Ease that fear of falling: Techniques for making a trip up the stick safer Issue 8 : Sept/Oct 1999 The only sure things in life are death, taxes, and that — sooner or later — you will have to go up yo...
Use a riding sail to steady your boat at anchor Issue 10 : Jan/Feb 2000 You’re all settled in for the night in that well-protected cove, when the wind picks up. What had been a nice quiet anchorage is...
Issue 15 : Nov/Dec 2000 It’s amazing that sailboats don’t come with screens for the companionway hatch. Whether you spend $2,500 or $250,000 on your boat, if you want to keep bugs out without putting ...
Issue 17 : Mar/Apr 2001 Like many production sailboats, my Ericson 38 has an anchor roller but no centerline cleat (or windlass) for the anchor rode. Anchoring by leading the rode aft to one of the tw...
Issue 24 : May/June 2002 The traditional way to check your course while belowdecks is with a telltale — an upside-down compass mounted in the skipper’s cabin (see photo of one such compass on Page 30....
Issue 31 : Jul/Aug 2003 One of the problems all cruisers face is what to do with onboard trash between visits to town. Not only is it bulky, but let’s face it, it does tend to smell after a few days, ...
Color-coded coils take stress out of docking Issue 70 : Jan/Feb 2010 When cruising, it helps to have aboard an assortment of docklines of various lengths so you can secure your boat in a variety of tr...
A system that simplifies storage and use Issue 80 : Sept/Oct 2011 Everyone knows the importance of keeping paper charts aboard as backups for our electronics. But these things can be huge, so how do y...
Part of the joy of sailing is messing about with our boats — all those little improvements that make sailing and living aboard easier, safer, and more fun. Having read a number of books containi...