Below the Waterline Projects
We wrap up our boatyard work with thru-hull, keel cooler, and transducer installations. Does splash day go off without a hitch?
Making a Custom Boom Vang
A boom vang (US) or kicking strap (UK) is a line or piston system on a sailboat used to exert downward force on the boom and thus control the shape of the sail. There are a lot of really nice boom vangs for sale that I’m sure are fairly simple to install. We considered buying […]
Measuring for and Installing a Mack Pack Mainsail Cover
We’ve had our new sails and Mack Pack mainsail cover for about a year now and absolutely love them. After using the 106% genoa last year, we decided to get a smaller yankee jib (about 85%). We had some issues using the larger genoa on the river where we sail. The wind is often flukey […]
New Sails and New Sail Track
Last fall we bought new sails and a Tides Marine Sail Track and Slide system (formerly known as a Strong Track). The sails we got from Island Planet Sails in Reno, NV. We were acquaintances with the owner when he briefly had a boat at our marina. Sails After a few hours of measuring, we […]
Cutting the Boom
Weather helm is the tendency of a boat to turn itself into the wind (weather). Too much weather helm and she’s not only hard to steer but slower than if balanced. How do you counteract the tendency for the boat to turn into the wind? You turn the rudder. So, the more weather helm the […]
More Standing and Running Rigging
Rigging Defined Rigging comprises the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support a sailing ship or sailboat’s masts—standing rigging, including shrouds and stays—and which adjust the position of the vessel’s sails and spars to which they are attached—the running rigging, including halyards, braces, sheets and vangs. If you think that sounds complicated – you’re RIGHT! And we have a […]
Backstay and Headstay Replacement
I believe the general consensus on replacing the standing rigging on a sailboat is around 10 years. We’re not quite positive as to when ours was done last, but we do know it’s been over 10 years. We were told that the mast and boom were replaced in 2003. We kind of assume that’s when […]
All Decked Out
After 8 weeks of hard labor, the decks are DONE! And we’re really happy with the results.
What about those chainplates?
As you may have noticed we haven’t updated our website for little while, but we have updated our YouTube channel. That’s where the most recent information will be, so if you think you’ve missed something, head over the YouTube and subscribe. I have one (maybe two) more videos to finish putting together for the Electrical Project […]
Jib Track – Done! (almost…)
We tackled the jib track project this weekend. It’s been either raining or we’ve been too busy socially to get anything done lately. Finally, the weather cooperated this weekend and we installed the port jib track…almost.