Know Your Gypsy
When buying chain, there are two things to look for. The first is quality, which we explore through our testing. The critical question, though,...
Mooring Chain Background
Almost all chain used for permanent moorings is made of welded steel alloy, galvanized to forestall corrosion not, in the long run, to prevent...
Decontaminating a Tainted Tank
Those of you who missed our report on how a weak winterizing solution can create a Sandals Beach Resort for waterborne bacteria may be...
Find the Cause of Head Odor
Good hose is useless if the unions are not well clamped. Barbed hose end fittings should be snug and securely sealed and, of course,...
Combatting Onboard Toilet Odors
We’ve had a lot of fun with toilets and boat sanitation systems, most recently with an extensive new reports on desiccating heads and combatting...
Thermal Cooking Is a Great Option for Cooking Onboard
The humble vacuum flask, or thermos, is one of those 19th century technologies that has withstood the tests of time. Originally a delicate, double-walled,...
Waxing and Polishing Your Boat
With spring launch day looming for most of us, I am plunging once again into polishing and waxing fiberglass boat hulls. This post covers...
The Holy Grail of Wood Protectors
Did you ever wonder why its called “wood finish?” You’re never “finished” with it. Unfortunately, that rings true for most boat maintenance tasks. With...
Bad Holding Ground Primer
Modern anchors of the recommended size that are set and rigged properly offer plenty of holding power in good sand or mud. Except for...
Common Bottom Type Abbreviations
There are 15 basic bottom terms and 58 types listed on NOAA chart 1 (https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/us-chart-1/ChartNo1.pdf), the guide to chart symbols. (We’ve listed only a...
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.