Chris Caswell

Nostalgia about old boatbuilders, designs and marine shops is a romantic memory for many of us cruisers.

Having telemedicine service on board is especially important for cruisers who are more vulnerable to injury or illness because of age, chronic illness and pre-existing conditions, and it's also important to have as long-range trawler yachts cruise to more remote locations.

It pays to ignore the accountants and uninitiated who say boating makes no sense.

Destined for Moorings charter fleets, the three- or four-stateroom Leopard 46 Powercat is a roomy boat for coastal cruising.

That’s how I feel after looking at some of today’s design ideas for onboard berths.

There is little we can be certain about when boating. Except for these things.

Keeping your nav skills sharp in the times of modern electronics

Planning to solve all possible onboard problems is part of taking seamanship seriously.

Researchers have built entire careers “discovering” stuff that we boaters already know.

Robert Beebe inspired legions of long-distance cruisers, and continues to do so today.

When these Kadey-Krogen owners decided to refit their 48 for living aboard, the skipper had to adjust to the architect, and vice versa.

Only those skippers with a taste for misfortune fail to follow boating’s superstitions.

Today’s technology means we’re losing necessary skills that we no longer use.

The N41 is the smallest model Nordhavn now offers, but she makes a big impression.

797.1 is a wonderful place full of fantastic boats and mariners—and enough inspiration to last a lifetime.

I hate to admit it, but I love being up to my ankles in barnacles and wood shavings, reeking of bottom paint, with fingernails that will take a week to clean.

When choosing crew and guests, think about more than who’s fun at the bar.

From air draft to shore-power cords, here are the core components of the ideal Great Loop boat.

Like good books, some DIY projects make a weekend aboard the boat even better.

For "A Dash of Salt" columnist Chris Caswell, DIY boat projects conjure memories of doctoring by hook, by crook or by duct tape.

Whether the goal is family fun, longer-distance cruising or charter service, the Leopard 53 Powercat is worth a look.

Damn, I like having a captain.

Moving from a monohull to a powercat requires some practice. A bareboat charter is a great way to get it.

We didn’t know it, but our boats are chanting mantras to us every time we use them.

You can spend months exploring these approximately 800 islets. Some boaters are so enchanted, they never leave.

A magical playground for children of all ages, the BVI have topped cruising itineraries for eons—and with good reason.

There’s more to the night sky than just those pinpricks of light.

If you don’t own a pair of oars, then you’re missing out on one of boating’s great pleasures.

We need Tool Amnesty Day for returning all the stuff we borrowed and then accidentally kept.

John Steinbeck knew why we can’t pass a hull without giving it a knock.

These fundamental navigation tips may help get you home when things go kablooey.

An unexpected trip down memory lane shows that there’s more to traditional navigation than faded ink and forgotten coordinates.

When Electronics Go Dark, We Go Old-School

When Greece opened their waters to bareboat chartering, it was an irresistible opportunity to explore centuries of legends among the Saronic Gulf Islands that are close to Athens, yet a world apart. For our time machine, we chose a French, Jeanneau-built, 36-foot flybridge cruiser with two staterooms and twin Volvo Penta diesels.

If you thought that only automobiles could be cult objects, think again. It’s not just a 1965 Mustang or a ’66 ’Vette that sets the blood pounding, at least not for yachting enthusiasts. Chris Caswell takes a look back at one of Art DeFever's best designs.

I omit the word “trawler,” not for fear that David Marlow will whack me, but because this yacht lifts her skirts and gets up to an untrawlerlike 27 knots if you need to go somewhere in a hurry.

Cleanliness may be next to Godliness, but for owners it is also key to selling their boats as quickly as possible and fetching the best prices.