Ask Sail

Every month, SAIL gives its readers the opportunity to interact directly with sailing experts regarding sails, maintenance, electronics, systems and more. Check out our questions and answers from the August issue and feel free to send in some questions of your own.

Can a forward-looking sonar effectively spot floating deadheads ahead in the water when cruising in the Pacific Northwest?

I am replacing the rubrails on my 26-year-old Pearson. I have removed the many bolts that hold the rub rail to the deck and the deck to the hull. They do not

I would like to add an inner forestay to my Hughes Columbia 40. The sail for this is 350 square feet. What safe working load would I need for an exit block for the mast as well as jib tracks and leads?

Last year, I purchased a 2000 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37. The boat had been chartered, but was well maintained. Its Yanmar 3GM30F engine started easily and ran well during the survey, but a few weeks after closing, an engine stringer broke, and the repair required that the engine be removed. After it was reinstalled, I began to experience intermittent starting problems.

I recently purchased a handheld battery-operated GPS chartplotter. I was told it could survive 30 minutes in a couple of feet of seawater. But once when landing the dinghy on a beach, I jumped out too soon with the GPS in my pocket.

I just purchased a new Seldén mast for my 42-foot sailboat, but was surprised to see a splice in the lower part of the mast. I expected a one-piece extrusion.

I am upgrading my Lewmar manual winches to electric power and would like to cover the motors. However, Lewmar does not sell covers.

I recently bought a used Ranger 26, and as far as I know the bottom was painted with Interlux VC 17. The previous owner raced the boat, but I don’t plan to

I have a 30-foot C&C. The boom on this boat is too low for a standard vang, and the mast has an internal track for round slugs