Subscriber Only - Page 4 of 43

Checking Rope Strength

Subscriber Only November 25, 2024

We like nylon for docklines, anchor rode and chain snubbers because it stretches, absorbing jolts that would otherwise be transferred to the boat and...

With 6-ft. headspace in the cabin, this family cruiser is well-suited for lakes and coastal adventures. (Photo courtesy of PopSells.com)

Grampian 26 Used Boat Review

Subscriber Only November 25, 2024

The first fiberglass auxiliary sailboats were built in the late 1950s; for the record, the first was the 40-foot Philip Rhodes-designed Bounty II (1956),...

Beneteau First 375 Used Boat Review

Subscriber Only November 20, 2024

A Mexican vacation with her husband had Debbie Bulk dreaming of a better way to see local village life, away from the regular tourist...

Vesper Marine WatchMate 850 is an class "B" AIS transponder system that lets boats know your location and, at the same time, lets you know which boats are around you. Photo courtesy of Vesper Marine.

Vesper Marine WatchMate 850 and Icom M91D: Where Credit is Due

Subscriber Only November 18, 2024

AIS (automatic identification system) transponders put out a signal that describes your boat and what it is doing to other ships. It also receives...

No need to miss your favorite bakery from land. With a pressure cooker, you can make this moist vegan lemon and blueberry cake for a special celebration, or as an anytime treat. (Photo/ Sarah Powell-Fowler)

How to Prep and Store More Interesting Produce for Passage

Subscriber Only November 18, 2024

As any seasoned sailor knows, managing space and resources on a boat is paramount. This is especially true when it comes to storing and...

The Best Gloves for the Boatyard

Subscriber Only November 18, 2024

We choose our sailing gloves and deck shoes with great care, because they are our interface with the boat. The same goes for work...

With Weiman Glass Cooktop Cleaner and a red Scotch-Brite pad, the author restored yellowed gelcoat in the cockpit to a near-new white shine. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Gelcoat Cleaning and Restoring Hack

Subscriber Only November 18, 2024

How does the saying go again? “Necessity is the mother of invention,” or something along those lines? And so it was earlier this week...

Examples of glass filler (microspheres) and glass material (cut fibers and two fabrics) for plastics reinforcement: glass microspheres (or glass beads); diameter: about 300 µm, specific gravity: 2.5. Mineral filler mainly used to increase the stiffness of a thermoset resin and to make road safety markings; 5 mm length chopped strands of fiberglass used to reinforce thermoset resins; fibrous reinforcements for thermoset resins: two glass fabrics with different area density; fiber orientation: 0 and 90° (most common): weave pattern: taffeta (down left, area density: 550 g/m2), and 2x2 twill (down right, area density: 280 g/m2). Credit: WikiCommons/CC BY-SA 3.0

A Brief Modern History of Fiberglass

Subscriber Only November 11, 2024

Fiberglass, also known as glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), has been an integral material in modern engineering and design, especially within the marine industry. Its lightweight,...

After picking up oars at West Marine in Oriental, North Carolina, the author stumbled upon the Front Porch Music Festival. (Photo/ Alex Jasper)

10 Unexpected and Free ICW Highlights

Subscriber Only November 11, 2024

The unexpected delights along my journey down the ICW were many. Here are ten of my favorites that mostly didn’t cost money. 1) Cruising ambassador...

You don't need to keep a full-size SCUBA tank onboard for underwater emergencies. Mini SCUBA tanks like this Spare Air don't take up much storage space, and offer sailors the ability to dive on an anchor or work on the prop longer than you'd be able to with snorkel alone.

Compact Scuba Kits for Sailors

Subscriber Only November 11, 2024

In general, many cruisers prefer the freedom of snorkeling to scuba diving, yet there are situations when extending the time you can spend underwater...