Cruising gadgets, knowledge, and ideas for the cruising sailor
The Headlamp ….., what a great invention. Coal miners could work hands free with good light right where they wanted it. The same is true for sailors today. We can work hands free and put the light where we need it, particularly in the engine compartment. But sometimes headlamps can be the pebble in your shoe, the burr in your
» Read moreThis is about as low tech as it gets on two accounts. Clothespins and my brain. They say that the secret to a happy marriage is a bad memory. I’ve been happily married 42 years now. I’ve had a bad memory as far back as I can remember, so I now use clothespins to remind myself of things on the
» Read morePublished in Southwinds Magazine in the Fall of 2019 While in town on Martinique I ran into a cruising couple with a good tale about their boat taking off without them. They had anchored their boat, set the hook and gone into town that morning. Upon returning they looked out in the anchorage but didn’t see their boat. “There must
» Read morePublished in Southwinds Magazine winter of 2019 I’ve found that it is far better to have the lesson before the test, but unfortunately in sailing a lot of us get the test first. I’ve gotten a lot of my sailing knowledge by having the test first. I’m still at it after 50 years, and still learning. Here are a
» Read moreI was at a recent Seven Seas Cruising Association GAM and I overheard a few ladies saying that they do not wear their wedding rings on their boats while cruising. I understand this because neither do I. Perhaps they don’t wear theirs because they don’t want to lose a diamond or damage their rings. I don’t wear mine because I
» Read moreNot long ago I had a few friends aboard and I had asked them if they could replace the plastic mounting handle on the outboard motor. This required that they drill a blank piece of plastic that I had brought for this. “Do you have a cordless drill?” was the next thing asked. I thought about it, smiled, and said
» Read moreThe Galley Stove top – pans must fit two at a time, get the right size pans that work with pots Pots and pans need lids – Pots should be tall Flame Tamer – flame diffuser cut down heat on burner Some Ovens – will tilt when door is down, lock them in place before opening door. Oven – stone
» Read moreThis idea was introduced to me by Andy on Geodesic, an Endeavor 37 out of Apollo Beach, Florida. It’s an easy way to make each person aboard a custom cup of coffee. It’s a French Press that is also a coffee mug. You make the coffee in this mug, press it, then drink from it. This allows those who drink
» Read moreTo store those small green propane bottles that you use for your grill, buy a 4″ PVC pipe, add a grating cap on the bottom, and a removable cap on top. You can get everything you need at the local hardware store. The bottom piece is a standard drain accessory for the 4″ PVC. The top piece is a 4″
» Read moreSunglasses Gadget There are many options when it comes to sunglasses. I now wear glasses that have some distance correction and are magnifiers for reading. Buying a pair of standard clear lenses and an additional pair of prescription sunglasses can be costly. The solution for me has been a pair of “clip on” sunglasses. I bought a pair to fit
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