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Ask Sail

Ask Sail: Deck Freshener

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: Dueling Sensors

I am an avid weather watcher, and I’ve found some extra uses for my wireless temperature sensors. I’ve got one in the reefer, one near the engine and one to monitor the air conditioning.

Ask Sail: Too Much Protection

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

Ask Sail: No-Go Engine

My Catalina 40 has a Westerbeke 42B diesel engine with less than 800 hours. After a head-gasket repair, the engine was put back into the boat…

Ask Sail: Centerboard Corrosion

After I fix the pin and remove the rust, what product do you recommend to protect the steel before I reinstall the board? The boat is sailed in both fresh and salt water, and is stored on its trailer.

Ask Sail: Sailcloth Woes

Do you know of a process that could reduce the stiffness of my sail? I have been told I should try lazyjacks, the Dutchman system or in-boom furling, but none of these appeal to me.

Antifouling for Props and Shafts

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?

A Staysail for Racing

Ask Sail: I own a 1973 C&C 30. It came with a staysail, which I have never flown. We typically use a mainsail, jib and spinnaker. We race frequently, and I am wondering if the boat would be faster with the staysail on.

Isolated Prop Shaft

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?

Meet the Blogger: Paul Calder

Paul Calder is a blogger on SAILfeed, where he has been sharing the progress of refitting his boat, living in New Orleans and getting a wee bit of guidance from dear ol’ dad, Nigel Calder, an author and expert on boat systems. Read on to learn about Paul’s hands-on process.

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Aquila Goes Sailing 

A major powercat brand is turning towards new horizons with the announcement of three new sailing cats to join their lineup.

Lydia Mullan

From the Editor: Watch Change

I have a confession to make: I recently read one of John Kretschmer’s books for the first time.  You’d think someone who’s made a career

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