Boat Maintenance

The latest report on our ongoing bottom paint tests, this look at Practical Sailor's antifouling test panels includes 65 hard and ablative paints that have been submerged for 18 months. The test paints include those from Blue Water Paints, Epaints, Flexdel, Interlux, Pettit, Sea Hawk, West Marine, and Copper Coat. An experimental stick-on paint, BoatKote Laminate, was also tested. Some copper-laden perennial favorites again topped the ratings, but some eco-friendly antifoulants from Epaints also did surprisingly well. The report also compares the results of PS's long-term bottom paint test to those of a test conducted by the San Diego Unified Port District and funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. San Diego's “Final Report on Safer Alternatives to Copper Alternatives in Antifouling Paints for Marine Vessels” evaluated how well certain alternative antifouling paints (with limited or no harmful biocides) performed.

Paint companies, boatyards, and boat owners will no doubt be closely checking the impact of an antifouling report issued last month by the San Diego Unified Port District and funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The paint samples were applied to 6-foot-by-2-foot fiberglass panels for testing. Testers follow the makers’ instructions for preparation and application. There were 11 samples per test panel. All but two samples had two coats of paint.

All the battery-powered vacuums were tested with brand-new batteries charged to their makers’ specs and brand-new filters. We put them through a series of simple bench tests and real-world use.

Anchor lockers are a convenience to coastal cruisers but no friend to offshore sailors. Passagemakers often forgo a deck-clearing locker for a belowdecks anchor-chain well. An angled spill pipe leads the anchor chain from the deck to the well, which often is under the forepeak and behind a watertight bulkhead. The setup not only eliminates the flooded-bow worries inherent with an on-deck locker, but it also moves the chain and anchors’ weight lower and further aft, where it should be to avoid hobby-horsing.

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!