Even the worst-case scenario is a pretty straightforward repair Issue 29 : Mar/Apr 2003 When I discovered the weeping portlights on our Pearson 28, my first thought was: “Caulk ’em.” So, not knowing a...
Look before you take the leap from tiller to wheel Issue 30 : May/Jun 2003 Thinking of converting (or buying a boat that’s been converted) from tiller steering to wheel steering? Read this first. I wo...
It’s simple, really: Just cut a bit off, add a bit on Issue 44: Sept/Oct 2005 WHEN WE HAD OUR BOAT SURVEYED before purchase, the surveyor noted “yellow moisture readings” on the moisture meter at the ...
Make them yourself this easy way Issue 52: Jan/Feb 2007 A LIFELINE CUSHION IS SOMETHING YOU CAN THROW TOGETHER from materials intended for other projects, and you can save a nice wad of cash while you...
Use these socks on your portlight screens Issue 47 : Mar/Apr 2006 I dream of there mass extermination but, alas, it remains a dream — no-see-ums (midges, punkies, sand flies, and sand fleas) are a fac...
Roller guards tame halyard chafe Issue 48 : May/Jun 2006 When I took my mast down for repair, I noticed that the surface of the aluminum spreaders was flattened in places by halyard chafe. A friend su...
A cruiser’s improvements for sitting and sleeping Issue 49 : Jul/Aug 2006 Berths need to serve different functions depending on who’s in them and whether the boat’s in port or at sea. The traditional ...
Triton served as home for two for seven years Issue 51 : Nov/Dec 2006 The new old boat at the marina caught my eye. Boats like that always do. Wow! A real cruiser. A 1960s boat. A Triton? An Alberg 30...
Extra cockpit light that also stows away Issue 54 : May/Jun 2007 We have a Davis Mega-Light, cockpit version, which is a seriously cool gizmo — ambient light for the cockpit in white, red, or yellow w...
Reassurance springs from long hands-on experience Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 After working on our cruiser-in-progress for two months shy of six years, I’m just about done. I don’t think I’m boasting my w...
A 20-year odyssey approaches a perfect ending Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 On a gray winter day in the middle of the continent, I open a copy of a sailing magazine I’ve just bought at a bookstore in a cit...
Here’s a simple catch-all for all your plotting needs Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 Oour 28-foot Pearson isn’t big enough for a dedicated navigation station with a chart table and drawers, so we need...
A racing wolf in cruising sheep’s clothing Issue 59 : Mar/Apr 2008 Serious business would be a good name for this boat, I thought. Gryphon, her actual name, is proclaimed on her transom in bold, blood...
Be cautious about adding new components Issue 60 : May/Jun 2008 A boat’s electrical system gets attention pretty early in a restoration or refit. Most of us who are fixing up older sailboats figure we...
Know how much water you have — at a glance Issue 62 : Sept/Oct 2008 Water tanks are located in the nether regions of the boat and are covered by bunks, liner pans, access hatches, and all the stuff th...
A wood-burning cabin heater beats the chill Issue 68 : Sept/Oct 2009 We sure do love a warm fire in the cabin when it gets chilly in the evening and early morning, so when we take our good old Pearson...