The case for good old offshore-cruising boats Issue 88 : Jan/Feb 2013 The best used-boat bargains of all time are out there right now. Despite the cutbacks in new-yacht production, more boats are for ...
Getting a magnetic compass to tell the truth about North Issue 88 : Jan/Feb 2013 Most recreational sailors today navigate their craft using electronic devices. This is all well and good until an elect...
We asked — now it’s our turn to respond Issue 89 : Mar/Apr 2013 Earlier this winter — once the boat was put away — Jerry decided it would be a good idea to ask our readers for their input. He introduc...
It’s easy to lose sight of what it means Issue 91 : Jul/Aug 2013 We all know what a boat is and we can probably arrive at some definition of “old” without too much difficulty, but what exactly puts th...
Where you are depends on where you measure from Issue 91 : Jul/Aug 2013 A chart datum is a reference from which data or information displayed on a nautical chart is measured. One type of chart datum, ...
Variety is the spice of the sailing life Issue 92 : Sept/Oct 2013 One of the greatest aspects of offshore and coastal cruising is meeting other like-minded souls out there who are sailing the world’s ...
Shelter and a helm station are key features Issue 92 : Sept/Oct 2013 It’s a challenge to define what we mean when we refer to a pilothouse on a sailboat. Is inside steering a definite requirement? Wha...
It’s everything from taxi to truck Issue 98: Sept/Oct 2014 Selecting a dinghy is a critical step in outfitting a cruising boat, but amid the onslaught of outfitting decisions about whether to add sola...
What’s the D/L with the SA/D? Issue 93 : Nov/Dec 2013 Good Old Boat receives frequent letters from readers asking for an explanation of the formulas used to compare sailboats. We generally refer peopl...
After the storm, it’s decision time Issue 93 : Nov/Dec 2013 For some sailors, after a storm or hurricane comes relief. The mooring held. The neighboring steel boat didn’t break loose during the night ...
Sophisticated mechanisms that use a simple principle Issue 93 : Nov/Dec 2013 Windvane steering was pioneered by Blondie Hasler in the 1960s and is the autopilot of choice for many bluewater sailors. I...
A solo sailor is active in mind and body Issue 98: Sept/Oct 2014 In 1974, I owned a varnished wooden Folkboat in Branford, Connecticut. On my first try at sailing solo I was wracked with anxiety, not ...
Let how you cruise be how you choose Issue 94 : Jan/Feb 2014 Cruising in trailerable sailboats has its advantages. In the winter, you can get your boat from the frozen north to Florida at 60 mph in a ...
Savor the flavor but save the fuel Issue 95 : Mar/Apr 2014 The aroma of freshly baking bread fills the saloon and lifts our spirits. As coastal cruisers, we find it necessary and oh, so satisfying, to...
The cost to repair vs. the cost to replace Issue 95 : Mar/Apr 2014 Let’s say your 30-foot good old boat needs $25,000 worth of repairs and she’s only worth $20,000. Should you make the repairs? Many d...
Mitigating mayhem might be your best hope Issue 98: Sept/Oct 2014 In our travels aboard Nine of Cups, we’ve seen some dandy thunder-and-lightning storms. In some places, like the mid-latitudes in the ...
Nobility among metals has its benefits Issue 95 : Mar/Apr 2014 When two dissimilar metals are immersed in an electrolyte, they form a battery. If they are connected electrically, an electric current w...
Chocolate bars made on board are tasty and economical Issue 96 : May/Jun 2014 Could there be a sailboat afloat that doesn’t have chocolate bars, chocolate chips, or chocolate drink powder crammed into...
Registries can reveal a lot Issue 96 : May/Jun 2014 We’re all curious about the good old boats out there. You’ve probably learned to recognize some boats by their sail insignias, cove stripes, the sha...
Use them for handles, tethers, and tie-downs Issue 97 : Jul/Aug 2014 We have dozens of lanyards aboard Nine of Cups. We use them on pelican hooks, zippers, key rings, flashlights, and even USB flashdr...
Celestial bodies have lost their star appeal Issue 97 : Jul/Aug 2014 I was in my early twenties when I first learned about celestial navigation. I had an interest in astronomy as a kid, was a fairly k...
Make inspection and maintenance your watchwords Issue 97 : Jul/Aug 2014 During the golden age of sail, old salts greeted new crewmembers with the advice, “One hand for the ship and one hand for yourse...
The elusive measure of comfort at sea Issue 97 : Jul/Aug 2014 The subject of seakindliness comes up any time the conversation turns to long-range cruising. Someone who asks about a particular boat, “H...
Some sailors still value the printed world Issue 98: Sept/Oct 2014 In 1807, President Thomas Jefferson recognized the necessity for accurate coastal navigation charts. Since 1862, the U.S. government ...
Being prepared for the “what ifs” Issue 97 : Jul/Aug 2014 Decades ago — when I took driver’s education in anticipation of my 16th birthday and in the hope of earning a much-valued driver’s license — t...
. . . and realizing that “perfect” is the enemy of sailing Issue 99 : Nov/Dec 2014 I once helped a friend who was looking for an apartment. We found one I thought was especially cool and in a convenie...
How to find an anchored boat at night Issue 99 : Nov/Dec 2014 Normally when traveling from the shore by dinghy I have no trouble finding my boat at night . . . except, for some reason, in the Great Sa...
An indoor shower for a boat that lacks one Issue 100: Jan/Feb 2015 Afew years ago, a friend told me a story about taking a hot shower as the boat he was helping deliver passed through Hell Gate in New...
A boat-selling ad was bait for a phish Issue 99 : Nov/Dec 2014 During the winter, when temperatures were well below zero, we decided to sell our modest 27-foot sailboat in hopes of upgrading to someth...
A solo sailor uses a basketful of tricks Issue 99 : Nov/Dec 2014 This is the second in Karen Sullivan’s series of articles about prepping a boat and sailor for singlehanding. She’ll discuss sail chang...
