“I am curious how the Odyssey TPPL AGM batteries are working out on Nigel Calders new boat. I am thinking about putting TPPL AGMs on my boat for all the reasons Calder gives. However, I wonder about how they might affect my charging system. I have a160-amp Balmar alternator and an 80-amp Yanmar. When Im running the genset I use a Prosine 2.0 charger. Do I have to reconfigure the chargers for
As part of the refit of our project boat, Ostara, a 1973 Norlin 34, I decided to scrap its vintage hydraulic system for tensioning the backstay, boomvang, and babystay, along with the control panel in the cockpit. In its new role as a coastal cruiser and occasional racer, the boat had no need for such powerful trimming gear or for hoses full of hydraulic oil leading
Don Arnold of Chattanooga, Tennessee, asks:”My local marine-electronics dealer tells me that marine SSB and ham radio are outdated and that I should use a satellite phone. What do you think?”Gordon West replies: Theres no question that a sat phone is a very handy device. But the advantage of radio is that since SSB signals bounce off the
David Meyers of Kaysville, Utah, asks: “I’m refurbishing my Ericson 30 this winter and am about to remove a light layer of rust that has accumulated on the boat’s stainless-steel rigging. What do you recommend for this sort of rust removal? Most of the rigging is in good shape, but it has lost its shine. I’ve heard of using an electrolytic process, but I don’t want to
Bob Eischen of Toledo, Ohio asks:”The metal and Lexan hatches on our Slocum cutter are leaking. Ive tried a BoatLife sealant and 3Ms 4200, but without success. What kind of sealant will stop the leaks?”Don Casey replies: BoatLife shouldnt be used with Lexan because the polysulfide and solvents it contains will leach out the plasticizers
Alan Therrien of Boxford, Massachusetts, asks:”The two zincs on my prop shaft were eroding quickly last summer, so I hung a zinc guppy over the side and attached it to the backstay. I measured the current between the backstay and the guppy with my multimeter, which read between .04 and .07 amp of current with all battery connections removed. Where is this current coming
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
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
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
After a full day ashore hiking, exploring, and stopping off at a beach bar, I watch the sunset on the anchorage. I’ve always loved how
It’s fall, and in my neck of the woods (the East Coast and, specifically, the Chesapeake Bay), that brings several rites of seasonal passage. After
After selling more than 200 Hanse 460s in just a few years, Hanse is rolling out the big sister to this popular mid-sized model—the 510.
It had been five years and nearly 35,000 nautical miles of hard sailing—including three years in Antarctica and Chile—when we finally turned north for the
Making it to the starting line of a nonstop global circumnavigation is never a simple matter, no matter who you are and where you come
OK, this looks wicked clever, and we can’t wait to try it out. We always need a boathook, right? And we always need to conserve
OceanPoint Marine Lending is the destination for watercraft enthusiasts looking for an experienced loan originator. As a division of BankNewport, OceanPoint Marine Lending’s team is
The team at OceanPoint Marine Lending utilizes their deep industry knowledge to provide the best service through the entire financing process from application to loan
You might think that watching invasive surgery on a dated fiberglass sailboat week in and week out would be just about the last thing to
French builder Beneteau has been busy revamping their entire line of sailboats including the top end of the Oceanis line, known as Oceanis Yachts. The
