Painting Water Tanks
When it comes to onboard water tanks, we prefer stainless, fiberglass, and even roto-molded tanks (in that order) to aluminum ones. Aluminum tanks tend...
Will Your Tanks Be Clean Next Spring?
When contributor Drew Frye commissioned his family's PDQ 32 catamaran six years ago, his daughter asked, What are these pink lumps in the sink,...
Repairing Worn Gelcoat
Regarding your blog post on restoring gelcoat (posted online March 18, 2014): Ive seen many similar articles over the years directed toward refinishing topsides....
Testers Check Growth in the Lab and on the Boat
When testing a chemicals toxicity and its ability to biodegrade, a common procedure is to dilute each target chemical at various ratios of interest,...
Backup Bilge Pumps
If I ever discover seawater sloshing around my cabin floor, I cannot be sidetracked by the need to operate a manual bilge pump; I...
Bottom Paint Checkup 2014
ConclusionMost of the conventional hard and ablative paints in this comparison are virtually the same blends weve been testing for years. At 12 months,...
Prop Paints Show Familiar Signs of Failure
Weve experimented with several different prop paints with varying degrees of success, although none of the results so far have been dazzling. Some of...
The Ins and Outs of Choosing a Bottom Paint
When choosing a bottom paint, make sure it is compatible with your existing paint, or be prepared for whatever extra prep work might be...
Coolants that Fight Corrosion
West marine Pure Oceans CoolantA propylene glycol-based, light-duty coolant, West Marines Pure Oceans Engine Antifreeze and Coolant performed admirably in our glassware corrosion testing....
ASTM D1384 Serves as Model for Testers
Samples were tested for corrosion protection following the ASTM D1384 Corrosion in Glassware method (www.astm.org). Samples were diluted to 33-percent glycol, dosed with ASTM...
The UNIQUE Maxus 26 Lifting Keel Trailer Sailor
What is the best trailerable sailboat? One big feature is the mast stepping system. Today we look at trailer sailors like the Catalina 275,...
Latest Sailboat Review
Morgan Out Island 36 Used Boat Review
Most are familiar with Charles Morgan and his Out Island 41, primarily made to cruise and charter in the Bahamas, but not many are...