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;

Deck-Stepped or Mast-Stepped?

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...

Design & Construction

Keel Bolts & Structural Grids;

The Saildrive Debate;

Bonded Hull Windows;

Hard Biminis & Solar Arrays;

Composite vs. Stainless Steel Chainplates;

Rudder Bearings & Twin Rudder Geometry;

Bulkhead Bonding;

Lithium Battery Integration;

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;

Picking up a Mooring

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;

Self-Tacking Headsails

Storm Sails;

Sail Dimensions;

Laminate Sails;

Mainsail Trim & Controls;

Loose-Footed Mainsails

Sailcloth;

Sail Care & Maintenance;

Sail Safety;

Choosing Accessories...

Accessories to Improve Your Boat;

Boat Cookers;

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

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  1. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 519 Review – Specs, Ratios & Cruising Insight

    May 11, 26 03:32 AM

    In‑depth Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 519 review covering specs, design ratios, sailing performance, bluewater capability, layouts and buyer checklists for serious cruisers researching this modern 50‑footer.

    Read More

  2. Beneteau First 345 Review – Specs, Ratios, Sailing & Buyer’s Guide

    May 10, 26 11:55 AM

    In‑depth Beneteau First 345 review covering specs, design ratios, sailing performance, bluewater capability, layouts and a practical buyer’s checklist for experienced sailors.

    Read More

  3. Dehler 36 Review – Specs, Performance & Cruising Guide

    May 10, 26 04:36 AM

    A complete Dehler 36 review covering specs, performance, bluewater ability, layouts, common issues and buyer advice.

    Read More