For many boatowners, its time to start thinking about the off-season layup. If youre planning some pre-haulout maintenance projects so you can avoid the hassle next season, check out these helpful gems from our online archives.
If brightwork is on your to-do list, youll find a bevy of information on the PS website, including our top-product picks after two years of exposure testing 56 exterior varnishes and varnish alternatives (PS, September 2011). There are also how-to tips for everything from preserving leftover paint and varnish (Inside Practical Sailor, September 2012) to choosing the right bristle brush (PS, April 2011) and how to touchup varnish blemishes (PS, January 2011). Were launching a new round of varnish testing this month, so if you have a specific product youd like to see tested, shoot us an email: [email protected].
Looking to replace your sails this fall? Boat show season gets rolling this month and next, so now is a great time to start shopping for sails as many lofts will be offering boat-show deals. Before buying, be sure to read the March 25, 2014 blog, Upgrading the Cruising Main. It includes links to archive articles on selecting a sailmaker, selecting new trysails and cruising mains, and the results of Practical Sailors reader survey of favorite sail lofts. It also links to PSs three-book e-book series, A Look at Sails, which can be found in our online bookstore at www.practical-sailor.com.
If you have larger projects on tap and will need to haul out to tackle them, our articles on do-it-yourself boatyards (PS, June 2009) and do-it-for-me boatyards (PS, December 2013) are must-reads.
