Gemini 105MC Sterndrive
Most commonly yachts feature an inboard engine which exits through a stuffing box to a cutlass bearing and prop. Or they feature an outboard motor attached to the transom. But there are a couple other alternatives including sterndrive (I/O), jet, and pod drives. Let’s survey the type of yacht and qualities of each of these drive types. Continue reading “Drive Types – Inboard, Outboard, Sterndrive, Jet, Pod” »
My Sextant
Getting your latitude by celestial navigation can be actually relatively easy. It also can be totally overwhelming if you read the incredibly obtuse chapter 8 of Bowditch. My advise when learning is to stick to a few basics as outlined below. Continue reading “Celestial Navigation Primer” »
A Bridge Enroute to Lake Okeechobee
It is posible to save 165 NM of navigation by crossing the state of Florida via Lake Okeechobee instead of doubling the Keys. Going counterclockwise, you enter through the Port St. Lucie Inlet, then motor up the river, and finally connect to the Port St Lucie canal. This canal leads under many bridges, past Indiantown, through two locks, and into Lake Okeechobee. There are draft and bridge clearance restrictions. Excellent information is available on the super Blue Seas website.
Starling Burgess' Ranger
Alden, Burgess, Herreshoff, Paine are some of the legends of yacht design. After my recent travels aboard a Lewis Francis Herreshoff schooner, I have been thinking about what exactly went on back then. There is no doubt we have come a long way in terms of performance and durability. Some may say we have lost in the ways of beauty though that always is a function of perspective. What I think we may have traded off is romance; it is impossible to replicate the smell and feel of a wooden classic on a modern yacht. Continue reading “The Past of Yachting” »
Danger: Traveling this route during the tropical season from June until November is not advised.
Route April 2012 from Fort Lauderdale to Saint Maarten
Traveling by sea from Florida to Saint Maarten is a 1,500 nautical mile journey upwind. There are two options: (1) the scenic route down the thorny path (2) the delivery route on route 65. The path to most take advantage of predominant wind conditions is route 65 as detailed in this article. This option is the proven path over decades to most quickly and safely jump from Florida to the Leeward Islands. Continue reading “Guide from Fort Lauderdale to Saint Maarten” »
I am still off on delivery and unable to respond to comments until I get to a hotspot. Hopefully, I am experiencing better times than in the sea story below.
Safe Ashore at the Manzanilla Marina
I was offshore in a tropical gale with a dirty fuel tank and an engine with intermittent low oil pressure. Now the autopilot had failed; the backup autopilot could not handle the heavy seas. It was back to hand steering.
The boat was a Catalina 32, and my fellow mercenary sailor and I were enroute to Cartagena, Colombia. The seas seemed taller than the vessel’s length, and, with every surge down a wave face, I thought the rudder was going to snap off. Continue reading “Adrift Through the Windward Passage” »
This week I am enroute from Fort Lauderdale to St. Maarten aboard the pictured yacht, a 75-foot Herreshoff design.
SV Mistral
Please check back in the next few weeks for stories and technical articles from my delivery adventure to St Maarten.
What is the Future of Sailing Catamarans?
There no doubt to me that catamarans will play a larger part in the future of sailing and especially cruising than they have in the past. Even in racing, the America’s Cup is now catamarans. I see daily once monohull clients switching to catamarans. The numbers back this trend up too. Multihulls have increased from 20% to 30% of sales in Fort Lauderdale. I see this number reaching 50% within 10 years based on what is being manufactured and exhibited at boat shows. The once Beneteau, Bavaria dominated charter fleets are Lagoons and Leopards. Sailors choose catamarans for speed, draft, stability, etcetera characteristics. Which of these characteristics are most important and what will the catamarans of the future look like? In the following post, I outline three key features. Continue reading “Features of the Catamaran of the Future” »
Gozzard 36
The closer you look at the Gozzard 36, the more well thought out features you will find on this classic Canadian cruiser. The Gozzard family has been building sailboats since 1970 when Ted and his brother opened up Bayfield Yachts in Ontario building a wide range of sailboats from 25 to 40-feet. In 1981 Ted split off and opened Gozzard Yachts which currently offers a wide range of power and sail yachts from 24 to 53 feet. They built about 100 hulls of the subject of this review, the Gozzard 36, from 1984 until 1998. She features an unconventional layout, beautiful styling, and robust construction. Continue reading “Gozzard 36 Review: Ingenious Interior” »
An Example Wind Generator
Key to keeping your batteries charged in the Bahamas is an alternative energy source. With diesel over $5/gallon who wants to run the engine or a generator to power refrigeration and autopilot. “Is wind or solar a better choice?” I am often asked and see posted in online mailing lists or chatboards where I hang out. While the choice is a matter of opinion, I see and hear a quiet preference for wind. The choice is affected by your cruising ground, space restrictions on your yacht, etcetera. In this article, I will lay out the pluses and minuses for either option. Continue reading “Wind or Solar?” »
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the barometer is falling, the steel gray sky and sea are indistinguishable, you know you are in for a blow.
This is not the time to question your boat.” Jordan Yacht and Ship Company never underestimates you or your dreams.
We are committed to helping you select the proper boat to fulfill your desires, be they crossing oceans, cruising coastlines or sport fishing
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