Articles & Commentaries

Maintenance Notes

When fiberglass boats first became available, back in the early sixties, they were advertised as requiring little or no maintenance. This was a real eye-catcher for those sailors who had previously spent each spring scraping, painting, and replacing rotted wood. Of course, they sold like hotcakes with promises of more time at sea and less in the yard. Some people, even today, continue to believe that their boat needs little attention other than a quickie wax job and some bottom paint. We all wish that that were true, but unfortunately, it isn't. Here are some of the things to consider.

Rebuilding, Restoring, Adding To, or Upgrading Your "Classic"

Here are Six Rules for Success:

There isn't a powerboat or sailboat that will meet everybody's definition of perfection. Every boat is a compromise and, over time, just about every owner will contemplate making changes, or adding some gear, or, in the case of the older boat, rebuilding, restoring, or "up-grading". Although boat yards specialize in this type of work, much, if not all, can be done by a knowledgeable owner with some well-developed basic skills. There are, however, some "horror stories" that illustrate what can result when owners lack the knowledge and skills necessary to do the job well. Fortunately nothing is a total loss and from these stories come six basic rules that may be of some value to someone contemplating activities that will make their boat more to their liking.

Safety at Sea

A well-found vessel should carry a variety of safety equipment - everything from lifejackets (PFD's) and flares to a well-stocked first-aid kit. All of this equipment has a way of making the sailor feel a bit more comfortable while traveling in an environment that is quite hostile to most land-based air breathing mammals. This feeling of comfort may be somewhat misleading. If you look at all of this so-called safety gear more closely, it's soon apparent that it is all after-the-fact stuff. You use it as a last resort after you've gotten yourself into the mess that you shouldn't have gotten yourself into in the first place.

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