Ask Sail: Sailcloth Woes
September 20, 2012
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.
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.
Servicing fuel injectors on a diesel engine is something most any boat owner can accomplish with a few basic tools. The job is especially easy because it really just involves getting the injectors out and sending them to a diesel shop.
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?
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.
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?
Like all owners of older boats who like to do their own work, I’m extremely familiar with epoxy resin. I reckon I’ve used a good few gallons of it, for both major projects and little jobs where only small amounts are needed.
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.
Looking at a modern sailboat, with its profusion of opening portlights and hatches, you could be excused for thinking all boats are so well ventilated. Not so.
Nothing will ruin your cruise faster than a damaged or torn sail. With the BoatWorks sail-repair kit on board, you’ll be able to make emergency repairs and keep on sailing. Ours cost less than $100 to assemble but could save us hundreds in repair bills.
If your boat has a holding tank, chances are it doesn’t have a level gauge. This is odd, as you’d think they would be standard on all new boats, but in fact, just the opposite is true.
After 64 days at sea, the first finisher in the 10th Vendée Globe has crossed the line, setting a new course record by nearly 10 days.
A new requirement means Bahamas cruisers may pay more this year.
A woman in search of new adventures finds a Pacific Seacraft 34 to carry her dream.
By Tom Cunliffe, Adlard Coles, $35 Amazon.com, $26.47 One could read the subtitle of Tom Cunliffe’s new Bosun’s Bag—A Treasury of Practical Wisdom for the
Fish On—Carefully. If you’re fishing for dinner, choose your reef fish wisely to avoid toxic ciguatera.
The first Vendée Globe competitors are closing in on the finish line. For Zhik, there’s been no better test of their offshore gear than Yoann Richomme putting it through the paces during his incredible race.
The Cruising Club of America announces its annual awards to six sailors for a range of accomplishments, all of them bound by the same deep commitment to bold bluewater sailing.
The January/February 2025 issue of SAIL is on newsstands today, and here’s a quick look at what’s inside!
We are excited to kick off the new year with SAIL’s Top 10 Best Boats for 2025, which our team of judges chose after months of testing, walkthroughs, and study of nearly two dozen models. Whether it’s a fresh crop of small yet surprisingly spacious cruisers to bring more accessible price points to the market or purpose-built adventure boats made for chasing down the horizon, these boats are all about making dreams a reality.
No Dragging in the Gale When the weatherman says it’s going to blow old boots, most of us tend to look for a marina berth.
