Cruisers who sail long distances typically carry a vast array of tools and spare parts, but weekend sailors tend to buy parts as needed and depend on tools normally kept at home, in the trunk of a car, or even hanging on the rack at a hardware store. But what happens when you ...read more
When I bought my 1962 Alberg 35, Magic, in 2001, she was equipped with a pedestal-mounted wheel connected to the rudderstock with wire rope running over sheaves and a quadrant. The steering pedestal looked very yachty and provided a nice place for a cupholder, but I never really ...read more
There is a definite learning curve to overcome when using a mechanical self-steering windvane for the first time. A vane can’t follow a compass heading and a boat’s sails must be balanced for it to work well. Because of this, many sailors new to vanes get discouraged and abandon ...read more