That fragile plastic wind vane at the masthead looks like a childs toy to a lubber. Its a nautical curiosity perched at the top of yacht that is also equipped with a comprehensive electronics suite. While we can certainly sail without wind indicators and telltales, judging the strength and direction of the wind by its effect on the sails and the feel on our neck, those little bits of plastic and yarn are darn handy when trimming sail, or balancing the helm.

Rob Valdez and John Brooks founded Endeavour in 1974 using the molds from Ted Irwin's 32-footer to launch the business. The company built about 600 32s in all. Spurred by this success, Valdez and Brooks began looking around for a larger sistership to expand the line. Just how they "developed" the 37 is a tale best left untold until the principals pass away or become too senile to read the yachting periodicals. Brooks calls the 37 a "house design," and that is generous. The total number of Endeavour 37s built is 476 a lot for a boat that size.

Sailboats yaw at anchor. In prior reports we discussed how seriously yawing can compromise anchor security, and we talked about how a riding sail can calm this motion by altering the...

After nearly three years of sailing the Pacific in the 1980s with my family, land life in British Columbia became a placeholder—by 1999, the ocean was calling again. I decided to...

One of the most important rules while out on the water is to always lend a hand if possible—without risking your own crew and boat, of course. It is a kind...

If you are thinking of managing a conversion of your own existing, all lead acid system over to one with a Lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4), house bank, there are...

This is a 33-ft. sailboat that people talk about like it belongs in a museum. They price it like it belongs in a trust fund. And they refuse to sell it,...

You love sailing. You love (or like) photography, and you want to share some of the spectacular things you find out on the water with friends or family or social media...

A lot of water has rushed over the bridge since we last looked at synthetic teak decking materials—eight years' worth. Since that last report—see “Synthetic Teaks Go Toe to Toe”—we’ve subjected...

One of all-chain rodes most popular features among cruising sailors has little to do with anchoring-and everything to do with stowing. With a well-designed bow roller, windlass, hawse hole, and chain locker, your rode and anchor will deploy and stow belowdecks faster and with far less effort than nylon rode requires. But for a smaller boat without a windlass or deep chain locker, an all-chain rode is often impractical. Even cruising sailors who are perfectly equipped for all-chain anchoring often find that their nylon secondary anchor better is suited for some anchoring situations.