The 30hp marinized Kubota engine on our 1979 Dufour 35 had always run a bit hot. The previous owner told us it was happiest at 190°F and 1800 RPM, even though the manual specified an operating temperature of 170°F and 2400 cruising RPM. We didn’t know any better, so we shrugged and bought the
How to build a boat – 5 kits we love
Learning how to build a boat might not be as hard as you think For many, learning how to build a boat is a lifelong dream. Today, with boat kits, YouTube instructional videos, and online boat building communities, it’s easier than ever to build a boat. As a result, the internet is awash with designs
7 boat DIY rules to live by
Each spring and fall we embark on our boat DIY projects, brimming with enthusiasm (how hard could it be to rebed a couple of leaky hatches?) only to find ourselves an hour or so later utterly defeated and weeping into a puddle of semi-cured Sikaflex. With winterizing the boat just around the corner, we’ve been
Brighten up your boat with non skid deck paint – Waterborne
Looking to give an old boat new life? Repainting the decks with non skid deck paint is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to dramatically improve your boat’s appearance. Chris Valentino is in the process of restoring his 1967 O’Day Widgeon and has been blogging about it at C2 Valentino. He shares this quick and easy
How to careen a sailboat – the low cost haulout
At 24, John Pennington and his wife Kara Potter set out to circumnavigate in their Cape Dory 30. Over the following 4 years they occassionally found themselves in far-flung places where haulouts were either unavailable or prohibitively expensive. In the guest post below, John explains how they beached, cleaned, and painted their boat over two-days
5 homemade gifts for sailors
Whether you have a sailing fanatic in the family or want to thank the staff at your marina, these 5 homemade gifts for sailors are sure to please. Read-on for quick-to-make and easy-to-stow gift ideas for the sailor in your life. This post was based on an article originally published in Good Old Boat Magazine.
Clean the bottom of your boat like a pro
We’d neglected the bottom of our boat for a month and the warm Mexican waters had transformed our sleek hull into a furry ecosystem teeming with life. My partner, Robin, had begun naming the fish living underneath MonArk, our Dufour 35. Presumably, they’d mistaken us for a benevolent barnacle-encrusted whale, or worse, a coral reef!
Make your own leecloth
Make your own leecloth out of recycled canvas. After we purchased a new suit of sails recently, I was determined to give our old sails a second life. I couldn’t find a recycling program that accepted sailcloth, so I started looking for ways to put our bagged-out old sails to good use. To my great
Make your own sail repair kit
Keeping a well-stocked sail repair kit on board is important for preventing and minimizing sail damage. We bought a beautiful new set of sails for MonArk only 7 months ago and I have already put my sail repair kit to use on several occasions. With the right tools on hand you’ll be able to catch any damage
Keeping greens fresh without a fridge
When my partner, Robin, wants to get my attention, he’ll come home with a big beautiful bouquet of freshly cut collard greens. If it’s a special occasion, maybe a dozen stems of rainbow chard. I’ve always liked greens and, as anyone who’s lived without refrigeration can attest, nothing says “I love you” like a fistful
