How a mysterious mechanical malady was finally cured Issue 32 : Sept/Oct 2003 The other day we were out sailing and headed home when the wind died. We turned on the engine and motored back to the harb...
A catboat with standing headroom and fixed keel? Here’s onesuch Issue 32 : Sept/Oct 2003 I’ve always loved catboats but never owned one. There always seemed to be limiting factors that made me look fo...
Using an electric drill to drive sheet, halyard, and anchor winches Issue 33 : Nov/Dec 2003 The idea originated with Jim Schmitt, a friend and Freedom 33 owner, who said, “There is a lot of talk on th...
A marine surveyor’s best friend Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 A moisture meter is a marine surveyor’s best friend, but do you need to own one if you are not a surveyor? Basically there are two types of mari...
She’s a trailerable, characterful, shallow-draft yawl with classic features Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 The old saying that “if it looks right, it probably is right” applies to the Nimble 24. This i...
This grand old dame will always be someone’s sweetheart Issue 39 : Nov/Dec 2004 It might not have been love at first sight but it was close. Marcelo Gentenetta, a veterinarian, was looking at a Pearso...
A handsome and stoutly built offering from Canada Issue 40 : Jan/Feb 2005 The Canadian Sailcraft 36 is one of the best-built boats I have yet sailed. That it is underappreciated is evidenced by the fa...
These new clamps have potential, but failed our test Issue 41 : Mar/Apr 2005 The editors of Good Old Boat asked me to evaluate some new hose clamps made by Gates Rubber Company and marketed as Power G...
Make a note of all those details you should know, but don’t Issue 45 : Nov/Dec 2005 My slip mate had a problem with his inboard engine. He had recently bought a Tartan 27 from a friend and thought it ...
Emergency kit saves boat after sailor drills hole in hull Issue 46 : Jan/Feb 2006 A fellow sailor told me he was installing a new water-tank fill pipe and almost sank his boat. He said he was tired of...
“Post-trauma syndrome” might describe the impact on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Issue 50 : Sept/Oct 2006 I was in a marine store the other day and saw an attractive ice chest for my boat on sale. I tho...
How to make sure your boat stays put Issue 53 : Mar/Apr 2007 Not long ago I spoke with a sailor that had a 27-foot Sabre moored on a 250-pound mushroom mooring anchor as recommended by the local yacht...
This catboat has had nine lives — well, almost Issue 58 : Jan/Feb 2008 Sassy Cat, A Herreshoff America catboat was recently selected by Paramount Pictures for a supporting role in a movie. Since one w...
Boat projects seem to wait for the heat Issue 79: July/Aug 2011 Fate has proclaimed that I should perform hard labor on the boat in the heat of July in the South. It was July when I had to drop the ru...
Old hatch + new lens = brighter cabin Issue 81 : Nov/Dec 2011 Most sailboats have a hatch over the V-berth. The hatch is either solid or it has a lens to admit light. Over time, a hatch lens will beco...
It’s invisible, insidious, and destructive Issue 83: March/April 2012 Everyone today knows we shouldn’t go out in the sun without wearing adequate protection, but it wasn’t always so. Noel Coward wrot...
Leftover home flooring brightens up a boat Issue 82 : Jan/Feb 2012 When I bought my Eastward Ho 31, her cabin sole was delaminated teak-and-holly plywood. The first project I took on was to remove tha...
. . . replace irreplaceable windows Issue 99 : Nov/Dec 2014 When it was time to replace the deadlights in the deckhouse on my 1978 Eastward Ho 31, I ran into a problem. Replace them with . . . what? T...
. . . when properly mounted and maintained Issue 107 : Mar/Apr 2016 When planning to buy a good old boat, most sailors typically look carefully at the design, the propulsion, the hull, the sails, and ...
Delaminated fiberglass may conjure up images of free-falling straight through to the bilge but it need not frighten the most resourceful among us. The word “delamination” causes instant vi...
You’ve found your dreamboat, had it surveyed, and signed up for a long and happy relationship. The broker said it holds 20 gallons of fuel and 40 gallons of water. He didn’t say where the ...
Buying, selling, new and used: Sail brokers can stretch your sailing dollars Those of us who love good old boats do so out of aesthetic preferences, sailing abilities, and – let’s face it ...
Picture a hot, windless Sunday afternoon as you power home on a glassy sea. Suddenly your engine slows and stops or overheats. Today of all days! You really did not need this, and it could have all be...
What to look for when buying your Dream Boat In the nautical lexicon, it seems these three words – good old boats – always go together. Some of the most aesthetically pleasing designs from...
If you can ask a question about trailersailers, this book can answer it. If you use the information provided in this simple volume you’ll be successful in acquiring, outfitting, and caring for y...
Fiberglass Repair: Polyester or Epoxy is a useful book for anyone who is considering fiberglass repair, whether novice or old pro. It’s full of valid techniques that will yield a professional job if t...
After reading two articles about the Down East Circle Route, I decided I needed to know more about this cruise and the book about it by Nova Scotian Captain Cheryl Barr. When I got the guide, I was ho...