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2018 January 1

Installing a new battery system

Upgrading your boat’s power grid is a good investment in time, money

By Richard Reichelsdorfer
Some upgrades and repairs on a sailboat are no-brainers. It’s not difficult know when you need new sails or the paint job and brightwork need attention. But figuring out if a battery upgrade is necessary and how to do it is at times less obvious. Odds are, though, that if the house batteries are more than five years old, you are going to want to think about replacing them. Wet-cell lead acid batteries have a life span of about five years. Some can be coaxed to perform longer, but their performance will degrade over time. If you’ve found that you are constantly charging the batteries or can’t run many of the systems you’d like to for long periods, it may be worth considering a battery upgrade as well. 
2017 October 1

Catamaran maneuvering under power

Coaxing a big cat into a tight space requires a new way of thinking and a bit of practice

By SAILING Magazine
Catamarans are by far the favored boat for charterers, and charter fleets, which are full of cruising catamarans with a handful of monohulls reflect that. And it’s easy to see why: Not only is there
2017 September 1

Steering system maintenance

Avoid the feeling of a wheel loose in your hands with routine steering system checks, before it breaks

By Bob Pingel
 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 July 1

Don’t be afraid of the dark

Sailing at night is a special treat but requires a different skill set than daysailing

By Elbert Ashbaugh
Sailing at night is challenging, rewarding and dermatologist approved. Gliding through the dark under the stars can be a surreal experience. And you don’t have to go very far from the harbor for the experience. It is a different world that requires new skills and awareness to be fully enjoyed. 
2017 June 16

Optimize for light air

Instead of turning on the engine, discover the art and pleasure of coaxing a boat through a small breeze

By Brian Earl
Sailing in light air is a science and an art. The science comes from adjusting your sails and position of sail to get the maximum lift and momentum. The art is the patience and fortitude for you and your crew to remain still, quiet and aware while resisting the urge to reach for the start button on the “Iron Genny.” With some experimentation and focus, you’ll fine that it’s not difficult to keep the boat moving well in light air, and it can be surprisingly pleasurable sailing too. 
2017 June 1

Weather routing software

Take a deep-dive into intricate weather routing with onboard computer software

By SAILING Magazine
For years sailors were mostly left to call on experience and instinct when it came to routing a passage. Today, onboard computing power relying on copious amounts of data can show sailors any route with any number of variables applied.
2017 May 24

Rig tuning 101

By SAILING Magazine
Rig tuning isn’t just about maximizing performance, although that’s a nice benefit to a properly tuned rig. At its most basic level, a tuned rig will make your sails more efficient, prevent damage and help you get more life out of your equipment.
2017 May 1

Trailer maintenance

Get your boat where it’s going safely by keeping an eye on what hauls it

By Bob Pingel
Some of the best adventures happen on trailersailers. On what other kind of sailboat can you explore far-off inland lakes, wide rivers or obscure bits of estuaries all in the same weekend? In fact, one of the only drawbacks to being a trailersailor is that you’ve just doubled your maintenance requirements: not only do you have to take care of the boat, you must take care of the trailer, so that it will take care of you.
2017 April 11

Fancy knotwork

Bone up on your knot-tying skills with a few out-of-the-box fun and useful projects

By Bob Pingel
Basics knots, like a bowline or Figure 8, are the foundation of sailboat knots and have been since the beginning of time. These knots are used to terminate control lines, prevent the loss of lines and perform other important tasks. Lesser known “fancy knots,” such as monkey’s fists or different braids, can be useful or just nice to have around from a decorative perspective. Fancy knotwork can be a lifelong pursuit, getting as complex as you like, but there are a few knots that are easy to learn and are still useful. And practicing these less-than-everyday knots can up your knot-tying game. 
2017 March 1

Passage Planning

Planning an ocean passage starts with knowing when to go and which way will get you there fastest

