DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT YOUR DITTY BAG

on September 30, 2020

In the 17th century, British sailors kept their personal items in what they used to call a “housewife,” a tubular-shaped fabric sack closed with a drawstring that contained their belongings as well as essentials for repairing clothing and some tools of the trade. These bags, companions to the sailors’ sea bags or sea chests, were hung from a hammock ring or a hook or peg next to their bunks. Eventually, they became known as ditty […]

KEEPING YOUR BOAT CLEAN

on September 23, 2020

Problem: Fishblood Stains On Nonskid While evidence of catches on your deck means you had a great day on the water, it’s just plain yucky to look at. SOLUTION The best method is to wash down any affected surfaces before the blood has a chance to dry. Should you miss a spot, sprinkle some Bar Keepers Friend on clean, wet nonskid, scrub, and rinse. Alternatively, try hydrogen peroxide or OxiClean (or generic equivalent) for really […]

NEED A FASTENER?

on September 16, 2020

BUYING QUALITY FASTENERS For marine applications, the fastener material of choice, excluding aluminum rivets, will nearly always be stainless steel. Bronze is equally good but only for fastening bronze hardware. Avoid entirely typical hardware store offerings of brass and plated steel. Where do you get high-quality marine fasteners? Your local boat-supply store should carry a good selection. Many hardware stores also stock stainless fasteners. However, not all stainless steel is created equal. Try to get […]

GOT THAT BUYING ITCH?

on September 9, 2020

So you have decided to get a boat. Getting an inspection can save you countless problems down the line. Behind most successful used-boat transactions, there’s a Purchase Agreement and Bill of Sale that clearly spell out how the boat was bought or sold. While not perfect, this goes a long way to alleviate any misunderstandings. “A Purchase Agreement is necessary if you intend to buy a boat, but require that certain things must be done […]

SELLING YOUR BOAT

on September 2, 2020

PRESENTATION PAYS Deciding where to invest in fixing up your boat for sale comes down to two questions that every boat owner should ask themselves: What will it cost to make the repair or upgrade? What will it cost if I don’t? Fortunately, there are a few easy and inexpensive things you can do, which will always improve the marketability and speed up a sale. Here’s what the pros had to say: “De clutter by […]