In galleys, engine compartments, and heads, seacocks and thru-hulls are everywhere Issue 1 : June 1998 Every thru-hull fitting below the waterline is a potential boat sinker. That fact is enough to ra...
Deck delamination conjures up images of free falling … straight through to the bilge … but it need not frighten the most resourceful among us Issue 3 : Nov/Dec 1998 The word “delamination”...
As the forerunners of the fiberglass revolution reach their 50th birthdays, more and more questions are arising about the ultimate longevity of GRP boats. As is so often the case, there are few easy a...
Whether constructed of steel or aluminum, metal yachts deserve a second look Issue 7 : Jul/Aug 1999 In the 1960s and early 1970s we rarely saw metal yachts in North American waters. Steel yachts had b...
Issue 8 : Sept/Oct 1999 Boat pox, osmosis, or blisters . . . call it what you will. Most fiberglass boatowners prefix the blight with a salty expletive deleted. The shock of discovering bubbles on you...
Whether a cosmetic or structural issue, a thorough investigation of any blister problem is warranted Issue 8 : Sept/Oct 1999 People often ask whether gelcoat osmosis problems — generically called “bli...
For good old boaters, life holds three certainties: death, taxes, and antifouling. We tell you what coatings are available and how they work Issue 10 : Jan/Feb 2000 For hundreds of years, copper was t...
It’s quick and inexpensive to stitch together the one that suits you best Issue 11 : Mar/Apr 2000 Dinghies are a mixed blessing. They are a “must” for cruising, allowing you the option of anchoring ou...
In excerpts from his latest book, yacht designer Dave Gerr explains the finer points of good boatbuilding practice Issue 11 : Mar/Apr 2000 To be a good old boat, a vessel must be well built. Easily sa...
Ted Brewer explains how racing rules affected seaworthiness — but not always for the better Issue 12 : May/Jun 2000 The purpose of any rating rule is to enable yachts of different sizes to race togeth...
How they’re built and repaired — and the many good reasons for owning one Issue 14: Sept/Oct 2000 People have built, paddled, and sailed boats for tens of thousands of years. Throughout that time, alm...
The World According to GRP from Dan Spurr’s new book Issue 13 : Jul/Aug 2000 Assigning proper credit to the people behind the first fiberglass boats is difficult for several reasons. The fiberglass bo...
Ted Brewer reviews the ins and outs and ups and downs of keel design Issue 13 : Jul/Aug 2000 The purpose of a keel, fin, or centerboard is to provide resistance to making leeway; in effect, to keep th...
People may be impressed by a millionaire’s rocketship, but “ooohs” and “aaahs” are saved for the classic Issue 15 : Nov/Dec 2000 A British author once wrote, in effect, that you can go away for a week...
A Triton owner tackles the problem of ailing decks with creativity Issue 16 : Jan/Feb 2001 A word of caution: This article is about an innovative technique for applying an unusual deck veneer as a sub...
Issue 18: May/June 2001 I received an urgent call from an old friend with a Pearson Commander. The boat is his pride and joy, and he has kept it beautifully. The under-deck reinforcement of the on-dec...
Swap your old plastic windows for salty new ports Issue 19 : Jul/Aug 2001 After buying our old 1965 Alberg 30, Mary and I knew that part of the renovation program would be the replacement of the old f...
Solutions to the problem of sailing in thin water Issue 19 : Jul/Aug 2001 One answer to obtaining both shoal draft and good sailing performance is the centerboard, and boards have been fitted to every...
Issue 20 : Sept/Oct 2001 In my writing about the search for shoal draft (July 2001), I covered centerboards, leeboards, and bilge fins but neglected shoal fins — an oversight on my part. It was, perha...
Issue 21 : Nov/Dec 2001 When Mary and I bought our 1965 Alberg 30 we knew that replacing the forward hatch was going to be one of many projects. Down below there was no indication that the old hatch w...
Whether flat-bottom or round-bilged, each hull has a purpose and a place on the water Issue 21 : Nov/Dec 2001 The basic hull forms for sailboats are the flat-bottom, the vee-bottom or deadrise hull, a...
Issue 22 : Jan/Feb 2002 After rebedding our deck hardware (and in the process very nearly causing a Stage 2 Spousal Concern Incident) I thought I’d share a method I (we) discovered that might make the...
Practical tips for a brilliant finish from the author of This Old Boat Issue 22 : Jan/Feb 2002 Old boats, like old boat owners, weather on their surfaces. For the boat, at least, a well-applied coat o...
Forecast a boat’s performance by reading between the lines Issue 22 : Jan/Feb 2002 I trust that readers will appreciate the problem confronting the yacht designer. He has a two-dimensional sheet of pa...
Give your boat’s name a facelift with vinyl letters and graphics Issue 23 : Mar/Apr 2002 Your boat’s name probably reveals a bit about you. How that name appears on your boat can also reflect on...
A designer’s view of the compromises involved Issue 23 : Mar/Apr 2002 The displacement/length (D/L) ratio is a non-dimensional figure by which we can compare boats of different lengths. It’s obtained ...
Plywood-and-epoxy kits add up to easier boatbuilding Issue 26 : Sept/Oct 2002 People have been building small wooden boats for eons in a process often shrouded in mystery. Steam boxes and molds for la...
What type of rudder’s on your boat? Advantages and disadvantages of each Issue 26 : Sept/Oct 2002 The main purpose of the rudder is to steer the boat, of course, but far too many sailors do not realiz...
Step-by-step instructions for making your own hard dodger Issue 27: Nov/Dec 2002 IN MY DREAMS I OWN A SLEEK high-performance sloop that goes to weather like a rocket. This dreamboat has a sexy little ...
A professional yacht designer says you might be happier with one Issue 28 : Jan/Feb 2003 The summer winds are fickle and light in many of the waters of North America. I’ve sailed in a number of them: ...
