Home ⁄ Equipment

Articles in the category "Equipment"

View All Articles

Why You Should Know & Love Your Fluxgate Compass!

Your GPS may tell you where you’re going, but only a properly calibrated fluxgate compass knows where your boat is pointing. From autopilot accuracy to radar overlays, this humble instrument underpins nearly every critical navigation function. Learn why heading data matters, how to spot calibration issues, and the simple steps to keep your system reliable. Ignore it, and even the best electronics can steer you wrong.

Your Dinghy Is a Boat

Your dinghy isn’t just a tender, it’s your second boat. Cruisers Jean Levine and Jeff Grossman share hard earned lessons, safety tips, and must have gear to keep your dinghy reliable, safe, and drama free.

Summer Sailing Trip Buying Guide at West Marine

As the summer winds continue to blow, we romanticize the long days at the dock or afternoons lounging on the hook in our favorite anchorages. Whether you’re cruising for a weekend or planning a longer voyage, having the right gear on board can mean the difference between “laid-back luxury” and “where’s the duct tape?”

2025 Father’s Day Gift Guide for Sailors

Father’s Day is coming up, and if the dad in your life knows how to rig a reef, eyeball the wind, or crack a cold one after setting anchor, skip the usual socks and gadgets. Get him something that makes sense for the sailor he is—gear he’ll actually use, appreciate, and brag about on the dock.

VHF Confidence: Five Pro Tips

Improve your VHF radio communication skills with these five pro tips for sailors. Learn how to use working channels, scan important frequencies, hail vessels effectively, make securité calls, and avoid common mistakes for safer and clearer communication on the water.

Dinghies & Their Outboards: A Troubleshooting Guide for Hassle-Free Adventures

A guide to troubleshooting outboard engines on sailboat dinghies. Learn how to address and resolve common issues with your dinghy's outboard motor.

Gear Guide for Beginner Sailors and Enthusiasts

If you're just starting out with sailing, having the right gear is essential. Here's a detailed guide to help you and your family select the best sailing gear to start your sailing adventures. Each recommendation comes with possible uses and the type of conditions they are suitable for, catering to both novice sailors and sailing enthusiasts.

Soft-Sided Travel Bags for Sailors

There are many benefits to learning how to pack for the unique needs of traveling on a sailboat. We present a selection of our favorite soft-sided and water-resistant or waterproof bags to get you ready for travel season.

The American Sailing Mother’s Day Gift Guide

This Mother's Day give women who sail the gifts they really want — Somand jackets, Sperry topsiders, Nomadix blankets, and Stream2Sea beauty.

What Type of Sailboat is This?

Do you know the difference between a junk and a sloop? What about a Yawl and a Ketch? This guide to sailboats will have you identifying boats like a lifelong sailor.

What is a PFD (lifejacket)

In the official language of the USCG, a wearable device that will keep you afloat should you fall in the water is a “personal flotation device” or “PFD.” Lifejacket and PFD are interchangeable terms. PFDs are officially classed as Types I, II, III, IV, and V, according to their design, construction, and intended use. The specific type required aboard depends

How to Tie 3 Important Sailing Knots

There are as many sailing knots as there are stars in the night sky — or so it seems. But the reality is that most sailors can get along with only knowing a few, as long as they’re the right ones. In this blog I’ll single out three very important sailing knots, explaining what they’re used for and how to

Product Review: Ronstan Rope Bag, Winch Handle Pocket & Drink Holder

I don’t enjoy admitting this, but I am a messy sailor. I don’t always coil the lines correctly, and my knots don’t look as good as they should. In addition, my cockpit lacks organization, and when I look through some of the compartments on my boat, I start to rethink if I have what it takes to be called a

Member Benefit Spotlight – Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO)

One of my long-lasting memories of bareboat chartering has become a ritual when in the perfect anchorage. My family enjoys catamaran sailing so we typically bareboat charter a catamaran in the 40 to 48-foot range with a trampoline at the bow. If you have the right hammock you attach it under the trampoline and you hover a few inches

Mid-Summer Sailor’s Buying Guide

With the summer sailing season in full swing, you have probably figured out that you need new gear. If you spend any time on the water you will see equipment and apparel that you need to have to enhance your sailing experience. That is where we come in to help you find a few more pieces to round out your

Safety Equipment Required on a Boat

The USCG requires certain safety equipment on a boat and it is imperative that you make sure that your vessel is properly outfitted with this equipment. These minimum standards require U.S Coast Guard “approved” or “certified” equipment. This equipment includes: Life Jackets All recreational vessels must carry one wearable life jacket for each person on board. Any boat 16 feet

Should You Wear A PFD?

The question that is asked most often when going on a daysail has to be: Should I wear a lifejacket? The answer is YES, you should wear a life jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while sailing. Is the answer clear? The data suggest that drowning is the leading cause of death aboard vessels. An overwhelming majority of these victims

The Best Gifts For Sailors This Father’s Day

Don’t go shopping for a tie this father’s day. This year your father’s day gift is going to be meaningful. Every sailor likes getting gear so why not get a fathers day gift that is perfect for every sailor. ASA members enjoy discounts on sailing gear and apparel. Already a member? Access Your Benefits Ronstan Quick Lock Winch Handles The Ronstan