Regarding your recent Waypoints article about making your own dustless sander (see Dustless Sander, PS April 2016 online) I added a Dust Deputy (~$50 Ace Hardware) upstream of my shop vac around 3 or 4 years ago. I plug in to table saw, router table, sanders or use for clean up as needed. I have emptied the 5-gallon bucket at least ten to twenty times by now with no accumulation in the shop vac and only a very fine residue on the filter with no loss in suction. These things work so well that I see no reason to lug a big shop vac around. I wish the vortex was integrated into the shop vac itself or the shop vac pump could be purchased as a more compact unit.
Bob Rohwer
Voyager, Valiant 42
Annapolis, MD
Air conditioning at anchor
In your report on air conditioning for sailboats, I didnt notice any reference to power requirements beyond amperage. Im assuming the portable units are AC only. Can the permanent installed units be powered by DC, and if yes, what considerations are required to be factored into the install to make running air conditioning when disconnected from shore power? Is an inverter the only option for this or are there systems that can be switched between AC or DC depending on whats available like my NovaKool fridge does, automatically switching toAC power when it senses voltage on that circuit. At 7amps continuous 168 amp-hours of battery capacity would be required per day. Thats about the full capacity of my two 4D lead acid batteries combined taken down to 50 percent, so this would definitely require a significant source of either wind, solar, generator or other source for extended use. What are readers/sailors practical experience with AC under sail or at anchor?
Yves Lemoine
Rochana, Marlow-Hunter 37
Toronto Lake, Ontario
Yes, AC off the grid is possible-in a limited way. But as you point out, you need an ample battery bank and charging system to keep up with the demands. We look at a couple of options in an upcoming issue of PracticalSailor.
Winterizing fuel tanks
Regarding your recent article on winterizing: A full tank with cold fuel left in storage for the winter is not correct since the fuel will expand on hot days in the spring. Given the coefficient for thermal expansion of diesel fuel (0.00046 per degree F), an 80 F increase in temperature would add more than 9/10 gallon of fuel to a 25 gallon tank. Gasoline will expand slightly more than this. Translucent tanks make it easier to see the level and there is much to be said for the old-school dipstick method and a straight vertical fill hose down to the tank. Typical fuel gauge devices lack the precision needed for filling to optimum level so one should opt for less fuel if in doubt.
Darrell Street
Intermezzo, Cal 29
Scituate, MA
We should have clarified that we meant the safe fill level, which allows for expansion. This is the working definition of full, since a fuel tank should never be filled above the safe fill level, which is commonly defined as 96 percent for fixed tanks and not more than 90 percent for portable tanks. In fact, we have witnessed tanks overflowing because they were overfilled and temperatures rose. Its a mess, an environmental problem, and a fire hazard. To be safe, a fuel tank should not be filled beyond about 90 percent full, and never filled beyond 96 percent full.
Dutchman Boom Brake
I am using Dutchman boom brake for few years. Beside firmly holding the boom in any position you would like without any additional lines, bungee cords, braces, etc, it helps prevent any accidental jibes. Since I installed the Dutchman boom brake, my wife was able to steer the boat wing and wing downwind without being scared of accidental jibes. So I would strongly recommend to use this boom brake. Clearly, it has many benefits.
Greg Davydov
via PS Online
Prop Paints Vs. Barnacles
Responding your recent request for propeller paint experiences, my sailboat lives in the Southern Chesapeake Bay. After trying a number of prop treatments, Ive settled on Rustoleum Zinc-rich cold galvanizing spray paint, 2-3 coats on a clean prop. Not perfect, but will protect through a complete season with minimal barnacle growth (no soft growth). Desitin sort of worked, but quickly wore off the leading edges, which rapidly grew a line of barnacles, fouling the prop. A large tube costs as much as a can of the Rustoleum (about $12). My sailing buddies using yard-applied Prop-Speed and other fancy coatings all had more fouling than I did, at far greater expense.
Roland Anderson
Chesapeake Bay, via PS Online
Havanese for boat dog
You recently asked for advice on acceptable boat dogs, I have a Portuguese Water Dog and a Havanese. Both are amazing and wonderful boat companions who live with me on my 28-foot boat during the summer. My Porty (60 pounds) loves being on the water and in the water, is very athletic and enthusiastic, and loves being on the boat. I thought he was the ideal boat dog until I got the Havanese. The Havanese looks like a mini black Portuguese. At 15 pounds, it is easy to lift out of the boat and jumps readily into the inflatable. It uses the astroturf patch while the Porty refuses and both dogs don’t shed. The Havanese swims but prefers wading so I don’t have to worry about him leaping from the dinghy to swim alongside. The Havanese is very chill on the boat.
Susan Hadlock
Crowley Beal 8, Tangent,
South Freeport, ME
Meet Sparkles
I sail with a Rat Terrier and she is simply the best IMHO. Rat Terriers have a sailing heritage that goes back to the 16th Century (cats were fair mousers but messier and sailors thought they were bad luck). It is said that the skeletal remains of a rat terrier was found on the HMS Mary Rose. My Sparkles has been sailing with me for four years now with no complaints from her or any crew!
Gerard Hanson
Σαλαρετε (Sail Away) ODay 28,
Lake Lanier, GA
Rebedding Hull deck joint
I just recently bought a 1978 San Juan 28. After some other repairs-new depth sounder/knot meter, glassing a redundant through hull-I got her back in the water. On a shake down sail while reaching on a port tack (toe rail in the water) I detected a leak at what I believe to be the deck-to-hull seam as water was streaming down the ceiling. My questions are: What am I looking at for this repair? How involved is it-how many hours of work am I looking at? Do I only have to remove the toe rail and rebed underneath it, or do I have to pull the deck off and reseal that as well. I would certainly welcome any feedback I could get from anyone who has taken on this project.
Barry Antler
San Juan 28
via PS Online
How far you have to disassemble depends on the scope of a leak, but it is generally a big project. Well discuss a variety possible solutions in an upcoming issue, and wed be interested in hearing other peoples take on this project. Email us at [email protected].
Age Correction
Technical Editor Drew Frye made many excellent points on avoiding the marine-grade trap. However I believe, the oldest issue of The Practical Sailor in my basement dates from January 1978, making the 30 years cited in Drews first paragraph in error by a wee bit.
Armond Perretta
Kerry Deare of Barnegat,
Cape Dory 28, Lake Lanier, GA
A true fan! Officially, we count this as our 45th volume year. How quickly the years go by.
