Fairing the Keel(s)
One of the more popular uses for fairing compounds is for shaping underwater appendages like keels and rudders so they are more efficient. Adjusting...
Through-bolting Fiberglass: An Inquiry into Failure Modes
How much load does a keel bolt or a winch through-bolt put on a hull or a deck? How thick should the laminate be...
Hose Fitting Tips
Pulling hoses is generally low on the fun list. They are in bad places, jammed onto crusty hose-fitting barbs, and have stiffened over the...
Adhesives Test
Once upon a time in Tasmania, a skipper faced a daunting task: install a three-bladed, folding propeller without hauling out the boat. The underwater...
Bringing an Old Boat Trailer Back to Life
Over the years, weve stressed the importance of keeping a close eye on stainless-steel sailboat hardware and why pitting, crevice-corrosion, and galvanic action are...
Freeing Seized Hardware
Step three, when necessary, use a combination of heat and cold. I use a simple propane torch to heat up the surrounding area and...
Synthetic Decks vs. PS Testers
For this comparison of synthetic teak options, our first concern was ease of installation. The manufacturer typically carries out the hardest part-welding the panels...
DIY Mast Boot
With a little imagination and some inexpensive materials, you can put together a leakproof mast boot in a few hours.
1 Roofing Rubber
One reliable boot...
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...
Heavy-Duty Rubbing Compounds
Gelcoat provides a fiberglass boat with a hard, water-resistant protective shell. When new, its polished and waxed to a bright shine, but after a...
The Cheap Big Cruising Sailboat – Endeavour 42
Interested in a 40-45 foot cruising sailboat? Sailing Florida or the Bahamas and need a shoal draft sailboat that’s big enough to be a...
Latest Sailboat Review
Cheoy Lee Clipper 36 & 42 Used Boat Review
Cheoy Lee Shipyards of Hong Kong has been a commercial builder since the early 1900s and is one of the first molders of fiberglass...