Systems+Engines

AIS for Sailors

by Peter Nielsen, Posted May 7, 2009

Any sailor who has made extended passages along coastlines or across oceans has had at least a few close callswith big ships whose course and intentions can be difficult to discern until the last minute. The introduction of AIS (Automatic Identification System) has taken a lot of the guesswork (not to mention terror) out of these close-quarters situations. For just a

Outboard rebuild

by Sail Staff, Posted February 16, 2009

ChecklistTools

Basic tool kit

Wrenches and sockets (metric if you’re working on a European or Japanese engine)

Screwdrivers

Propane blowtorch

Rubber mallet

Hammer

Razor blade

Pliers

Vise-Grips

Vise

400-grit wet/dry sandpaper

Brush for applying grease and lubricating

In hot water

by Peter Nielsen, Posted February 16, 2009

ChecklistTools

Screwdrivers

Wrenches

Cordless drill

Tube cutter

Materials

Water heater

5/8" heavy-duty water hose

NPT fittings

Fasteners, as needed

After upgrading the mostly original fresh-water plumbing system on our 1973 Norlin 34 project boat with new hoses,

Let there be water

by Peter Nielsen, Posted December 22, 2008

Of all the upgrades you can lavish on an older boat, few will give you more bang for your buck than a complete overhaul of the fresh-water plumbing system. An improvement in water quality should be immediately apparent; any of the new breed of water pumps will be quieter and less power-hungry than their predecessors, and with a little planning, you can make your boat much more user-friendly both

Quiet Connector

by Sail Staff, Posted December 9, 2008

My wife, Gail, and I recently installed a new radar antenna on the keel-stepped mast of our Bristol 38.8. The first part of the installation was easy. We mounted the receiver and then, using a weighted string as a messenger, pulled the cables through a small hole in the mast near the unit all the way down to the bottom, The difficult part—figuring out a way to keep the cables from slapping

Gravity Theory

by Peter Nielsen, Posted December 9, 2008

Smell. Pong. Effluvium. Whichever way you describe it, the airborne essence emanating from Ostara’s aged sanitation system was highly unpleasant. More than just an odor but thankfully short of a full-blown stench, it permeated the forepeak and almost caused a spousal mutiny during our first weekend aboard. No doubt about it – something had to be done.The sanitation system comprised a

The All-Purpose Impeller Puller

by Nigel Calder, Posted November 19, 2008

My brother was hanging upside down, peering through a 9-inch square cutout in a bulkhead at the raw-water pump housing on his 3-cylinder Yanmar marine diesel. “How the heck do you get the impeller out of there?” he asked me.This is a very good question. Removing an impeller is something that should be done on a regular basis; Yanmar recommends replacing the impeller on this particular

Honda Engines Ready for 2010 EPA Standards

by Sail Staff, Posted September 9, 2008

Honda Marine’s full line of current production models can meet the rigorous emissions standards set forth by a new EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standard introduced Thursday, according to a company announcement."The EPA's new exhaust standards are based on those currently set forth by California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2008 marine regulations," said John Fulcher, senior manager,

Spare-Parts Counter

by Sail Staff, Posted August 28, 2008

Carry the spares that keep critical systems runningBy Don CaseyOur multi-year cruise was still mostly in front of us when our Yanmar diesel engine uncharacteristically refused to answer my call for more revolutions. We reached our next port on reduced rpm, and the following morning the engine would start, but not keep running. When an otherwise mechanically sound

Fuel and Water Don't Mix

by Sail Staff, Posted August 27, 2008

This wasn’t the first VHF call I had taken from someone seeking advice for an onboard problem, and the caller was clearly distraught. He had accidentally filled his diesel tank with fresh water. To make matters worse, when he tried to start the engine, fresh water had been sucked through the fuel system. Always interested in a challenge, I went over to his boat. Together we fixed the problem