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Have you ever experimented with, or tested, an Amsteel splice going both directions through the core? The photo below is of 7/16” Amsteel. I needed a short and high strength connection between the hull and the underside of a new inner forestay deck fitting. The section pictured could only be approximately eight inches long, due […]

There are 15 basic bottom terms and 58 types listed on NOAA chart 1 (https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/us-chart-1/ChartNo1.pdf), the guide to chart symbols. (We’ve listed only a few types here.) There are also 10 qualifying terms. The accuracy of these designations varies widely by location and depth. Bottom material can vary over short distances and change with time. […]

Although you can allow your varnish and hull paint to fade, crack, or peel with no more penalty than the disdain of those who mistake shine for soul, you don’t want to let your non-skid deck paint lose its grip. Even the most soulful boat evokes a sense of pity if its owner is lying […]

Excerpted from Seamanship Secrets When the two charted objects line up as viewed from your boat – say a church spire behind a tank – you have a range (also known as a transit). A range provides a flawless line of position (LOP). When planning a cruise, look ahead, behind, and to the sides of your track for pairs […]

Part of our interest in acrylic hull restorers is due to the wide range of opinions on these products. Marketing materials often position these products as “miracle cures ” for aging gelcoat, and the examples of restored boats appearing on the Internet or in brochures often seem too good to be true. While user reports […]

When a vigorous debate broke out recently at a local boat show over the ideal orientation of a chartplotter (north up vs. heading up), I held my tongue. Given that some collisions involving commercial ships have been partially blamed on the conflicting orientation of the radar and chartplotter displays, I assumed that there must be […]

Global fuel supplies have been stretched as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and to help alleviate this, the EPA issued a waiver permitting expanded sales of E15. Beginning May 1, 2022, summer vapor pressure restrictions are lifted on E15, resulting in expanded sales in many markets. Although non-ethanol gas is available […]

Iput a nice dent in the deck several decades ago when I dropped a wrench from the masthead. It scared the crew too. I haven’t dropped anything since. I’m more safety conscious, my toolbags are more secure, and all of my essential tools are connected to me with bungees. Even when there’s no one below […]

Every rope we have on board has its quirks when you’re trying to form a knot that won’t slip or come untied. Dyneema is a dicey proposition. All but a few knots slip and it’s hard to cram enough stitching in to match the incredible strength of the fiber. Polyester is easy to sew or […]