Site Guide

Here's where you can find your way around the site...

Getting Afloat...

Should You Buy a Boat?

How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Boat;

Choosing the Hull Material;

Cruising Sailboats for Sale;

Live-Aboard Sailboats for Sale;

The True Cost of Boat Ownership;

Buying a Used Sailboat;

Tips when Buying Direct from the Owner;

Sailboat Surveys;

The Essential Buying Guide;

Do I need Boat Insurance?;

Sailing Travel Insurance;

Yacht Charters in Exotic Places

Chartering a Sailboat;

... in the Caribbean;

... in the Mediterranean;

... in the South Pacific;

... in Southeast Asia;

... on the West Coast of the USA;

... on the East Coast of the USA;

Types of Sailboats...

Sloops;

Cutters;

Ketches;

Cat-Ketches;

Catamarans;

Rigs & Rigging...

The Most Useful Sailing Knots;

Sailboat Rigging;

Jiffy Reefing;

Headsail Roller Reefing;

Mainsail Roller Reefing;

In-Mast Furling Systems;

Single Line Reefing;

Lazyjacks;

Masts and Spars;

Mast Rigging;

Unsupported Rigs;

B&R Rig;

Options for Cruising...

Essential Features of Good Cruising Sailboats;

Catamaran or a Monohull?

Offshore Sailboats;

Blue Water Sailboats;

Interior Layouts;

Cockpit Ergonomics;

Light or Heavy Displacement?

Centre or Aft Cockpit?

Wheel or Tiller Steering?

Keel Configuration;

Types of Rudder;

Galley Layout;

Water Ballast Anyone?

Propellers - Fixed or Folding?

Systems and Electronics...

Electronics;

GPS - Fixed or Hand-Held?

Chartplotters;

Autopilots;

Radar;

The GMDSS System;

EPIRBs;

SSB Marine Radio;

Marine AIS;

VHF Radio;

DSC Radio;

The Cruising Yacht Gallery...

Under 30ft LOA;

30-35ft LOA;

35-40ft LOA;

40-45ft LOA;

45-50ft LOA;

50-55ft LOA;

over 55ft LOA;

Multihulls;

Our eBooks...

Download all our eBooks;

How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Sailboat;

Secrets of Sailboat Fishing;

Secrets of Buying Secondhand Boats;

Secrets of Windvane Self-Steering;

First Time Atlantic Crossing;

Techy Stuff...

Design & Build in Wood-Epoxy;

Hull Design; 

Keel Design;

Rudder Design;

Design Categories;

Gz Curves;

Righting Moment;

Prismatic Coefficient;

Speed/Length Ratio;

Hull Drag & Wavemaking Resistance;

Displacement/Length and Sail-Area/Displacement Ratios;

Design Ratios & How to Calculate Them;

Sailboat Pics & Data

Aerodyne 47;

Albin Ballad 30;

Albin Nova 33;

Albin Vega 27;

Allied Princess 36;

Allied Seawind 30;

Allied Seawind 32;

Amel Santorin 46;

Aphrodite 101;

See the full A to Z list...

Cruising the Caribbean Islands...

Part 1, the Leeward Islands;

Part 2, the Windward Islands;

Part 3, the Virgin Islands;

Getting Ready for Caribbean Sailing;

Communicating in the Caribbean:

Courtesy Ensigns;

Hurricane Season Boat Storage;

Clearing-In & Checking-Out;

Boatyards, Marinas & Yacht Service Providers;

Sailboats for Sale in the Caribbean;

The Sailboat Cruising Life...

Bluewater Sailing;

Tradewinds Sailing;

Performance Cruising;

Anchoring Techniques;

Anchor Chain Length;

Types of Anchor Chain;

How to Join Anchor Chain;

Snubbing the Anchor;

The Passage Plan;

Watch Keeping on an Ocean Passage;

Single-Handed Sailing;

Sailboat Fishing;

A very fishy story!

An Atlantic Crossing;

A Bird of Passage;

Spares and Equipment;

Hauling Out and Laying Up;

Alacazam's skipper does something really stupid!

Listing Your Sailboat for Sale;

The Energy Equation...

Marine Electrical Systems;

Assessing the Current Draw;

Sizing the Domestic Battery Bank;

Deep Cycle Batteries;

Battery Charging;

Wind Generators;

Solar Panels;

Reducing Current Draw;

The Driving Force...

Sails;

Dacron Sail Cloth;

Spinnaker Sails;

Storm Sails;

Sail Dimensions;

Laminate Sails;

Mainsail Trim & Controls;

Sailcloth;

Sail Care & Maintenance;

Sail Safety;

Choosing Accessories...

Accessories to Improve Your Boat;

Boat Cookers;

Marine Holding Tanks;

Marine Toilets;

Boat Fridge;

Cabin Heaters;

Water Heaters;

Watermakers;

Inflatable Tenders;

Parachute Anchors;

Bosuns Chair;

Self-Steering Gear;

Sailboat Dodgers;

Rain Catchers;

Biminis;

Anchors;

Wind Scoops;

Guest Authors...

Dr Michael Cohen;

Julie Bradley;

David J Forsyth;

Other Stuff...

Nautical Terms & Phrases;

Our Monthly Newsletter - Back Issues;

Boating Gear Reviews...

Reviews;

The EasyMoor mooring device;

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Beneteau Oceanis 36CC: Specs, Ratios & Cruising Suitability

    Nov 21, 25 06:26 PM

    Detailed analysis of the Beneteau Oceanis 36CC centre cockpit sailboat. Includes design ratios, full specifications, and practical assessment of its suitability for experienced offshore and liveaboard…

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  2. Mastering Offshore Seamanship: Heavy Weather & Safety Protocols

    Nov 15, 25 05:00 PM

    Expert guide to offshore safety and crew protocols. Master heavy weather tactics, self-steering redundancy, watchkeeping systems & essential personal safety gear.

    Read More

  3. Transatlantic Passage: Reality, Setup & Lessons Learned

    Nov 15, 25 04:41 PM

    Offshore Yachtmaster details Alacazam's 3,000-mile transatlantic passage. Practical lessons on downwind rigging, windvane steering, & power generation systems.

    Read More