Welcome to DIY Boat Owner Magazine!

DIY (“do it yourself”) specializes in expert, detailed advice on how to maintain, upgrade and repair boats and boating equipment. Through the quarterly magazine, a library of CDs, and this Web site, owners of both power and sailboats get step-by-step guides, based on best accepted technical standards, that will save money, preserve your investment and make boating more fun!

Issue 2008 #2

Ask The Experts

Which is better on a sailboat, a two-blade or a three-blade fixed propeller? I am particularly concerned about power thrust in forward and reverse in docking situations. Is there any real difference in drag between the two when the boat is underway?

Bob Griffiths, Parry Sound, Ontario

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What's Coming Up in the Next DIY?

2008 #3 Issue Features:

• Maintenance: Whys and Wherefores of Barrier Coats
• Diesel Engines: Packing and Couplings
• Engines: Why Decarbonize?
• Electrical: Inverter Selection and Installation
• Electronics: Weather Stations
• Pro Series: Filling Holes
• Refit: Light Sources
• Projects: DC Circuit Wizards
• Powerboat Rigging: Rear View Cameras
• Sailboat Rigging: Custom Sail Bag
• Safety: Boat Proofing
  

Tech Tips

Impeller Restraint: To install replacement impellers, first lubricate the inside of the pump housing and the new impeller with waterproof grease and then take a worm screw hose clamp just large enough to fit over the impeller when fully open and slide it over the impeller...

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Featured Projects

Every boat that has thru-hulls or seacocks should have safety plugs on board. In the event of a seacock or hose failure, the plug is driven into the opening, keeping the water out.

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Cleaning Lifelines

I have cleaned the vinyl coating on the lifelines on my 42' (12.8m) Endeavor many times with different cleaning solutions and mediocre results. While surface dirt and stains were wiped away, they still appeared sun-damaged, yellowed and cracked.

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