The Brutal Truth About Cruising on a Budget & Surviving Storms at Sea
In this video, I’m tackling a list of questions collected from our recent live streams!
From the best pocket cruisers for a Pacific crossing to the raw reality of catamarans vs. monohulls in bad weather, we cover it all. I’m also diving into storm tactics (heaving to vs. running with a drogue), whether sailboats are truly money pits, advice for sailing with kids, and why I’m currently taking a temporary break from the live-aboard life.
Susie Goodall Interview: https://youtu.be/yQZnQKHZ_jI?si=Hs5xMmQc4PRe8VC3
Join me every Saturday at 3 PM Eastern Time for our live streams where I give away signed copies of my book!
⚓ RECOMMENDED GEAR & STORES
Defender Marine has been outfitting boaters since 1938, with trusted brands, expert advice, and everything you need for maintenance, upgrades, and refits.
👉Shop Defender Marine: https://defender.com/en_us/
Get 10% off your next Defender Marine order when you purchase a copy of Be The Captain through the link below.
👉Get the book and claim your discount: https://bethecaptain.com/
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction & Saturday Live Streams
00:24 - Is a Submarine a Good Cruising Boat?
00:55 - The Biggest Mistake Offshore Sailors Make
01:51 - Smallest Boats for a Pacific Crossing
02:42 - Monohull vs. Catamaran for Heavy Weather
03:52 - What’s My Next Boat & Why I’m Taking a Break
06:03 - Is the Scanmar 40 Good for Circumnavigation?
08:29 - The History & Legacy of the Cal 40
10:26 - Storm Tactics: For Reaching, Downwind, or Heaving To?
12:25 - Running with a Drogue: Can You Still Steer?
13:10 - How to Adjust a Drogue (and Jordan Series Drogues)
16:18 - Should You Remove Solar Panels Before a Storm?
17:44 - Junk Sails and Unstayed Masts for Cruising
19:52 - Thoughts on Arrow Rigs & Complex Sailing Systems
21:02 - Can You Wrap a Fiberglass Mast in Carbon Fiber?
22:11 - Are All Sailboats Money Pits? (Buying Under $100k)
23:57 - Best Mid-Size Budget Monohulls for Island Hopping
25:06 - Setting a Realistic Maintenance Budget
26:43 - The Reality of Insuring Older Boats (1980s Hulls)
27:57 - Is 80 Years Old Too Old to Start Offshore Sailing?
29:52 - The Pros and Cons of Solo Sailing
31:29 - Managing Watch Schedules for Couples vs. Extra Crew
33:07 - How to Get Into Sailing (Local Clubs & Dock Walking)
34:25 - Crucial Advice for Sailing with Kids
35:48 - Lightning Round: Lazy Jacks, Autopilots, & Pullman Berths
37:21 - Unexpected Sights & Smells at Sea
38:26 - The Truth About Carrying Weapons on a Boat
40:21 - Why Aren't You Sailing Right Now?
Sailing Zingaro
Join James Evenson of Sailing Zingaro as he documents his 2026 technical refit of his Crowther Spindrift 38 in Colombia and his 'Sailing Truth' mission.
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In this video, I’m tackling a list of questions collected from our recent live streams!
From the best pocket cruisers for a Pacific crossing to the raw reality of catamarans vs. monohulls in bad weather, we cover it all. I’m also diving into storm tactics (heaving to vs. running with a drogue), whether sailboats are truly money pits, advice for sailing with kids, and why I’m currently taking a temporary break from the live-aboard life.
Susie Goodall Interview: https://youtu.be/yQZnQKHZ_jI?si=Hs5xMmQc4PRe8VC3
Join me every Saturday at 3 PM Eastern Time for our live streams where I give away signed copies of my book!
⚓ RECOMMENDED GEAR & STORES
Defender Marine has been outfitting boaters since 1938, with trusted brands, expert advice, and everything you need for maintenance, upgrades, and refits.
👉Shop Defender Marine: https://defender.com/en_us/
Get 10% off your next Defender Marine order when you purchase a copy of Be The Captain through the link below.
👉Get the book and claim your discount: https://bethecaptain.com/
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction & Saturday Live Streams
00:24 – Is a Submarine a Good Cruising Boat?
00:55 – The Biggest Mistake Offshore Sailors Make
01:51 – Smallest Boats for a Pacific Crossing
02:42 – Monohull vs. Catamaran for Heavy Weather
03:52 – What’s My Next Boat & Why I’m Taking a Break
06:03 – Is the Scanmar 40 Good for Circumnavigation?
08:29 – The History & Legacy of the Cal 40
10:26 – Storm Tactics: For Reaching, Downwind, or Heaving To?
12:25 – Running with a Drogue: Can You Still Steer?
13:10 – How to Adjust a Drogue (and Jordan Series Drogues)
16:18 – Should You Remove Solar Panels Before a Storm?
17:44 – Junk Sails and Unstayed Masts for Cruising
19:52 – Thoughts on Arrow Rigs & Complex Sailing Systems
21:02 – Can You Wrap a Fiberglass Mast in Carbon Fiber?
22:11 – Are All Sailboats Money Pits? (Buying Under $100k)
23:57 – Best Mid-Size Budget Monohulls for Island Hopping
25:06 – Setting a Realistic Maintenance Budget
26:43 – The Reality of Insuring Older Boats (1980s Hulls)
27:57 – Is 80 Years Old Too Old to Start Offshore Sailing?
29:52 – The Pros and Cons of Solo Sailing
31:29 – Managing Watch Schedules for Couples vs. Extra Crew
33:07 – How to Get Into Sailing (Local Clubs & Dock Walking)
34:25 – Crucial Advice for Sailing with Kids
35:48 – Lightning Round: Lazy Jacks, Autopilots, & Pullman Berths
37:21 – Unexpected Sights & Smells at Sea
38:26 – The Truth About Carrying Weapons on a Boat
40:21 – Why Aren’t You Sailing Right Now?
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