Inside Practical Sailor

A couple of our ongoing tests are (literally) spilling over into the world of products still dominated by home appliances, bringing up the subject of inverters that convert your boats 12-volt, direct-current (DC) system to an alternating-current (AC) system like those found in our homes. As the trend toward off-the-grid living grows (solar panels, wind generators, and fuel cells produce DC current), so does the list of appliances that run off of DC power. …

On older boats, the complication factor is almost sure to multiply when you talk about installing deck hardware. Access to belowdecks bolts and backing plates is often tricky, and the condition of the deck itself can pose problems. Along with our genoa car and track test report in the September 2013 issue of Practical Sailor, we included a rundown of installation tips. The tips offer a general view of the scope of a genoa track upgrade, remedies for common problems, and techniques for preventing future damage to the deck core. Although the tips apply specifically to genoa tracks, much of the advice is relevant to any deck hardware installation.

Although Thor Heyerdahls theory regarding human migration across the Pacific has been discounted, his 1948 book and 1951 Oscar-award winning documentary, Kon-Tiki, is responsible for inspiring more than a few dreams of cruising the Pacific. I find it interesting that when American sailors followed Heyerdahls path across the Pacific in the 1960s and 1970s, they often did so in Colin Archer-type boats, like John G. Hannas Tahiti ketch-and later, the Westsail 32, a variation on William Atkins Archer-esque Thistle. It is as if all roads to Tahiti first passed through Oslo, Norway, where I happen to find myself this week.

In the upcoming July issue of Practical Sailor, contributor Drew Frye plunges into the the not-so-funny topic of joker valves (if you don't know what this is yet, consider yourself lucky) and emerges with some valuable tips on keeping our marine heads healthy. One of his potentially controversial discoveries is that the eco-friendly anti-freeze propylene glycol isn't really any kinder to the marine environment than the anti-freeze it was designed to replace, ethylene glycol-and it is definitely harder on plumbing components.

One of the first things that you realize after a few seasons of cruising is that approaches to life aboard vary between two wide extremes: cruisers who by choice or because of a limited budget live with minimal creature comforts, and those cruisers who sacrifice little more than living space when they move aboard.Youd think that when it came to basic essentials like food and water, there would be some overlap between these two groups, but that isn't necessarily the case. Take water, for example.

As the worlds largest solar-powered boat heads toward Miami for its U.S. debut and the start of a 16-city world tour, I was reminded of one of the most frequent questions I hear from Practical Sailor readers: "Which is best, solar panels or a wind generator?" The answer, like many things regarding cruising equipment, depends on where you cruise and the type of boat you own.

In case you hadnt noticed, were bending anchors here at Practical Sailor. Look for Part 2 of our anchor shank-bending adventures in the upcoming May issue. Coincidentally, right when we were in the middle of bending anchor shanks, we received a 33-pound Mantus anchor for testing. The design is interesting in that it combines some attributes of a Rocna, Manson Supreme, and Wasi Bugel. The anchor has a folded fluke with a small, sharpened toe welded to the fluke. The anchor is shallowly concave but has a roll bar, sufficiently wider than the fluke.

Early this year, my provocative blog article asking readers to help decide whether PS should dedicate some ink to the Americas Cup in San Francisco this summer generated an overwhelming response, and at this point, the yeas have only a slight edge over the nays.Almost all of those whod rather not see Cup coverage were emphatic: Please don't fill your great magazine with Americas Cup dribble. As a cruiser, I have absolutely no interest in it, wrote one reader.And most readers who encouraged PS to cover the event did so with reservation: If you pick your topic, the AC certainly has practical value. For example, when these boats break, how are they repaired? As more boats are made from exotic materials, which structures are found to be more durable, more flexible, more brittle, or less repairable after damage? In other words, "keep it real."

Ever since October 2011, when the dermatologist announced that I had skin cancer at the age of 46, Ive been looking for good hats and other accessories to keep my face, in particular, out of the sun. Im a sailor, and Im not ready to change my life completely, but I do need to make a diligent effort to prevent this dangerous, but generally preventable and treatable form of skin cancer-squamous cell carcinoma-from becoming more serious. Ive been cancer-free for the past 18 months, but Ive now got a nice battle scar running down my right cheek, and I would prefer not to have any more.

Rule number one of any maintenance program is simple: Never trust your memory. A written maintenance log is essential. It can be as basic as a hand-written notebook or as sophisticated as a computer spreadsheet. There's even proprietary computer software for creating maintenance logs. Whether sophisticated or simple, the basic requirements of any maintenance log are the same: 1. Divide jobs into categories. 2. Define the task. 3. Determine the service interval. 4. Note specialized tools or materials required. 5. Inventory consumable materials. 6. Record the date the job is actually done.When carried out with regularity, these six steps can save you days that might have otherwise been wasted over the course of a single cruising season.