Mailport: Water heater mystery smell
WATER HEATER MYSTERY SMELL
I just read your Waypoints blog post “Hot Water Heater Installation Tips,” and wanted to share my experience. I recently installed...
Mailport: Aftermarket exhaust; window replacement; epoxy blurp
AFTERMARKET EXHAUST
I have really appreciated the refit series from John Stone you’ve published (see “Rebuilding a Cape Dory 36,” PS November 2022). As someone beginning to...
Gybing Spinnakers without Getting Snagged
Last month’s report on preventing jib sheets for snagging while tacking (see “In Search of the Snag-free Clew,” PS February 2024) brought up a...
Mailport: Marine plywood, fuel additives, through bolt options, winch handle holders
DIFFERENTIATING FIRS
I enjoyed your destructive wood testing and your patience in waiting eight years to report comprehensive results (see PS December 2023, “Wood Rot...
The Cruising Sailor’s Argument for High-tech Fibers
We’re not racers. A few ounces doesn’t matter to us, so why should we be interested in Dyneema, or any of the other popular...
PS Advisor: Saving “Furry” Plywood Backing Plate
Recently, a reader asked us about the plywood backing plates for a through-hull on his boat. He said that the top laminate appeared “furry”...
Mailport: Winch handle holster, sea dogs, and core repair
MAST-CLIMBING ABOVE THE HOUNDS
Regarding your recent blog post on mast climbing (see “Going Aloft Sans Butterflies,” Inside Practical Sailor), my fractional rigged boat has...
PS Advisor: A DIY Bucket with Perfect Fit
Perhaps one reason our buckets keep cracking is that we have to compress them a bit to fit them through the 10-inch rectangular hatch...
Mailport: Boat heaters, digital charts, photophobia, downsizing
HEATING EFFICIENCY
I just saw, with interest, your article about onboard fireplace safety, with the emphasis on safety (see “LPG Fireplace Safety Guidelines,” Inside Practical Sailor)....
PS Advisor: Backing Plate and Self-tapping Screw Tips
Athreaded backing plate is a common approach to eliminating nuts in through bolts. We’ve used threaded backing plates for mounting jammers to thin-walled spars...
The ULTIMATE Family Charter Catamaran – Bali 5.8 Full Tour
The Bali 5.8 Catamaran Sailboat is going to be the flagship of the charter sailboat industry. With up to six private cabins, each with...
Latest Sailboat Review
Island Packet 440
For nearly 30 years under the direction of designer and CEO Bob Johnson, Island Packet accomplished what few modern boatbuilders have been able to...