The Information-Packed Resource for Part Time Commuter Cruisers!
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that NOTHING is ever easy on a boat. The simplest project usually turns out to have some wrinkle that requires hours & numerous trips to the marine stores or Home Depot. Replacing rusty thimbles in our snubber line was no exception.
As cruisers routinely discover, cell phones and water don’t mix! As we use our smart phones for navigation, AIS & weather, there’s more opportunity for them to get knocked overboard, fall in the bilge or even just get wet in a backpack in the dinghy. Don’t let it happen!
Alligators in my varnish … it’s never happened before & online offers conflicting advice on what causes it. If anyone knows exactly what I did wrong, please leave a comment & share – I hate having to go back & patch. The rest of the varnish turned out perfectly. 
Just like their name, sail telltales are there to “tell tales” and will provide useful sailing information to improve your boat’s sailing performance provided you know the basics. Even if you consider yourself “just a cruiser” and don’t care about premium sailing performance, paying attention to your telltales will be worthwhile.
If you’re thinking of replacing or upgrading your cockpit canvas or enclosure, do not miss this list of ideas for your consideration. They’re from when we completely redid our enclosure … a bit over a year later, we couldn’t be happier!
Tips for Keeping Your Canvas in Tip Top Shape, as well as things to consider when redoing your cockpit canvas and how to select a canvas maker. My article published in SAIL Magazine, Feb 2013 …
Drat those annoying leaks! Everytime it rains hard, it seems we find another leak. Usually they’re small to tiny and can be fixed (aka bandaided) relatively easily. I guess the constant movement of a boat makes seals not keep sealing perfectly forever.
Beautiful reflective glassy varnish is not as hard as I imagined. Here are sv Winterlude’s results after the first two years converting to varnish from cetol and step by step photo essay on how we do the maintenance.
Ever try to get an older horizontal propane tank exempt from OPD regulations filled in the US? Here are the regulations direct from the US Dept of Transportation.
If you have teak, sooner or later you’ll have to replace the black caulk. Here are step by step instructions with photos. WARNING! DO NOT STEP IN THE GOOEY BLACK CAULK! Ask me how I know…
If you’re thinking of replacing or upgrading your cockpit canvas or enclosure, do not miss this list of ideas for your consideration. They’re from when…
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So we all know anchoring in for a norther or squall line requires more attention than everyday ancho…
If you’re using an all chain rode, think of a nylon snubber as insurance for your windlass! A wind…
Tieing up to a mooring ball involves a lot more than merely being able to grab the mooring pennant w…
In the Northwest Caribbean and South Florida, late December to mid-March, is “Norther” season. …
Unfortunately dinghy theft is on the rise everywhere! Most cruising boats don’t have the option to…
Cruising is usually a safe adventure, probably less dangerous than driving down an interstate highwa…
The late November afternoon was gorgeous, the village beckoning. After dropping anchor in the az…
Ironically, we wanted to put bars across our hatches while outfitting the boat in Florida before w…
By the time we’ve decided it’s time to leave, of course the weather decides it’s not time to leave a…
Everyone has their own checklist to leave a boat in a marina in the water while you’re gone, but in…
Life in salt water, especially in the tropics, is hard on a boat. But overall, the better we are a…
One of the hardest things for whatever reason, even for relatively experienced cruisers, is to LEAVE…
