Bottom Paints 2003
It's baaack... Micron Optima earns the overall best rating. Interlux and the Kop-Coat companies take 10 of 13 'excellent' ratings, Sea Hawk gets two, and E-Paint one. Pettit Ultima SR looks good long-term.û
Teak Treatment All-Stars Grudge Match
Here's the kick-off of a long-term 'test of the best'—products that have come out at the tops of their types, now pitted against each other.
Topside Paints At One Year
One-part wonders Interlux Toplac and Epifanes Mono-Urethane give two-part brews a run for their money—a short way into a long event.
Restoring Decks: Nonskid Options
We evaluated four paints, 10 additives, and three mats for slip resistance, ease of application, and appearance. Treadmaster's mat still rules, in our view. West Marine's paint is a Best Buy.
Clear Plastic Cleaners
All 14 products worked to some degree, but we were most impressed by the Armada 210 and Plexus among the sprays, the Dolphinite among the liquid pastes, and, as a Best Buy, the Mer-maids among the liquids.
PS Advisor: 01/15/03
Aluminum-Stainless CorrosionI have a problem with my pedestal steering mount. I have to move the instrument-mounting arms. I removed the securing screws, but the...
LED Lights: Low-Power, Long Life
The revolution continues. LEDs serve a growing range of uses on board.
HUM Bugs vs. the Pristine Tank
What is the crud that, if left to have its way, can foul your filters, starve the fuel pump, and bring your diesel engine...
Deck-Fill Fuel Filters
The expensive Baja filter, oft-mentioned in these pages, did very well in these tests—but West Marine's new Teflon-based filter did better for less, by means of a simple water-separating scheme.
Varnish Exposure Finale
After two years of constant exposure, the test frame is getting rickety, but the teak is sound, as are about a quarter of the varnish applications.
Why Sailors Love to Hate the MacGregor 26
The MacGregor 26 might be the most controversial sailboat ever built. Half sailboat. Half powerboat. Water ballast. A 50-horsepower outboard. Capable of sailing… and...
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