Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear - Page 25 of 69

Mounting an SSB Antenna on a Gaff-rig boat

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear April 14, 2015

Any suggestions for an SSB-radio antenna installation on a 32-foot boat with a gaff rig and no backstay? Also, the hull ismild steel, and...

Rig Tips that You Can Use

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear April 14, 2015

This issue of Practical Sailor offers a wake-up call for owners of sailboats with rigs of an indeterminate age. But it also offers some...

Manson vs. CQR Sea Trials

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear March 18, 2015

Photos by Ralph Naranjo When the forecast turns bad, and its time to find shelter in a new cove or harbor, questions arise about the...

Managing the Manson as a Working Anchor

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear March 18, 2015

The Manson Supreme is also quite willing to rotate into a fluke-down, ready for the roller, alignment. I prefer to avoid the use of...

Is Hand-stitched, Nylon Webbing Strong Enough?

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear March 18, 2015

Photos by Drew Frye Rope is the mainstay of sailboat rigging, and knot-craft and splicing are the marks of a seaman. Sewn joins are also...

Going Soft on Shackles

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear March 17, 2015

Fiber shackles have been in use for centuries-the simple knotted toggles provided all manner of service on square-riggers and even older craft. When made...

The Mystery of the Bulging Fin Keel

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear March 17, 2015

I was reading a Mailport letter in the December 2014 issue of Practical Sailor, and it led me to your May 27, 2014 blog...

UV, Chafe Protection

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear February 18, 2015

What We FoundIn our search for the best way to protect a stitched loop or splice, we made several interesting discoveries.None of the liquid...

Abrasion and Break Testing

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear February 18, 2015

Testers first task was to determine whether any of these coatings could weaken line in the near term. To do this, we formed 20-inch...

Sherardizing Alternative

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear February 18, 2015

In order to impart corrosion resistance to steel, the items are commonly galvanized, immersed in a bath of molten zinc. Hot-dip galvanizing is well...