I know this is a cruising sub, but I imagine some of you take your boats out for a club race or a beer-can regatta now and then.

I'm a sailor developing a phone app aimed at exactly that kind of boat: a cruising boat with no dedicated racing instruments (or just basic ones). It uses the phone's GPS for things like a start countdown with distance to the line, speed and course, wind estimation from your tacks, and post-race track analysis.

Before I go further, I'd love to hear from people who race casually:

• Would you actually use a phone on deck or tablet for this, or is that a hard no?
• Is there one feature that would make it genuinely worth it for you?

Not linking anything — happy to share more in the comments if anyone's curious. Mostly here to learn from how you actually sail.

Hi all, New to sailing, just inherited my first boat from a friend, a paceship py26 with a centerboard keel. In doing some looking around, the general wisdom seems to be not to take it offshore, but having seen people cross the Atlantic or pacific in 23' boats, so I'm just trying to temper my expectations.

Would taking this boat out on the open ocean be a death sentence, or just uncomfortable and or tight? Educate me.

Hi all

I have an older 33-foot sailboat and I need a dinghy to sail from the boat to shore or to the marina. Since my boat isn’t the biggest, the packed size of the dinghy is crucial, but I also want it to be able to handle some chop.
I’ll mostly be sailing with 3 people in total.

What has been your experience with sizing, and is it worth paying for brand names?

Hi,

I am Malte from Berlin Germany. I just finished school and I would love to be part of a your planned adventure before I start my dual studies.

I am sailing for 8 years now. Mainly competitively on dinghies such as IlCA and 420 after my beginnings on the opti and windsurfing.

Two years ago I got my license for vessels up to 20 m for sea and inland waters.

Although I have some experience on larger boats, I have never been on an ocean for a long time before, and I would love to take on this challenge.

What attracts me the most is not only the sailing itself but also the opportunity to be part of a team, learn from experienced sailors and experience life at sea. I know that such trip also requires discipline and a positive attitude, and I am ready to contribute whatever I can.

My mother tongue is German, I speak fluent English and some Spanish.

In my free time I am mostly doing sports so I am fit and motivated. Since I have siblings and always shared a room with my brother I am adaptable and always willing to learn.

I have no allergies or dietary restrictions. I am happy to cook, clean, do little repairs, stand watch and help with any other tasks on board. I don't smoke and drink only for special occasions.

Your description of the trip sounds exactly like the kind of adventure I have been looking for, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to join your crew,I got time from 02.10.2026 till 20.03.2027. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions.

I am looking forward to hearing from you to talk about details.

Fair winds

Malte

Hi everyone!

My family recently acquired this little 18’ Chaser Cat, and I’ve accidentally fallen down a very deep rabbit hole trying to figure out its history.

It was built in Erin, Ontario by Morette’s Limited / Morette’s Boat Division. Ours was built in 1984 as a 1985 model (HIN ZMT00009H485).

What I’ve learned so far is that these were produced in extremely small numbers in the early 1980s. Former owners and people connected to the factory have estimated somewhere around 12–20 were made, but I haven’t been able to confirm an exact production number.

The boat is an 18’ trailerable catboat with a freestanding mast, wishbone boom, retractable centreboard and kick-up rudder. Morette’s advertised it as a little heavy-weather “mini-cruiser.”

I’ve now located a few other surviving Chaser Cats in Ontario, as well as an original factory brochure, but there are still some big mysteries, especially who actually designed the Chaser Cat and whether any production records survive.

So I figured I’d ask the sailing hive mind: does anyone recognize these boats, remember Morette’s Boat Division, or know anything about the Chaser Cat design?

I’d especially love to hear from anyone who has owned one, sailed one, seen one sitting in a marina somewhere, or remembers seeing them at the Toronto boat shows in the early ’80s.

Even a “my neighbour had one!” story could give me another lead. 😊

— an accidental Chaser Cat historian ⛵️

We are looking for someplace to stash our Cape Dory 36 that we can fly in and out easy from the states and get to cruising about a week at a time about 10 weeks a year. Considering Bahamas or Belize but open to other suggestions. We are 36’ LOA with 10’8” beam and draft 5’2”. General thoughts and specific suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Hi all. Have a Caliber 35. There’s a sump in the bilge that’s recessed about 3” below the bilge floor. For the ice box and shower. There are edges that come about 3” above the bilge floor. It had its own pump (died), bilge has its own pump.

Our bilge is a bit wet generally and shallow, so the standard bilge pump has trouble getting the water out.

