Author: $tingy Sailor

Skipper of The $tingy Sailor blog
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18 Perished in US Sailing Tragedies in 2017

$tingy Sailor

Every year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the United States Coast Guard, and the Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety publish a report of statistics about recreational boating accidents. The 2017 report was just published and there were fewer sailing deaths than last year. Surprisingly, the numbers of general boating deaths, accidents, injuries, and property damage are down slightly. Continue reading “18 Perished in US Sailing Tragedies in 2017”

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Enter the 2018 Stingy Sailor DIY Project Contest

$tingy Sailor

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 to show off some of your hard work for a chance to win prizes and worldwide acclaim!
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Book reviews1 Comment

Book Review: Sailboat Electrics Simplified

$tingy Sailor

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.

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Mast, Product reviews18 Comments

Product Review: MastGates Sail Track Gates

$tingy Sailor

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 my single line jiffy reefing article, you’re going to want to install mast gates of some kind.

I won’t get into all the nuances of reefing in this post. There are many other excellent resources for that. For a condensed, illustrated description along with many other sailing techniques, consider reading my review of Royce’s Sailing Illustrated Volume 1: Tall Ship Edition.

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Kit25 Comments

$tingy Sailor Pop Top EZ-Lift Kit

$tingy Sailor

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 gives much-needed headroom inside the cabin. Extended stops and anchoring out overnight are much easier when you can stand upright in the cabin. In hot climates, the extra ventilation can’t be beat. The pop top 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 a weatherproof and insect resistant camper.

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Cockpit/stern, Sewing4 Comments

Make This Companionway Hatch Cover In Under a Day

$tingy Sailor

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 a day with about a yard of canvas, depending on the size of your hatch.

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