Ask SAIL: Loose Depth Connection
LOOSE DEPTH CONNECTION Q: The LCD readout on my boat showing bottom depth has become intermittent. When I pulled apart the nav station panel, it
LOOSE DEPTH CONNECTION Q: The LCD readout on my boat showing bottom depth has become intermittent. When I pulled apart the nav station panel, it

HOLDING TANK PUMP-OUT FREQUENCY Q: How long can I go between holding tank pump-outs? I can see it being over two weeks easily between uses

Q: Do I need to buy an expensive VHF test meter to check my AIS antenna, which is separate from my normal VHF antenna? T.

REVIVING NONSKID ON DECK Q: The molded-in nonskid is becoming less and less nonskid on the side decks and foredecks of my old 35-footer. I’m

WHAT KIND OF MARINE TOILET? Q: I recently purchased a 1979 Cal 2-25, which has a ceramic head. With all the flexible tubing, the plastic

REACHING SAIL NOMENCLATURE Q: I keep hearing about different kinds of headsails, like Code 0s, gennakers, A-sails, etc., and for the life of me can’t

A DIN WHEN DIMMING Q: I just purchased an 18ft roll of amber/white flexible LEDs to light up our cabin down below. They are plenty bright

DEEP GOUGES Q: While on a night passage aboard my boat, I struck an unidentified floating object. It did not penetrate the inner laminate, but
SERIOUS BATTERY DRAIN Q: While sailing on a friend’s boat we noticed what we thought was excessive voltage loss overnight. The vessel has five 8D

Q: The electronics at my nav station rely on the old NMEA 0183 protocol for sharing data. I can’t seem to find my original wire-color

Aspiring distance voyagers will find this newest cat a perfect fit.

While checking in on my parent’s boat at the yard, I saw this unusual keel. What’s the purpose of it? — Maddie Doherty, via sailmail@sailmagazine.com

The 2026 Newport International Boatshow is underway now. Here’s what to look forward to.

A new documentary relives the 1995 America’s Cup, as told by the American teams vying to defend the Auld Mug.

My parents, who have been collecting SAIL since I started working here like they did with my childhood artwork, are running out of storage space.

Team United by the Ocean took first place in the inaugural transatlantic race, with American-flagged 11th Hour Racing in a close second.

The temperatures are starting to cool off, the days are getting shorter, and your October issue is on its way. Here’s what’s coming up.

Offshore and offline go hand in hand.

Small electric outboards are becoming increasingly popular for everything
from dinghies to small race boats. We put three new models to the test.

The first days of the inaugural Ocean Race Atlantic test the fleet with sporty conditions.