I have a 1968 Bristol, and the mainsheet block is fastened to the boom with a swivel on a threaded bolt that fits into the boom end-fitting, which also serves as the attachment point for the outhaul. I cannot find a replacement for the fitting anywhere, and it is showing its age. Any ideas on where to look?
Back in the day, each electronics unit aboard your boat did what it did, and never the twain did meet. Your depthsounder told you the depth, your radar showed what was around, your GPS told where you were, and so on. Today, of course, most electronics can be connected to onboard networks.
Will adding a flattening agent to a glossy two-part topside paint make it much less slippery? I would prefer not to add an abrasive antiskid medium to the paint.
I sail an S2 8.7 with a Yanmar 2GM engine. When sailing, should the prop be locked or should I let it freewheel? If I should lock it, is it better to put the transmission in forward or reverse?
Do you antifoul your propeller? Looking around the yard where we keep our project boat, Ostara, the consensus seemed to be “no”. Most propellers showed the telltale signs of barnacle infestation, as indeed did our three-bladed Gori folding prop.
When Executive Editor Charlie Doane found sand in his water tanks, he assumed it was the result of extensive tropical cruising. But guess what— the culprit was chlorinated water.
Sometimes you have to pass through complexity on the road to simplicity, as one sailor found while rethinking his sail-handling systems.
My question is this: what effect will diesel have on the blue desiccant beads in the H2Out? Is there some change I should make to the air vent?
I’d been wrestling with the problem of antifouling for some time prior to this, as I don’t like to use copper-based paint on Lunacy’s aluminum hull. I had tried E-Paint ZO, a zinc-based ablative paint, for a couple of seasons but was disappointed with the results.
Thanks to a number of maintenance errors made by its previous owner, my sailboat smells of diesel fuel. I have cleaned the bilge and corrected the maintenance issues, but the smell still lingers. What do you recommend to get rid of it?
We all know that we need to carry flares for potential emergencies onboard, but traditional flares are a sticky wicket when it comes to safe,
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
I have RecPak on board. These are complete nutrition meals, 700 calories. Add water, shake it up, drink it like a shake, and feel recharged.
Relive the adventure of the Race to Alaska with SAIL’s Technical Editor Adam Cove as he preps his 18-foot catboat and competes in the race of a lifetime, now compiled into one video for convenient viewing.
Dissatisfied with the results in their own sailing experience of trying to find an easy, more affordable way to route plan and navigate, the founders
Call us old school, but we still think books are among the greatest gifts you can give or receive. We’ve reviewed a few this year, and we’ve added some additional suggestions for sailors of every age on your list. Happy reading!
A new adventure begins for Nanni.
In a life marked by unusual and beautiful boats, the Luders 27 has become a standout.
Searching for a new-to-them family cruising boat was a revelation. “The worst part about buying a boat is that the search is over!”
Like many cruising sailors of my generation, Graham Cox was first inspired to dream of bluewater voyaging by teen circumnavigator Robin Lee Graham.
