Can Exterior Paint Revive Faded Dodger Canvas?
One of the little luxuries many sailors treat themselves to is great canvas. I just went sailing on a brisk, cold and windy day...
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...
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.