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Vetus Maxwell
Boatyard Tip: The Importance of Navigation Lights
It’s too easy to take your navigation lights for granted until something fails or gets obscured.
Boatyard Tip: How To Keep A Seacock Working Freely
It's a good idea to keep your seacock levers moving smartly, just in case you have to close or open one in a hurry.
How to Prolong the Life of Your Anchor Windlass
The most critical thing you can do to preserve the well-being of an anchor windlass is to retrieve your anchor in the correct manner.
Boatyard Tip: Ranging Your Anchor Chain
Losing an anchor due to a bad detachable link or a worn-out swivel or shackle can be VERY expensive. That’s why you should range the chain on your boat every few years.
The Benefits and Pitfalls of AIS
AIS is valuable on any boat, but treat the information it displays with a dollop of skepticism and remember that boats not transmitting on AIS are not as noticeable as those that are.
How To Bleed A Diesel Engine
If you allow air to enter the supply line of an engine it will promptly airlock the engine and summarily shut it down. Here are the steps to get things going again.
Play It Smart
No amount of horsepower or gadgetry compensates for seamanship skills, so get yours in order
Going by the Book
This old-school system for managing maintenance tasks still holds up today.
Boatyard Tip: Impeller Replacement
How to simplify swapping out that old, damaged chunk of rubber.
Fold-Over Fix
Large 10- to 12-gauge butt connectors? Much finer wire? Try this trick and keep right on chuggin’.
Roll On, Roll Off
Forget to wear a long-sleeved shirt when grinding fiberglass? Nix that dust with a lint roller.
Painless Stainless
Believe it or not, busting rust on stainless steel can be both an easy and satisfying task.
Mid-Summer Tune-Up
Vibration, galvanic corrosion, calcium buildup—oh my! Why not take a few minutes this coming weekend and give your boat a once-over?
The Power of Water
Sometimes, all your self-contained air-conditioner needs is a couple of shots from a common dock hose.
Winter Homework
Creating a library of owner’s manuals and other stuff has real, hands-on advantages.
Double the Fun
Here’s another nifty usage for the tapered wooden plugs designed to prevent a sinking if a through-hull or other fitting fails.