Trashboy

As a young pilot in the Navy I flew a couple different aircraft that had extremely complex electrical systems. Understanding them was daunting: silicon control relays, transformer rectifiers, this bus, that bus….I truly hated studying it, and felt like I never mastered them. At one point I was selected to be a Fleet Replacement Squadron […]

Near the end of the 2021 cruising season my wife reported that the fish hold (aft stateroom) was smelling bilgey. Our only head is located there, but so is the lowest point inside the hull (prop shaft support, gland, shower sump box, etc). There’s always some standing water in the aft bilge and packing glands […]

As any vintage Ferraristi knows, the Italian aesthetic sometimes places form over function. Pinninfarina is perhaps the most lovely coachworks still in existence. However the Prancing Stallions tended to be quite high strung and requiring significant maintenance to keep them gorgeous and running well. On the other hand, if one prefers function over form, Porsche […]

Like varnish, other types of deck finishes have a lifespan. Sandavore arrived in our hands having been finished with Sikkens Cetol Marine Satin, an old stalwart of the working boat industry. The 2007 applied finish (!) had succeeded in changing from “Satin” to “Quite Dull” by the time Spring 2021 came around, so I knew […]

As most of you readers know, the inverter/charger is a critical element of a boat’s electrical system. Without it there is no AC power, which can range from being a minor inconvenience to a trip ruiner (props to my friend Justin B). Sandavore has an AC/DC capable refrigerator, a microwave, and a chest freezer. The […]