When something on board needs to be fixed, one of my secret weapons for getting the job done correctly is havingand being able to locatethe right tools for the job. Over the years Ive accumulated hundreds of tools appropriate for any conceivable problem. The problem is how to stow them in an organized way. The tools I use most often need to be within easy reach; the rest
ChecklistToolsBasic tool kitWrenches and sockets (metric if youre working on a European or Japanese engine) Screwdrivers Propane blowtorch Rubber malletHammerRazor bladePliersVise-GripsVise400-grit wet/dry sandpaperBrush for applying grease and lubricating
Tom Gilbert of Jensen Beach, Florida, asks:”I’m about to install Wi-Fi on my boat so I can use my laptop when I’m in the harbor. I think a 14-element YAGI, such as the RL/WAVRVMAR or the RL/14ele2.4wp, would be good units I can aim, set, and receive. However, other people tell me that an omnidirectional antenna is the answer. Which is the better
Howard Lennox of Lexington Park, Maryland, asks:”I’d like to know how to inspect (for corrosion) a chainplate that is encapsulated inside a bulkhead. Are there any nondestructive tests I can perform to determine a chainplate’s condition without having to cut into the bulkhead?”Don Casey replies:When a through-the-deck chainplate begins to
Bob Graveline of Bismarck, North Dakota, asks:”Last summer my 34-footer was hit by lightning when it was sitting unattended in my marina slip. The boat was plugged into shore power when it was hit, but it was not drawing power. Do you think that having a boat plugged into shore power increases, decreases, or has no effect on the chance of damage from a
Upgrading the deck gear on your boat can seriously enhance your sailing pleasure. Once youve sailed a boat set up with low-friction blocks, good rope clutches and jammers, and genoa-sheet cars that are quick and easy to adjust, its hard to go back to the creaky, friction-riddled 30- or 40-year-old deck gear that so many older boats are still saddled with.We had always planned to replace
Upgrading the deck gear on your boat can seriously enhance your sailing pleasure. Once youve sailed a boat set up with low-friction blocks, good rope clutches and jammers, and genoa-sheet cars that are quick and easy to adjust, its hard to go back to the creaky, friction-riddled 30- or 40-year-old deck gear that so many older boats are still saddled with.We had always planned to replace
Diesel mechanics is not a difficult subject. In fact, all owners of diesel-powered boats canand shouldlearn the fundamentals of operating and maintaining their engines. To run well, a diesel engine requires clean fuel, clean oil, and a lot of air. Routine maintenance will virtually guarantee years of trouble-free service and will keep your busy mechanic at bay.How a diesel engine works,
Diesel mechanics is not a difficult subject. In fact, all owners of diesel-powered boats canand shouldlearn the fundamentals of operating and maintaining their engines. To run well, a diesel engine requires clean fuel, clean oil, and a lot of air. Routine maintenance will virtually guarantee years of trouble-free service and will keep your busy mechanic at bay.How a diesel engine works,
Diesel mechanics is not a difficult subject. In fact, all owners of diesel-powered boats canand shouldlearn the fundamentals of operating and maintaining their engines. To run well, a diesel engine requires clean fuel, clean oil, and a lot of air. Routine maintenance will virtually guarantee years of trouble-free service and will keep your busy mechanic at bay.How a diesel engine works,
While exploring the Canadian Maritimes, a side visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a chance to enjoy another country altogether.
A UK startup is developing a 60-meter catamaran that will produce and store green hydrogen while sailing.
Making its U.S. debut at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show this weekend, the TEMO 1000 is the latest clever electric outboard from the French builder, powering sailboats up to 26 feet.
Chartering paves the way for a couple’s cruising dream.
“How far from my pulpit to the wall?”
Is single sideband radio still relevant in today’s Starlink world?
With fresh thinking and some risk taking, Lagoon creates a worthy successor to an immensely popular model.
In 2001, SAIL’s then executive editor, Charles Mason, awarded Garry Hoyt the magazine’s Industry Award for Leadership, noting his “insatiable desire to make sailing simpler,”
Whether you prefer digital or old school, charts do a great job of getting you where you need to go, and satellite images can provide
Adding low friction rings to your boat’s rigging repertoire can be a lighter, more affordable alternative to line management.
