boating tips
after living on board for 12 years, a lot of practical knowledge about how to do thing right after having
them done wrong has gathered, most of the knowledge passed on by other sailors, some i read about, and a few i (re?)invented. the tips
are sorted by logic topics.
there is a list of topics below. if the header on the left side is a link, then i made a whole page about the topic.
last changed 12.03.2006
sail(ing) and rig
easier hoisting
if you are not one of the blessed ones who have roller baring on the track for the mainsail, it will make your live easier
"greasing" the track with dishwashing liquid. do not use silicon-spray, here or anywhere else on a boat! god hates silicon,
no paint will ever stick again.
windex
use the old (and cheaper) type. after having lost two of the new fancy stainless steel ones (by niro-petersen,
germany) within one season,
i bought one of the old windex, and that one has been up there for five years now. a lot cheaper, too.
extending the live of your halyard and toppning lift
when you get a new halyard or topping lift, leave it a meter or two too long. they chafe always on the same place, where they go through the block.
so instead of changing the whole thing, you just shorten the rope with half a meter every half year or year, and the block will be at a different place on the rope.
changing a halyard
if your halyard gets old, change it in time, specially if you use it to hoist a man in the mast!! changing it is a matter of minutes without going
into the mast: you sew the new halyard onto the old one, put some tape around to make it smooth (medical tapes is good for that), and then just
pull the old halyard gently through the block, bringing the new one in place.
--> heating |
heating a boat is a science in itself, with many different opinions. basic truth is, the only way to create dry heat (important!) you need a chimney. |
--> cooking |
using anything but gas is anachronistic. is it? |
--> food |
not really different from land, but anyway... |
--> communication |
snail mail, email, telephone |
--> little throwing-anchor |
always have one handy ... |
--> stern anchor manouver |
nice manouver when you have no engine. |
battery |
an expert on the subject told me it is worth buying batteries of good
quality (and higher price). in momo i use the cheapest brand here in
norway (biltema), 165 aH, and this does the job just fine, winter and
summer. i had a 3 year old battery tested recently, and it is still good
as new. after i got my new engine in 2005 i got a separate starting battery with a separating diode. i managed without that for ten years, but having it is a peace of mind. it makes you consuming the power you have much more relaxed, i noticed. |
inboard/outboard |
an outboard engine will not move your boat in waves, it will bounce between drowning itself and roaring up the rpm in the dry
air. but, it is light, easy to fix (on land) and cheaper. an inboard engine will work more
reliable, maybe. at least it will
work in waves. but heavy, and you have the smell of any leakage in the boat. i look at sailboats with outboard engines as engineless, with a motor to move the boat in the harbour. that works fine, but also limits the abilities and destinations. after having a engineless boat, i decided my next boat had to have one. but it worked fine without engine, too. it all comes down to manage with what you have at hand. |
full diesel tank |
you should always keep your fuel tank full, especially in the winter or
in cold climates, to prevent moist in the tank. it will rust steel tanks
and it will create water in your fuel, eventually stopping your diesel
engine. apart from that you never know when you might need all your fuel! |
buying a boat |
giving advice about what boat to buy, is like telling somebody whom to marry. but after my first boat, i made myself a list
of criteria, the next one had to fullfill (in addition to being seaworthy and all the rest). short, but important:
1) standing hight 2)not wood 3)inboard engine 4)toilet(or place for one) 5)heater(or place for one) |
secure anchor shekel |
!!!always!!! secure the shekel of your anchor. otherwise the movement of the chain will open the shekel in bad weather. i used to secure the shekel with wire, but stainless steel will dissolve black steel over time, so i had to change it regullary. now i found a cheap and easy (and save) way to secure them: with cable strips.
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