Anchoring in Crowded Harbors
Stagger while you anchor? It sounds like Ive either been drinking too much or sailing too long. Bear with me.
It's not easy to see...
Anchoring Legal Responsibility
We often get questions about anchoring rights. While it is commonly understood that the first boat arriving in an anchorage has privileges, many see...
Ditch Kit for Small Sailboats
When we had a larger boat and made offshore hops, conventional ditch bag thinking made sense. But when I downsized to a 24-foot trimaran,...
Ditch Bag for the Daysailer
List (laminated) attached inside each bag, reminding you of what you need, even for day sailing.
Waterproof handheld VHF.
Cell phone in waterproof...
Rescue Safety Lights & Strobes II
A personal rescue strobe is a small signaling light intended to be attached to a PFD so if a boat crew member goes overboard,...
Boat Gas Detectors and False Alarms
Gas detectors are not magic gadgets, quantifying specific chemicals and then alarming when they reach a precise level. Because of the simplicity of the...
Cold Water Survival
When we read about a sailor lost overboard in a storm, we think about PFDs and personal locator beacons, and accept the sea is...
Beware of the Gasp Reflex
Should you find yourself cast in icy water, there are few things you can do that may help.
Acclimatize. As a year-round kayaker and small...
Double Check Your AIS
Nearly one year ago, the Volvo Ocean Race boat Sun Hung Kai-Scallywag was deep in the Southern Ocean bound from Auckland, New Zealand to...
Seamanship in a New Era
Good seamanship is the cornerstone of safety at sea, and its best allies are a seaworthy vessel and an able crew.
Time after time, were...
A Fast Small Sailboat from Saffier
If you're looking for a fast sailboat to use as a day sailer, then Saffier Yachts may have just the sailboat to buy. With...
Latest Sailboat Review
Grampian 26 Used Boat Review
The first fiberglass auxiliary sailboats were built in the late 1950s; for the record, the first was the 40-foot Philip Rhodes-designed Bounty II (1956),...