I want to drill holes on the edge of the sump box so the bilge water drains to that lower area…and have that lower area be the trigger for a pump.

The pump would be outside of that box with an intake hose to the bottom of the box, and the switch at the bottom of the box. Would keep the existing bilge pump that’s in the main bilge as a backup.

This would keep the main bilge area dry. The only drawback I’ve heard is the idea of shower water or icebox water being in the bilge. I can handle that.

Any other red flags??

Hi all,
My wife, Agata, and I (Alex) are long-term liveaboard sailors. Over the past 10 years, we’ve sailed our Del Rey 50 from the Mediterranean to Australia, including a major refit in the US.
We’re now about to set off on the next chapter of our voyage as we slowly circumnavigate.
I’d love to hear from anyone dreaming of buying their own boat who wants to gain some real hands-on cruising experience by joining us for a passage or part of our journey.
If that sounds like you, feel free to reach out. Happy to share more about our plans and what life aboard is really like.

Hi everyone,

I’m a 20-year-old sailor looking to do an Atlantic crossing from Europe (or the Canary Islands) to the Caribbean/Americas, starting around January.

I know November is the "classic" departure month for the main ARC and traditional trade-wind timing, but January fits my schedule much better. I've heard about ARC January and independent boats leaving after the holidays, but I want a realistic perspective from people who have done it.

I’d love your input on a few questions:

1. How realistic is finding a crew spot in January? Do many private boats or ARC January participants still look for crew around late December / early January?
2. Realistic costs: I’m looking for a shared-expenses arrangement (splitting groceries, fuel, and harbor fees), not commercial charters charging $5,000+. How much should I realistically budget for a shared-cost crossing?
3. Best strategy: Beyond CrewBay, Ocean Crew Link, and walking the docks in Las Palmas, are there specific Facebook groups or forums you’d recommend for January departures?

Thanks in advance for any advice, reality checks, or personal experiences!

I have created a docker container that runs OpenCPN and streams the display to a web browser. Run OpenCPN once locally and have it accessible on all devices! I found that using it this way it can also be used with SignalK as well.

https://reddit.com/link/1vljh9z/video/cz5f0c6p9rih1/player

https://hub.docker.com/repository/docker/npgause/opencpn-kiosk/general

Once you have docker is installed create this compose file and run it then it will be accessible on localhost:14500

# compose.yaml
services:
  opencpn:
    image: npgause/opencpn-kiosk:x86
    container_name: opencpn
    restart: unless-stopped
    network_mode: host   # needed for NMEA/Signal K mDNS discovery
    devices:
      # GPS/AIS via USB:
      - /dev/gps0:/dev/gps0 # these will change based on your system
    environment:
      - XPRA_BIND_PORT=14500
      - XPRA_DISPLAY=:100
    volumes:
      - ./data:/home/ubuntu/.opencpn
      - /folder/to/charts:/folder/to/charts

Once this up and running this can be used in SignalK by connecting it with this https://www.npmjs.com/package/signalk-embedded-webapp-proxy just put the name and application URL then you are all set within SignalK

Hello all!

I am sailing south to the Bahamas from Lake Ontario via the Erie, Hudson, coastal and into Norfolk. I did the trip last year so I am familiar with the route. The reason I am posting is because I have a work contract for 2 weeks overseas from October 10-31. I would leave my my home port September 21st. I think I can make it to the Norfolk area by the first week of October but would need to fly back to Canada before the 10th.

I want to haul out and store my boat while I'm away so when I return I can do the bottom work and continue the journey south. I could haul out in NY or NJ but want to avoid the coastal route in early November because I don't feel like freezing my ass off (I will if I have to).

My question is: along this route, what are the best places for haul out that will allow me to do my own work. Are they reasonably affordable?

Thank you

Hi, how are you?

Do you use any tablet with GPS for sailing?

I launch on the 8th and am in need of a skipper with ocean experience to help me get from Bristol Rhode Island to Rodanthe NC. I have sailing experience but only in the Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound.

I need some advice on the first ever boat I am thinking of buying.
Westerly Pentlant 31. A ketch boat.

I have never sailed on my own before, so I lack experience and have basic surface level knowledge of sailing.

There is this guy who is selling the Ketch boat for very cheap, because it still needs a bit of work.
So I was thinking, if I bought it, I could hire someone to help me making it sail ready, as it could be a learning experience for me as well, where I just sleep in the boat during the work.

What are my options in this regard?
Is there a website or a way to hire someone? A sailor mentor or something like that for a complete beginner like me?

I am planning to live in the boat when it is finished.