My life with Jane Duck Issue 48 : May/Jun 2006 There has never been another boat like her, not before nor since. I remember crossing Rosario Straits, leaving Lopez Island bound for Deception Pass with...
How to stop noise at night Issue 49 : Jul/Aug 2006 Here’s a pair of halyard chocks I made and tried out this summer. They go a long way toward silencing those Dacron alarm clocks that can interr...
Sailing where the water goes from thin to none Issue 53 : Mar/Apr 2007 When you live in a foreign country for a while, you come to know it and the way of life there. But the important thing is not so ...
A way to keep charts handy to the helm Issue 54 : May/Jun 2007 Beth and I sail our Ericson 31 in Puget Sound and north into the Canadian Gulf Islands and the shores of Vancouver Island. Even though we...
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...
Making a convincing case for a hard dinghy Issue 55 : Jul/Aug 2007 My first cruising sailboat was an 18-foot William Atkin-designed sloop. I built her and cruised her without a tender of any kind. Sin...
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...
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...
A better idea for a singlehander’s ladder Issue 57 : Nov/Dec 2007 One afternoon, contemplating the fate of the solo sailor who winds up in the near-freezing waters of Puget Sound, I took Hervey Garret...
Using 16th-century trees for 21st-century boats Issue 59 : Mar/Apr 2008 Bob Bethea is devoted to his Nonsuch 30, but he calls its clinker-built tender his “heart and soul.” The attachment seems almost...
A cautionary tale from one who’s been there Issue 59 : Mar/Apr 2008 The sirens call when least expected, their soft and gentle songs luring honest sailors away from much-loved boats, turning heads tow...
Drawing has many charms and practical uses Issue 60 : May/Jun 2008 We keep a ship’s log on board KUMA that records our position, wind direction and speed, tides and currents, engine hours, and other i...
Indulging that strong urge to stamp it with your own character Issue 61: July/Aug 2008 Just after high school, I bought a good old car. The first thing I did was to wrap the sun visors and glove box d...
Losing a dodger means gaining a view Issue 62 : Sept/Oct 2008 Our big dodger covered the bridge deck and extended to the sides of the cabintop, making a convenient stowage place for jackets, sweaters,...
It’s simple when you know how Issue 63 : Nov/Dec 2008 Coastal cruisers looking for overnight shelter are apt to find three choices: a marina berth, an anchorage, or a public mooring buoy. Many prefer ...
Rescue your nose from those shipboard odors Issue 64 : Jan/Feb 2009 It’s that first waft of air that rushes up after a long winter — a heady mix of diesel, mildew, deodorizing chemicals, and stale bre...
Positive experiences and peaceful moments make good memories Issue 64 : Jan/Feb 2009 My 9-year-old granddaughter, Piper, escaping the tedium of grown-ups talking about boring things, was burrowed deep...
A cut above the competition Issue 67: July/Aug 2009 Just after high school, Jerry Riggs began a life with boats racing 75-mph Class B hydroplanes. A fascination with engines and aerodynamics led to a ...
A bound-up bilge pump yields to friendly persuasion Issue 69 : Nov/Dec 2009 The thing about a 30-year-old boat is that some of its gear is apt to be 30 years old and, unlike that good old hull, not al...
Stay safe and sane when sailing singlehanded Issue 71 : Mar/Apr 2010 My friend Dorothy’s brother was visiting from Ohio. She said he was a fellow sailor and invited me over for dinner. Her brother tur...
Meticulous planning ensures a perfect anchor platform Issue 72 : May/Jun 2010 When Bruce King designed the Ericson Cruising 31, he gave it a sharp entry. As a result, the deck at the stemhead is rathe...
A Euro-style racer with few concessions to cruising Issue 73 : Jul/Aug 2010 When viewed from dockside, our review boat, Amoretto, a 30-foot Jeanneau Arcadia, appeared to be a solidly built, no-nonsens...
An early riser solves the problem of clattering dropboards Issue 74 : Sept/Oct 2010 Gary Stoop built new teak companionway dropboards to replace the damaged ones that came with his well-used Ericson C...
A performance cruiser for the coast and open ocean Issue 74 : Sept/Oct 2010 Duane and Barbara Tack have owned Sequester, a 1979 Esprit 37, since 1981. I first learned of Duane and Barbara when I disco...
A little pram dinghy is a workhorse and a comfort Issue 76 : Jan/Feb 2011 We wouldn’t cast off without our 8-foot pram in tow. It’s convenient to have her in the water and ready to go when we finally ...
All-season sailing in the Pacific Northwest Issue 76 : Jan/Feb 2011 On a cold and windy day in early March, I climbed aboard the Rawson 30, Alcyone (Al-sy-uh-nee), and met her owner, Devon Blankenship...
A stylish and well-built cruiser/racer Issue 78 : May/Jun 2011 I stood at the top of the marine ramp in Edmonds, Washington, looking down at Greg Pearson’s S2 9.2A, Blast. My first impression was of a...
An example of innovative French style Issue 79: July/Aug 2011 French naval architect Michel Dufour began designing yachts in the 1960s. Perhaps his best-known design is the elegant Arpège (1966), a 30...
A swift, sweet, and well-mannered all-rounder Issue 80 : Sept/Oct 2011 Dave Gow’s Ranger 26, Bandit, was built in 1973 and he’s owned her since 2006. Over the years, the boat’s several skippers have w...
Not all trim needs to be bright Issue 81 : Nov/Dec 2011 Some boats have large amounts of varnished trim while others have little or no brightwork at all. Most good old boats fall somewhere in between;...
