Systems & Propulsion

The Front Line in Filtration

Wire mesh screens are a pain to clean. Fibers push through neighboring holes, resulting in what is known in the industry as “stapling.” They...
Lowering the Beta 20, the Kubota 722 block marinized by the British, to replace a Volvo MD7A two-cylinder. (Photo/ Bert Vermeer)

Engine Replacement on Islander Bahama 30

There may come a time when repowering your cherished sailboat needs to be addressed. I suspected that not all 13 horses of the venerable...

Simple Lithium for Outboard-Powered Tenders, Daysailers, and Sport Boats

Lithium is cool. Your cell phone uses it. Cameras, laptops, flashlights … everything. But “cool” is not a reason. Fire is not a big...

Ensuring a Safe Space for Batteries

When charging, lead acid batteries generate hydrogen from the electrolysis of water, and some acid gases, the amount of which vary with the battery...

Impact of Modern, Triangular-Design on Boat Performance

Go round any boat show and look at the hulls from underneath—most now have a narrow, very pointed bow and a broad flat stern....
Beneteau First 44. A modern wide stern boat with a deep narrow fin and bulb plus twin rudders. Note the very shallow hulls as well. This design epitomizes the modern fast "cruiser" and draws heavily from racing designs. (Photo courtesy of Boats.com)

Keel and Rudder Design Basics

This is a simple explanation for those new to sailboats about what effect sailboat design has on performance. There are few “bad” boats but...
Parallel hybrid setup. Image courtesy of Ortomarine.

Diesel-Electric Hybrids Vs. Electric: Sailing’s Auxiliary Power Future

How do we reduce and even eliminate our sailboat's carbon dioxide emissions when using auxiliary propulsion and electrical HVAC systems? Just like with automobiles, how...

Sailing Triteia: Budget Bluewater Cruising

If I were to sum up, in one word, how James Frederick has managed to create his sailing life, I’d say “resourcefully.” The 49-year-old...

How To Keep Pipe Fittings Dry: Sealant and Teflon Tape Tests

After replacing the raw water pump on his 30-plus-year old Universal diesel, former PS Editor Darrell Nicholson reconnected the tangle of hoses on the...

How to Create a Bullet-Proof VHF/SSB Backup

In this short article I want to chat about ideas for making the radio bombproof in an emergency. I haven’t “invented” any of these...

Is the Gulfstar 44 a STEAL of a DEAL?

If you plan to go cruising on a sailboat and sail in the ocean, the Gulfstar 44 might just be the perfect budget cruiser...

Latest Sailboat Review

Valiant 40 Used Boat Review

The Valiant 40 has a long history. In 1972, Nathan Rothman decided to start a boatbuilding business and approached old friend Bob Perry to...