How-To: Windlass Installation Considerations
I grew up boating with the idea that you should keep everything simple and manual, and indeed, there are many valid reasons to honor this approach in 2026. Yet as my experience has grown to more than sixty years of sailing,…
Cruisers College Announces Fall Lineup of Classes for Boat Owners
Cruisers College, the boat-owner-specific marine technical education offered through Skagit Valley College, is gearing up for another great season of hands-on learning. Are you interested in acquiring the skills to maintain…
#TBT: Small-Boat Summer in Desolation Sound
This great story about slowing down in Desolation Sound was originally published in the October 2024 issue of 48° North. With summer cruising season upon us, it's one we're glad to revisit in our latest Throwback Thursday!…
Tech Talk with SeaBits: Your Digital Spares Kit
Ask any experienced cruiser what they carry for self-sufficiency and they’ll talk about impellers, belts, zincs, and hose clamps. That kind of mechanical preparedness is drilled into us from day one, and for good reason. But…
Diesel Deep Dive: Engine Blow-by
A few months ago, I finished installing a brand new factory-built Yanmar 4JH57 on a client’s 44-foot sailboat. As I completed my initial checks and started the engine for the first time, I opened the oil fill cap to check…