Mailport & PS Advisor

The used boat review of the Tartan 37 in the January 2015 issue mentioned that several companies specialize in producing bullet-proof companionway door arrangements that can be customized to fit almost any boat. I would like the names of such companies in the U.S. as I am looking for ways to improve my boats current companionway arrangement.

The article Dissecting the Art of Staying Upright (see PS June 2015 online) was very timely for me, but I am struggling with how to apply it to real life and specific boats. How do I find information on the angle of vanishing stability for specific boats? Can you point me to other articles like yours where I can learn more?

In regard to your July 2015 article, Keeping Water Clean and Fresh: We have well water at our dock, and the water tanks in our boat are integral to the hull. How does this impact the process for cleaning and sanitizing?

After three separate three-month cruises-on a Niagara 35 in the Great Lakes and a Gulfstar 36 in Florida-we have found no problems with the EVO-1 autopilot by Raymarine that we first reported on in PS, September 2014. Although we experienced no gale or storm conditions (were cautious in our old age), we did get plenty of practice in heavy winds (15 to 25 knots) and light winds (12 down to drifting), and a great deal of motoring. In all conditions, the autopilot steered the boat exactly to our requirements.

If I use 3/8-inch Acco G43 proof-coil chain, why is the same-size galvanized shackle so much weaker? West Marine shows the Acco G43 chain rated at 5,400 pounds maximum working load (MWL), but the similarly sized shackle is rated at only 2,000 pounds MWL. It seems as though whatever size chain I select, the shackle is the weak link. How can I use a larger shackle on smaller chain?

As requested in your July 2015 article, Keeping Water Clean and Fresh, we are suggesting an evaluation of the two-part liquid Pristine (www.pristine.ca) and the Puri Sol water treatments; both use a process utilizing chlorine dioxide for killing bacteria and viruses in contaminated water. This means of sanitizing is purportedly used in hospitals in Europe, and in our experience, it is easy and effective. We have used it in the flexible bladder tanks that were original equipment on our motor-sailer for many years. It is used, apparently, by the military, as well.

Im in the process of installing new teak and holly veneer in the interior of my boat. I have the old floor out and have the new plywood/veneer cut. I am ready to varnish/seal the new veneer, but I am in gridlock as to how to go about it.

I just received the June issue and was pleased to see the sandbaggers Bull and Bear on the cover. However, when I looked inside for the cover photo description, I saw one, possibly two errors. The description reads: The replica 1860 Sandbaggers, Bull and Bear, offer students in Maine a real-world exercise in sailboat stability.

I just received the latest Waypoints e-letter about gel batteries, where you state they must be charged at no more than about 14.1 volts. We do not use gel batteries in our boat, but do in our camper van. As I understand, Trojan deep-cycle gels can be charged up to 14.4 volts and East Penn marine gel batteries up to 14.6 volts, so why are you recommending the lower voltage?

I just read your latest review on bottom paints (see PS, April 2015 online). It was a real head-scratcher to us. We just put a new coat of Interlux Ultra on the bottom of our Macintosh 47-the same paint as we had before. That bottom job had lasted 43 months! And the prior bottom job with Ultra had also lasted over three years.