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Ask Sail: Line up your Drawers

by Don Casey, Posted April 26, 2013

The drawers have never been painted before and are made of plywood. What kind of paint should we use?

Ask Sail: An Older Rod Rig

by Win Fowler, Posted April 3, 2013

This past summer I purchased a used Valiant 40 with rod rigging. Though the rigging is about 20 years old, the seller assured me he recently had it reheaded and that it should last several more years.

Ask Sail: Dead Fish Magnet

by Gordon West, Posted March 22, 2013

My docked vessel has lately been attracting dead fish! I seem to be the only one around who has this smelly problem. I recently had my corrosion-control system refurbished. Could this be the cause?

Ask Sail: Deck Freshener

by Don Casey, Posted November 1, 2012

My yacht is 20 years old, and the antiskid is looking poor. Is there anything wrong with cleaning the deck, wiping it down with acetone and brushing flowcoat (waxed gelcoat) on to the antiskid?

Ask Sail: Too Much Protection

by Nigel Calder, Posted October 25, 2012

How can I stop the galvanic action I suspect is causing the delignification of the surrounding wood? More zincs, or no zincs?

Antifouling for Props and Shafts

by Don Casey, Posted August 28, 2012

Ask Sail: Another boater we know treated his prop and shaft with a zinc spray paint (93 percent zinc) that he bought at Home Depot for $10. The zinc spray sounds like a good deal, but before using it I want to know if there is any downside?

Boom Modification

by Win Fowler, Posted June 14, 2012

I have a 1968 Bristol, and the mainsheet block is fastened to the boom with a swivel on a threaded bolt that fits into the boom end-fitting, which also serves as the attachment point for the outhaul. I cannot find a replacement for the fitting anywhere, and it is showing its age. Any ideas on where to look?

Slipping and Sliding

by Don Casey, Posted June 13, 2012

Will adding a flattening agent to a glossy two-part topside paint make it much less slippery? I would prefer not to add an abrasive antiskid medium to the paint.

Ask Sail: Transducer Extraction

by Don Casey, Posted March 14, 2012

I have to replace my depthsounder. The plastic nut that holds the old transducer in place was set in the hull with adhesive. The new transducer will not fit the old nut, which has proven very difficult to remove.

Epoxy in Water Tanks

by Don Casey, Posted August 24, 2011

Bob Meier of Mount Vernon, Ohio, asks:"I need to repair an 80-gal fiberglass water tank that is leaking. What food-grade material would you recommend for this purpose? I’d like to use an inert substance that will seal the tank and reinforce the weak area without contaminating my drinking water."Don Casey replies:There are plenty of food-grade