Avoiding Kinks in Flexible Hose Plumbing
When plumbing a boat's pressure water system, flexible tubing is inevitably part of the equation. It is simple to install, and the hose, connecting...
Seacocks for Thin Hulls
A proper below-the-water line seacock consists of three parts: the outside portion or mushroom, which threads into the flanged valve, the flanged valve, and...
Watertight Connector Test
If only there was a good standardized 12-volt electrical connector. I’ve never had a boat without multiple connector failures, and most of them involved...
Electric Outboard Charging Tips
Somewhere around the third carburetor rebuild for our 3.3 hp four stroke dinghy outboard, I decided enough is enough. Four stroke outboards are supposed...
House Battery Bank Replacement: What to Consider
Replacing a battery bank on a cruising sailboat requires a myriad of choices—driven by one overriding goal. What are you hoping to power with...
Anti-Seize Coatings for Spars
If you've ever been humbled by a single impossibly stuck fastener, or plan on adding hardware to your spar, running gear, or deck, this...
Storing Diesel Fuel
When it comes to storing a gasoline powered vessel, you are generally better off keeping tanks full, adding a corrosion-inhibiting additive, and installing a...
Alternator Overheat: A Surprising Solution for Older Boats
Over the years, and with two different small diesels working in the tight quarters of the engine compartment of our 1978 Islander Bahama 30,...
Unblock Seawater Intake: Dinghy Pump Hose Hack
It was another spectacular summer day as we released the dock lines and once again escaped life ashore, the trusty diesel humming beneath our...
Pre-Purchase or Insurance Survey: Which One Do I Need?
You’ve been bitten by the sailing bug and every spare minute is spent searching online for that perfect vessel. You’ve narrowed it down to...
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...