I’m trying to figure out why my paddlewheel knot log is registering incorrectly. The plug is clean, and the wheel turns freely. Yesterday my GPS showed my speed over the ground was 5 to 7 knots, and the speedo registered 0 to 0.8 knot. It does this periodically to irritate me.
I have a 2006 Najad 440 center-cockpit sloop with a 75hp Volvo saildrive. Last summer I kept the boat at a marina in Harpswell, Maine, and as the season progressed, I noticed it was slower under power. When I hauled her in the fall, the bottom was clean as a whistle (thanks to Sea Hawk AF-33 paint), but the bronze propeller blades and hub were completely covered with barnacles. I would like to put antifouling paint on the propeller. I’ve researched the topic, but have found no definitive answers as to whether it’s a good idea.
The government has, for a decade, studied the possibility of generating electric power from the tides. Because a sailboat on a mooring is subject to tidal flow, why can’t we use this method to help generate power? Sailboats sit on moorings for long periods, sometimes for weeks, and even a trickle charge would be beneficial.
I have an 8hp two-stroke outboard engine on my sailboat. I use a 5-gallon portable gas tank and always mix water-absorbing additives and the required lube oil into my fuel. The problem is at the end of last sailing season, I had about four gallons of fuel left in the tank. Is it okay to use this fuel after it has been stored on the boat over the winter, or should I dispose of it and get fresh gas instead?
We just returned from cruising the Bahamas and were intrigued to see that our new Si-Tex CBS-128 color sounder/sonar unit regularly showed a thin orange blanket of fish hanging above a sandy bottom about 50 feet down. My kids kept trying, but couldn’t catch a thing! This happened regularly throughout our trip.
The after effects of Hurricane Sandy are still being felt here in the Northeast in that competent fiberglass repairmen are all booked up with jobs through the upcoming boating season. Many boatowners have therefore been forced to contemplate repairing their storm-damaged boats themselves.
Dozens of us cruising sailors have experienced problems with the black cable jackets on VHF and SSB radio microphones from ICOM. I, along with many other cruisers, have discovered our cables are mysteriously disintegrating!
Q I am the proud owner of a 1982 S-2. It is a great sailboat, fast in both light and heavy air, with a retractable keel that makes it an excellent gunkholer on Lake Sakakawea here in North Dakota.
I’m planning on replacing all the running rigging on my 1978 Tartan 37 this spring for the first time since I bought the boat over 10 years ago.
Dear SAIL, Your charter stories in the March issue had my mind traveling afar, and I’d like to be a bareboat captain. How does a charter company know that someone is sufficiently qualified or experienced to charter its craft? Some sailors are extremely capable, but have no specific schooling or credentials. Charles Hammond, Kingston, MA
American Sailing has announced the passing of CEO Jonathan Payne. Payne is remembered as a champion for the sport who worked tirelessly to support and
The Leopard 52 takes the eco-conscious design of its predecessor, the SAIL Top 10 Best Boats winning Leopard 46, and scales it up. The 52
Line honors have been awarded in both the 2025 ARC and ARC+ fleets.
Larger than the pre-existing models from Balance, this catamaran is the fastest and leanest in their line. It is designed to be light for performance
Your gift goes twice as far in 2025.
In a bid to become the fastest team to circumnavigate the globe, The Famous Project CIC kicked off their Jules Verne record attempt this weekend.
Mullan was named Young Journalist of the Year by the Yachting Journalists Association.
For some, steering by compass comes easily; for others, it takes a little getting used to.
Nominations are open for the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award.
Night sailing is a skill all of its own, and there’s a magic you miss out on if you only venture out during the day.
