Fellow Sailnetters:
I've got an idea for what could be a useful thread - given the vast experience of the members of this forum. It could be fun to each add our favorite tips and hints to make life easier, more efficient, more comfortable, less backbreaking, safer...whatever.
If we each labeled the hint or tip with a suitable title, we could even compile the list and alphabetize or categorize it. Or not.
I'll start with a couple:
Varnish tip:
Next time the prettier member of your crew empties a fingernail polish jar, grab it and clean it out with acetone. Then fill it with your favorite varnish. When you happen to see a nick, ding or abrasion in your varnish, (refill your rum glass), get out your varnish bottle with the handy built in brush and dab away. This will keep water intrusion from ruining your varnish until the next time you apply a maintenance coat.
Chart book tip:
Saltwater Suzi came up with this one and got it published in Cruising World a few years back. We keep our chart book on deck under the dodger. She puts one of those metal plates you get from the sewing store for counted cross stitch patterns behind the page we are on. The kit comes with a little strip magnet about 2" by 1/2". It can be easily cut with scissors.She cuts a point at one end of the magnet and places it on the chart to indicate our position and direction when we are on the ICW or coming into a confusing inlet. That way if we have to leave the helmsman to go below - he can quickly glance at the chart and see exactly where we are. We tried post-it notes but they kept blowing away.
I've got an idea for what could be a useful thread - given the vast experience of the members of this forum. It could be fun to each add our favorite tips and hints to make life easier, more efficient, more comfortable, less backbreaking, safer...whatever.
If we each labeled the hint or tip with a suitable title, we could even compile the list and alphabetize or categorize it. Or not.
I'll start with a couple:
Varnish tip:
Next time the prettier member of your crew empties a fingernail polish jar, grab it and clean it out with acetone. Then fill it with your favorite varnish. When you happen to see a nick, ding or abrasion in your varnish, (refill your rum glass), get out your varnish bottle with the handy built in brush and dab away. This will keep water intrusion from ruining your varnish until the next time you apply a maintenance coat.
Chart book tip:
Saltwater Suzi came up with this one and got it published in Cruising World a few years back. We keep our chart book on deck under the dodger. She puts one of those metal plates you get from the sewing store for counted cross stitch patterns behind the page we are on. The kit comes with a little strip magnet about 2" by 1/2". It can be easily cut with scissors.She cuts a point at one end of the magnet and places it on the chart to indicate our position and direction when we are on the ICW or coming into a confusing inlet. That way if we have to leave the helmsman to go below - he can quickly glance at the chart and see exactly where we are. We tried post-it notes but they kept blowing away.