Boat Maintenance

Crumbs. Sand. Sawdust. Dried mud. Dock dirt. There are always plenty of particulates to clean up on a boat. And while there’s nothing wrong with a dustpan and brush to get the job done—it’s a cheap, time-honored, low-tech solution—a lot of us rely on DC-powered hand vacuums, too. They’re fast and easy to use, can suck dirt out of corners a brush won’t reach, and tend to be better than a dustpan at keeping the…

Letters to Practical Sailor, March 2011. This month's letters cover subjects such as: Caframo, Power Film, and more!

Letters to Practical Sailor, March 2011. This month's letters cover subjects such as: Wind Gens, Great Anchor Debate, Bottom Paint, Designs, and more!

Letters to Practical Sailor, February 2011. This month's letters cover subjects such as: Metz Antenna, Tipke Manufacturing, Facet/Purolator, Standard Horizon and more!

Letters to Practical Sailor, February 2011. This month's letters cover subjects such as: Micron in Fresh Water, Onboard Washing, Wiring Tools, Glazing and Bonding, and Paint-Away Spiders and more!

The results derived from a professionally applied LPU topside refinish are as dramatic as the invoice that accompanies the makeover. The shiny, wet look and the protection it affords can last for years-whether its three years, five years, or nearly a decade depends upon how kindly the rejuvenated surface is treated. Two-part polyester urethane coatings such as Awlgrip II are tough, gloss-retaining coatings that will put up with some abrasion, but if you make it a regular occurrence, both the gloss and the paint will eventually go away.

Our on-the-water testing backed up our panel test results, but also drove home some valuable surface preparation feedback. The key focuses of our testing on a dinghy, a Cape Dory Typhoon daysailer, an Ericson 41 cruiser, and a Catalina 22 were on nonskid painting and cabin and topside finishes

Practical Sailor tested four types of topside paint with different characteristics: traditional alkyd enamels, single-part urethane modified enamels, two-part linear polyurethane coatings and water-cleanup VOC-free finishes. The panel test comprised dozens of paints from Awlgrip, Crabcoat, Epifanes, Signature Finishes, Insignia Specialty Coatings, Interlux, Kirby’s, Pettit, Sherwin-Williams, and West Marine. Choosing the right topside paint has as much to do with matching paint characteristics with the applicator's needs and skill level as it does with the paint itself. While this test focuses on topside paints that are well-suited for DIY application, many are often used in pro applications as well.

Earlier this year, reader and occasional contributor Fred Hatch found himself facing a quandary common among boat owners. The topsides of his 32-foot sloop were well faded, and small blisters were beginning to show along the waterline. Would he be in for an ambitious haulout and big yard fees, or might there be other remedies?

It takes practice to produce a perfect, mirror finish on varnished wood, but it is not so much a difficult task as an exacting one, where attention to detail and no short cuts are the secrets to success. Whether you are finishing new wood, refinishing old wood, or maintaining a finish in good condition, the basics are the same.