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Two brushes, hinged together so the anchor rode can be inserted, will clean a muddy chain nicely. The assembly is weighted and a short retrieval line is attached.

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...

How does that saying go? You can take the girl out of the country, but . . . In this case, you can take the outboard out of the salt water, but can you take the salt water out of the motor? Alan Lucas says a fresh-water flush in a bucket will do the job.

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...

Parts, tools, goops, and seldom-used gear can be stowed in any cavernous cockpit locker if you have a clever retrieval system.

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...

Just as annoying as the constant rolling back and forth of a stray pencil or flashlight is that perpetual “tap tap” of a loose cabinet door. Richard silences that troubling noise with a handy wedge at the ready.

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...

Don’t have a scraper aboard? Don’t despair. You can make an excellent one using only a flat file and a hacksaw blade, top photo. Use the file to square off the top edge of the saw blade, second photo. The trick is in the third photo: use the tang of the file and rub it firmly along both top edges at a 30-degree angle to create a fine burr. Does this work? The fourth photo tells the story.

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...

Diagram of a shower system

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...

Three strand and double braid dockline

Make sure they stretch and absorb shocks Issue 57 : Nov/Dec 2007 The majority of sailboats see more time at the docks than actively sailing. This makes the selection of docklines especially important....