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" Quick update, there is a crack in the bottom of the rope locker causing the coring to rot probably froze and split the interior fiberglass. In the process of re-coring and glassing. Thanks for the heads up about the drains otherwise I may have accidentally covered them. " Cannot imagine why anyone...

Search this site for .pdf file "Castaway's Knockdown", and also look at comments about 'Offset Companionway'. The PO of Castaway used to race it across the Atlantic, and sometimes won. Not my choice of pastime, but we've always felt safe in the boat. We have had no problem with wetting of the balsa ...

Great looking restoration! The tan sails are especially attractive on a ketch. Does she have a fixed keel, and is it original? UK versions have a long keel running right aft, or else a centreboard, about in the position of your keel. Interesting to see that you have quite tightly made up running sta...

main ahead of bow 718.jpg Yes, yes, yes and yes, to each of your questions. Make sure you have long enough sheets, and, if the winds are light or flukey, rig preventers. You can take a preventer to the tip of the bowsprit for the main, and the toerail amidships for the mizzen. Gybing is not so much...

Hi, Mike. That was a quick reply! We had the centreboard half raised, which was not optimal, but the PO had recommended that, in heavy weather, as a precaution in case of a knockdown. The seas were very violent that night; wind over current crossing the Norwegian trench, and it was that, rather than...

Heaving-to is just as Mike has said, though, on a night with Force 7 – 8 winds and rough seas, we dropped the main except for the foot beneath the wishbone. Sheeting that to the windward side of the coachroof gave the effect of a backed jib on a sloop, and a reefed mizzen sheeted a little to leeward...

Keeping a boat in the North of Scotland has been a recipe for mould at times. Two possibilities have been fairly successful:– 1) leave a dehumidifier inside, connected to power, with an overboard drain (e.g. into a sink) 2) a solar/battery powered vent. One of these lasted for several years of effec...

Hi Tom (& Stephanie), Sorry for the late reply; was away, sailing to Finland. I got the panels made up by the firm, who cut the material to form the edging – it comes in strips which are glued together – rounding over and mitreing the strip, so that what I got back was a single piece for each panel,...

Not sure if this is the same sort of boat, but on my UK F35 CK, there is a locker at the forward end of the coach roof, which opens to the outside. There are two small limber holes at the aft end of the locker on each side, about 1cm diameter, which drain the locker onto the deck, except for a few m...

I did the 'sand in paint' thing on another boat; it was very effective, and very durable. One problem did arise, having applied it to the cockpit seats, in that it caused a lot of wear on my trousers, especially the waterproof ones. Proper fitted cushions would have been a good idea. I have TekDek, ...