Know Your Gypsy
When buying chain, there are two things to look for. The first is quality, which we explore through our testing. The critical question, though,...
Mooring Chain Background
Almost all chain used for permanent moorings is made of welded steel alloy, galvanized to forestall corrosion not, in the long run, to prevent...
Decontaminating a Tainted Tank
Those of you who missed our report on how a weak winterizing solution can create a Sandals Beach Resort for waterborne bacteria may be...
Find the Cause of Head Odor
Good hose is useless if the unions are not well clamped. Barbed hose end fittings should be snug and securely sealed and, of course,...
Combatting Onboard Toilet Odors
We’ve had a lot of fun with toilets and boat sanitation systems, most recently with an extensive new reports on desiccating heads and combatting...
Thermal Cooking Is a Great Option for Cooking Onboard
The humble vacuum flask, or thermos, is one of those 19th century technologies that has withstood the tests of time. Originally a delicate, double-walled,...
Waxing and Polishing Your Boat
With spring launch day looming for most of us, I am plunging once again into polishing and waxing fiberglass boat hulls. This post covers...
The Holy Grail of Wood Protectors
Did you ever wonder why its called “wood finish?” You’re never “finished” with it. Unfortunately, that rings true for most boat maintenance tasks. With...
Bad Holding Ground Primer
Modern anchors of the recommended size that are set and rigged properly offer plenty of holding power in good sand or mud. Except for...
Common Bottom Type Abbreviations
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...
What Happens When Lightning Hits a Sailboat?
Lightning striking a sailboat sounds like something out of a disaster movie—but what actually happen when it does? In this episode, we break down...
Latest Sailboat Review
Caliber 33 Used Boat Review
The Caliber is a peculiar blend of tradition and innovation, of security and performance, of practicality and pizzazz. All of the owners we heard from were "satisfied." One called the 33 his favorite boat over six decades of sailing.