Latest News

Practical Sailor

Solar Panels: Go Rigid If You have the Space…

Movies can be corny, but Jack Sparrow nicely summarized the romance of sailing: "That's what a ship is, you know. Is not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs but what a ship is ......
Practical Sailor

Ericson 34-2 Finds Sweet Spot

To begin with, let’s make clear which Ericson 34 we’re reviewing about here because Ericson Yachts has a handful of boats in the 35-foot range. Back in 1967, the first Ericson 35 was a typical Cruising Club of America cruising boat, with a long...
Practical Sailor

How to Handle the Head

Many pumpout facilities are actually dumped in municipal wastewater treatment facilities that can be overwhelmed by the addition of treatment chemicals. Spring is boat prep season, which is followed closely by the first cruise of the season. As the author of many articles on marine...
Practical Sailor

Check Your Shorepower System for Hidden Dangers

One of the often overlooked maintenance items in the pre-season rush to the water is the AC shorepower system. Over the years of surveying, I've amassed a small collection of scary photos from past surveys showing the common examples of neglect to this critical...
Practical Sailor

Rhumb Lines: A Delightfully Uncomfortable Truth

Inever wanted to be in the business of selling comfort. I mostly strove for the opposite. By nudging people out to sea, I hoped to guide them toward a rewarding degree of misery. Growth requires a healthy dose of discomfort—or as Aristotle put it, “We...

40-Footer Boat Tours – With Some Big Surprises! | Boat Tour

Join us at the Miami Boat Show as we get on four 40-footers for boat tours! A Beneteau 37.1, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410, Dufour...