Boat Maintenance

Synthetic Teak Durability Test

Alot of water has rushed over the bridge since we last looked at synthetic teak decking materials—eight years worth. Since that last report (see...

PS Advisor: Using Acids to Clean Propellers

We recently received a letter from a reader asking us which acids might be used to clean a bronze propeller. Although we’ve found it...

Cockpit Drains on Race Boats

The ability for an enclosed cockpit to drain rapidly has long been a concern among yacht designers, and safety guidelines have been in place...

The Best Boat Bucket You Can Buy

A recent test report reacquainted me with an age old problem, that has not yet fully been solved: How can one person, absent a...

The DIY Bulkhead Rebuild on a Production Charter Cat

In 2021 I bought Epic, a 2013 Lagoon 450 catamaran, and soon learned the boat’s forward bulkhead, along with other important structural components, were...

Rebuilding a Cape Dory 36 Part V

This is Part V, the final installment of a five-part series on rebuilding and modifying our Cape Dory 36 from a bare hull into...

Deck Gear Clamp-down: Cam Cleat vs. Self-tailing

To hold a line upstream of a winch you need a jammer or clutch. Rope sizing is important. Small lines slip, big lines won’t...

Simple Tips on Servicing Your Sailboat Winches

This week we're moving onto hardware, winches in particular. If you haven't serviced your winches in a couple years, or you notice squeaks, groans or slips as you grind, it is high time to tackle this project. We like to inspect our jib-sheet winches every year, but we sail our boats hard and they are exposed to some pretty harsh freeze and thaw cycles. Fortunately, winch servicing is a pretty easy, and for the wanna-be watchmaker who marvels at moving parts, it's fun—until you start dropping parts overboard. Thus, our first bit of advice: make sure you have the right winch servicing kit, including pawls and springs, before you start pulling your winches apart.

PS Advisor: Tank Monitor and Camera Mount Hacks

Fuel tanks typically have a mechanical gauge, but water tanks can cause corrosion and waste tanks will foul the typical mechanical flat mechanism. As...

Rebuilding a Cape Dory 36 Part IV

This is the fourth article in a five-part series describing the rebuild of our 1982 Cape Dory 36 and how we turned it into...

The Moody 46 CC Cruising Sailboat Review and Boat Tour

Join us for a deep technical dive into the Moody 46 Center Cockpit, a true bluewater cruising sailboat designed by Bill Dixon and built...

Latest Sailboat Review

Hunter 34 Used Boat Review

The Hunter 34 is a fast boat, particularly in light air. This is due almost entirely to her huge rig, which towers over 51' above the waterline. Owners report that in winds of from seven to 12 knots, the boat is practically unbeatable in club racing. The typical PHRF rating of 135 for the deep keel boat is faster than most other cruiser/racers of her size.