Dave Storch, of Long Beach, California, asks:”The former owner of my Ericson 39 installed a teak cabin sole with grooves for holly strips. The strips were never installed, and the sole was never sealed or finished. It remains unfinished, but now has a number of stains in the teak, including engine oil that escaped when the engine was removed to replace the transmission.
R. Staats, of Neha Bay, Washington, asks:”Have you tested the new SPOT portable position transponder? If so, is it living up to all the hype it has received?”Gordon West replies: Yes, I have tested it, and so far it has worked well for me. This $150 transponder provides reliable status signaling through 48 Globalstar low-earth-orbit
“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Arnold of Chattanooga, Tennessee, asks:”My local marine-electronics dealer tells me that marine SSB and ham radio are outdated and that I should use a satellite phone.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
Rather than shoot from Portsmouth to Newport all in one go, as has been my past practice when heading south for the winter, I wanted
The call for all sailors to attend a special weather briefing felt ominous. Soulemate and more than 100 other boats and their crews were gathered
This year’s winners at the annual DAME Design Awards, announced this week at the METS marine trade show in Amsterdam, include multiple new products for
Pulling together 700 strangers of all ages and sailing abilities from 40 countries and in one month teaching them to race 11 big sailboats around
Here’s my advice: Get on your boat right now and take a cruise to Fernandina Beach, Florida. Not only is this a great destination for
Tanks in sailboats are a pain. Frequently they must take on weird shapes to fit the odd spaces where they live, they’re often hard to
Jeanneau brings a catamaran design brief to the monohull market with the new Jeanneau Yachts 55. The cockpit layout is unconventional, with twin helms moved
The Jeanneau Yachts 55 has an intriguing layout both below and on deck, including unique gull-wing doors to separate guest cabins, a luxurious owner’s suite
For more multihull reviews and stories, subscribe for free to Multihull Power & Sail at sailmagazine.com/multihull The Paris 2024 Olympics are right around the corner,
Cruising sailors headed for the Bahamas may want to take note of a Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) rally that culminates with the third annual
