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2020 April 1

Co-owning a boat

Teaming up can be an affordable route to boat ownership so long as you go into it with an agreement and a sense of whether its right for you

By David Liscio
 A growing trend suggests more sailors are opting for joint sailboat ownership. Painted in broad strokes, the concept seems relatively simple: if two people own the boat, it translates to ha
2020 March 1

Steering inspection

Steering problems are serious but many can be avoided with routine maintenance

By SAILING Magazine
Steering problems are almost always serious and can quickly rise to the level of an emergency. But most problems can be avoided with regular inspections and maintenance. Steering systems are extremel
2020 January 1

Adding a staysail

A properly rigged staysail is a great passagemaking tool

By Bob Pingel
Sail selection is key for offshore sailing. You need a combination that provides speed without overburdening the boat and enough flexibility that you don’t have to make frequent sail changes.A fixed
2019 November 1

Weather routing services

Having a weather router dedicated to your passage can offer valuable information and peace of mind

By Erin Carey
Menacing clouds hung low in the sky, and despite it being only 3 p.m., it felt on the verge of nightfall. The radar screen was lit up like a Christmas tree, and we did our best to dodge and weave the
2019 September 1

How to make the most of your charter

Fine-tune your charter to your liking to create the ultimate sailor’s vacation

By Erin L. Schanen
The charter business was born 50 years ago in the British Virgin Islands with six 35-foot sailboats and a dream by Charlie and Ginny Cary to help people go sailing in one of the best cruising grounds
2019 August 2

Inflatable life jacket maintenance

By SAILING Magazine
The following multi-tiered approach to maintenance stems from recommendations from manufacturers and the U.S. Coast Guard, and covers both hydrostatic (pressure sensing) and bobbin type (water soluble
2019 August 1

Improve your chances for survival when you go overboard

What the person in the water does is just as important as what a boat’s crew does in a man overboard situation

By Ralph Naranjo
Sailors know that when a person goes overboard the crew must go immediately into recovery mode. Man overboard procedures are studied and practiced. But what happens if you are the person in the water?
2019 June 1

Going aloft

Whether you have help or you’re going solo, a trip up the mast starts with safety

By Bob Pingel
There are times on every boat when you need to send someone aloft. This is almost never convenient, but it’s a necessity and one in which safety needs to be a priority. Fortunately, the days of a pl
2019 May 1

Cockpit awning on a budget

At less than $100, this DIY awning might not be as pretty as one that’s custom made but it does the job

By Roger Hughes
If your boat lies unattended, even for a short time—be it in a marina, (in or out of the water), or on a mooring—it doesn’t take long for it to become grubby, from bird droppings or wind blown d
2019 April 1

Staying afloat

How to avert disaster when your boat starts taking on water

By David Liscio
When the Farr PH 56 Monterey sank in May 2017 during the Antigua-to-Bermuda Race, nobody was more shocked than owner and skipper Les Crane. After all, he’d sailed the boat more than 40,000 miles dur
2019 March 7

Boat detailing

Start the season right by getting your hull sparkling clean

By Bob Pingel
Spring cleaning is a ritual, but when it comes to boats it’s often a necessity. Before you launch for the season is often the only and best opportunity to get a boat sparkling clean. But that kind o
2019 February 1

How to deploy a sentinel anchor

This little known method can keep your anchor from dragging in rough conditions

By David Liscio
Menacing clouds and increasing wind announced that a powerful storm was about to cross over the British Virgin Islands. We were tucked into outlying Anegada, the area’s flattest and most unprotected
2019 January 1

Retrofitting projects

In a nod to our annual retrofitting issue, we are featuring several projects to inspire and consider for your own boat

By Bob Pingel
Upgrading cockpit canvas Canvas can add a lot of creature comfort to a boat. It helps keep sailors warm and dry and provides relief from the beating sun. But that same canvas can be a real bother s
2018 November 1

Winter sailing

Learn to enjoy your boat year-round, even in northern climates, by sailing when the mercury drops

By Richard Hudson
For diehard sailors, the decision on where to store a boat for the winter might be more about whether you should store it at all. Sailing in the off season is possible and even enjoyable in many winte
2018 October 1

Working with single-braid Dyneema

Learn to make lashings and grommets with high-tech line

By Bob Pingel
In about a decade, Dyneema (sometimes called Spectra, both are trade names for the same material) has gone from a gee whiz high-tech marvel to common place on many boats. It started out replacing wire
2018 September 1

Mainsail trim

There’s more to getting the most out of your mainsail than just the sheet

By Alan Terhune
It is quite common to hear that proper mainsail trim and setup is only important to those who are racing or trying to go fast. The reality is it is important for everyone. It provides an avenue for th
2018 July 1

Trailering tips

With a trailerable boat the next adventure is just a highway away, but you have to get there first

By Whitney Kent
There’s a freedom that comes with trailerable boats, whether dinghies, small keelboats or powerboats. Your next adventure is just a highway away. But first you have to get there. But that’s not to
2018 June 1

Get ungrounded safely

When your boat is aground, survey the situation and proceed with caution to float free

By Don Margraf
In the moments after you realize you have run your boat aground, it’s best to take a deep breath and recite The First Rule of Holes: “When you’re in one, stop digging.” Many of the steps you a
2018 May 1

How to rig a preventer

Preventers can keep accidents from happening, but they should be used with caution

By SAILING Magazine
A boom violently crashing across a cockpit can be deadly, toss a crewmember overboard or cause serious damage, so it’s worth making an effort to prevent it from happening whenever possible.&nbs
2018 April 1

How to get bareboat certified

Taking the helm of a charter boat requires different certifications depending on the location and company

By SAILING Magazine
Chartering is more popular than ever and charter companies have gotten creative about how to get people on boats easily. Crewed charters have always been offered, but companies now offer middle-of the-road options for sailors who lack the confidence for a full-on bareboat experience. Flotillas organized by schools and charter companies provide the comfort of sailing in a group with help at the ready should it be needed. Some companies, like Cruise Abaco, offer a hybrid solution where a captain sails with the boat during the day then is whisked away in a dinghy once the boat is at anchor for charterers to enjoy the evening.
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