Many sailors like to switch from a yacht to a motorboat as they get older – yet Debbie and Jeremy White did the opposite and saved a small fortune in…
boats
The Flying Fifteen: the spirit of sailing
Clive Marsh sings the praises of the Flying Fifteen – an attractive, self-righting and popular fixed-keel dinghy that sails brilliantly
The best small Westerly yachts for family cruising on a budget
Westerly yachts can be seen at most UK ports and harbours: they’re roomy family boats and some are designed for racing. The smaller 20ft to 26ft yachts, can often be…
How a top-end engine rebuild got me cruising on my dreamboat
After years of searching for his dream boat, Drew Maglio explains how he fixed the V8 engine on his new-to-him Chaparral 2550 SX with an impressive top-end engine rebuild.
Understanding boat displacement & why it matters
How well do you feel like you understand boat displacement? For most sailors, it’s an overlooked topic. When I returned to marine journalism after a spell working on other magazines,…
Classic boat restoration: uncertain future for the Garlandstone, the last West Country trading ketch
The Garlandstone is one of the last wooden trading vessels of its type. HE Ross questions why she sits derelict while sister ships thrive as charter vessels, and the future…
These six legendary boats defined modern sailing: from the Optimist to the Mini 6.50
The history of sailing is not just a story of wind and water – it is also a story of boats. Of six boats in particular: the Optimist, the Hobiecat…
The new BayCruiser 21: Is this the best trailer-sailer ever built?
17 years after kick-starting a revolution in trailer-sailing, Swallow Yachts has launched the BayCruiser 21. The new model is light, fast, simple to launch and easy to sail, says David
Clive’s Boats: comparing two Smacks Boats
In my quest to find the perfect trailer-sailer I’ve owned two Smacks Boats – one was fast, the other more comfortable. I’ve loved both, and purchasing the same model twice…
Comparing the Westerly Typhoon 37 and 6 other designs
Rupert Holmes looks at the the Westerly Typhoon 37, his favourite Westerly model of all time, and other alternative boats you might want to consider
Best centre cockpit sailboat designs: the Moody 34 and 346 + 5 alternative yachts
The Moody 34 and 346 were the smallest and best-selling of Moody’s centre cockpit sailboat models in the 1980s. Rupert Holmes weighs in on their merits and offers 5 alternative
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32 + 8 alternative yachts: which is the best 31/32 ft boat?
Rupert Holmes compares the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32 with 8 other 31ft and 32ft used boat designs from the late 1990s and early 2000s
Why Plan B is the route to success
Katy Stickland meets the founder and students at Plan B to see how boatbuilding and sailing are giving teenagers a second chance
Luggers: why I find them a joy to sail
Prolific small boat owner Clive Marsh shares his experience of sailing Drascombe and Devon Luggers
The Pogo 8.50: stable, fast planing and fun to sail
Rupert Holmes examines the Pogo 8.50 - the forward-thinking, fast-cruising 28-footer from the 1990s and suggests some exciting alternative boats to consider
The legacy of Cruiser Kits
Richard Reed investigates the history of Cruiser Kits and its founder, Charles Greene
Search underway to find pre-1950 boats still floating on the River Deben
A year-long project has been launched to try and identify the oldest boats of any type and size on the River Deben
Merry Fisher 895 vs Cap Camarat 9.0 WA
Jeanneau has launched two very different motorboats of a similar size. Rupert Holmes put both through their paces
Monohulls vs Multihulls: which is best?
Ben Lowings looks at the pros and cons of multihulls and monohulls, covering handling, sailing performance and accommodation
Why I have 5 boats in the garden
A variety of trailer-sailer options ensure maximum time on the water, says Clive Marsh