SAIL.SailMagazine

Safety Stanchion Safety (January 2006)

When 200 pounds of force is applied to the top of a 30-inch stanchion, as much as 3 tons of pull can be exerted on the stanchion's base. That is more than enough to rip poorly mounted bolts up through the deck. Make sure all stanchion bases have oversized metal backing plates (not just shoulder washers), and check all the bases periodically for

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‘Smart’ Circuit Breakers

The remotely operated switches in a distributed power system use electronic circuit breakers (ECBs). Current practice is to cluster several electronic circuit breakers in what I will call a Power Distribution Module, or PDM. The PDM is connected to the boat’s main two-wire bus, and then the individual circuits in one area of the boat (such as the lighting circuits

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Gear and Reviews Click here for the 2006 FKP Gear Awards from the February issue

Dog Saver

Hoisting a wet and wriggling dog onto a boat is no joke. This nifty canine boat ladder from Paws Aboard not only lets Fido get himself aboard after a cooling swim, it gives him a chance to shake himself dry before he reaches the cockpit. Measuring 16

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Gear and Reviews

Tie One On

Looking for a stocking-filler for Dad? We’ve long been fans of the natty nautically themed ties ($65) from Vineyard Vines. They’re pure silk, and there’s a huge range of them to choose from, including the Catboat and Anchor & Wave designs pictured here. Or you could go for the full ensemble—VV makes shirts, trousers, and jackets too. Vineyard Vines,

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Inshore Racing There's something to be said for a woman who defied all odds and doctors, living for four years when they predicted her life expectancy to be no more than a few short weeks. That something took the form of the We Gotta Regatta, this year’s North American National Access Dinghy Championship dedicated to the memory of Dell Darby who passed away on January 11, 2006.
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