Issue 16 : Jan/Feb 2001 There was very little wrong with our 1976 C&C 30, Mystic, when we bought her. The raw-water pump impeller was about to fail, the mast wiring needed to be replaced, and the ...
A little routine inspection can help prevent that sinking feeling Issue 18: May/June 2001 The steering gear on your boat may not get a lot of attention unless the boat stops steering. Depending on the...
A long and difficult repair made while in Mexico — was it worth it? Issue 18: May/June 2001 There are a few pieces of equipment on our boat that we are never too sure about, especially in the middle o...
Only one thing terrified this lone circumnavigator — haulout time Issue 27: Nov/Dec 2002 WHEN PEOPLE LEARN THAT I HAVE sailed my boat alone around most of the world, almost inevitably they say, “You’r...
Issue 20 : Sept/Oct 2001 One thing for sure about being aboard a boat is that the weather is never the same for very long. There are times when you don’t need hatch doors at all, times when heavy-duty...
Bent stanchions and delaminated decks Issue 20 : Sept/Oct 2001 When we were unloading our boat following a recent week-long cruise, I noticed the midship stanchion on the port side was slightly bent t...
Solving the problem of icing up in winter Issue 20 : Sept/Oct 2001 For those of us who live the higher latitudes, the approach of the fall season reminds us of an upcoming conflict between our boating...
Issue 21 : Nov/Dec 2001 Not all lids are made with a locking mechanism. The lids on our cockpit lazarettes come to mind. These lids are large, heavy, and awkward. Dick Thews must have grappled with th...
Issue 21 : Nov/Dec 2001 Tired of tasting bilge water to see if it’s fresh or salt? Puzzled by deck leaks when you’ve cornered the 3M 5200 market? You say your leak recurs every time your kids wash the...
Epoxy, fiberglass, and a little cunning fix an old problem Issue 21 : Nov/Dec 2001 Tillers in some boats are known to break with regularity. If you’ve ever taken part in a drill of this nature, I don’...
This automotive windshield goop is cheap, effective, and durable Issue 22 : Jan/Feb 2002 Do you have a leaky Lewmar hatch? Is it one of those intermittent drips that you can’t find? Has it reached the...
Follow these instructions to give your deck a sparkling new life Issue 23 : Mar/Apr 2002 The very first day a new boat is rolled out of the shop, the sun (or rain, or sleet, or hail, or hobnailed boot...
Stand proud and tall (if you can) once you’ve repacked or adjusted your boat’s stuffing box Issue 23 : Mar/Apr 2002 A stuffing box by any other name — shaft seal, packing gland, rotating seal, packing...
It ain’t brain surgery, but pampering your head will save your sanity Issue 24 : May/June 2002 A popular saying goes: “To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.” Perhaps this is why my ...
What you need to know about them — and how to replace them Issue 24 : May/June 2002 Few of us ever give a thought to Cutless bearings until it’s time to replace them. Then we wonder why the yard charg...
Mold? Rust? Wasps nests? Plastic goo? Your deck vents have surprises in store for you Issue 25 : Jul/Aug 2002 Have you ever looked under your vacuum-type deck vent? You could be in for a shock. My boa...
Issue 26 : Sept/Oct 2002 In a fit of enthusiasm, I decided to paint Time Out’s ancient and slippery deck with non-skid paint. It was a difficult decision, but it was made for me when I darned near end...
Make your own ventilators to keep fresh air flowing down below Issue 29 : Mar/Apr 2003 If I were to ask all those sailors whose boats have adequate ventilation to raise their hands, I think there woul...
An elegant solution to the dropboard problem Issue 34: Jan/Feb 2004 VERN ALLEN IS A retired pilot. He spent many years in Alaska, flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for charters, sightseeing, ...
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...
From aluminum ports to weathered bronze: a clever fraud Issue 30 : May/Jun 2003 Although we love our boat, we’ve never had any particular affection for her fixed aluminum ports. Plans to retrofi...
An expert tells how to pick the right stuff for the job Issue 30 : May/Jun 2003 I’m going to suggest something that may sound a lot like the TV pitchman who promises miracles for only pennies. It is a...
Letting in new light on an old problem Issue 31 : Jul/Aug 2003 After 20 years, the flush windows in our C&C Landfall 35 had been ravaged by exposure. They were suffering from age. One window had a...
The liquid that creeps along cracks and cures ’em Issue 33 : Nov/Dec 2003 Persistence was a 40-year-old classic wooden ketch, designed by a master and built in Taiwan by folks who knew what they were ...
How a can of fruit salad and some hose clamps saved the day Issue 33 : Nov/Dec 2003 Day two of our planned trip up to Lake Michigan to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula dawned like the previous day: hot, hum...
How to get rid of scratches on plastic windows Issue 35 : Mar/Apr 2004 One of the most vexing problems facing boaters is the appearance of fine scratches on clear plastic windows. The process of remov...
Here’s how to enjoy maintaining your brightwork Issue 35 : Mar/Apr 2004 Most good old boats come with at least a little teak. Our 1982 Baba 30 came with lots: teak decks, teak caprails, teak decorativ...
An annual physical keeps the auxiliary running fit and well Issue 35 : Mar/Apr 2004 Since the main powerplant on a sailboat is its sails, the engine on a sailboat is correctly described when it is ref...
How to enlarge an existing hole Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 How do you enlarge an existing hole — whether for a through-hull fitting, a finger hole in a drawer, or plumbing to go through a bulkhead — with...
Good old boat-cleaning recipes use cheap, natural ingredients Issue 36 : May/Jun 2004 We live on a farm in rural, northeastern Ohio, nestled in among the fourth-largest Amish community in the world. A...
