J. Hillier of Sausalito, California, asks:”I bought what I thought was a waterproof handheld VHF radio, but when I dropped it in some water in the bottom of my inflatable it died. It was only in the water for a few seconds before I picked it up, and even though it did work for about two hours it went dead after that. What do those specifications really mean?”
The decks on Horizon, our Hans Christian 38, are 20 years old and have seen the full spectrum of weather conditionscold and rain for weeks on end in Alaska and constant sun and heat in the tropics. No matter where we are, our maintenance strategy is the same: keep it simple and keep it silver. As with anything boat-related, proper maintenance now is always much easier than an extensive
The decks on Horizon, our Hans Christian 38, are 20 years old and have seen the full spectrum of weather conditionscold and rain for weeks on end in Alaska and constant sun and heat in the tropics. No matter where we are, our maintenance strategy is the same: keep it simple and keep it silver. As with anything boat-related, proper maintenance now is always much easier than an extensive
As part of my hybrid propulsion research I have been looking carefully at large-capacity litihum-ion batteries as a possible energy source on modern cruising sailboats. Lithium-ion batteries are common in cell phones and laptops, but they are rarely used in higher capacity applications. This may rapidly change, because the hybrid automotive and electric vehicle markets are in desperate need of
Jim Ballantine of Charleston, S. Carolina, asks: ’ve installed new adjustable cars for my genoa aboard my 39-foot sloop. But now that I have them, I’m not sure what adjustments I should make to the cars when sailing in different wind conditions. I do know that whenever I reef down the headsail I should move the cars forward. But I’m not sure what other adjustments to make
David Watkins of Parrish, Florida, asks:”I have a 15-year-old fiberglass boat that I bought new. It has spent most of its life either in Florida or the Caribbean and has suffered severe exposure to the sun. There is surface crazing or cracking on the deck, coach roof, and upper topsides. These are not stress cracks, but they are widespread. Do you have some thoughts on
Jack Hammond of North Carolina, asks:”Reception was good on my analog TV using a Shakespeare SeaWatch 2025 amplified omni-directional masthead antenna. But Ive been told the new digital converter box wont work with this antenna and that I should get a new TV. Is this right?”Gordon West replies:The antenna is fine but make sure the converter
Henry Buckminster, of Seattle, Washington, asks: “My 35-foot 7⁄8 rig sloop has a 135 percent roller-furling jib, and once the wind starts blowing over about 12–14 knots I want to take a reef. But I’m not sure whether I should reef the mainsail or the headsail first. Are there any reefing rules when going to windward, and does the protocol stay the same when I am running off
“Reception was good on my analog TV using a Shakespeare SeaWatch 2025 amplified omni-directional masthead antenna. But Ive been told the new digital converter box wont work with this antenna and that I should get a new TV. Is this right?”– Jack Hammond, North CarolinaGordon West replies: The antenna is fine but make sure the converter box is on the TV
David Worden of Kemah, Texas, asks:”Im thinking of buying an older Cheoy Lee pilothouse 32-footer with sections of teak deck on either side of the pilothouse that flexes when I walk on them. I can see signs of water damage when I look up from below. Do you have an opinion on the best way to repair the deck?Could I cut the fiberglass skin out from belowdecks and
Over the weekend, we’ll be celebrating the birthdays of two of yacht racing’s greats: Sir Thomas Lipton and Charlie Dalin.
Jamestown, Rhode Island, native Erica Lush has spent the first half of 2025 in France training to compete in the Solitaire du Figaro. This week’s Solo Maitre CoQ could secure her spot on the start line.
Under the new policy, all products from Airmar will have a three year warranty, instead of the previous two year warranty.
Bocce ball, sea stories, and the best guacamole make a simple charter so much more.
When it comes to sun protection, it’s worth investing in your eyes.
Lively sailing, mind-bending history, rich culture, and…spelunking? A charter through Greece’s Cyclades Islands is abundant in every way.
In February, Falken, our Farr 65, made landfall in Falmouth, Antigua, sailing just over 3,000 miles in 16 days from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, in brochure-perfect
A tempestuous night in a Carolina creek served up a lot of lessons.
The next big update to NOAA’s Custom Chart program will be in November, drawing criticism from those who want fixes for printed charts now.
Three new lightweight, rechargeable, waterproof lights from Exposure Marine maximize night vision and offshore safety. Exposure Marine, a UK-based company that specializes in high-performance lights
