Author: Matt Claiborne
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Best Marine Consignment and Used Boat Parts Stores
Every boat owner, regardless of vessel type, probably has a wish list of things they’d love to have but can’t justify the cost. Most consignment and used parts shops price their gear at approximately half the price of brand-new retail parts and accessories. These shops work in different ways. Some are consignment stores, where boats…
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Boating Destination: Urbanna, Virginia
While cruising the Chesapeake, it pays to get off the beaten path. Cruisers commonly complain that everything in the Bay takes too much time to get to — that you must plan an extra 5 – 10 miles out of your way just to get into marinas and anchorages. But sometimes it’s worth it, and…
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Our Beloved Dulcinea, Cabo Rico 38 Hull No. 99
Boats are such an individual choice that how they are chosen, why, and how they are adapted for the daily lives of the sailors aboard always makes for fascinating reading. Here’s the story of our Sweet Señorita, Dulcinea. The Story Behind the Name Dulcinea I would have probably picked another name if I had known…
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Product Review: Our Cubic Mini Wood Stove, a Cuter Solid Fuel Heater for a Boat
The Cubic Mini is a teeny-tiny wood burning stove built for small spaces — tiny homes, vans, RVs, and yes, even boats. It’s one of those products that we probably spotted on Instagram. At any rate, we had it picked out before we picked out our boat. It is, in a word, cute. Like so many…
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Introduction to the Basics of Boat Repair and Boat Maintenance
One of the tropes you’ll hear again and again as you prepare to go cruising is that you need to be self-sufficient. Being able to fix what might break is one of the basic boating skills that separates who will have a good time and who will be miserable — stuck, waiting for mechanics to…
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Smallest Composting Toilet and Porta Potty Solution for Boats
In all our years of boating, from our first sailboat and its complete lack of functional plumbing to our little cuddy cabin fishing boat with its disgusting porta potty, we’ve seen it all. Buckets, proper marine toilets, the most expensive electric heads, and even the various alternatives to toilets, like those fancy composters. Which is…
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When, Why, and How to Use Bob423 ICW Tracks — And When Not To
If you’re a veteran Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) boater, you probably know who Bob423 is and what he does. Even if you’re new to cruising, you might have already heard the name from other cruisers. Often, they tell you that you must have Bob’s tracks to keep from running aground. This article will discuss precisely what…
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Outfitting a New Boat: Things Every Boater Needs
Whether you buy a new or new-to-you boat, your first task is to outfit it. It’s pretty easy to come across lists of the things you MUST have, thanks to the Coast Guard and state authorities. But these lists don’t provide any recommendations, and we’ve learned many things about these items. You should also have…
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Boater’s Guide to North Carolina
North Carolina is one of the nation’s boating gems. Its unusual variety of boating conditions makes boating enjoyable, and its boating-friendly culture means you’ll feel welcome in every coastal town. The Tarheel State is home to many charming small towns that welcome cruising boaters as guests. Dinghy docks and free town docks are more common…
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Boater’s Guide to Maine
Arriving by boat to the coast of Maine for the first time is like landing on an alien planet. At least it was for this Florida boy, who had never been to the state before by land or sea. Everything is different in Vacationland: You don’t worry about sandbars, you worry about rock ledges. There…