Clean, reliable diesel for the DIY cruiser Issue 86: Sept/Oct 2012 In our early years of cruising, we learned the hard way about how important clean fuel is. I didn’t worry about the fuel as long as t...
It prevents stray currents and preserves precious metals Issue 88 : Jan/Feb 2013 In Trinidad, a few years ago, we had just finished our annual haulout. Our zincs were shiny and the bottom paint was fr...
Rubber roofing out of a can does the trick Issue 90: May/June 2013 Over the years I have tried several methods to create a watertight mast boot. As a temporary fix, I once used duct tape. It was inexp...
Decorative work occupies a quiet sea passage Issue 89 : Mar/Apr 2013 On a passage from French Polynesia to the Cook Islands a couple of years ago, nothing major had broken, the weather was benign, and...
Low-stretch Dyneema has advantages over wire Issue 89 : Mar/Apr 2013 Our Liberty 458, Nine of Cups, just celebrated her 25th birthday. We replaced the lifelines the first year we owned her, using viny...
Guest editorial Issue 93 : Nov/Dec 2013 The chart plotter has evolved into a wonder that has simplified navigation and route planning beyond the dreams of sailors of old. Over the last decade, chart p...
Mitigating mayhem might be your best hope Issue 98: Sept/Oct 2014 In our travels aboard Nine of Cups, we’ve seen some dandy thunder-and-lightning storms. In some places, like the mid-latitudes in the ...
Use them for handles, tethers, and tie-downs Issue 97 : Jul/Aug 2014 We have dozens of lanyards aboard Nine of Cups. We use them on pelican hooks, zippers, key rings, flashlights, and even USB flashdr...
Give it the best antenna cable you can Issue 100: Jan/Feb 2015 Acouple of years ago we unstepped and repainted our mast. While it was horizontal and easy to work with, I inspected the wiring. Some of ...
Simple rules ensure safety and reliability Issue 99 : Nov/Dec 2014 Sooner or later, if you own your boat any length of time, you will have to deal with replacing or adding a DC electrical circuit. Per...
Basic steps for making reliable connections Issue 102 : May/Jun 2015 If you own an older boat, an important skill to master is the proper technique for soldering electrical connections. At some point,...
Proven procedures keep the juice flowing Issue 103 : Jul/Aug 2015 I joined the Navy right out of high school many years ago and they saw fit to teach me to be an electronics technician. Throughout my ...
Find the fault with a multimeter and a flowchart Issue 104 : Sept/Oct 2015 When one of your engine instruments stops working, it’s good to be able to diagnose the problem yourself. If you know how to ...
Track down trouble using logic and the right tools Issue 107 : Mar/Apr 2016 Electrical wiring on a typical good old boat has a tough life. The combination of salt, water, copper wire, and electricity ...
Generating electricity via the prop shaft Issue 108: May/June 2016 When we are anchored for any period of time, our solar panels and wind generator pretty much keep up with our power needs. On a passa...
Don’t be shocked by aging insulation Issue 110 : Sept/Oct 2016 When we were in Patagonia a few years back, we tied up at a marina in Puerto Montt for several weeks. We dug out our power cables a...
Reinsulating means rebuilding Issue 111: Nov/Dec 2016 As is the case aboard many good old boats, the refrigerator/freezer insulation aboard Nine of Cups, our 1986 Liberty, was less than perfect. Our c...
A new alternator delivers on the promise of faster charging Issue 116: Sept/Oct 2017 Electrical systems aboard cruising sailboats hang by two threads: the capacity and reliability of the batteries and...
Issue 118: Jan/Feb 2018 SmartPlug Marine Cordset Friends on two different sailboats have had electrical fires that originated in their shorepower connections. Corrosion on the contacts and internal co...
. . . and the safety significance of MMSI and GPS Issue 119: March/April 2018 When we replaced the fixed-mount VHF radio on our 1986 cutter back in 2002, we noticed the new radio featured a red “distr...
As electric propulsion technology leaps forward, that’s a question worth constantly revisiting. Issue 143: March/April 2022 When we repowered our Liberty 458, Nine of Cups, a decade ago, we took a clo...
Equalizing batteries can improve performance and extend their lifespan. Issue 131: March/April 2020 Lead acid house batteries aboard boats that spend most of their time in a slip and connected to shor...
They put a check on electronic noise from RFI and EMI Issue 126: May/June 2019 Have you ever tried to listen to someone transmitting on their VHF whose voice was almost drowned out by an annoying buzz...
Simple or sophisticated, each type has its merits Issue 125: March/April 2019 When we bought our 45-foot Liberty cutter, Nine of Cups, in 2000, she needed a number of upgrades to convert her from a co...
They tame stranded wire and make connections secure Issue 125: March/April 2019 A ferrule slips easily over a stranded wire and ensures that the connection is as secure as it can be in devices that ar...