Ingenuity and a warm oven solve the problem Issue 54 : May/Jun 2007 Replacing a smashed aluminum stem casting had us facing the prospect of having to have one custom-machined from scratch at considera...
It’s versatile, efficient, and above all, handsome Issue 54 : May/Jun 2007 The schooner rig is considered to be distinctively North American. There is even a stale old story of how the name came to be...
A simple portlight maintains airflow Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 I’ve built a simple portlight vent into the companionway hatches of several of my boats and wouldn’t cruise without one. They help maintain...
An easy way to check fore-and-aft trim Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 I got tired of looking over the transom to check trim fore and aft. Our Ranger 28 has a reverse transom, which makes it difficult to see ...
A simple swing-up counter extension Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 The U-shaped galley in our Pearson 28-2 seemed more than adequate to me, especially when compared to that of our O’Day 222 trailersailer. Ho...
A better way to store that extra fuel Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 Just about every time I step aboard a sailboat, I learn something. This was the case during our two-week cruise two years ago. The first t...
Here are the terms that define the wind Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 Knowledge of the wind is vital for sailors. So is knowledge of the vocabulary of the wind. To understand and talk about the wind, some i...
Understanding satellites and their benefits Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 Today about 2,700 man-made satellites circle the Earth, but our satellite age had very humble beginnings. In October 1957, 12 years ...
Air-condition your boat for less than $100 Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 “It must be 104 degrees out here you think to yourself as you walk down the dock toward your boat. It’s been just moments since you p...
Maintaining a toasty cabin in freezing weather Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 Winter weather couldn’t keep me separated from my project boat. I spent a couple of working weekends on Maruska, my Pearson...
What you need to know about oil Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 The motor oil in any sailboat’s auxiliary engine is second in importance only to the supply of fuel and air. If neglected, certain — and o...
A functional new cockpit enclosure Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 We wanted our new dodger enclosure to be functional for all seasons. After some consideration, we had two sets of side curtains constructed....
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...
How to keep the library where it belongs Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 I’m a strong advocate of “a place for everything in its place.” This is especially true when stowing things aboard our boat, whe...
Here’s how to reinforce those grommets Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 Many a respected sailor reinforces the grommets on his mainsail (see, for example, Larry and Lin Pardey, The Self-Sufficient Sailor). I ...
This simple upgrade stands the test of time Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 During cruising summers here in the Pacific Northwest, we practically live in the cockpit. The textured non-skid fiberglass sole of...
An often-neglected, but vital, part of auxiliary care Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 If your auxiliary engine is to age gracefully while performing well, two things must be constantly controlled: friction a...
Upgrading the ceiling of a Pearson 365 Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 As she came from the factory several decades ago, the starboard side of Maruska, my 1976 Pearson 365, had fiberglass panels trimmed with...
What you need and how to use it Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 Fire extinguishers are classified by letters and numbers, depending on the class and size of the fire they are designed to handle. The letter, ...
Carving a stern nameboard is easier than you think Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 For saltiness and elegance, few things beat a hand-carved nameboard gracing the stern of a proper yacht. Having one made is ...
Make that deck safe again Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 When it was time to apply the non-skid to the deck of my Fuji 32, I was looking at a blank canvas. Deck repairs, coupled with an ineffective existing...
A reusable all-weather cover for a Bristol 30 Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 I never like the wooden frames for sailboat winter storage. To me, they look kind of sloppy and seem to chafe the tarp. It also s...
Build yourself a comfortable place for boatwork Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 I needed a work canopy that would provide a dry, comfortable place to work on a 50-foot restoration project and I did not want ...
It’s helpful — but there’s no absolute certainty Issue 56 : Sept/Oct 2007 We were following the channel behind the breakwater from Prince Arthur’s Landing Marina, heading toward the entrance to Thunde...
A cheap alternative to the washdown pump Issue 57 : Nov/Dec 2007 Washdown pumps are great when a muddy anchor chain comes aboard. But there is a cheaper alternative. I took two scrub brushes and linke...
Being kind to your outboard engine Issue 57 : Nov/Dec 2007 Low-powered yacht tender outboards are often overworked and under-serviced. They rarely, if ever, enjoy a thorough freshwater flush. This can...
Simple solution for hard-to-reach stowage Issue 57 : Nov/Dec 2007 Odd-shaped and difficult-to-reach stowage compartments present challenges to stowing and retrieving gear aboard. On Ariel, our 1979 Ca...
A simple way to mute that midnight noise Issue 57 : Nov/Dec 2007 Nothing spoils a good night’s sleep more than the occasional rattling of cabinet sliding doors — usually in the galley or head en...
Remove old finishes an easier way Issue 57 : Nov/Dec 2007 I made a conscious decision when we purchased our good old boat: it would have the minimum of wood trim on the exterior. Maybe it was too many...
Simple solar-heated system is gravity-fed Issue 57 : Nov/Dec 2007 It’s known as the “Shower Dilemma.” Most pocket cruisers and older boats are not equipped with the luxury of a hot, freshw...
