Do it Yourself Trailer Surge Brakes

If you’re new to trailer sailing, you could be unsure about your trailer’s brake system (or lack thereof). If you own an older trailer, the system could be badly corroded from many wet launches and need repair or replacement. If your trailer doesn’t have a brake system, you might be wondering why and if you…

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Enter the 2018 Stingy Sailor DIY Project Contest

Did you do a project on your sailboat last year that you’re particularly proud of? Or did you make an ingenious improvement that you’d like to share with other skippers? I’ve received comments and emails from many of you who rolled up your sleeves and took on DIY projects large and small, simple and complex. Now’s your turn…

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Book Review: Sailboat Electrics Simplified

What is the least understood, most dangerous, and pound for pound most expensive system on a sailboat? Electrical systems, without a doubt. Few DIYers understand how to work on them, they are the number one cause of catastrophic fires, and everything about them costs multiple times what the same thing does in an automobile.

Product Review: MastGates Sail Track Gates

Do you know how to reef your mainsail when the wind gets overpowering? If not, you really should learn how. If you already know, is your sailboat rigged so that you can reef and unreef quickly in high winds while underway? If not, besides a jiffy reefing line like I describe in Single line jiffy reefing, you’re…

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Introducing the Stingy Sailor Pop Top EZ-Lift Kit

Catalina Yachts was a true innovator when they introduced the Catalina 22 back in 1969.  Perhaps the most iconic feature was the optional pop top, which gave much-needed headroom inside the cabin. It turns the C-22 from a daysailer into a more comfortable cruiser. With the addition of the optional snap-on, vinyl curtain, the cabin becomes…

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Make This Companionway Hatch Cover In Under a Day

If you leave your sailboat exposed to the elements for long periods of time or if you just want to keep your brightwork bright, it helps to cover the main hatch to reduce damage from UV rays, rain and snow, and bird droppings. Making one isn’t hard and you can do it in less than…

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