When I replaced the ground tackle on our project boat I did not hesitate to relegate the 15 feet of half-inch three-strand nylon rode to the bottom of the cockpit locker. During the years I spent sailing around Europe, I became a firm fan of plaited nylon anchor rode. It piles up tightly in the anchor locker and pays out neatly, without kinking or twisting, and I believe its shock-absorption
When I replaced the ground tackle on our project boat I did not hesitate to relegate the 15 feet of half-inch three-strand nylon rode to the bottom of the cockpit locker. During the years I spent sailing around Europe, I became a firm fan of plaited nylon anchor rode. It piles up tightly in the anchor locker and pays out neatly, without kinking or twisting, and I believe its shock-absorption
New England Boatworks (NEB), in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, caught on fire on April 23 at roughly 5 a.m. The four-alarm fire wasnt extinguished until after 1 p.m. Four buildings that were previously used to manufacture boats were destroyed in the blaze, but the remaining 15 buildings in the complex, which comprises three other businesses and a full-service marina, were unharmed; they were
Ive seen it happen many times. A boat turns in to the channel between two piers at a marina but then begins to veer off line. The skipper makes a small steering adjustment, followed by a larger one, and then he realizes that the wheel is no longer connected to the rudder. What comes next is often not pleasant, and it is why you need to check your steering system at least once a
Ive seen it happen many times. A boat turns in to the channel between two piers at a marina but then begins to veer off line. The skipper makes a small steering adjustment, followed by a larger one, and then he realizes that the wheel is no longer connected to the rudder. What comes next is often not pleasant, and it is why you need to check your steering system at least once a
We know that every other year our annual haulout will involve a little more than just sanding and painting the bottom of Alianna, our 1983 Corbin 39. While some might call our problem osmosis, we like to say that we just have a few blisters. Simeon and I knew there might be blister problems when we bought the boat five years ago, but we didnt have time to wait for the hull to dry out so we could
We know that every other year our annual haulout will involve a little more than just sanding and painting the bottom of Alianna, our 1983 Corbin 39. While some might call our problem osmosis, we like to say that we just have a few blisters. Simeon and I knew there might be blister problems when we bought the boat five years ago, but we didnt have time to wait for the hull to dry out so we could
I often hear from people who, after years of preparation, have set out on their first ocean crossing with a high degree of confidence in their boats. Then something really disconcerting happenssay, the propeller shaft disappears out of the back of the boat. Its quite a confidence shaker. Ive heard enough of these stories to be able to identify several easily prevented but potentially
I often hear from people who, after years of preparation, have set out on their first ocean crossing with a high degree of confidence in their boats. Then something really disconcerting happenssay, the propeller shaft disappears out of the back of the boat. Its quite a confidence shaker. Ive heard enough of these stories to be able to identify several easily prevented but potentially
“Whenever I’m motoring with the wind about 10 degrees off the starboard bow, the mast starts pumping so badly that it shakes the whole boat. The same thing happens at anchor. The mast is deck-stepped, and I’ve beefed up the compression post under the deck to make it rock solid. I’ve also checked the mast with a plumb bob and found that the column is straight but has a slight rake aft. All the
There were two things I disliked about my 1987 Pearson 39-2 from the outset—the anchor locker and the forecabin. The former was a shallow tray,
As the year winds down, there are a few last events capping off the season, including this autumn’s Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), the first
There are some places we sail where just one look at the sky, or the way the air feels, lets us know that we’re probably
Anticipation and adaptation are keys to good seamanship. Put them together, and the results look easy.
High in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming lies Yellowstone Lake, an inland sea surrounded by evergreen forests. Frozen most of the year, the water temperature
A dark cloud has been hanging over Starlink antennas lately. Sailors around the world have been bypassing the $5,000 per month maritime version of Elon
Before #boatlife. Before TikTok and Youtube sailors were raking in millions of views. Before the rise of influencers, daily vlogs, brand deals, and giant followings,
There’s no question that sailboats require a lot of kit, and that reality often makes gift giving for the sailors in our lives as easy
All of us at the SAIL team wish you and yours a peaceful and plentiful Thanksgiving (with hopefully some sailing thrown in). With our best