By John Kretschmer
The notion of ditching the job and house, buying a boat and sailing away to the tropics, across an ocean, or even around the world, is a fantasy that lurks in the mind of every sailor. Some actually follow their dreams and find a suitable boat and prepare it for serious sailing. Dreams collide with reality when it comes to the daunting task of route planning logistics, literally, “When to sail where?”  Timing the right seasons and prevailing winds for offshore passages with the need to avoid hurricanes and heavy weather requires a bit of forethought. 
2017 February 1

What to do when the worst happens

A calm approach combined with preparation can help avoid catastrophe at sea

By Erin L. Schanen
 Most of the time, sailing is probably no more risky than other outdoor pursuits, but when something goes wrong the situation can get very serious very quickly. Any sailor can think of several onboard worst-case scenarios that can be enough to scare you straight to your couch. The secret to dealing with this is to have an idea of what to do when the worst happens but not allow that knowledge to take away from enjoying sailing.Schedule
2016 November 1

Shorthanded sailing

Get comfortable sailing by yourself or with a partner and you'll be stuck at the dock again

By Dave Rearick
 Whether by choice or chance, at some point most sailors will find themselves sailing shorthanded. Your first experience might be a trip to the fuel dock with your own boat, an end of the season delivery with a loyal friend or sailing with a group of four or five friends before realizing only a couple of them are sailors. The sooner you learn shorthanded seamanship, the sooner offshore waters become a comfortable backyard in which to play.Schedule
2016 September 1

MOB recovery on a cat

Although the same principles apply, rescuing a person from the water on a multihull requires a different approach

By SAILING Magazine
Few seamanship skills are more important than recovering a person from the water. Although many sailors are well versed on MOB recovery methods on monohulls, the sailing and handling characteristics of a catamaran require a different approach to rescue, one that should be practiced before any multihull passage.
2016 July 1

Launching and boarding a life raft

Knowing when and how to use your last means of survival is paramount to good seamanship

By John Kretschmer
 There’s an old saying, “Step up into the life raft,” implying that you should not launch your life raft prematurely in an emergency. And while many old sayings are often just that, old and out of date, there’s merit to this wise advice. 
2016 May 1

Installing an electric head

Simple electric heads are better than they used to be and can easily replace a manual model

By Bob Pingel
When a marine head goes bad there is usually a story to tell, and it’s never a good one. A clog or a leak can ruin a weekend. Even a properly working head can be awkward to explain to guests, “Well, you do your business, flip this lever, pump this lever and then don’t forget to flip that lever back or you can sink the boat!” Invariably, the guest has a problem. Often they ask for assistance that is neither fun to request or give. Or worse, they don’t ask. 
2016 April 1

Be lightning alert

Take steps to avoid lightning strikes, but be prepared if the odds are not in your favor

By Don Margraf
 To truly understand lightning and make a strategy for safe sailing, the best place to start is the fine print in your insurance policy. 
2016 March 1

How to be a great crewmember

Some of the best team leaders in the sport share tips on how to always get asked to sail again

By Chris Museler
 Finding an opportunity to go racing, whether it be on a Hunter 336 for a weekly beer can series or a professionally crewed TP52, can be daunting. All the way through the ranks, most sailboat teams are tight little units with core groups of regulars. Standing on the dock with a sign, or registering with an online crewfinder are ways to get a spot on a boat. Word-of-mouth helps too. But it’s what you make of those opportunities that will determine your racing career trajectory, no matter how small your aspirations.
2016 January 25

Offshore sail repair

Arm yourself with a proper sail repair kit and a bit of knowledge to keep a passage intact when your sails aren't

By Bob Pingel
Sail repair is a crucial offshore skill, many times it can save a passage. It takes a little planning to build a kit and to study some basic skills, but it is manageable for anyone. 
2015 November 19

Mounting deck hardware

Attaching fittings properly isn't difficult and protects your boat for the long term

By Peter Richardson
 At some point in its life, every boat will need a deck fitting replaced or will develop a leak that must be corrected. And while replacing deck hardware is not a complicated operation, doing it incorrectly can cause serious damage down the road.
2015 October 22

Installing alternate power sources

Solar, wind can power a boat at anchor with system that take up less space than ever

By Bob Pingel
Installing solar and wind power is easily than ever and gives you greater freedom to take your boat off the grid.
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