Offshore Log: Shurflo Pump Lacks Oomph
Our Shurflo pump has been a disappointment. At the time we installed it, it was the highest-capacity pump of its style available, and smaller...
PS Advisor 08/15/98
How Many Zincs?Could you please advise me on the subject of zincs, in particular about the number of zincs recommended for a boat? Several...
Solar Panel Performance Test
Charging batteries is a never-ending problem aboard most boats. Long-term cruisers usually have several ways to replace consumed battery capacity-engine-driven alternators, solar panels, wind...
Coleman 1000: First of the Truly Portable Generators
Portable power-is it just what you need for extra AC power and battery charging needs, and, if so, what size generator do you really...
Offshore Log: A Caribbean-built Wind Generator
For the serious cruiser, efficient power generation ranks right up there with an abundant supply of fresh water; without it, life is a real...
Coleman 1000: First of the Truly Portable Generators
Portable power-is it just what you need for extra AC power and battery charging needs, and, if so, what size generator do you really...
The Holes That Wouldnt Close
Viva, our 1975 Tartan 44 test boat, has, like most fiberglass boats, a hollow fiberglass rudder and skeg. The rudderstock is solid stainless steel,...
Thoughts on Pipe
There is much confusion on pipe. Pipe is measured in nominal sizes that have nothing to do with any dimensions on the pipe, except...
Yamaha 2.0, Merc 3.3 Our Picks Among Tiny Outboard Motors
A few years ago there were more than a dozen small outboard brands to choose from, including Mighty Mite, Tanaka, British Seagull, Suzuki and...
Yet Another Motor Hoist-the Kato
Lifting the outboard motor from the dinghy to its mount on the stern rail (or pushpit as the Brits say) has always been a...
This “Bulletproof” Cruiser Has a Serious Weak Spot Caliber 40 LRC...
If you’re shopping for a serious cruising sailboat, the Caliber 40 LRC is often described as “bulletproof.” Heavy displacement, huge tankage, conservative construction, and...
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.