I've been fascinated with sailing from a young age. It truly is the one mode of transportation that has built human culture and trade. It's not only the most efficient way of transporting goods up to this day, but it's also the most enjoyable.


That's why I've dedicated a part of my life to learning about sailing, in order to sail smarter, faster, and smoother - it's the reason my website is called ImproveSailing.


I've sailed an old Cornish Crabber and a double-handed dinghy. The Crabber was a slow but very satisfying boat. The dinghy is faster, has more of a thrill to it, but nothing beats slow and steady cruising for weeks on end across the great lakes of The Netherlands (- which is where I live).


My dream is to own a sea-worthy vessel and sail the world seas. I'm still young (only 28) so there's plenty of room for improvement. Until then I will continue to learn, and nerd out about what I've learned here, on this website.

All Articles by Shawn Buckles

Winterize Checklist

In Resources

Cruising Gear Essentials

In Resources

Safety Gear List

In Resources

Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Catamaran (With 4 Examples)

In Cost of Sailing

Cost of Catamaran vs. Monohull: Which is more expensive?

In Cost of Sailing

Average Sailboat Maintenance Costs (with 4 Examples)

In Sailing Guides

What is a Swing or Lifting Keel? 14 Pros and Cons Explained

In Beginner Info

Sailboat Keel Types: Illustrated Guide (Bilge, Fin, Full)

In Sailing Guides

Do I Need a License to Drive a Boat? (Clear Info for 50 States)

In Resources

Why Are Used Sailboats So Cheap? (5 Surprising Reasons)

In Beginner Info

How To Learn To Sail: Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide

In Learn to Sail

How To Learn Marine Navigation (Easy In-Depth Guide)

In Marine Navigation

How I Make Money Online (using one ninja resource)

In Resources

15 Surprising Benefits of a Ketch Rig (and 7 Cons)

In Beginner Info

12 Surprising Advantages of a Gaff Rig (and Some Cons)

In Beginner Info
Diagram of the Hull Parts of a sailboat

Sailboat Parts Explained: Illustrated Guide (with Diagrams)

In Sailing Guides

A Complete Guide to Displacement Hulls (Illustrated)

In Sailing Guides

Here Are the Most Stable Boat Hull Designs (with Examples)

In Beginner Info

Semi-Displacement Hulls Explained (Illustrated Guide)

In Sailing Guides

What Type of Hull Handles Rough Water the Best?

In Beginner Info

The Illustrated Guide To Boat Hull Types (11 Examples)

In Sailing Guides

Here's What Shoes to Wear Sailing (and which not)

In Beginner Info

Free Sailing Resources

In Resources
Gaff rigged white schooner

17 Sailboat Types Explained: How To Recognize Them

In Beginner Info
Sailboat motoring at dawn

How To Get Your ICC Certification (in 8 Countries)

In Sailing Guides

What You'll Need to Charter Bareboat in Greece (Requirements)

In Destinations

Best Action Cam for Sailing: Our Top Picks for 2020

In Resources
Dawn over the Mediterranean Sea with golden buildings

The Exact Bareboat Charter Requirements for Italy

In Destinations

How To Live On a Boat For Free: How I'd Do It

In Sailing Guides

The Exact Bareboat Charter Requirements in Croatia

In Destinations
Man on sailboat holding green line

9 Ways to Learn to Sail for (Practically) Free

In Learn to Sail
Dirty freshwater tank with black streaks and grass

How To Clean Your Boat's Freshwater Tank (Plastic & Aluminum)

In Maintenance
Blue Industrial Marine Diesel Engine

What’s The Life Expectancy of a Marine Diesel Engine?

In Maintenance
Atolls of the Maldives at dusk

22 Beautiful Sailing Destinations for This Winter

In Maintenance

Best Marine Compass: Going the Right Way Cheaply

In Resources

Best Marine GPS Chartplotter: My top pick for 2021

In Resources
Canal lock in city of Amsterdam with old buildings

Average Canal Lock Size: UK, the Netherlands, France

In Beginner Info

The Average Cost of Replacing Risers and Manifolds

In Beginner Info
Old man works on boat engine

How to Clean Marine Exhaust Manifolds (The Best Way)

In Maintenance
Sail instructor tows seven dinghies with a powerboat

How Much Do Sailing Lessons Cost?

