An unpredicted nighttime wind shift created a dangerous situation that demanded quick action. Issue 143: March/April 2022 After months of boat work, my partner, Chris, and I sat back to enjoy the frui...
Replacing an old canvas dodger with a hardtop/canvas hybrid levels up comfort and safety. Issue 147: Nov/Dec 2022 In the grand scheme of things, few items on a sailboat are truly more oriented to comf...
The right decision about finishing an aluminum mast can be key to your rig’s longevity. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 Sailboats would be nothing without their sails, but even less without masts to hold them...
A DIY teak box built onto a compression post enables movie-watching in style Issue 150: May/June 2023 When we bought Avocet in 2018, we knew we were in for a world of projects. From doing a total exte...
A novel use of Formica makes a convenient place for to-do lists Issue 152: Sept/Oct 2023 Creating project lists is a common tactic among boat owners. Some sailors scribble their to-dos on the backs of...
A lack of insulation leads to a fridge overhaul and new stylish countertops Issue 153: Nov/Dec 2023 When my husband, Chris, and I were first looking at boats in 2018, we were young college students in...
The little boat that could Issue 155: March/April 2024 In an era of increasingly bigger boats, sometimes it’s the smaller vessels that steal the show — like our beloved Fatty Knees 8 dinghy. Despite i...
There is a common saying that every object on a boat must serve more than one purpose, and I recently learned that the sentiment can be applied to clothes as well. Although we cast off for cruising tw...
Replacing leaky toerails with beautiful bulwarks was an intensive but rewarding job. Issue 142: Jan/Feb 2022 Despite her many attributes, our 1979 Cheoy Lee 41, Avocet, for a time was living up to the...