In this week's episode, the wind picks up and I get the boat moving fast under a double-reefed mainsail. After tooling around the lake under light winds for several hours in the morning, I was really glad to see the breeze start to pick up in the afternoon. In this video, I push the boat as far as I'm comfortable under full sails, and then briefly go hove-to to tuck in a double reef. I sailed for 4 hours under a double-reefed mainsail enjoying some strong and gusty breeze. The highest gust reported by the nearest weather station while I was out sailing was 26 mph. During this sail, I had no plan, no agenda, and no goals for the day. I just spent the day enjoying wherever the wind took me. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode, I discuss the importance of properly securing your boat to the trailer. I include several examples of what happens when you don't properly secure the boat to the trailer. I cover in detail how I secure the boat to the trailer with multiple straps, the philosophy I use, how I prevent damage to the gelcoat and fiberglass, tips for using straps, and the equipment I use and where I got it. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:28 - Powerboats vs Sailboats 0:38 - Importance of securing 1:33 - Sailboat strategy 2:20 - Need for bow strap 2:47 - Tie-down straps 3:03 - Prevent forward-aft movement 3:34 - Strap size 4:13 - Custom straps 5:01 - Strapping tips 5:36 - Protector sleeves 5:44 - Amazon store 5:57 - Conclusion #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this week's episode, I just tool around the lake and briefly go hove-to in a beautiful cove to take a little break. The mountain winds are light and very shifty. As the winds pick up, I head out to the main part of the lake. I had no plan, no agenda, and no goals for the day. I just spent the day enjoying wherever the wind took me. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode, I discuss the differences between using either wire rope or a nylon strap on your boat trailer winch. Each has its pros and cons, including durability, strength and ease of use. In the end, I do think one particular option is far superior for a lightweight boat. I hope you find this information helpful. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:41 - Background 1:26 - Wire rope 2:24 - Straps 3:41 - Conclusion #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing #sailingtips #sailinglife #learntosail

In this week's episode, I head out from the marina on a busy Saturday afternoon under light winds. I had no plan, no agenda, and no goals for the day. I just spent the day enjoying wherever the wind took me. Featured music: "Moving On" by Wayne Jones (provided by YouTube Studio Creator Music) Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode, I provide info on open and closed boat ramps and marinas at the most popular sailing lakes in Colorado. The winter of 2025-2026 saw record low snowpack in the Rocky Mountains and the lack of precipitation is having a grave impact on boating and recreation at many lakes in the area. However, there is some good news as several popular Colorado sailing lakes are full or nearly full for the 2026 sailing season. If you're looking to visit Colorado for some trailer sailing or a local Colorado sailor trying to figure out where to go...this is your guide! Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:33 - New Amazon Store 2:02 - Closures 2:27 - Blue Mesa Reservoir 2:29 - Green Mountain Reservoir 2:40 - Torquise Lake 3:04 - Partial Closures 3:07 - Dillon Reservoir 3:29 - Lake Granby 4:02 - Open Lakes 4:06 - Grand Lake 4:13 - Lake Nighthorse 4:23 - Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir 4:30 - Cherry Creek Reservoir 5:04 - Aurora Reservoir 5:31 - Horsetooth Reservoir 5:42 - Carter Lake 5:52 - Boulder Reservoir 6:07 - Ruedi Reservoir 6:32 - Chatfield Reservoir 6:46 - Lake Pueblo 7:04 - Navajo Lake 7:31 - Twin Lakes Reservoir 7:52 - Union Reservoir 8:05 - Vallecito Reservoir 8:39 - Outro #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing Chapters:

In episode 3 of my Midsummer Sail series, I reef the mainsail and prepare for heavier afternoon mountain winds. The forecast called for 14 mph winds with gusts to 21 mph. What I got were afternoon winds that were up and down, gusting into the 20s briefly and then going back down to less than 10 mph. This video is part 2 of a 3-part series of a single day of midsummer mountain lake sailing. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing Chapters:

In episode 2 of my Midsummer Sail series, I spot a sailboat on the lake and turn my boat around and head up the lake to investigate and say "hi". At first glance it appears to be a Sunfish, but in fact, it's a rare 1940s fiberglass "Beetle Boat (BB) Swan" rigged with a Sunfish sail. The "BB Swan" is essentially a fiberglass version of the famous 1920's wooden "Beetle Cat" sailboats. The "BB Swan" was designed and built by Carl Beetle, son of John Beetle the creator of the original Beetle Cat. It was really cool briefly sailing with such a cool classic boat. This video is part 2 of a 3-part series of a single day of midsummer mountain lake sailing. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:22 - I see a sailboat 1:06 - Heading north 1:17 - Gusts coming in 2:33 - Continuing north 3:07 - Wind shifts 3:58 - AH-64 Apache flyby 4:20 - Closing in on the Beetle Swan 6:44 - Close pass 7:45 - Gybe 8:33 - Hove to 8:56 - Reefing 9:42 - Outro

