DIY Fairing and Filling
Epoxy deserves its wonder resin status as a highly adhesive, water-resistant laminating resin. It is the secret sauce behind a shelf full of fillers, glues, and fairing compounds.
Non-Skid Refinishing with KiwiGrip
Like most sailboats from the heyday of factory production in the 70s and 80s, our 1978 Islander Bahama came with a textured non-skid gelcoat...
Wheel Thimbles for Synthetic Line Terminals
This is not a completely new concept. Spool thimbles have long been used on multi-pulley block beckets to increase the pin diameter to better...
Managing Holding Tank Odors: For Fresh Water and Salt Water
Like most boats I’ve been in, that unpleasant foul smell emanating from onboard sanitation systems is not uncommon. Some smell worse than others!
For those...
Restoring a Classic: How to Get into Sailboat Ownership on a Budget
Some sailboat buyers want (and can afford) to plunk down a boatload of money to get on the water right away. For others, restoring...
Tool Kits For Every Possible Boat Job
Like all sailors that have a home shop and work on their boats, we’re constantly schlepping tools back and forth. I have multiples of...
Hatch Tinting Test
UV is the enemy of both hatches and interior fabrics. Acrylic can resist UV for 15 years or more, but polycarbonate generally begins to...
Making Your Own Workshop Filter
It all started when I needed to make a number of large cuts inside the house and outside of the confines of my shop....
Pre-Purchase or Insurance Survey: Which One Do I Need?
You’ve been bitten by the sailing bug and every spare minute is spent searching online for that perfect vessel. You’ve narrowed it down to...
Bottom Sanding Hack To Save Your Back
If you own an older sailboat, you’ve most likely had the dubious joy of working on the bottom. Perhaps multiple coats of bottom paint...
10 Sailing Mistakes You’ll Only Make Once
Learning how to sail means learning that some sailing mistakes only need to happen once. In this episode, we look at the most common...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Onward: A Mystery Project Boat Story
"If I'd known then what I know now," laughs Matt, "I'd have covered it in petrol and walked away."
It's not quite the endorsement you'd...
