Blue Water Cruising – Know Thy Boat
Blue Water Cruising - Know Thy Boat (systems) This article is adapted from a piece originally written for Sailing Today magazine as Blue Water Diesels - an article about preparing a boat and her crew for long distance cruising. Man has long been inclined to head off over the horizon and explore. The motivation and the risks have changed over time - today it is about adventure and fulfillment rather than empire building and wealth creation - and your crew probably won’t get scurvy and teredo navalis isn't going to compromise your plastic hulled yacht. Technology has mitigated many of the challenges faced by mariners of old and has made passage making easier and safer than ever before. We take for granted pin-point navigational accuracy, autopilots and the ubiquitous diesel…