 2000 the US Coast Guards 1st District issued a Safety Alert to warn life raft owners who had rafts serviced by...

Inflatable Kayak Cum Tender?

About a year ago, Stearns Inc., best known as a maker of life jackets, introduced an inflatable kayak, offered in one- and two-person models....

Offshore Log: A Letter From Thailand

A layover in Phuket is Calypso’s last chance to get ready for the Indian Ocean crossing, but getting gear shipped from the US through Thai customs isn’t easy.û

Offshore Log: A Crude Problem

Approaching Singapore, we spotted a debris-coated slick about a mile long and 50 yards wide. Concerned about sucking debris into the engine raw water intake, we gingerly picked our way through a narrow gap in the spill.

Offshore Log: Seeing in the Dark

Two of the most important tools on our night passages through the Java Sea and South China Sea were our Fujinon FMTR-SX binoculars and our ITT Night Mariner 250 binocular-style night vision scope.

Offshore Log: Four Weeks, Four Seas

Calypso and crew dodge tankers and fishing boats en route to Singapore, which lies across the world’s busiest strait.

In-Water Inflatable Boat Test

20 stowable boats from eight companies are put through their paces in choppy conditions.

Lifeline Stanchions: New Aluminum Matella Is Super Strong

Cast bases outperform welded ones, so look to Spartan and Suncor.

How Long Do Sails Last?

How long do sails actually last? Sailmakers often say cruising sails last around 10–15 years, but what happens when you discover a sail that’s...

Latest Sailboat Review

Jeanneau 55 Boat Review

This recent sailboat from Jeanneau may as well be a spaceship. They’ve taken all the time-honored designs of a monohull aft cockpit and turned...