Boat Maintenance

A Do-it-Yourself Wind Sensor

For more than 20 years, I always had bow-mounted vanes-a Telo Cat on my beach cat and a Windex sport on my Stiletto 27....

Dirt-cheap Winter Insulation for Liveaboards

Insulation is a greater energy-saving expedient; if our heater or air conditioner is undersized, fixing drafts, shading or insulating windows, and insulating non-cored laminate...

Magic Fix for Hairline Cracks in Gelcoat

Spider cracks can indicate impact damage or serious structural problems that will need to be addressed to prevent spreading, but most often they result...

Stopping Centerboard Pin Corrosion

I'm trying to determine the cause of erosion of the centerboard pivot pin from Arcturus, our 36-foot Soverel keel/centerboard cutter. It is a 2-inch...

Stopping Deck Hatch Leaks

When I searched the internet for advice on repairing a small leak between the lens and sealant on a 20-year-old Lewmar Ocean 60 hatch,...

Mailport: Beauty of a Wood-trimmed Boat

Beauty of a Wood-trimmed BoatRegarding your recent blog post on the future of wood on boats (see Farewell to the Wood-trimmed Boat? Inside Practical...

Removing 3M 5200

Our recent test of caulk removers, (PS Tests Caulk Removers, Practical Sailor, January 2017), focused primarily on silicone caulk remover because these caulks can...

2017 Top Sailing Gear

Scott Rapid Dissolve Toilet PaperFollowing a carefully considered protocol that is not worth delving into here, testers took a second look at toilet paper...

The Best Respirators for the Boatyard

Although falling off a ladder or cutting yourself with a sharp tool are the most common boatyard injuries, damage from the foul air we...

Fixing Tears in Sunbrella Boat Canvas

Sooner or later, chafe, UV rays, and sharp edges take their toll on our canvas. A misplaced screw or simple friction will eat holes...

40-Footer Boat Tours – With Some Big Surprises! | Boat Tour

Join us at the Miami Boat Show as we get on four 40-footers for boat tours! A Beneteau 37.1, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410, Dufour...