Two years ago I straightened out my anchor chain by letting it hang straight down without the anchor. After two seasons of use it was again badly twisted. Since we rarely spend…
Category: On Deck
Deck hardware and projects to maintain and enhance your boat.
Loxx™ fasteners versus Lift-at-the-dot
There are two common fasteners used on boat canvas. The most popular is the snap fastener which can be canvas-to-canvas or canvas to a hard surface using a stud. This is a…
Fixing Twisted Anchor Chain
A little background first. A couple of years ago I had my anchor and chain re-galvanized. This was a great success, and both looked like new. However, after I started using it,…
Why replace sailboat running rigging?
Modern ropes last a long time in general, but all are subject to UV damage and general wear and tear. I live in British Columbia where UV is relatively low, particularly in…
Burgees and flags for lazy people.
This is what happens to a burgee when you leave it up all the time. This one is slightly less than one year old, but has been up in the sun and…
Leaking Windows
Almost every boat will eventually develop leaking windows. My boat Tangleberry is no exception. The first leak started about 5 years ago. It was one of the large aluminum framed windows on…
The Mystery of the Missing Battens
The self-tacking jib on my Hanse 371 has 3 vertical battens which allow it to have some roach, and thereby gain some extra area. The batten openings face down and battens are…
DIY Line Locker Hangers
My boat has line hangers on the aft end of the cabin for the halyards and control lines on the cabin top. They have been there since the boat was new in…
Troubleshooting the Windlass
When I took the anchor and chain off for galvanizing I noticed that the anchor windlass would not power downward, but it would power upward. Today I gathered some tools and went…
Is Re-Galvanizing Worth It?
Is re-galvanizing a rusty anchor and chain worth doing, or should you just buy new? I have seen lots of posts in sailing forums that suggest re-galvanizing costs nearly as much as…