In this episode, I head out just after noon on a sunny and clear Monday in July. The winds start out light as I slowly make my way down the lake. Then I see another sailboat further up the lake and decide to head toward him and say hello. This is part 1 of a 3-part video series. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Check out our new storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. Check out our storefront on Amazon for all the great gear, apparel and electronics featured in our videos: https://amzn.to/4eMoKbP. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). It's a great way to support the channel! Links to products mentioned in this video: Catalina Direct "mast gater": https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/capri-22/rigging/standing-rigging/spar-fittings/mastgater-sail-track-gate-c-22-cp-22/ CatalinaDirect also has other products you can find by searching "track gate" on their website. Rig-Rite sail gates: https://rigrite.com/Spars/MetalMast_Spars/MetalMast_Mainsail_Gates.php Seldon: https://shop-us.seldenmast.com/collections/rig-hardware-sail-entries?srsltid=AfmBOoplfqR27-vrlN_6FlCWvHkrBFJ29KALc6XkMbVJDLo3RcvK6Cdl Blue Water Yachts mast track cover: https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/3454-1m3.htm Vela Sailing Supply Allen Bros mast gate bar: https://velasailingsupply.com/products/allen-brothers-22mm-x-138mm-mast-gate-bar?_pos=1&_sid=36bebbbca&_ss=r Stingy Sailor DIY mast gate article: https://stingysailor.com/2014/04/26/mast-gates-solution-2/ Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:38 - Passing of Tom Loque 1:31 - Status of Mastgates.com 2:32 - What is a mast gate 3:30 - Current suppliers 3:39 - Catalina Direct 4:30 - Rig-Rite 5:05 - Seldon 5:45 - Blue Water Yachts 6:18 - Vela Sailing Supply 6:46 - DIY 7:23 - Sail stop 8:03 - Outro #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode, I prepare the boat for trailering home after two weeks of sailing at Cherry Creek Reservoir in Aurora, CO. I show in detail how I secure the mast to the sailboat with multiple lines and prevent any damage to the mast, the gelcoat, and any of the shrouds or hardware by adding padding, velcro wraps and bungees. I've also had the mast start moving aft while trailering and nearly lost it. So, I describe in detail the method I use to secure the mast to the boat and keep the mast from moving either forward or aft while bouncing down the highway while trailering. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:38 - Securing to the stern 3:04 - Securing to the bow 3:32 - Preventing twist 3:36 - Stowing shrouds 4:37 - Protecting mid mast Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this week's episode, I continue my morning sail on a beautiful Wednesday in late August. The winds stay fairly light, so I sail into the mountainous south end of the reservoir and in and around some small coves. I accidentally surprised some people on the beach...not really sure what they were up to. Overall, it was a very beautiful and pleasant few hours of high-altitude Colorado mountain lake sailing. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing

This week I replace the propeller on my 2019 Torqeedo Travel 1103C electric outboard. Apparently I hit something with it last season and it got a small "nick" on the outside of one of the blades. I sailed with it like that throughout the Fall, but I noticed it had a lot of vibration. So in this episode, I show step-by-step how to remove the propeller, replace the sheer pin, and mount the new propeller. Overall, a very easy DIY job on the Torqeedo Travel electric outboard. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #sailingdinghy #usedboat #boatrepair #Torqeedo

In this week's episode, I head out in the morning for a sail on a beautiful Wednesday in late August. The winds stay fairly light, so I sail into some coves and around some rocks. Overall, it was a very pleasant few hours of high-altitude Colorado mountain lake sailing. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing

