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,
Four years, half a planet, and 50 crewmates later, a young sailor opens new doors to bluewater sailing.
Learning by doing is the MO for two fledging sailors and a new-to-them Cheoy Lee 48.
This tried-and-true piece of gear will keep your dinghy where you put it.
Last weekend Bentley College hosted the Northeast Ocean Racing Symposium, a day of lectures, panels, and networking centered around all things offshore.
I have never been very good at standing night watch alone.
An odyssey begins in the Mediterranean as one sailor sets out to bring his new boat home.
No boat should be without a compass, no matter how much cool electronic navigation capability it has.
The latest from Dufour continues the French builder’s move toward refining its performance cruising chops under the guidance of naval architect Umberto Felci.
The Cruising Club of America (CCA) is a collection of 1,400 ocean sailors with extensive offshore seamanship, command experience, and a shared passion for making adventurous use of the seas.
This season’s latest from Patagonia includes an expansion of their NetPlus line, which is made from recycled fishing nets to help protect our oceans.
