Saturday, February 22
Cruising Odyssey
Cruising Odyssey
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Keep Your Crew Happy: Soundproof Your Boat

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By on Cruising Life, Engine Room, Gear, Maintenance

Ask any builder of modern cruising boats, and they’ll readily confirm that sound levels are extremely important to their owners and potential buyers. Not only at the helm and salon, but also even in the staterooms, particularly since many master staterooms now are located midships, just forward of the engine room. A noisy boat with a lot of decibels coming from the engine or the generator (or both) can make for an uncomfortable cruise; it makes talking difficult at best, and it can lead to a headache and a longing to return to the peace and quiet of home back…

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How To Get Rid of Odors from Heads and Holding Tanks

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By on Gear, Maintenance

A smelly head can put a damper on even the best cruise, particularly since it is often so hard to deal with. And boats with seawater flush are particularly susceptible to a buildup of hydrogen sulfide that leaves an odor that seems to linger on and on. So, what to do? Here’s some great advice from Practical Sailor about holding tank treatments, including those that have proven to work, and those that don’t. Take a look here: https://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/A-Simple-Solution-for-Boat-Toilet-Stink-12224-1.html?ET=practicalsailor:e34937:684905a:&st=email&s=p_Grabbag060317&omhide=true

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Problems with Your Diesel? Here’s a Great Guide on How To Diagnose and Fix Them

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By on Cruising Life, Engine Room, Maintenance

Do you know what to do if your diesel exhaust suddenly turns grey? Or the engine loses power? Or overheats? Even if you do, here’s one of the best and most thorough stories I’ve seen about how to diagnose and fix most problems with a diesel engine. It’s great as a primer, if you’re new to diesels, and as a refresher, if you’re an old hand. And it covers all the bases, including how to bleed air from the injectors, drain a filter, and change an impeller. The graphics are clear and easy to understand. Take a look: http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/sailing-skills/diagnose-and-fix-marine-diesel-engine-problems-29940

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Restoring Gelcoat: Tips from Pros (And Watch Those Corners)

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By on Cruising Life, Maintenance

Nothing is more disheartening than that faded-gelcoat look on a boat, particularly when it’s your boat. Time for a work order and a check at the yard (yikes, not another one!), or some elbow grease of your own. Because while a dull, faded hull is embarrassing, a bright, shiny, new-looking hull is a matter of great pride, something to aim for. Here are some tips from pros on how to get there, how to breathe new life into your old topsides, with great advice on everything from rubbing compounds to wet sandings to avoiding going too deep on thin-gelcoat areas…

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How To Fix Window Leaks: Great Tips from an Owner Who’s Been There

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By on Cruising Life, Maintenance

It’s one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve ever had: A leaking window on the port side of the salon on my Grand Banks 36. It took forever to get it fixed, and even then every time it rained I held my breath to see if the leak would start again. I know I’m not alone in this. Many owners of cruising boats face the same problem, and experience varying degrees of success in fixing it. Here’s some very good advice from Jim Healy, who, with his wife Peg, has cruised more than 40,000 miles on their 1988 Monk 36…

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How To Clean a Sea Strainer: A Fast, Easy Video

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By on Cruising Life, Engine Room, Maintenance

Cleaning a sea strainer (or strainers, if you have two engines) isn’t brain surgery, but it is vital to the operation of your boat. A clogged strainer will ruin a cruise, or even a short outing away from the dock, in a real hurry. Make sure you know how to check and clean your strainer. It’s not hard, but here’s a good introduction if you’ve never done it before, or a fast refresher if you have.  (And remember to close and then re-open the sea cock.) Take a look here: https://www.facebook.com/BoatUS/videos/vb.127893933900510/1136420499714510/?type=2&theater

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Time To Get Ready: Spring Commissioning Checklist and Video from BoatU.S.

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By on Cruising Life, Maintenance

The good news is that boating season, for those of us in the north, is just around the corner. The bad news, unless you’re really organized, is trying to remember everything you need to do to get your boat ready.  Here’s where BoatU.S. is a big help. Take a look at their video, below, and then read – and print out – their spring commissioning checklist below that. Let them do the organizing for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLbDpQZub7Y And here’s the checklist: http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/spring_checklist.asp

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How To Set Up Your Instruments To Measure Fuel Flow

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By on Engine Room, Maintenance

Here’s one of the best videos or explanations of any kind that I’ve seen about how to set up your engine instruments to monitor fuel flow. This video is from a Ranger Tug 27 with a Volvo engine display and a Garmin chartplotter, but it gives you a good idea of what to look for no matter what kind of boat or engine you have. Take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV9KFcPanVI

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How To Change a Fuel Filter on a Diesel Engine, Video

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By on Engine Room, Maintenance

Do you remember the falling feeling in the pit of your stomach when the tach for your diesel engine suddenly shows the rpms falling, or surging and falling, or just acting erratically? Not a good time, on any boat. Problems with dirty fuel, water in fuel, whatever. You don’t want to be there. Protect yourself and your diesel by periodically changing the fuel filter, before there’s a problem. Here’s a good look at  how to do just that: https://youtu.be/e2VCNPCKQrA

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Fill Those Cracks and Gaps with Pettit’s New Epoxy Compound and Glue

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By on Gear, Maintenance

Who doesn’t need this? Pettit has just created two new products to help you take care of your boat, one called EZ-Tex epoxy repair compound, and the other EZ-Bond thickened epoxy glue. EZ-Tex is a two-part epoxy repair compound for when you want a permanent, high-strength waterproof repair. It bonds to most surfaces above and below the waterline, and won’t sag or shrink. Pettit says it’s great for filling cracks, gouges and voids. Once it’s cured, it can be sanded, drilled, tapped and painted. EZ-Bond is a two-part thickened epoxy glue for bonding wood, fiberglass, composites and metals, with a…

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