Having capitulated, here’s how to raise the waterl...
September 25, 2026
She’s a 20-foot trailersailer with a large cockpit and a lot of names Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 Back in the 1930s, a couple of teenage brothers enjoyed being out on Lake Wawasee, located near their home...
A woman singlehander loses her heart to that old lump of iron down below Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 Most sailors don’t miss the motor after they part with their first auxiliary-powered sailboat. Bu...
Improve your marlinspike seamanship with knots, bends, and hitches Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 During my two-plus decades of Boy Scouting (as a Scout during my youth and then as a Scoutmaster), knots and ...
It was another of those projects that took longer than anticipated Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 When I first looked at our 1978, 33-foot, Nor’West sailboat, I noted the fuel tank located in the keel below ...
Follow these instructions for some really inspiring wiring Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 We were on the Intracoastal Waterway a few miles south of Fernandina Beach, Florida, when the distinct tang of an ele...
Eight ways to steer a boat Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 When it comes to steering a sailboat, even die-hard wheel enthusiasts agree there is no steering system that is simpler, more affordable, or offers b...
An inexpensive way to keep the warm or cool air inside Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 When the winter chill comes on board or when you want to keep that cool air-conditioned air inside your cabin, sew yourse...
Be prepared for the worst and hope it never happens Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 Oof the many steering systems available to the small ship, none is easier to make, simpler to use, or more sensitive to the ...
Send these tips in advance to all lubberly guests Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 Usually, inviting friends to share a holiday on your boat is fine. If you are lucky, they will conserve water, turn off the li...
Finer dining afloat calls for special table design Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 Only the very largest yachts actually have a separate dining room. I’ve been on more than one that did, complete with linens ...
A very determined sailor labors to renovate a 66-year-old Alden woodie Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 When I went for a sail last August on Zephyr, my 1938 Malabar Jr., designed by John Alden, it was so much...
What’s at the end of your shrouds and stays? Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 The stainless-steel standing rigging that supports our masts is critical to our sailing safety, and the terminals at the end of the...
Wire ties prevent a midnight cacophony Issue 44: Sept/Oct 2005 A WHILE BACK, WE HAD THE OCCASION TO SPEND THE NIGHT aboard our boat at an unfamiliar marina. The wind was freshening and the water was s...
His designs were few but all became timeless classics Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 Traditional. Classic. Timeless. Character boats. Boats from the heart. These are just some of the terms the owners of boat...
Use bolster cushions for storage Issue 44: Sept/Oct 2005 NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON YOUR BOAT? SOUNDS FAMILIAR. HERE’S an idea: make bolster pillows or cushion covers from pieces of upholstery fabric that mat...
A comparison of the Watkins 29 with three contemporaries Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 For comparison I tried to choose boats from a reasonably similar era with a reasonably similar purpose: that is to say,...
A boat specially suited to Florida’s shallow waters Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 Frank Fitzhenry, of Clearwater, Florida, owns a sailboat on the west coast of Florida that is an official U.S. Coast Guard O...
A boat comes alive only at the interface of sea and sky Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 Few creatures inhabit both sea and sky. A sailboat is a creature of mass, displacing tons of water, yet sensitive to the...
Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 I’ve singlehanded for a couple of weeks at a time, and I’ve cruised with an all-male crew as well. Both are OK, but not my preference. Joshua Slocum and other singlehande...
One sailor’s way to make a movable bracket for a cabin lamp Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 Shore power (or a good battery bank and electric lights) is convenient, but nothing beats the comfort of a cozy sail...
A cunning way to avoid ice-box odor Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 Tired of sponging out the ice chest or draining all that melt water (and what else?) into the bilge? When a yard worker changed our drain so...
The trailersailer’s answer to low-water launch ramps Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 With its shoal-draft keel/centerboard combination, my trailersailer draws only 22 inches. However, if I want to float it of...
A sailor’s ingenuity (and a little labor) stops those annoying drips Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 In 1970 I purchased a new Columbia 36 that came with a very good dealer discount because I agreed to handle...
Try these simple temporary repairs in emergencies Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 In an era when electronic development is leaving most of us behind, there are still ways to make small repairs and additions t...
Try this simple substitute for flopper-stoppers Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 Have you ever anchored in an apparently protected harbor only to find a surge running into it? The boat starts rocking and rolli...
Spreading the winching strain on a trailersailer Issue 44: Sept/Oct 2005 THE VERSATILITY OF TRAILERSAILING AFFORDS ME THE opportunity to enjoy a variety of diverse sailing grounds. All I need to do is...
Observe the ground rules and drive the gremlins out Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 My friend called with obvious concern in his voice. “John, something very strange is going on; I need your help! My boat is ...
What to do when fire strikes on a boat and there’s no place to hide Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 There is always some uncertainty in life, especially when it comes to boats. It wouldn’t be an adventure oth...
How to choose new cushion coverings for an older boat Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 Like many older sailboats out there, Coquette, our “new to us” 1975 Van de Stadt Agulhas, is in dire need of new interior ...
What you need for cruising. . . besides the boat Issue 37 : Jul/Aug 2004 I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to what kind of coin to put under the mast of Sangoma, a 1983 Cape Dory 27 I’m refitti...
