Freedom 45 CC Used Boat Review
When I received a message about surveying a 1989 Freedom 45CC, I knew there was something unique about this sailboat, but I couldn’t remember...
El Salvador as a Hurricane Hole: Safe Haven or Risky Refuge?
Each spring, boats along Mexico’s Pacific Coast start making their summer plans. If they aren’t crossing the Pacific, most are deciding whether to head...
Navigating the Secondhand Marine Electronics Market
Electronics, unfortunately, don’t last forever. When an electronic component decides to fail on your boat, you will likely want to have it replaced. While...
Is U.S. Sailboat Manufacturing Facing Extinction?
2025 has not been a good year for U.S. sailboat manufacturing. Com Pac Yachts closed its doors in May and, as explained in this...
Don’t Poo-Poo Composting Heads Until You’ve Tried One
I never thought that I could get so excited about a toilet. When we first installed our new Nature’s Head composting toilet aboard our...
Quiet Power: Electric and Hybrid Propulsion at Annapolis
A tour of the 2025 Annapolis Sailboat Show showed signs of progress on the electrification of auxiliary power. Particularly notable was the emergence of...
The Wrong Angle: Why Your Cam Cleats Won’t Hold or Release
Cam cleats are a marvel for their ability to quickly hold and then release lines under moderate tension. They are found on the simplest...
No-Sew DIY Tiller Pilot Cover
Although they are rated waterproof, the most common cause of death for tiller pilots is water intrusion. I've had one die from this. Like...
Maui to Vic: A First Ocean Crossing Experience
A lifetime of sailing the protected waters of Vancouver Island on British Columbia’s west coast has given me a wealth of sailing experience. But...
Waterline or Keel? Setting Your Depth Sounder
Ever since electronic or sonar/transducer type depth sounders have been around, sailors and captains have had love/hate debates over how a depth sounder should...









































