Ask a Captain: Cruising on a Budget, Storm Tactics & Is 80 Too Old to Sail?

In this video, I’m tackling a list of questions collected by my moderator 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. 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?