Historical and technical information about yachts.
Alden, Burgess, Herreshoff, Paine are some of the legends of yacht design. After my recent travels aboard a Lewis Francis Herreshoff schooner, I have been thinking about what exactly went on back then. There is no doubt we have come a long way in terms … Continue readingThe Past of Yachting
I am still off on delivery and unable to respond to comments until I get to a hotspot. Hopefully, I am experiencing better times than in the sea story below. I was offshore in a tropical gale with a dirty fuel tank and an engine … Continue readingAdrift Through the Windward Passage
This week I am enroute from Fort Lauderdale to St. Maarten aboard the pictured yacht, a 75-foot Herreshoff design. Please check back in the next few weeks for stories and technical articles from my delivery adventure to St Maarten.
Often when reading about sailboats, one encounters criticism with respect the excessive weather helm as a negative characteristic of a vessel’s sailing performance. With a little research, weather helm is revealed as a tendency of the sailboat to turn windward necessitating a constant and opposite … Continue readingHelm Balance – Center of Effort, Lateral Resistance, Centerboard, Mast Rake
Shore power is a jungle that takes equal parts captain and physicist to navigate. Add on the complexities of European power arrangements, and one is truly overwhelmed. In this article, I will organize the options, explain why each is used, and what you can and … Continue readingMarine Shore Power – 15/20/30/50 Amps, 120/240 Volts, Adaptors
Naval architects designate sailboat rig types by number and location of masts. The six designations are sloop, cutter, cat, ketch, yawl, and schooner. Although in defining and describing these six rigs I may use terminology associated with the sail plan, the rig type has nothing … Continue readingSailboat Rig Types: Sloop, Cutter, Ketch, Yawl, Schooner, Cat
Anti-fouling paint protects the bottom of a boat’s hull from slime, weed, and barnacles. The active ingredient in the paint matrix is a biocide which differs depending on the location factors (water flow, salt concentration, temperature) and the type of usage. The three major types … Continue readingGuide to Anti-fouling Paints: Biocide, Ablation, Teflon
I purchased the December 2010 issue of Wooden Boat magazine the other day at West Marine. As a brokerage we sometimes used to advertise in it especially when we had a wood boat for sale. These days that is pretty rare. I have been thinking … Continue readingWood Boat Construction: Frames, Planking, Fasteners, etc.
Low max RPMs is a common symptom of propulsion problems. In full throttle, the tachometer does not go to the engine’s rated max RPM’s. Please read on for possible problems and troubleshooting options.
Overheating is a common symptom of marine diesel engine blockage. Marine diesels should run at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature goes above 200, start getting worried. Dialing down the RPM’s may allow the engine to recover and run well at a more leisurely pace. … Continue reading10 Common Causes Of Marine Diesel Engines Overheating