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 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. Cutter Rig vs Solent Rig: The Ultimate Offshore Sail Plan Guide

    Jan 16, 26 01:44 PM

    Discover the critical differences between a cutter rig and a solent rig for offshore cruising. Compare performance, heavy weather handling, and retrofitting costs.

    Read More

  2. GMDSS for Offshore Sailors: The Complete Safety and Comms Guide

    Jan 16, 26 04:48 AM

    Master the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. From DSC and EPIRBs to Starlink integration, our expert guide ensures your offshore safety is unshakeable.

    Read More

  3. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45.2 Review: Specs, Ratios & Cruising Analysis

    Jan 13, 26 05:48 PM

    Discover the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45.2. A comprehensive guide to its Philippe Briand design, performance ratios, Kevlar hull construction, and offshore cruising capability.

    Read More