Boat Maintenance

What Your Boat and the Baltimore Super Container Ship May Have in Common

When the mega container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge at 1:28 am on Tuesday, March 26, the world saw a remote...

Check Your Shorepower System for Hidden Dangers

One of the often overlooked maintenance items in the pre-season rush to the water is the AC shorepower system. Over the years of surveying, Ive amassed a small collection of scary photos from past surveys showing the common examples of neglect to this critical system.

The Scraper-only Approach to Bottom Paint Removal

Spring is just around the corner. For many sailors, especially those with boats on the hard, it’s good time to consider the advantages of...

Can You Recoat Dyneema?

Dyneema fibers are given a thin polyurethane coating at the factory that reduces chafe, UV damage, and adds some stiffness. Hoping that an aftermarket...

Gonytia Hot Knife Proves its Mettle

A hot knife is a luxury item, but nothing is better for cutting and sealing synthetic rope and fabric. We find ourselves reaching for...

Where Winches Dare to Go

Cross sheeting—directing the leeward jib sheet from the working winch across the cockpit to a winch on the windward side—is common practice on sport...

Mildew-resistant Caulks for Boats

Choosing a marine caulk for use above the waterline comes down to which product offers the best resistance to weathering, dirt, mildew, and ability...

Can We Trust Plastic Boat Parts?

When a plastic part on our boat breaks, we often deem it “damn cheap plastic” and toss it away. In some parts of the...

Mailport: Marine plywood, fuel additives, through bolt options, winch handle holders

DIFFERENTIATING FIRS I enjoyed your destructive wood testing and your patience in waiting eight years to report comprehensive results (see PS December 2023, “Wood Rot...

Random Orbit Sanders for Bottom Paint Prep

More than a century has passed since Art Emmons, a visionary young engineer at the 15-year-old Porter Cable Company, launched a technology race in...

Boat Thru-Hulls & Seacocks 101: Inspection, Failure, Safety & Upgrades

In this video, we dive into one of the most important — and most ignored — parts of boat ownership: thru-hulls and seacocks. These...

Latest Sailboat Review

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32 Used Boat Review

The Sun Odyssey 32 and Sun Fast 32i are two versions of the same boat, designed by Philippe Briand. The attractive combination may well capture a good share of the market in this size slot.