Mailport & PS Advisor

Back to the WashboardWere retired now, so, were able to take a couple of extended cruises a summer aboard the 40-foot sloop weve had for two decades. When were off cruising for a month, dirty clothes pile up. It would be nice if we didnt have to hunt down laundromats or soak stuff in a bucket and festoon the lifelines. Have small washing machines become practical yet for sailboats? …

In Praise of SaildrivesI noted in past PS articles, and those in other magazines, comments on saildrives. One such story was in regard to the Niagara 35. It was described as a great coastal boat, but many comments were about the saildrives. I have seen many pictures of saildrives in various stages of corrosion, some beyond repair. We have owned our Niagara for 20 years now. It has a saildrive. Hearing these negative stories years…

Stainless vs. BronzeWhenever I buy new fittings (like cleats, blocks, fairleads, etc.), I never know whether to buy stainless or bronze. We have an...

PS Cool CatA couple of months ago, I promised to send you a picture of the Key of D in Fiji. You can't see...

Leaky HatchesMy situation relates to the article about caulks and sealants in the April 2005 issue. I have a leaky main hatch. My main...

The Doctor Is InI recently finished overhauling an old 26-foot Haida, and having used many paints in the process, I have a few comments...

Bilge Pump HoseIve searched the indexes of my PS library of 10 years of back issues, searched your online index, and re-read bilge pump...

Timeshare SailingThank you for the report Learning to Share in the January 2006 issue of Practical Sailor, in which our company, Pinnacle Yachts, was...

Insulating FridgesThe original insulation on my 1994 Com Pac 35 refrigeration is fiberglass duct board. During the summers, it absorbs moisture and becomes nearly...

Mud MastersHerewith some comments on your useful experiments concerning anchor holding power in soft mud as described in Anchors for Muck, for Under 200...