In Beginner Info
Sailing regatta with dozen sailboats in race

Is Sailing a Sport? (Spoiler: yes, it definitely is)

In Beginner Info
Aerial view of vulcanic island of Hawaii

Sailing Guide: California to Hawaii (San Francisco, LA & Seattle)

In Sailing Guides
A sailboat at anchor from above in clear blue waters

Must Have Maintenance Products

In Resources
Bow shot of black wooden cruising sailboat

41 Sailboat Cruising Essentials for Long Trips

In Maintenance
Steel self-taling sailboat winch on blue background

3 Ways to Convert Your Winches to Self-Tailing

In Maintenance
3 Sailboats with dark sails under dark clouds at sunset

Is It Dangerous to Sail in a Thunderstorm?

In Beginner Info
Sailboat in front of NYC with Bermuda mainsail and Jib

Guide to Understanding Sail Rig Types (with Pictures)

In Sailing Guides
Map of the sailing seasons around the world

The Sailing Seasons Around the World (with Map)

In Sailing Guides
Sailing safety gear hanging from rail on boat

Sailing Gear Essentials: the Ultimate Packing List (and PDF)

In Sailing Guides
OVNI aluminum sailboat at anchor in calm bay

The Pros and Cons of an Aluminum Sailboat

In Beginner Info
Sunset over sea

How Far Can You Sail In One Day?

In Beginner Info
Two-masted, classical sailboat sailing under power

How Much Fuel Does a Sailboat Use?

In Beginner Info
Small boat in blue water of marina

How to Board a Boat With Confidence (in 5 Steps)

In Maintenance
Wooden boardwalk in marina with boats tied up on either side

How Much Does it Cost to Dock a Boat for a Year?

In Beginner Info

45 Gift Ideas for Sailors: What We Wish You’d Buy Us

In Resources
Sunset in calm waters from a boat with small outboard motor

How to Calculate Outboard Motor Size for Sailboats

In Sailing Guides

The Different Types of Marine Navigation

In Marine Navigation
Lean sailboat in blue, protected waters with just the mainsail up

Average Cost of Buying & Owning a Sailboat (With 4 Examples)

In Sailing Guides
Beautiful white gaff-rigged cutter with gaff top sail and two staysails

How Much Do New Sails Cost?

In Beginner Info

13 Reasons Why Sailing is Better Than Powerboating

In Maintenance
Coastline filled with colorful houses, with a small lighthouse and sailing yachts offshore and a mountain in the back

9 Practical Tips & Locations for Sailing the Mediterranean

In Maintenance
Sunset with clouds and mast

25 Interesting Facts About Sailing You Probably Don't Know

In Maintenance
Cruising yacht with mainsail, headsail, and gennaker

The Ultimate Guide to Sail Types and Rigs (with Pictures)

In Sailing Guides
Birdseye view of beach and coastline with lots of small sailboats

Different Types of Sailing and Racing Explained

In Sailing Guides
Small sailboat in middle of huge blue sea

What Is Bluewater Sailing?

In Beginner Info
Sailboats docked at sea marina with lighthouse in background at dusk

How to Convert your Freshwater Boat for Saltwater Use

In Sailing Guides
Italian sailboats with blue sails competing in sunny weather

How Are Sail Numbers Assigned? (And how to pick yours)

In Beginner Info
Hawaiian ocean with vulcanic mountains

How Long Does it Take to Sail from San Diego to Hawaii?

In Beginner Info
Sailboat in coastal waters with desert hill in the background

The Difference Between Freshwater and Saltwater Boats

In Beginner Info
Smooth water sailboat panorama with dusk setting in

What is the Average Speed of a Sailboat?

In Beginner Info
Sailboat in Tropical shallow water

How Long Does it Take to Sail Around the World?

In Beginner Info
Sailor's point of view heeling into the sunset

What’s the Largest Boat One Person Can Operate?

In Beginner Info

What is the Ideal Wind Speed for Sailing?

In Beginner Info
PFD and buoy on board of boat

Ultimate Guide to Required Safety Equipment on a Boat

In Sailing Guides

How to Use a Boat Compass (Complete beginners guide)

In Marine Navigation

How Long Does it Take to Sail Across the Atlantic?

In Beginner Info