Maintaining Stainless Steel
Most of a chainplate is hidden from view by a toggle and where the chainplate lives below deck level. In these areas, deterioration grows...
Buyers Guide: Choosing a New Cruising Main
The mainsail of our Chesapeake Bay test boat was intact, but, after exhausting every life-extending option available—including patches, repairs, re-stitching, and tune ups—it became...
Design For: Winch Handles
Making spare winch handles is a simple job for a competent metal worker. This I discovered because our Norlin designed Scampi, Windhover, has eight...
Clear the Decks: Anchor Wells and Bow Rollers
Ever since some ancient mariner broke a toe tripping over the killick stowed in the bow of his curragh, sailors have sought to solve...
Taming the Wild Boom: Two Designs for a Gallows
A wildly flailing boom is one of the most dangerous objects aboard a sailboat. If you could completely control the boom at anchor and...
A Homemade Tiller Tender
On my Catalina 22 I have a tiller tender which has served me well for many years — and it didn't cost a cent.On...
Rope Test Yields Rope Hernias
Researching an upcoming article on the effects of various cleaning chemicals on ropes, our testers scrubbed and machine-washed mountains of nylon and polyester rope...
Sailboat Design Conference Part II
Glenn Henderson (Hunter Marine), Tim Jackett (Fairport Marine; C&C and Tartan Yachts), Tony Smith (Performance Cruising), Jim Taylor (Sabre Yachts), and Robert Perry, share...
In-Boom Furling: Five Systems
Our last good look at in-boom furling systems was in the August 1, 1998 issue, when we liked both ProFurl and Leisure Furl, giving...
Mainsail Track Hardware
The three S's of mainsail handling get a lot of attention. Rightfully so, too. Whether it's a small family sloop or a flat-out ocean...
Abandon Ship! Coast Guard Rescue Beneteau 523 in the Atlantic
What would cause the captain and crew to abandon ship in the Atlantic ocean? There was no sailboat disaster here, but a coast guard...
Latest Sailboat Review
J/109 Used Boat Review
The J/109 is a 35-ft. boat that races well and has some comforts for short term cruising. It is a true racer/cruiser. The first...