Protecting Clear Vinyl Windows
When we last tested clear-vinyl window protectants, we raised the concern that some products might actually damage the vinyl. PS tester Drew Fryes recent work with mildew cleaners brought up another concern: Can overspray from canvas cleaners and treatments, or other common chemicals, damage the clear-vinyl windows? We tested canvas water-repellents, cleaning chemicals, and common cockpit chemicals to see whether any overspray would harm Strataglass. A few totally ruined the window sample.
Chandlery- December 2013
Weve had good experiences with Walker Bay products, so we expected a lot from the companys inflatable stand-up paddleboard (iSUP), the 12-foot Airis Hardtop Tour. Rated for 275 pounds, the board features a standard bungee tie-down strap for gear and a carrying bag.
Pondering a DIY Diesel Tank
I have often referred to (former PS Editor) Dan Spurrs book, Spurrs Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat, and I was going to follow Spurrs advice and build a plywood/glass tank to add auxiliary diesel tankage to my Morgan 382. But the Gougeon Brothers / West System website (www.westsystem.com) makes it sound contrary to standards and potentially damaging to insurance coverage.
Terry Thatcher,
Morgan 382
Portland, Ore.
Riprap
Coast Survey also has launched a new product, free PDF nautical charts, on a trial basis and is seeking mariner input. From now through Jan. 22, 2014, sailors can download about a thousand high-resolution printable charts-nearly the entire NOAA suite-as PDF files. The PDF charts, which are almost exact images of the traditional print charts, will be updated weekly.
Where Credit Is Due: December 2013
While repairing a 50-gallon water tank on my 1995 Mason, I broke the Hart Systems Tank Tender penetration tube. Since this is such a small-priced item but does so much to help with monitoring tank contents, I sent an email to Hart Systems (www.hartsystems.com) asking for help in obtaining the very small part.
Mailport: December 2013
Your tape test (PS, October 2013) did not include 3M 256, but I thought Id pass on a lesson learned to your readers. Having recently completed painting my deck, for the first time in 37 years, I encountered an unforeseen problem.
Risks of Exploring New Places
The place PS call home is an office building and workshop in Sarasota, Fla., where weve been based since 2005. However, most of our tests take place where our testers live-from Marblehead, Mass., to Sydney, Australia. For this months water heater test, Technical Editor Ralph Naranjos basement in Annapolis, Md., resembled the boiler-strewn lot in Steinbecks Cannery Row. For our sanitation tests, tester Drew Fryes Virginia backyard became the battlefield in a war against boat odors.
Do-It-Yourself Nonskid Test Update
Its been 12 months since testers mounted the 12 nonskid test panels on the roof, subjecting them to south Floridas semi-tropical weather around the clock, without any cleaning. The test field included the big names in marine maintenance products-AkzoNobel (Interlux and Awlgrip), Pettit, West Marine, and Epifanes-as well as companies specializing in nonskid paint, Pachena (KiwiGrip) and Durabak, and three that make nonskid mats, SeaDek, Tiflex, and Soft Deck. With the service life of nonskid paints and mats ranging from three years to a decade or more, we didnt expect to see much change in the test panels, but there were a few surprises.
Get Longer Life Out of Your Nonskid
Revamping a nonskid deck is not a project most boat owners look forward to doing. Here are a few tips to help you get more mileage out of those arduous nonskid restorations.
Mildew Treatments and Stain Removers
As we've learned from past test, there's no chemistry in a bottle that is going to keep mildew at bay like desiccants or dehumidifiers (PS, June 2013). But there are easy to use products, including two inexpensive home-made formulas, that can help keep a boat as fresh as your home.For this report, we tested 13 liquid sprays, gels, and solids formulated to fight mildew, remove mildew stains, and keep crew noses happy. The test field included the experimental Goldshield GS 5, 3M's Marine Mildew Block, Forespar's tea tree oil spray and gel, Henkle Chemical's Renuzit, Siamons Concrobium, Damp Rid Odor Genie, Pur-A-Fy Air gel, and two homemade concoctions based on Borax and TSP.
O’Day 40 – A Budget Cruiser for the Bahamas
The O’Day 40 (1986) is one of those cruising sailboats that somehow slipped through the cracks of sailing history. Built during the final years...
Latest Sailboat Review
Island Packet Estero Used Boat Review
Florida-based Island Packet targets a relatively narrow niche, so the toughest competitors to its new boats are often older Island Packets. Introduced in 2010, the 36-foot, shoal-draft Estero is the company’s latest attempt to introduce a distinctive model that doesn’t stray too far from the company’s proven formula for success: moderate displacement, full-keel cruisers designed to be lived on, sailed far and in comfort, and endure the bumps, scrapes, and storms that cruising boats inevitably encounter. After sailing the Estero on Florida’s Sarasota Bay and inspecting its interior, construction, and systems, Practical Sailor testers noted that the shoal-water cruiser will appeal strongest to Island Packet fans who’ve been waiting for a shoal-draft, easy-to-sail boat that compares to the IP37 in terms of interior space. These strengths will be most apparent on intracoastal or riverine adventures like the Great Loop.