In this episode, I roll my 2010 Precision 18 pocket cruiser "Mandatory Fun" out of storage for the first time in over 8 months. I brought the boat home from the marina in mid-September, and she's spent the off-season in the garage. During our long and unseasonably warm Fall, I day-sailed our 1987 Precision 16 sailing dinghy "Boondoggle". The boat gets surprisingly dirty just sitting in the garage. The area where we live is very windy and there's a ton of blowing dirt and dust that gets into everything. This episode covers all the basics of preparing the boat to be rolled out, removing scuffs and scratches, applying UV protectant to plastic and nylon parts, protecting the window gaskets with rubber seal conditioner, vacuuming out the cabin, scrubbing the cabin sole, and charging all the batteries. Links to products featured in this video: - Hanes Cool Dri UPF shirts featured in this video: https://amzn.to/49tXY4Y - WORX cordless tire inflator: https://amzn.to/4vsA0Q5 - NuFinish Car Polish: https://amzn.to/4o14ciB - Armor All Original Protectant: https://amzn.to/4olDAJz - Pledge Wood Oil: https://amzn.to/4vm6prg - 3-in-1 RV Rubber Seal Conditioner: https://amzn.to/4aonmcy - JBL waterproof bluetooth speaker: https://amzn.to/49vsbR5 Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I greatly appreciate your support to this channel. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:38 - Overview of day's tasks 3:04 - Sunscreen and Hanes Cool Dri UPF shirt 3:36 - Preparing the boat to move 4:37 - Moving the boat on the trailer 6:32 - Carrying the mast 6:47 - Washing the boat 7:43 - Removing scuffs in the gelcoat with NuFinish car polish 9:08 - Protecting plastic and nylon boat parts with Armor All UV Protectant 10:17 - Oiling the teak trim 10:34 - Cleaning and scrubbing the cabin 11:19 - Conditioning rubber seals in portlights and hatches 11:31 - Charging batteries 11:57 - Final thoughts and safety reminders Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode, I sail back from the shallow north end of Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir in central Colorado where I was repeatedly fouled by Eurasian water milfoil (an invasive aquatic plant species). As I'm making my way back to the marina, a storm comes in and the winds really pick up. The wind shifts to the south, so I end up sailing to windward double-reefed which is challenging and slow. But it was an exciting sail with large waves (for a lake) and whitecaps. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota and more. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode, I sail to the shallow north end of Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir in central Colorado where I get repeatedly fouled by milfoil, get caught in a storm, and fear I may not make it back. It was my worst, most awful, terrible sail. The north end of the lake is about 2.5 miles long by 1 mile wide and separated from the south end by a string of small islands and rocks that run across a narrow neck of the lake. I normally stay on the south end of the lake where the water is deep (up to 136 ft) and there are fewer boats, beautiful coves and less water milfoil to foul my boat's rudder and centerboard. The north end is shallow, more crowded, and has a serious Eurasian water milfoil problem (an invasive aquatic plant species spreading across the U.S.). The north end is more wide open, surrounded mostly by prairie land, and opens up to the valley that makes up South Park (in Colorado, a high-altitude valley is called a Park). The South Park National Heritage Area was created by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in March 2009. The openness of the north end normally makes for more consistent, less swirly and less gusty winds than the south end. The south end has unpredictable winds because it is closed in on three sides by 11,500' tall mountain peaks. During this worst, most awful, and terrible sail I get fouled repeatedly by invasive Eurasian water milfoil and have my rudder kicked back by large clumps of weeds. As an afternoon storm approached and the winds picked up, I was not sure how I was going to get back to the marina. This video also includes a cool underwater view of leaving the slip and lowering the centerboard. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota and more. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Underwater view of leaving the slip 1:38 - Sailing plan for the day 2:43 - American White Pelican sighting 3:03 - Clouds starting to build 3:42 - Middle of the north end 6:03 - Very shallow water 6:55 - Getting fouled by milfoil 7:27 - Milfoil everywhere! 8:33 - Sailing with rudder up 10:32 - Locking rudder down 10:49 - I gotta get outta here! 12:23 - Winds building 13:17 - Hove to and reefing 13:47 - Sailing double reefed #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

This is the list of my Top 5 favorite small YouTube sailing channels. These are the channels I really enjoy and inspire me to keep on sailing and making my own YouTube videos. All of the small channels featured in this list are just superb and really should be getting much more attention and more subscribers. Please check out the channels on this list and show them your support! #5 - Conrad Humphreys LINK: www.youtube.com/@ConradHumphreys #4 - Charles Bronaugh LINK: https://www.youtube.com/@charlesbronaugh8996 #3 - Ruddy Duck Sailing Adventures LINK: www.youtube.com/@ruddyducksailing #2 - Southern Sailing Adventure LINK: www.youtube.com/@southernsailingadventure #1 - David Grah LINK: www.youtube.com/@dgrah I also can't talk about great sailing channels without mentioning my overall favorite YouTube sailing channel which is Sailing Magic Carpet. Maya and Aladino produce some of the best quality sailing videos you will ever see. Their sailing, travels, original music, boat repairs and sailboat restoration is a joy to watch and their channel has been a huge inspiration for me and my sailing journey. LINK: www.youtube.com/@SailingMagicCarpet I hope you enjoyed my list of the Top 5 best small YouTube sailing channels you've probably never heard of. If you have small or emerging YouTube sailing channel recommendations you think I've missed...drop them in the comments and I will definitely check them out! Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this week's episode, I head out in the morning for a sail with my daughter on a beautiful Saturday in mid-July. It starts out slow, but the winds quickly fill in and make for some very pleasant sailing. As the afternoon wears on, the winds start to pick up (as usual in the Rocky Mountains) and we head back and call it a day. It was truly a perfect few hours of high-altitude Colorado mountain lake sailing. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing

In this episode I replace a boat trailer hub on my 1987 Precision 16 trailer. The inner seal on the passenger side was faulty and leaking grease. This is my first-ever trailer hub replacement. Up until this point, I've pretty much done every other kind of maintenance task you can possibly do on a boat trailer. Trailer bearing maintenance was the final skill I needed to learn about boat trailer maintenance. In preparation, I did a bunch of research and watched many YouTube videos. But I still learned some new information in the process of doing this job (like don't mix different types of grease). I hope you find this information helpful. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing #sailingtips #sailinglife #learntosail