2017 October 1
Dear Boat Doctor,
At the tail end of a recent cruise, I went to start the engine and heard the distinct thud of a dead battery. But when I checked the batteries, all was well. I tried the starter aga
2017 October 1
OK, I admit it. I’ve been a harsh critic of helicopter parents for a long time. You know, the parents that hover around their children, never giving them a chance to think or do on their own. They rig their boats, follow them on the racecourse aboard mommy boats, hire coaches to video and critique them.
2017 October 1
Production catamaran with customizable interior options should appeal to many
I think it’s accurate to say that the Gunboat fleet of very fast cruising cats opened up a new market for catamaran lovers. Now it’s not just about square footage but also comfort and speed.
2017 October 1
Impressive design balances comfort, performance and quality in this offshore cat
The new Balance 620 catamaran is built in South Africa at the Nexus Yachts boatyard. The design is by Anton DuToit. The target for this design is a “stretched, ultra high-speed version of the Balance 526 design.” Performance claims for the new cat are speed from “12 to 14 knots and often exceeding 20 knots.” That sounds good. The yard also offers custom interiors if one of its three standard layouts does not work for you. You can have either a three-, four- or even five-stateroom layout. Three would be plenty, thank you, and that’s the layout I have the drawing for, so that’s what I will focus on.
2017 October 1
New Morrelli and Melvin trimaran promises a speedy offshore adventure
This month we have three very interesting multihulls to review—two cats and a trimaran. First is the Morrelli and Melvin-designed Rapido 50. You’ve heard me talk about my buddy Doug on the next beach with the Farrier tri. He’s thinking about a new tri with more comfort than his 27-footer and when I saw the Rapido I thought it would be a great fit for him. That way I could go for a sail on the new boat. I’m always looking out for my friends.
2017 October 1
Following in the footsteps of auto technology, electric power is the future for sailboats
The crowd at the Hanse Yachts booth was buzzing, and they formed a veritable wall around one particular illuminated case. We patiently inched closer, and then we saw it—the new 315 e-motion rudder drive, which the German boatbuilder developed in conjunction with Jefa and Torqeedo.
2017 October 1
From fun dinghies and classic cruisers to novel speedsters and luxurious cats, the class of new boats is exciting. Our editors share the most intriguing new designs coming to boat shows.
2017 October 1
Some of the world’s most beloved cruising grounds hammered by hurricanes are fighting their way back to welcome cruisers
When the one-two punch of hurricanes Irma and Maria stormed through part of the Caribbean in early fall the destruction left in their wakes was unlike any seen there in recent history. Boats were over
2017 September 18
To paraphrase a viral White House comment about health care, nobody knew that safety at sea could be so complicated.
Some sailors think it can be simplified by applying rigid rules and rote procedure
2017 September 14
Charter and privately owned boats that had been moored in the hurricane hole at Tortola's Paraquita Bay are stacked on top of each other following the passage of the devastatingly strong Hurricane Ir
2017 September 1
An early season cruise through the British Virgin Islands had this band of merry friends in search of the best rum bar
On a chart, the rhumbline appears as the shortest distance between two points, but when plotting a course through the British Virgin Islands, our “rum line” took a twisting path from one legendary beach bar to another on a weeklong charter cruise.
2017 September 1
Avoid the feeling of a wheel loose in your hands with routine steering system checks, before it breaks
My definition of “boat” entails three essential capabilities—flotation, propulsion and steering. If you lose one of these, things are going to get difficult. We all know about keeping the water out, the rig up, and engine working, but we tend to take steering for granted. I have had a wheel go loose in my hands, and I can attest to the helpless feeling that accompanies it.
2017 September 1
A Key West ASA school specifically geared to veterans required a vision and a bit of imagination to get off the ground
As the American Sailing Association’s affiliate representative, Elbert “Ash” Ashbaugh sees a lot of sailing school applications come across his desk. Many are from schools that have been successfully operating for awhile, complete with professional offices, insurance and the right boats for teaching; he might be able to get their applications approved in just a week.
2017 September 1
Since its first running over a century ago, the Transpacific Yacht Race has bewitched sailors of all backgrounds and ages, to challenge the 2,216-mile course from California to Hawaii. This year’s edition was no exception—a magical experience, for more reasons than you could shake a wand at. There were racers young and old, on yachts large and small, from classic Cal 40s to the record-breaking maxi Comanche. There was a sled with a cat’s name, Pyewacket, and a cat with a monkey’s name, Chim Chim. And this year’s race marked the return of The Wizard.
2017 September 1
Dear Boat Doctor,I just got a new RIB, and I am looking for the best way to manage navigation lights on it. I’d like something mountable that won’t eat through batteries. Any ideas?
Shane William
2017 September 1
Dear Boat Doctor,
I am having a problem with a dock line. The distance between the cleat and the chock is about 4 feet, long enough that the elasticity in the dock line “works” enough at the choc
2017 September 1
America’s Cup foiling ranks among the top technical feats of this young century, on par with the booster rocket that lands itself or the pictures sent from the surface of a comet. Well-funded teams of great engineers make miracles.
2017 September 1
You can buy the best sailing instrument ever made for 40 bucks.
2017 September 1
The young Bermuda racing team takes on the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup
Bermuda’s 22-year-old MacKenzie Cooper was on top of the sailing world as his Team BDA stormed across the finish line in first place in the first race of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup finals in June. Held in conjunction with the America’s Cup on Bermuda’s Great Sound, the youth series pitted 12 teams from around the world against each other in an exciting fleet racing format that saw eight finalists on the line in a jaw-dropping display of speed, seamanship and sportsmanship. As Cooper’s boat crossed the line, the stands erupted in a sea of Bermuda flags while most of the tiny country’s population of 65,000 stopped what they were doing to cheer on the local favorites.
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A handsome cruiser has plenty of options
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This midsize cruiser has plenty of elbow room
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This cruiser has plenty of options for comfortable family cruising
