Practical Sailor

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the names Charley Morgan and Ted Irwin were practically synonymous with Florida boatbuilding. Charley Morgan was definitely one of the designers and builders who shaped the early and middle years of fiberglass sailboat building. Morgan designs from that period run the gamut from cruising houseboats—the Out Island series—to the 12 meter sloop...

What is the fastest cruising sailboat in the world—and can a monohull really compete with catamarans for speed while still being livable? In this video, we take a deep dive into the Roma 430, a high-performance cruising sailboat that’s redefining what’s possible for sailors who live aboard and travel long distances. If you’ve ever wondered how fast a cruising sailboat can go,...

As I approach twenty years of surveying boats, most issues that I encounter are repetitive. The root causes for these repeat problems usually involve safety issues that could have been prevented with proper maintenance and care. I do also occasionally stumble upon a few new issues, mainly related to lithium batteries and their incorrect installation.

For many years now, the large and active Quebec sailing community has felt somewhat let down by the annual Montreal Boat Show, which gives little attention to sail-specific activities (booths, vendors, conferences, etc.). Some sailing groups decided to take matters into their own hands and create their very own sail-only trade show and conference.

This is the last of a three-part series describing the planning and installation of an inboard diesel engine in my previously engine-free Cape Dory 36. In Part I I described project goals, propulsion options, and the proj...