Sailing Truth Show: Can production boats make good cruising boats?
Can production boats actually make good cruising boats?
I recently stepped aboard a nearly new Hanse 588, and I’ll be honest—it was huge, beautiful, modern, and incredibly appealing. And it raised a question I hear all the time from sailors planning to cruise:
Are production boats actually good cruising boats—or just good marina boats?
In this Sailing Truth Show, we take an honest, experience-based look at production cruising sailboats without the usual forum nonsense. No bashing. No blind praise. Just a clear discussion of where production boats shine, where they fall short, and why smart sailors often disagree on this topic.
We’ll talk about:
What “cruising” really means—and why that word causes so much confusion
Why production boats are so attractive to modern sailors
Where comfort, space, and convenience genuinely matter
Where capability, structure, and motion start to matter more
When production boats make a lot of sense—and when they don’t
We’ll also look at real-world examples and listings to show how to evaluate boats beyond marketing language, specs, or dockside opinions.
This isn’t about telling you what boat to buy.
It’s about helping you think clearly about the kind of cruising you actually want to do—and what tradeoffs you’re making, whether you realize it or not.
AFFILIATE LINK TO BOAT HOW-TO COURSES:
https://boathowto.com/boat-electrics-101/#aff=BeTheCaptain
https://boathowto.com/advanced-marine-electrics/#aff=BeTheCaptain
https://boathowto.com/marine-diesel-engine-maintenance-course/#aff=BeTheCaptain
Sailing Zingaro
Captain James of Sailing Zingaro has traded his lost catamaran for a classic Oyster 485, launching a technical revolution in the sailing YouTube space.
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Support Sailing Zingaro
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Sailing Zingaro and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the "Sailing Truth Show: Can production boats make good cruising boats?" video description, or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Sailing Zingaro but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Sailing Zingaro or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
Sailing Zingaro Lastest Videos
The Future of Offshore Yacht Design
Median yacht length has increased every year since 1960. This Pacific Seacraft 61 is a good look at where things are heading. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com
Easter Island – The Adventurous Route
The passage to Easter Island can be straightforward or it can beat you up for weeks. The year you go matters more than you think. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com
Why You MUST have a skeg-hung rudder
A skeg protects the rudder and gives it two bearing points instead of one. Losing your rudder offshore is a serious emergency, and improvised fixes don't hold in real conditions. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com
I can’t believe this died on me AGAIN!
1,800 miles from the nearest road and the autopilot is in pieces on my lap. It didn't fail in a storm - it failed in 15 knots and 3-foot waves. The boat just breaks sometimes, and you have to be ready for that. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com
The Boat that Caused a Scandal
Before Robert Perry's Valiant 40, you were either on a fast racing boat or a slow full-keel cruiser. His decision to combine a fin keel with a skeg-protected rudder was controversial, but it defined a generation of offshore cruising. 📗 Get My Book: htt...
This sailing technique saved my butt (Why does nobody teach this?)
1,800 miles from the nearest road, my autopilot exploded into pieces on my lap. Three and a half days into an 18-day crossing from Ecuador to Easter Island, on a light catamaran with small rudders and no displacement, the wheel pilot's ring snapped, the be...
Something AWESOME is coming!
Be the FIRST to know⛵
Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.