To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Good stuff.
I have had two propane bottles begin to leak on a boat. All it takes is a little salt. Fortunately, they were kept in a flammables/gasoline jerry can locker. If they had been in the galley …. Since then, even at home, all bottles not in active use are capped. See “Safety Tips for Small Propane Bottles,” October 2020. Brass caps are cheap on Amazon.
All safety equipment storage should be clearly and obviously labeled. Fire extinguisher and fire blanket lockers should have reflective labels so that they can be spotted instantly. Clearly printed labels should identify PFDs, first aide, tethers, and signal equipment. No digging through other stuff in the drawer, either.
I’ve always thought a topic worth discussing is the servicing of winches that cannot be disassembled without removal. Often, removal is impractical, so they just don’t get serviced at all. There must be a way.
Solutions? Often, partial disassembly is possible. You can probably take off the drum. Wrap a towel around it, clean what you can, re-grease (lightly), and replace the pawls and springs (oil). I’m guessing the pawls and springs have been in there far too long, and they wear in unseen ways that can ruin the winch. Just 10 thousandths wear on the pawl and 10 thousandths wear on the socket, and the pawl can jump out and jam the winch fatally, destroying the drum and sleeve. Of course, you won’t be able to reach the inner set of pawls on a 2-speed winch. Maybe you can get some oil in there.
The drum won’t come off at all? Consider flooding the handle socket with engine oil and letting it drip through while you give it a spin. Not perfect, but better much better than nothing. It will even do some cleaning. You don’t take your engine or trans apart with every oil change. It will drip out for a while. Do it annually. It’s easy. Tip: don’t use gear oil because it is too heavy for the pawls, and they will stick.
Correct service is better. But every boat I’ve owned had 1-2 winches that could not be removed, either because they were seized to the base or because taking half the boat apart would be required. Short-cut service, done more frequently, is much better than no service at all.