Converting light fixtures to use LEDs Issue 72 : May/Jun 2010 All the lighting on my sailboat now uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which consume only about one-tenth of the battery power the old inc...
Protect your investment from weather and covetous knaves Issue 75 : Nov/Dec 2010 Many GPS chart plotters are designed for bulkhead mounting but, if they’re visible, thieves love them. With that in min...
Peace of mind for pocket change Issue 81 : Nov/Dec 2011 The battery-operated wireless burglar alarms widely available now for doors and windows can provide an easy and inexpensive way to protect the c...
Lightning induces a review of current lighting Issue 82 : Jan/Feb 2012 When a nearby lightning strike zapped my sailboat’s electronics and lights, I learned a lot more about the implications of conver...
Raid the hardware store, not your wallet Issue 84 : May/Jun 2012 When I went shopping for a telescoping whisker pole, I came away with sticker shock. Like a lot of other small cruising sailboats, my 2...
A confirmed tinkerer adds muscle to his foredeck Issue 85 : Jul/Aug 2012 After a difficult anchor retrieval, the first mate and I decided it was time to bring another deckhand aboard Prime Time, our 2...
A nifty way to persuade hose onto a barb Issue 88 : Jan/Feb 2013 After I replaced my boat engine’s water-pump impeller, the supply hose refused to slip back onto the fitting. Even though I had lubrica...
Rail pads add a little plush to the catbird seats Issue 89 : Mar/Apr 2013 After I made an extension rod for my boat’s wheel so I could steer from the cockpit catbird seats (see “Steering Wheel Extensi...
Take the helm while taking in the view Issue 89 : Mar/Apr 2013 My Catalina 28 has elevated catbird seats in the aft corners of the cockpit that are wonderful places to sit when we’re under sail. I oft...
A holding tank vent revamp clears the air Issue 104 : Sept/Oct 2015 I found an easy, inexpensive way to improve my boat’s holding-tank system. It cost $10, the stink is gone, and the catastrophe the o...
Ice-cooled air for a cool night’s sleep Issue 108: May/June 2016 Some nights in mid-summer it’s just too hot to sleep on the boat. Even with the companionway and all the ports and hatches open, ...