Cruising Tips

What's an Ocean Gyre?

by Teresa Carey, Posted November 1, 2012

A few years ago, the Gulf Stream swiftly carried me home from the Bahamas while simultaneously tormenting me with waterspouts. It got me thinking...

Deck Bladders

by Aussie Bray, Posted October 15, 2012

Fuel capacity usually isn’t an issue in home waters, but it becomes important when long-range cruising sailboats have to motor for extended periods.

Apps for Sailors: Smartphone AIS

by Donald McLennan, Posted October 11, 2012

While Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) have been appearing on more commercial and recreational vessels, many sailors still find it to be cost-prohibitive. As an alternative, I recently used a combination of smartphone apps and AIS websites...

Servicing Dinghy Valves

by Charles J. Doane, Posted October 11, 2012

A well-built Hypalon inflatable dinghy can last well over 10 years if properly cared for. In many cases, the first thing to fail isn’t the fabric but the fiddly little spring-loaded valves used to keep the boat inflated.

Voice of Experience: Blowout in Belhaven

by David W. Shaw, Posted October 9, 2012

On arriving at Alligator River Marina after a 15-mile passage across Albemarle Sound, we got a bit of a surprise. The place was practically empty, which was weird considering it was October, the height of snowbird season.

Confessions of a Bridgetender

by Joseph P. Vermeren, Posted October 5, 2012

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on inside that little tender’s house up on a drawbridge, you’re not alone. It’s a bit of a fishbowl up here, and everyone who walks by seems to look in.

Tennis Ball Grommets

by Bill Bleyer, Posted September 19, 2012

When covering my boat for the winter, I like to use heavy gray-green poly tarps, as they are inexpensive and last several years if they are protected against chafe and are properly secured.

Curse of the Cursor

by Peter Nielsen, Posted September 18, 2012

The first time I ever used a GPS on an offshore passage we almost lost the boat. The navigator, delighted with his new toy, had plotted a waypoint just off our destination, but somehow missed the long, low, unlit headland between us and it.

Voice of Experience: Building a Trimaran

by Graham Silbermann, Posted July 19, 2012

It all started with losing my job. Like many people in recent years, I found myself unemployed, and the lack of activity made for restless hands. I figured since I couldn’t find work, I might as well build a boat.

When Two Rodes Are Better Than One

by Ken Textor, Posted July 18, 2012

Misleading as its name may be, Bahamian mooring is an anchoring technique that can be used just about anywhere. If you’re looking to secure your boat in a jam-packed anchorage or in a tide-scoured waterway, a Bahamian moor can be very handy.