Passivating Stainless on Sails and Gear
Often stainless steel hardware on our sails will begin to rust under the cloth webbing, not only staining the fabric and webbing, but inviting...
Mailport: March 2022
NAVIGATION ADVICE
Regarding your recent blog post on navigating in poorly chartered waters, all of your tips, plus make use of the masses of very...
Must I Remove Mast Hardware to Paint?
Refinishing hulls, decks and masts has been revolutionized by epoxy primers and two part polyurethane top coat material. Their adhesive quality, durability, longevity and...
Mailport: February 2022
SPLIT MAINSHEET
Regarding your recent report on split mainsheets (see PS November 2020, “Do Twin Mainsheets Better Control the Mainsail?”), if you attach the preventers/...
The Orion 357 Electric Flare After 1 Year
In our report on the new electronic visual distress signalling devices (eVDSD) we mentioned in passing that a U.S. Coast Guard approved eVDSD might...
Mailport: January 2022
GORILLA GLUE AND UV
Regarding your report on repairing damaged core panels, “Can Glue Injection Fix Rotten Core?” The problem I have found is that...
Playing the Wind Shifts for Fun or Sport
When high-pressure dominates, it is normal for the wind direction to oscillate 15-20 degrees every 5-20 minutes. In theory, hitting the shifts correctly will...
Mailport: December 2021
IN PRAISE OF KOVER KLAMPS
Thanks for this great article on winter covers (see Inside PS blog, “What to Look for in a Winter Cover”),...
File Away Your Pipe Thread Problems
Thread restoring files cannot restore stripped or severely corroded threads, but they can work wonders on threads that have been distorted by impact, clogged...
Quick Tips for Cleaning Up Spilled Epoxy
Everybody has spills, and just a tiny splatter of epoxy can make a mess of an otherwise flawless job. Never fear, there are some...
Living on a Boat Off Grid: What No One Explains
Living on a boat off-grid sounds simple until you actually try it. No shore power. No marina hookups. No endless electricity. Just batteries, solar,...
Latest Sailboat Review
Union 36 Used Boat Review
While not the best boat for light-air sailing, the Union 36 is a good sailboat for the bluewater cruiser. It wont get you there fast, but it will get you there comfortably and in one piece. The boats teak decks and lavish use of interior wood is attractive but requires much upkeep and maintenance. A product of the Taiwan-U.S. boatbuilding industry, the Union 36 is a heavy-displacement, full-keel, cutter-rigged double-ender designed for ocean sailing. The Union 36 is nearly identical to several other boats built during the same period: the Hans Christian 36, Mariner Polaris 36, and the EO36. According to well-known naval architect Bob Perry, the Union 36 and its cousins are all based on the design of a 34-footer that Perry was commissioned to create back in the early 70s.