Is it time to jettison your junk? Downsizing is not specific to living on a sailboat, but if you’ve ever had to squish your worldly possessions onto a sailboat, car, or conestoga wagon you know how important it is for everyone’s safety and sanity. People are like goldfish; we will swell (with possessions) to the
Make your own sail repair kit
Keeping a well-stocked sail repair kit on board is important for preventing and minimizing sail damage. We bought a beautiful new set of sails for MonArk only 7 months ago and I have already put my sail repair kit to use on several occasions. With the right tools on hand you’ll be able to catch any damage
Paper or Plastic – a millennial’s perspective on the great chart debate
Frankly, I’m tired of some older dock hounds telling me I’m irresponsible or crazy for not having a complete set of paper charts on board. It’s important that people go to sea feeling comfortable and confident and if you need paper charts to feel that way, then by all means take them. This article
The ultimate boat survey checklist
Photo credit: taduuda You’ve found a boat to buy that looks good on paper, but what horrors lurk beneath? Time to do a deep dive with a full marine survey. Part of our “How to Buy a Boat” series Conducting a marine survey can be a very fun task. It is our first opportunity to really
Top 5 Knots Sailors Can Learn From Climbers
Climbing and sailing have a lot in common, not the least of which is rope and knots, if only they talked to each other a little more. Below are the top 5 knots sailors could learn from climbers. 1. Figure Eight Follow Through The figure eight follow through is always the first knot a climber
Keeping greens fresh without a fridge
When my partner, Robin, wants to get my attention, he’ll come home with a big beautiful bouquet of freshly cut collard greens. If it’s a special occasion, maybe a dozen stems of rainbow chard. I’ve always liked greens and, as anyone who’s lived without refrigeration can attest, nothing says “I love you” like a fistful
Conducting a quick boat survey
Congratulations you think you may have found your next boat! Now what? Time to take a closer look. Viewing a boat for the first time can be an intimidating prospect, especially if you’re a first time boat buyer. There are so many areas to inspect, questions to ask, and lists to check. Just the excitement of being on a boat can be enough to fog our judgment.
5 best places to buy used boats
Looking for the best place to buy used boats? Here are 5 places to start your search. Part of our “How to Buy a Boat” series The secret to finding a great deal is often just knowing where to buy a boat (or at least where to look!). There are many ways to go about finding boats
How much does a boat cost to own?
Photo credit: Fabian Blank “How much does a boat cost to own?” you ask. Well, it depends. How much does a boat cost to own? It really depends. Boats will absorb as much money as you throw at them. Helipad anyone? On the cheap end we’ve heard of people getting a boat for $1.5K or even free (it’s
Choosing the right boat
Choosing the right boat for you. Part of our “How to Buy a Boat” series Our first boat was a little fibreglass sailboat called a CS 22. It was built in Toronto in 1976. We liked it because it was cheap ($3000 CAD) and stable. We planned to day sail and sit at the dock. We didn’t
