Yours may be a good example of how pounding at high speed, even in releative flat water can put very hard strain on hardware, especially mast components, since the mast is like a giant lever compounding the forces as it trys to pivot from the cabin top tabernacle fulcrum. Measure the size of the hol...

I"ve been told by a former test pilot that it's a dicutm among his kind that when something goes badly wrong.... DO something immediately........ don't wait to think, analyze, etc. just DO something. Chances are very good he said, that your unconscious brain is way ahead of you and will make a ...

According to several marine authorities, what's popularly called the cavitation plate, or anti cavitation plate is the one immediately above the prop. As stated, it's important to prevent the prop sucking air from the surface, especially during sharp turns or turns at high speed.

Anchor watches are simply a part of life at sea and prudent seamanship at times and places of the skipper's choosing. They can be really nice to have for time alone to reflect on many things, and to see and hear things others don't. I'll never forget a 3am watch on a cold, clear, windless night up i...

Mike has two points. One, regulatory bodies usually only look only at boats structures and plans. Measure, run formulas, make a quantitative decision. That's helpful, but not the complete picture. The "does it sink" question would certainly change a safety rating if common sense were appli...

Relplies from local CG folk will vary. It seems some are concerned about your safety most, others more concerned with the public in general. One old fisherman told me he slept better at sea with his anchor light a lantern tied to a length of rope so that it hung from a cargo boom and swung back and ...

I don't know if this still applies to the newer models, but for my '97 Merc 2 stroke, the trim tabs and other body parts were the same for the 40, 50, and 60 hp 13 spline classic lower unit.

Welcome back! Those of us who have owned or sailed much larger craft know about those endless maintenance chores, parts that are always very expensive, and "shoal draft" that catches every shoal and traps the boat til next high tide.... so we downsized to a Mac for very solid reasons, not ...

I think the factory recommendations are very reasonalble, though very conservative considering what is possible under the best of conditions. The factory caution is well advised given the wide range of owner's experience, seaworthiness of individual boats and weather conditons possible. I once had 1...

I frequently sail with genny only, especially with inexperienced guests as crew. Even in the very lightest air you can sail with good control and the wind has to pipe up fairly well to say time to furl and use the iron wind. Being on the furler, even first time sailors can unfurl without leaving the...

I'm glad to see a happy ending to that adventure. Hats off to both of you for making the best outcome from a dangerous situation. I'm also glad it was only a cut. The last time a friend was hit by the boom (on their Catalina 42) she had enough brain injury to require surgery and a year of rehab incl...

Your gps reference was very helpful to formulate my remarks: I put myself in your place and considered the following things based on my Florida experience long ago: In my view, anchor and rode is adequate for up to 50" of water in a good set, good holding sand bottom you should find there, in w...

There's just something about boats that attracts leaks in places you want secure. Appreciate any boat manufacturer now days who makes a boat that is water tight, even temporarily, and yet has good light and ventilation below. It's not easy to accomplish. The very reason all the old seagoing boats we...

FM signals are a line of sight signal. The higher the antenna, the farther from shore you can recieve a good signal over water. I"ve always used an antenna splitter shared with my VHF or CB and it's worked with a variety of makes and models of antenna. I curently use on my X a 5' Shakespeare fi...

This could be done safely. Two ways: First is to glass in a strong flange of 1" wood or 1" sq. tubing around the opening with tangs that extend out into the adjoining areas of original material. Be sure to consider adequate drainage to safeguard the interior from leaks. Second is to extend...