Battery-sourced direct current power is the lifeblood of our boats, running lights, electronics, pumps and even starting our engines. And although we can do well with just DC, the ubiquitous yellow sh

Our Passport 42, a double-ender, features a cavernous, V-shaped storage beneath the cockpit. When we first started cruising, we layered lines, dinghy supplies, storm sails, paddles, buckets of spares.

Replacing deck hardware or mounting new deck hardware might seem like an easy project, but doing it incorrectly is a recipe for long-term problems that are not an easy fix. It’s worth taking the tim

There’s no denying the convenience of furling sails for cruising. Code 0s and, more recently, structured luff top-down furling sails with better downwind performance than a code 0 can be game change

A big part of sailing is adapting to the conditions you’re in. Making the boat sail efficiently in whatever situation Mother Nature dishes up is part practice and part know-how, but brings with

Foul weather gear is an investment and there’s nothing worse than that sinking feeling when you realize that your gear is not keeping you dry. The fact is that there’s more to caring for foul weat

Imagine this scenario: You’re in the water looking at the stern of your 42-foot sloop as it sails away from you, cries of “Man Overboard” coming from a couple of the crew, and the billowing spin

Rope, line, cordage, whatever you call it, has been with us since the beginning of sailing time. To put a piece of rope to use, you must attach it to something, which often requires a knot. The body o

It’s another beautiful weekend; the wind is steady at 8 to 10 knots, the water is calm, the boat is rigged, and your friends just called to say they can’t make it this afternoon. You ask yourself,

Winches are amazing pieces of equipment. They last for years providing a crucial mechanical advantage that makes sailing possible.  And because they require little in the way of everyday maintena

It’s not unusual for boats, particularly those of a certain age, to have some areas of wet core and delamination. This is often found near deck hardware, often because of poor mounting and bedding p

Dyneema is seriously strong, but a very slippery fiber. The slipperiness means that you can’t efficiently use knots to terminate it. Even the best knot will degrade the ultimate strength of the rope

As sailors, we’re often drawn to the sea by the promise of adventure, the thrill of exploration, and the beauty of untouched landscapes which is how my husband Chris and I ended up sailing our 1979

You can’t beat a catamaran for liveability, and no monohull can stand up the comfort provided by a catamaran in a beautiful anchorage. But before you can get to the part where the water toys come ou

The lucky boat owner is one who enjoys a boat partnership. Owning alone (or with a non-interested co-owner) versus owning a boat with another passionate sailor is like the difference between a dead we

Sometimes a new steering wheel is called for. Changing to a wheel that’s a slightly different size than the existing wheel, or a different design, such as a foldable wheel that allows easy access th

Just about every crew position on a sailboat comes down essentially to one word: concentration. I became a decent helmsman from my years of concentrating on spinnaker work. The spinnaker is very capri