Ask Sail: I have installed a shaft-saver coupling on the prop shaft on my sailboat and have realized the shaft is now isolated from the ground. Is this a good thing, or should I put a grounding strap on the coupling?
I sail an S2 8.7 with a Yanmar 2GM engine. When sailing, should the prop be locked or should I let it freewheel? If I should lock it, is it better to put the transmission in forward or reverse?
My question is this: what effect will diesel have on the blue desiccant beads in the H2Out? Is there some change I should make to the air vent?
When I turned on my recently installed chartplotter, I got a “low voltage” message. Using a digital voltmeter, I measured 9.7 volts at the circuit breaker on the load side. Voltage on the battery side was 12.5 volts.
I have a 1984 Vandestadt & McGruer Siren. She’s in excellent shape but for the galvanized swing keel.
Steph Lakner of Annapolis, Maryland, asks:”I have a Westerbeke engine (circa 1987) on a Cal 28. The engine overheats (to 210-215 F) after about 20 minutes running at full rpm. The impeller is fine, but water flow is reduced beyond the heat exchanger. I have found no obstructions (broken vanes, etc). I brought the heat exchanger home and cleaned it with vinegar. It was
The Optimist may be the most successful class in history. Thousands of kids around the world have cut their teeth sailing and racing Optis since the boat first appeared in 1952, but is that it? Must young sailors start out in a square boat thats not too durable, not self-bailing, and needs fixed buoyancy bags? Yes, the Opti has earned its place by sheer force of numbers, and its going to take a
In addition to the Santa Cruz 37, several performance/racing designs (King 40, A35 and A40 from Archambault, Andrews 28, and the Melges 20) debuted this year, and a case can be made for each design in this category. But the Santa Cruz 37 ended up narrowly edging out the others because its hit the sweet spot between racing performance, accommodations, and trailerability. For starters, the boat is
Octobers Annapolis Boat Show opened as Wall Street experienced one of the biggest sell-offs in history. With the scary economic news, it was easy to think that many people would put off investing in a new boat. That idea went out the window as VIP Thursday appeared to be more crowded than ever. Instead of panicking, sailors seemed to be turning to sailing, much as they did after 9/11as a
Bill Schultz of Bay City, Michigan, asks:”I am installing a 24-volt battery bank in the bow of my 40-foot sailboat to power a bow thruster. Do I need to run a grounding wire to my engine block? Or can I use an alternative grounding site? What size wire do I need?”Nigel Calder replies:Technically, if the bow thruster has a case ground
The foiling grand prix fleet made a stop in New York this week, but tricky conditions on Saturday left some out of the racing. Still, the home team moved up the leaderboard and a few notable names joined the racers.
Take a look inside the build process of a foiling Classe Mini 6.50 as Peter Gibbons-Neff gears up for a second go at the Mini Transat.
In praise of the Melges 15, a class that has grown to prominence in recent years, and for good reason.
Where you’ve seen her work: the iconic Transpac photography at Diamond Head light, The Ultimate Sailing Calendar Sharon Green’s photography career began suddenly and with
How and why to make your next adventure a trip aboard Other People’s Boats.
Sailing the “Standing Mast Route” Through The Netherlands
When it comes to managing a blow, reefing is just one part of the equation.
The Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG) needs your help with compiling data about collisions and other encounters at sea. Click here to review the reporting
In part one of our series on yachting’s most iconic photographers, Onne van der Wal offers insight and advice from his storied career.
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Sailing Hall of Famer, America’s Cup legend, and founder of CNN dies at age 87.
