Ask Sail

I have a Boat U.S.-issued MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number for my VHF radio, and now I’m adding a Garmin AIS 600 Class B transponder.

In the August 2010 issue, Nigel Calder discussed zinc corrosion. As recommended I installed a galvanic isolator in an attempt to stop rapid zinc corrosion and blistering

Q I’m trying to figure out why the paddle-wheel transducer for my Raymarine ST60 knot log is registering incorrectly…

I was intrigued by your answer about the loose-footed main (“Keep it Loose” Dec. 2013) and thought I could do the same on my boat. I also have a bolt rope foot that fits in a groove on the boom…

Many times while sailing my Precision 23 on our local lake I find myself reefing my main and roller-reefing the jib to almost nothing to keep the boat from excessive heeling when the wind is 20 knots…

I’m in the process of ordering sails for a 40-foot cruising boat. I’m looking for good performance, but I’m not racing. I’ve heard conflicting views on short vs. full battens in a mainsail.

I plan to haul out soon, and I am at a port where they let me work on the hull myself. Should I leave my underwater depthsounder transducer scrubbed clean…

With regard to keel-bolt strength, both 304 and 316 stainless steel have a tensile strength in the neighborhood of 80,000 pounds per square inch. The cross-section area of a 3/8in bolt…

I have a 1977 Pearson 28 and have replaced the old Atomic 4 gas engine with a three-cylinder Universal 20hp diesel engine. Do I need to change the original propeller that was driven by the Atomic 4?

Friends have suggested that I change over to LED lights down below. I was told that the LED lights are brighter and require less electricity. However, when I went to purchase LED lights a sales associate told me…