Know Your Lifting and Blocking Points: A Critical Haul-Out Safety Guide

Haul-out day is stressful enough without wondering whether your boat is being lifted and blocked correctly. But here’s the thing most boat owners don’t realize: improper lifting or blocking can cause serious, expensive damage to your hull—damage that might not even be visible until much later.

We learned this lesson the hard way in Thailand.

Under the Radar: 6 Maintenance Tasks That Often Get Overlooked

After 10 years of living aboard and cruising, Amy and I learned that some of the most important maintenance tasks are the ones that never make it onto the typical owner’s checklist. These aren’t the glamorous projects or the obvious big-ticket items—they’re the quiet, unglamorous tasks that prevent disasters.

Here are six maintenance tasks that deserve more attention than they typically get, plus a bonus tip for sailboat owners.

Introduction to MaintenanceROS: Put Your Boat Maintenance on Autopilot

During the 10 years of living aboard our sailboat Starry Horizons and circumnavigating the globe, my wife Amy and I learned one undeniable truth: good boat maintenance isn’t optional—it’s the difference between an enjoyable adventure and disheartening disaster. But we also learned that traditional maintenance tracking falls apart quickly. Information lives in too many places, spreadsheets get complicated, and staying ahead of what’s due next becomes nearly impossible.