Learn the Fundamentals of Sailing
Excerpted from How to Sail Around the World
Cruising under sail is a hundredfold more complex than merely buying a suitable yacht. We know this...
Fundamental Chart-Making Concepts
Until recently, there has been little need for chart users to understand the technology of chart-making, particularly its limitations, because the tools used by...
Sail Maintenance
Excerpted from The Handbook of Sailing
Most people are not sufficiently expert to be able to carry out any but the most minor repairs to...
Rafting Up
Excerpted from The Handbook of Sailing
Rafting up is the term given to berthing alongside another boat (or boats), whether next to piles, a pier,...
Riding Turn
Excerpted from The Handbook of Sailing
Sometimes, when winching, the coils of sheet on the barrel become crossed (known as a riding turn). This is...
Easing a Rope on a Winch
Excerpted from The Handbook of Sailing
It is important to know how to ease the tension of a sheet or halyard on a winch. The...
Boom Preventer
Excerpted from The Handbook of Sailing
When sailing downwind there is always the danger of an accidental jibe. One way to prevent this occurring is...
Fix It and Sail It
Excerpted from Fix It and Sail
At some point in the restoration process, the jobs left to do cease to be “rebuilding projects” and start...
Patching Screw Holes
Excerpted from Fiberglass Boat Repair Illustrated
Patching a hole above the waterline in a single layer of laminate is relatively simple if the hole is...
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.