Along with those items mentioned in the main article, here are few more used-gear bargains to watch for. Got a great buy to share? E-mail it to practicalsailor@belvoirpubs.com.
Paul Luke stove: The classic Paul Luke stoves are as durable and practical as they appear, and renowned for their excellent balance when gimbaled.
Ships clocks, oil lamps, and barometers: Weems and Plath (www.weemsandplath.com) still services brass chiming clocks, but it’s better to buy one that still works. Don’t mistake the cheap-plated oil lamps for solid brass.
Hypalon dinghy: Boat sales often don’t include the dinghy. Look for Hypalon-tube Achilles or Avons made after 2003, and preferably from a place with a short sailing season.
Hatches: If you’ve priced new hatches lately, then the appeal of a good hatch is obvious. If it leaks or is scratched, get an estimate from Select Plastics (www.selectplastics.com) or do it yourself.
Sunbrella: The DIY sailcover is a lot cheaper when you use surplus material from the local used gear chandlery.
Windvanes: If it’s a pre-1992 Monitor, adding the reinforcing strut guard from Scanmar (www.scanstrut.com) is worth the expense. The Aries windvane website (www.ariesvane.com) offers good research material on these classic workhorses.
