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.
Mooring buoys, and things that go bump in the night
Thanks to Three Sheets reader Allen Gibbard for sending this great tip... You’ve had a fun day on the water. The cruising Gods have smiled upon you — the last mooring ball is open at your favorite destination. You’re set.…
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…
Do Washington State ferries monitor channel 16? Sort of…
Ask Bill Michael what he does for a living, and he’ll tell you that he hires and fires ferry captains for Washington State Ferries. Ask him what his meeting with a recent group of recreational sailors was all about and he’ll…
Why you don't get too close to glaciers
We came across this video of glaciers calving and thought it would be perfect for all the Alaska-bound cruisers looking for glimpses of these icy giants. Stay back, stay safe!
Video: See how a master outfits her boat
I recently stumbled across this excellent interview with my good friend and sailing inspiration Carol Hasse, which was done by OffCenterHarbor.com. Enjoy!
With racing on the horizon, it’s time to pull out the safety card
Looking out the window on the plane home to Alaska, Porter catches my eye while thumbing through the contents in the seat pocket in front of him. I don't say a word, yet I'm curious as to what he finds interesting. Within…
Rules, resolutions and varnishing in 2018
I spent far too much time in 2017 applying toxic marine products to my boat. On sunny, breezy summer days, it was hard to avoid feeling like the best part of the season had escaped me: respirator strapped on, I felt like…
Winds of Change: Rod Rigging Functionality, Interchangability, and Availability Considering Industry Changes
This article, by Lisa Vizzini, was originally published in the June 2017 issue of 48° North. Earlier this year, the sailboat industry was shaken when Hall Spars and Navtec Rigging Solutions closed their United States…
