The Ol' Wooden Plug Trick
Here’s another nifty usage for the tapered wooden plugs designed to prevent a sinking if a through-hull or other fitting fails.
troubleshooter
How to Prevent and Troubleshoot Core Moisture
Moisture is the enemy. Here’s how to keep it out—and what to do if it gets in.
Feel The Burn: The Fuel Consumption Equation
Our expert troubleshooter, Steve Zimmerman, unpacks the often confusing metric of fuel burn.
Troubleshooter: How to Manage a Successful Refit
Take the following considerations to heart during your next refit to save time, money and your sanity.
Troubleshooter: Best Practices When Under Tow
Following a few basic procedures can ensure that you and your boat arrive with no more problems than the one that stopped you in the first place.
Troubleshooter: How Long Will My Engine Last?
Eventually, time and wear catch up and the situation will call for a rebuild, a remanufactured engine, or a new engine.
Troubleshooter: Adhesives, Caulks, Sealants
Steve Zimmerman explains choosing the right sealant for the job and why 5200 shouldn't be your go to.
The Right Stuff: Chain Reaction
Steve Zimmerman goes over best practices for storing anchors while underway and broaches the controversial topic of anchor swivels.
Maintain your Seawater Pumps
Our troubleshooting guru, Steve Zimmerman, takes us through how to properly maintain your raw water pumps.
TROUBLESHOOTER: What To Do When Your Engine Won't Start (and it started yesterday)
Steve Zimmerman explains how to troubleshoot issues with your marine diesel engine's starter.
What's in a Name? (Contest)
Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Cooper challenges readers to submit the best boat name for a chance to win an Em-Trak Sailor Extreme AIS Package.
Troubleshooter: Generate Solutions
A reliable genset can be essential to comfortable cruising. These skills can save your cruise.
Troubleshooter: Steering Systems
Technical contributor Steve Zimmerman on how to manage and maintain cable and hydraulic steering systems
Troubleshooter: Take Your Trawler's Temperature
An Inexpensive Piece of Gear Can Diagnose an Engine’s Illness; Both cheap and easy to use, a handheld pyrometer could be one of the most useful tools in your collection.
Troubleshooter: In Defense Of The Pocket Reference
In my many decades of working on boats, it is quite possible that the most reliable tool i have ever carried is not actually a tool at all; its my little black book.
Troubleshooter: Shake Hands with Solenoids
Like the proverbial tail wagging the dog, a $50 solenoid can stop a $3,000 windlass from raising the anchor or prevent the engine from starting. Knowing how these simple devices work may save your cruise.