Tag: sailboat

Boom3 Comments

Let Your Boom Off Its Leash With a Topping Lift

$tingy Sailor

The standard equipment C-22 backstay pendant is simple and handy for holding up the aft end of the boom when the mainsail is lowered. It also works fine to keep the boom from swinging around when the sailboat is docked or anchored. But it’s not very convenient for shorter crew members to reach and it won’t help you when reefing the mainsail. In fact, it can be downright dangerous for that. A better solution is an adjustable topping lift mounted on the boom within easier reach.  It will also let the boom swing free of the backstay when you need to slack the main during reefing.

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Boom13 Comments

Flatten Your Mainsail Foot With an Outhaul

$tingy Sailor

You’re familiar with basic mainsail running rigging, right? The halyard hoists it up the mast and the main sheet adjusts the angle of the sail to the hull. Both lines are important but they don’t adjust the aerodynamic shape of the mainsail, which can make a big difference if you want to get the best performance out of your mainsail.

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Tips4 Comments

How to Restore Rusted Parts

$tingy Sailor

I buy a lot of used sailboat hardware on eBay and craigslist.org. The reason is simple, I usually can’t afford new! If you’re reading this and you aren’t independently wealthy then you know how expensive parts and supplies for our boats are. I only buy new when I can get a great discount and buying used isn’t practical or safe. The only way that I can indulge a little in this hobby is by keeping costs at a minimum. That’s why this is called the $tingy Sailor blog, after all.

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Trailer11 Comments

Do it Yourself Trailer Surge Brakes

$tingy Sailor

If you’re new to trailer sailing, you might 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 should have one. This post gives you the facts you need to trailer safely and legally.

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Cabin, Plumbing, Videos9 Comments

Upgrade Your Galley With An Electric Water Pump

$tingy Sailor

The first mate didn’t care much for the original water pump in the galley of Summer Dance. She uses a lot of water for making coffee in the mornings, sponge baths, or to wash her hair. Pumping that much water by hand with the tiny, manual pump was more trouble than she wants to take when we’re cruising. And she let me know about it. Every cruise.

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Outboard motor13 Comments

How to Refinish Your Aluminum Propeller

$tingy Sailor

Is the propeller on your outboard motor looking a bit worse for wear? Is the paint chipped and is corrosion setting in? It could be time to refinish it before it’s too far gone.

Before I continue, a bit of legal housekeeping. This post contains affiliate links. That means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using those links. Those commissions help to pay the costs associated with running this site so that it stays free for everyone to enjoy. For a complete explanation of why I’m telling you this and how you can support this blog without paying more, please read my full disclosure.

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Rigging8 Comments

Choose Your Running Rigging Colors Logically

$tingy Sailor

When we purchased Summer Dance, she had an odd assortment of line colors, mostly the original equipment, run of the mill white with a blue tracer. But the main sheet was white with a red tracer, the jib sheet too, and the genoa sheet was white with a black tracer. None of the colors gave you a clue as to what a line was used for. The halyards in particular were difficult to tell apart unless they were in their proper places.

After you know your sailboat so well that you can sail her in the dark, colors don’t matter, of course. But when you have crew onboard that don’t know your sailboat so well, they need all the help they can get to identify your lines.

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