An old sail helps the night watch rest easy Issue 112: Jan/Feb 2017 After we purchased a new suit of sails recently, I was determined to give our old sails a second life. I couldn’t find a recycling p...
It began with reclaiming space from in-deck storage Issue 112: Jan/Feb 2017 Our Down East 45 has a large aft cabin with an attached en-suite head compartment. Entry to this cabin is by way of a passag...
Protection for fiberglass countertops Issue 113: March/April 2017 Molded fiberglass galley countertops are fairly common on older boats. When taken care of, they look good and are easy to keep clean. ...
Two dollies make keel hauling a one-man job Issue 113: March/April 2017 When I pulled Carolyn’s Eyes, our 1984 Catalina 22, out of Chesapeake Bay in the fall of 2015, I saw at once that her retractabl...
A little stiffness could have become a big problem Issue 113: March/April 2017 We had been tied to a dock for several weeks enjoying the city of Seville, Spain. It was a day just like any other day: I...
The cost of wood made aluminum the way to go Issue 113: March/April 2017 I was up the foremast of my 1977 Down East 45 schooner, Britannia, raised there by the electric windlass bolted to the bowsprit...
The answer when “universal” isn’t quite Issue 114: May/June 2017 You can buy a key for the old-style slotted deck-fill caps, but about the only type available is a universal key designed to fit severa...
Clip-on solar lights illuminate and identify Issue 114: May/June 2017 For about $5 each, I made wireless lights that I can install anyplace on the boat we have a 1-inch rail to clip them on to. They b...
Shedding water is the key to longevity Issue 114: May/June 2017 When inflatable dinghies are stored outdoors, they need protection from the sun, rain, windblown leaves, and wildlife droppings. Of the ...
A traditional seaman’s artifact is a step up Issue 114: May/June 2017 Getting into our bunk aboard our PDQ 32 is a rather athletic endeavor: I have to crawl in face-first over a seat that is too...
Looking up is no longer embarrassing Issue 114: May/June 2017 One of the inescapable downsides of owning a good old boat is, it’s old! Much on board a boat that’s pushing 40, like my Down East 45 scho...
At 50, she gets her long-awaited makeover Issue 114: May/June 2017 Our decision to purchase a Columbia 29 for bluewater cruising was based on three primary factors. First was her reputation. The Colum...
A tour of the marina was illuminating Issue 114: May/June 2017 My good fortune to live on a small barrier island in Florida is offset by the misfortune of full-time employment that requires me to comm...
Using à la carte components to make a watermaker Issue 114: May/June 2017 Living aboard almost full time as we do, what a treat it is to have an endless supply of fresh water we make ourselves. With a...
When less than perfect is bright enough Issue 114: May/June 2017 About an hour after I put what I hoped was the last layer of varnish on some of Nurdle’s brightwork, it started to rain. The rain was f...
A mirror warms the ambience of a harsh LED Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 After replacing with LEDs all of the old-style incandescent bulbs in the cabin lights aboard Pelorus, my AMF Paceship 26, I started ...
Now it’s on the level, it’s a straight steerer Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 Pelorus, my AMF Paceship 26, sustained a bit of damage in her brush with Hurricane Joaquin in 2015. In the spring of 2016, I reb...
A home for electronics hides clutter from view Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 After purchasing my Spirit 28 sailboat, Wastin’ Time, in 2009, I began looking for a suitable space inside where I could build a...
Keep ahead of it and never look back Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 We’d neglected the bottom of our boat for a month and the warm Mexican waters had transformed our sleek hull into a furry ecosystem teemin...
The riddle of “overheating” engine Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 It was a beautiful summer’s day and we were heading out for a two-week cruise. Our first leg was 26 miles across the Strait of G...
Jet it off with a homemade washdown wand Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 Dirty rode in an anchor locker can make a mess and get to smelling pretty foul. A clean rode is especially desirable when an anchor lo...
It removes the aroma before it can envelop you Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 Ah, the holding tank, that place where we store our waste until we can find a pump-out station. In a perfect world, a marine hol...
Make holding-tank chemistry work in your favor Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 You’ve polished the gelcoat, cleaned the seat covers, and put out matching towels, and yet when guests visit the head, their rea...
Insurance against the 0-dark-thirty cartridge change Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 I well remember the first time I had to change a diesel fuel filter under duress. We were on our first trip away from the ...
A water-cooled fridge keeps its chill in warm waters Issue 116: Sept/Oct 2017 Sailing in any region where the water is warm — the Tropics, Florida, and the Bahamas come to mind — can impose a real str...
Weighing cruising gains vs. performance losses Issue 116: Sept/Oct 2017 By modifying the keel on his Tartan 37 to reduce its draft (see “A Keel Too Deep”), Tom Wells has taken a step that many sailors...
Turning a deep-draft racer into a shoal-draft cruiser Issue 116: Sept/Oct 2017 As we approached our retirement, Sandy and I confronted a dilemma. We had owned our Tartan 37, Higher Porpoise, since 199...
A cannibalized cockpit enclosure provides versatile shelter Issue 116: Sept/Oct 2017 How much shelter from the weather does a sailing crew need? Some sailors look at their bare unprotected cockpits an...
A beloved family member receives a whole new cockpit Issue 116: Sept/Oct 2017 Our 1961 Alden Challenger yawl, Christmas, has brought us joy season after season for many years. She is one of 53 Alden C...
Is it real? Is it laminate? No, it’s paint! Issue 116: Sept/Oct 2017 My good old boat is a 1979 San Juan 28, a plastic production-line IOR fin-keeler. When I had her hauled one recent fall for a multi...
