A drifter evokes pioneering explorers and the eternal quest for meaning. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 We hoist the drifter instead of the genoa, hoping the diaphanous sail will conjure a breeze. I pad forw...
Two self-described amateurs tackle a DIY rigging replacement project. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 When we purchased Dawn, our 1978 Tartan 27-2, she had been dry-docked for several years with her mast down...
Rest and relaxation on a Chesapeake Bay cruise. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 I noticed the colorful accent pillow on a side shelf at the marine thrift shop last spring. For only five bucks, it would perk u...
Doing the toggle twist to keep our masts upright. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 I can’t dance; just ask my wife (cue chuckles). Given a tune, my twists, turns, and shimmies are as hopelessly misaligned as w...
The right decision about finishing an aluminum mast can be key to your rig’s longevity. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 Sailboats would be nothing without their sails, but even less without masts to hold them...
Delayed engine maintenance leads to a white-knuckled sail through a slice of New York history. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 “Whatever you do, retorque the head at 500 hours,” I was told by the previous own...
How safe are your chainplates? Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 “What’s this? It looks like you have a crack in this chainplate!” my friend John said while dropping into his dinghy. It was our final afternoon ...
A fun night sail after a dinner out with friends turns harrowing for a father and son. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 In the moment before disaster struck, I distinctly remember working on the foredeck of my...
An array of flexible, foldable solar panels enables extended cruising even when it rains. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 Some people are motivated by the lure of wealth, fame, and power. I’m motivated by bee...
A simple strap with low-friction rings can improve mainsail performance. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 Sails are amazing fabrications. They start out as bits of flat cloth, and through the tailoring of the ...
For a new sailor, a fateful trip sparked a seemingly impossible goal. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 When the sailing bug bites, it bites hard. It got me while spending 21 days aboard Selkie, a custom alumin...
How a mast overhaul marked the passing of an icon and a new chapter for a storied rigging loft. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 The 60-odd-foot aluminum tube, balanced horizontally on a custom two-wheeled car...
Custom treads made from composite decking take the pain out of a boat ladder. Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 In the sailing world, misery for feet abounds—from scorched decks to stubbed toes to Slocum’s tack...
… and two more mid-’80s designs Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 The 1987 Hunter 33.5 predated my arrival as chief designer at Hunter in 1992, but was still in production until 1994. It was then replaced...
Issue 148: Jan/Feb 2023 Twenty years ago, I couldn’t have imagined myself as a sailor, much less an editor at Good Old Boat magazine. I grew up near Vancouver, British Columbia, one of the world’s gre...
Quiet morning moments on a boat bestow a tranquil richness Issue 149: March/April 2023 Is there any doubt that the best place to be in the world is on a boat first thing in the morning? Listen: For a ...
Padding your mast climbing harness will save your legs and allow you to work longer Issue 149: March/April 2023 Climbing harnesses have become increasingly popular for mast work, outstripping the trad...
Helping a classic Alberg come to life as a racer-cruiser Issue 149: March/April 2023 Sailing — moving a craft through the water using the wind’s energy — is a magical experience. Witness the var...
Regulating copper-leaching rates of antifouling paints may be better than banning them Issue 149: March/April 2023 Copper is lethal to many marine organisms. That’s why it works. Antifouling paints re...
Determined to reduce his environmental impact, a sailor seeks an alternative to ablative-based antifouling paint Issue 149: March/April 2023 Several years ago, my wife and I were cruising the Bahamas ...
When a plethora of boat problems bedevil a two-week cruise, fellow boaters come to the rescue Issue 149: March/April 2023 On a brisk Saturday morning in August, my husband, Larry, and I set off on our...
When the surprise of a bad rudder comes to light, there’s only one direction to go — forward Issue 149: March/April 2023 I have to start this story with a few warnings. Your rudder matters. Don’t take...
Why sweat and contort yourself if you don’t have to? Issue 149: March/April 2023 “Every part of the hull should be easy to access!” I’ll forever remember those words from one of my offshore training c...
The emotional roller coaster is an inevitable part of the boatyard journey Issue 149: March/April 2023 I have complicated feelings about boatyards. Strolling among the jack stands, with the boats and ...
New through-hulls and lessons learned during a marathon haulout Issue 149: March/April 2023 I first stepped on a sailboat in 2015 and met my now-husband, Scott, at the helm. A friend brought me along ...
A 600-mile trip on the Saint Lawrence proves an enjoyable test for a smaller new boat Issue 149: March/April 2023 Big voyages in small sailboats have inspired me for as long as I can remember, being d...
How to transform that lukewarm solar shower into heated comfort Issue 149: March/April 2023 Like many sailors, I have a sun shower solar hot water heater. Over the years, I’ve found that it work...
A small, handsome double-ender with offshore potential Issue 149: March/April 2023 The 1970s was a transitional period in sailboat design, as CCA (Cruising Club of America) rules that had guided desig...
Issue 149: March/April 2023 With the mainsail hoisted and our 6-hp Mercury pushing us toward Lake Michigan, we scooted out of Pentwater Lake Inlet with high hopes. My 15-year-old brother, Matt, hanked...
The sailing stories we tell can be a map to a meaningful life Issue 150: May/June 2023 My first sailboat sank in 6 feet of water. In retrospect, minor maintenance could’ve saved the little dinghy. But...
