Love Thy Diesel: Part 2
PART 2: REGULAR, LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST From the June 2019 issue of 48° North. Last month, we discussed how and why to go through a thorough checklist before starting up your boat’s diesel engine each day. This…
Love Thy Diesel
PART 1: A PROPER PRE-START CHECKLIST From the May, 2019 issue of 48° North. Whether it is the main engine or a generator, any engine has a checklist of things to go over in the course of normal operation, as well as regular…
Infernal Combustion Blues: Learning To Go With The Flow On Cortes Island
“Life is short. Whatever happens, make sure you enjoy it." Liam, the author's partner in life and extravagant travel plans. Silver Linings of an Engine Breakdown The engine squealed, loudly. It was the kind of squeal that…
Build a pram in your living room! (Yes, you read that right)
You’ve been stuck in your house for a month, your children are monsters, your spouse is on your last nerve—and the dog wags her tail when you leave the room. The parks are closed, so are the bars, and if you have to wash…
Cruisers College Offers Full Slate of Classes For DIYers and Inside Passage Voyagers
From Medical to Diesel and Much More, Cruisers College Has a Class for Every Boater If you're looking to up your onboard DIY skills, want to become a more confident boater, or are dreaming of sailing north and beyond,…
Video: How to sew on your own hanks
Our friends at OffCenterHarbor.com are back with yet another helpful and insightful video. Watch and learn as Allison Wood from Port Townsend Sails teaches the proper technique for sewing hanks on a headsail. This is Part…
#TBT: MacGyvering at Sea
From the August 2010 issue of 48° North by Heather Lochner It was our first crossing of the season. The Gulf Islands beckoned us. With no wind in sight, we gave our rested engines a much needed workout. For a boat that had…
Road to Re-power: The journey begins with wax and paint
Have you ever re-powered a sailboat? No? Well, me either. There is a first time for everything, though, and I'm enthusiastically diving into this massive project with sleeves rolled and an open mind. Yahtzee ambles her way…
Tranny Troubles: Out with the old, in with the new
Outbound and nearing the end of the Seward breakwater, we needed to get the mainsail up quick. With a 15-knot southerly breeze on the nose and a building chop, Yahtzee limped along at under two knots, yearning to get out of…
BoatUS Spring Commissioning Checklist
Our friends at BoatUS have compiled a Spring Commissioning Checklist to help boaters start the season right. Although a yearly haul-out is not necessary, at a minimum you could ask your diver to check your anodes and prop…