Boat Maintenance

Refurbishing the Inflatable Dinghy

Inflatable tenders have become the family car for many cruisers. They haul groceries, take us to snorkeling spots, shuttle guests, haul out second anchors,...

The Best Gloves for the Boatyard

We choose our sailing gloves and deck shoes with great care, because they are our interface with the boat. The same goes for work...
With Weiman Glass Cooktop Cleaner and a red Scotch-Brite pad, the author restored yellowed gelcoat in the cockpit to a near-new white shine. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Gelcoat Cleaning and Restoring Hack

How does the saying go again? “Necessity is the mother of invention,” or something along those lines? And so it was earlier this week...
Examples of glass filler (microspheres) and glass material (cut fibers and two fabrics) for plastics reinforcement: glass microspheres (or glass beads); diameter: about 300 µm, specific gravity: 2.5. Mineral filler mainly used to increase the stiffness of a thermoset resin and to make road safety markings; 5 mm length chopped strands of fiberglass used to reinforce thermoset resins; fibrous reinforcements for thermoset resins: two glass fabrics with different area density; fiber orientation: 0 and 90° (most common): weave pattern: taffeta (down left, area density: 550 g/m2), and 2x2 twill (down right, area density: 280 g/m2). Credit: WikiCommons/CC BY-SA 3.0

A Brief Modern History of Fiberglass

Fiberglass, also known as glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), has been an integral material in modern engineering and design, especially within the marine industry. Its lightweight,...

Another Look at ‘Dustless’ Sanding

In “Dustless Sanding,” (see PS April 2016), we described a simple modification to a 5-gallon bucket that would make collecting dust from bottom painting...
Mid-May at Ile Perrot Yacht Club in Quebec. This time of year is when the sailing season begins in earnest. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

How Much Does it Cost to Own a Sailboat in Quebec, Eastern Ontario, Upper...

You’ve been out a few times with friends on their sailboat and now, you’ve caught the sailing bug and, be well advised, there is...
Two Sea Shield anodes installed fore and aft of the cutlass bearing. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Anode Basics: Dos and Don’ts

No matter what type of boat you have, if she’s kept in the water all season, maintaining your sacrificial anodes must be part of...

What’s The Best Bottom Paint?

We consider two years to be the practical limit for antifouling paints, and we like to haul our boats every two years for other...
Mooring line with shock absorbers and sock sleeves. Plain, white socks keep the shock absorbers from marking your hull. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Boat Hook and Fender Hacks

Point me to any boat, anywhere, anytime and I can guarantee you I will find a few tricks or particular set-ups made by its...
Propane tank valve and pressure gauge. Since a propane leak can be catastrophic, make sure to schedule in a propane tank and fitting check into your maintenance calendar. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Propane Leak: How to Detect, Locate and Fix

There isn’t much that scares or worries me when it comes to all things about boats. Except two: large amounts of water coming in...

The MIGHTY But CHEAP Pearson 424

Thinking about buying a serious bluewater sailboat without spending a fortune? In this video, we take a fun and in-depth look at the Pearson...

Latest Sailboat Review

Seawind 1160 Used Boat Review

A big cat springs from small beginnings.