Boat Maintenance

With $1,500 and 250 hours over the course of two years, two DIYers refit a previously dismal, grey salon into a bright, functional space. (Photo/ Jaclyn Jeffrey)

DIY Salon Refit: 1979 Fast Passage 39

"Interesting, functional and downright ugly," were a few words people used when I mentioned the boat my husband and I had on Vancouver Island...
While you need to reduce the distance between the jaw flanges, the stripper ring must still be able to rotate freely. (Image/ Tom Egan)

Rescuing Older, Self-Tailing Winches

I love my winches. Like a trusted companion, they have been with me through thick and thin and have always performed for me when...

Shock Cord Hardware for Sailors

Every rope we have on board has its quirks when you’re trying to form a knot that won’t slip or come untied. Dyneema is a...
Lowering the Beta 20, the Kubota 722 block marinized by the British, to replace a Volvo MD7A two-cylinder. (Photo/ Bert Vermeer)

Engine Replacement on Islander Bahama 30

There may come a time when repowering your cherished sailboat needs to be addressed. I suspected that not all 13 horses of the venerable...

Simple Lithium for Outboard-Powered Tenders, Daysailers, and Sport Boats

Lithium is cool. Your cell phone uses it. Cameras, laptops, flashlights … everything. But “cool” is not a reason. Fire is not a big...
"The epoxy primer was applied quickly by Jacob and Hanneke, one rolls it on the other strokes it out. We applied two coats and afterwards wet-and-dry sanded them." (Info/Photo Wharram Designs)

Glues and Resins: Can Boatbuilding Be Regenerative?

The use of glues and resins is indispensable in modern wooden and plywood boat construction. Ahead of self-building a 41-ft. Wharram Designs Narai Mk...
A Sabre 38 Mk I on a classic Chicago windy day in early June. One reef in the main and a fully furled genoa kept her balanced. (Photo/ Nick Van Antwerp)

How Much Does it Cost to Have a Boat in Chicago?

Sailing is a weather dependent sport. When I learned to sail, I would head out on Lake Michigan in heavy wind, light wind, rough...
This Feinspiel Vendia boat is made from their proprietary Nordic pine plywood planks. The planks are made from sliced veneer so it looks like solid wood, but is actually ply. (Photo courtesy of Vendia)

Wooden Boat Revival: Can Boatbuilding Be Regenerative?

The dawn of the fiberglass era transformed the boatbuilding industry, making sailing more accessible and affordable. With fiberglass’s strength, low maintenance and adaptability, boat...
This completed cardboard dodger cover pattern has all of the marking elements indicating where different snaps and straps need to be sewed on. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

How to Make Dodger Cover Canvas Pattern

For those of us with dodgers, we know how truly practical they can be. They protect the crew from wind and water splashes and...
If you're looking to tie up and explore New York City on foot, there are various small marinas and moorings. However, there are more options across the river in New Jersey where you can dock and take a short ferry to NYC. (Photo/ Kim Saylor)

How Much Does It Cost to Keep a Boat on the Hudson River, New...

I have a pocket dictionary I keep in the navigation desk of our 1978 Catalina 30 called Sailing: The Fine Art of Getting Wet...

The UNIQUE Maxus 26 Lifting Keel Trailer Sailor

What is the best trailerable sailboat? One big feature is the mast stepping system. Today we look at trailer sailors like the Catalina 275,...

Latest Sailboat Review

Morgan Out Island 36 Used Boat Review

Most are familiar with Charles Morgan and his Out Island 41, primarily made to cruise and charter in the Bahamas, but not many are...