Bruce and Bob’s Pacific Loop: A Solo Sailor’s Search for Utopia
The world is chock-a-block full of stunning, postcard-worthy cruising destinations. But pleasant aesthetics and comfort didn't guide my good friend Bruce Maunsell. Instead, he...
Cabin Air Purifier Test: A $35 Ionizer That Actually Works
Despite regular care and maintenance, I know most of us who keep our boats closed and locked up for days, sometimes weeks, still open...
Rudder Failure on the Salish Sea: Lessons From a Close Call
All sailors start somewhere. As a teen I eagerly absorbed National Geographic stories in the late 60s of young Robin Lee Graham sailing singlehanded...
Do Hybrid Propulsion Systems Make Sense on Small Boats?
In the article “Is All-Electric Propulsion Practical on Small Sailboats?” we explored the current state of technology for all-electric marine propulsion. We concluded that...
Giving Old Winches New Grip
On Natasha, our 1978 Islander Bahama 30, the Barient two speed sheet winches were showing their age—a dull chrome surface and the drum were...
Refurbishing Aluminum Deck Hatches: A DIY Guide
Many boats constructed during the heyday of production in the 70s and 80s, both power and sail, emerged from the factory with aluminum deck...
Engineless and Adrift in Panama: How Seamanship Saved Atlas IV
“Is everything okay? Your EPIRB was set off.”
It’s a call no sailor wants to receive.
For Josh Verstoep and Sierra Grant, that call set off...
Is All-Electric Propulsion Practical on Small Sailboats?
The 18th century was the age of sail. The 19th century saw the introduction of steam propulsion and the 20th century witnessed the introduction...
Regenerative Tides: Citizen Science Tackles the Fiberglass Boat Crisis
I scramble down sharp boulders from the car park to the muddy banks of the estuary, cautious not to slip, metal shellfish gathering basket...
Make Your Own Offshore Sails and Save Thousands
One of the most satisfying experiences I have had is looking up at the sails and knowing I created what is powering my boat...
Cape Dory MS300 Review: A Classic Motorsailer
If you’ve ever wondered “should I buy a motorsailor?”, this is the video for you. Motorsailers are one of the most misunderstood types of...
Latest Sailboat Review
Hanse 430e Boat Review
We’re looking at a boat that sounds like a German electronics band but is actually a 43-ft. cruising sailboat—the Hanse 430e. If you’re shopping...