A cardboard box is an instant spray-painting booth Issue 106 : Jan/Feb 2016 Proper anchoring depends on knowing how much rode is out. Fiber rode can be measured by arm span (fathoms) and chain can be ...
Better backing plates restore rigidity Issue 108: May/June 2016 When a concentrated load is applied to a structure, that load must be distributed widely enough that the surrounding structure is not ov...
Surface mounts step in where holes are not welcome Issue 107 : Mar/Apr 2016 The gold standard for secure mountings on boats has always been to use through-bolts, with a backing plate if the loads just...
As it flies, it defies flailing sheets and flapping sails Issue 107 : Mar/Apr 2016 A masthead fly is the truest indicator of the apparent wind direction, but it’s often obscured by either the Bimini o...
Say goodbye to sheet hang-ups on mast winches Issue 109 : Jul/Aug 2016 Snagging the lazy (windward) genoa sheet on mast-mounted winches was my curse since the day we added a genoa to Shoal Survivor, o...
A dry suit is put to the test on the Gumby immersion course Issue 110 : Sept/Oct 2016 Most sailors who venture upon cold water have given considerable thought to the consequences of having to abandon ...
Banish the hazing, crazing rays of summer Issue 111: Nov/Dec 2016 Under the relentless glare of UV, crisp sails turn to fragile rags, shiny paint dulls, and clear plastic windows become hazy and craze...
Trays organize the upper regions of deep lockers Issue 111: Nov/Dec 2016 Cavernous lockers are handy when you have something bulky to stash: a spare sail, a sun awning, or a folding grocery cart. But ...
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. ...
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...
The Cuban yo-yo takes up no space yet hauls in dinner Issue 115: July/Aug 2017 I’m a fishing sailor. Fishing passes the time during periods of light winds, and there is no finer dining than on a fish ...
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...
Issue 119: March/April 2018 Shockles: LineSnubber, DockShockle, and MiniShockle I was skeptical that something advertised as “bungee cords on steroids” could do much to absorb heavy-duty shocks, never...
Where the climate insists, a built-in system pays dividends Issue 119: March/April 2018 Summers on the Chesapeake are hot and humid, so we thought we were in high clover when our new-to-us boat came w...
Make strong connections with a needle and twine Issue 120: May/June 2018 Conventional splices are king for forming eyes in rope. They resist abrasion and snagging and retain nearly the full strength o...
Storm windows on hatches and ports help keep the cabin cozy Issue 120: May/June 2018 How many northern sailors miss the glory days of sailing? I’m talking about the fall when, in many parts of the con...
Reverse the ravages of age or accidents Issue 121: July/Aug 2018 Deck hatches are great for the light and air flow they allow below, and it’s nice to see through them. Unfortunately, subjected to ultr...
A better way to connect snubbers and bridles to chain Issue 121: July/Aug 2018 Anchoring can be a straightforward procedure, but there are occasions that demand special strategies. And anchoring as a ...
Those nightmare threads that become unthreadable can be avoided Issue 122: Sept/Oct 2018 Sailing is all about feel. And sometimes it’s through feel we get the first hint that things are about to go al...
Don’t let dock-hose biomass contaminate the boat’s water tanks Issue 123: Nov/Dec 2018 Every time I take on fresh water, even in my home marina, I get an uneasy feeling. I’ve seen what lives in water ...
Issue 124: Jan/Feb 2019 Hold that beverage Accon Marine’s quick-release stainless steel drink holders use the same mounts as the quick-release fender hangers I reviewed in the September issue (“Quick-...
Banish the black bane with a simple chemical brew Issue 124: Jan/Feb 2019 As near as I can tell, boating consists of one part blue lagoons and white sails and two parts painting the bottom, fixing eng...
Issue 125: March/April 2019 Bio protection for propellers Before our June launch this year, after cleaning the prop thoroughly I coated it with PYI’s Velox Plus propeller antifouling paint. Everything...
They’d set sail tomorrow if it weren’t for . . . Issue 125: March/April 2019 We see it all the time. A boat is purchased and an announcement made, but, after some time has passed, either realit...
Issue 130: Jan/Feb 2020 Nav in Hand During a cruise of southwest Florida, I used the iNavX charting and navigation app on my iPhone 8 (it can be used on other IOS and Android devices as well). The app...
Getting tasty water from your boat’s tap isn’t a pipe dream if you follow some basic steps. Issue 130: Jan/Feb 2020 Stagnant, skunky, tank-sourced drinking water is one of the less romantic aspects of...
Understanding what’s happening on the bottom goes a long way to improving anchoring success. Issue 130: Jan/Feb 2020 Any article about anchoring can smack of fear mongering. And the audience is ripe b...
Issue 132: May/June 2020 Filling Fuel Tanks Neatly Just over a decade ago, filling outboards, mowers, chainsaws, and small tanks got messy when CARB (the California Air Resources Board) mandated low-e...
Issue 133: July/Aug 2020 Getting Smarter Wanting to be more self-sufficient and increase my knowledge of the diesel engine aboard my Beneteau 311, I signed up for Boater University’s online course Mar...
Issue 134: Sept/Oct 2020 Chain Lube Change-up Steering chains lurk unloved, out of sight, in one of the toughest environments on the boat, a constantly damp bilge. And steering failure ranks near the ...
