Battery-sourced direct current power is the lifeblood of our boats, running lights, electronics, pumps and even starting our engines. And although we can do well with just DC, the ubiquitous yellow sh

Dear Boat Doctor, I have a hank-on staysail on my Passport 40. The sail doesn’t get used a lot, partly because it’s a hassle to drag the bag out and set up. I am thinking about a furler but I’m

Can I drop in lithium batteries? Dear Boat Doctor, I’d like to change my house batteries to lithium. The capacity and efficiency of charging is really compelling, but I don’t want to have to r

Why won’t my holding tank pump out? Dear Boat Doctor, I am having trouble pumping out my holding tank. The dockside pumps just don’t seem to work very well. I eventually get it pumped, but it ta

Dear Boat Doctor, I am considering taking my boat from the Great Lakes to the East Coast next season. I can go out via the Erie Canal or the Saint Lawrence Seaway. What are the pros and cons? Joe Wa

Dear Boat Doctor, I just bought a used Beneteau First 456. The boat seems like it’s in great condition, and the survey went well. I need to make a 400-mile coastal delivery home and am trying to pr

Dear Boat Doctor,I bought an asymmetrical spinnaker this season. We are figuring out the sail but continue to struggle with one aspect. We fly the sail from a block mounted on the anchor roller. This

Rope, line, cordage, whatever you call it, has been with us since the beginning of sailing time. To put a piece of rope to use, you must attach it to something, which often requires a knot. The body o

Dear Boat Doctor, I have been battling leaks in my deck hatches for years. First I thought there was a leak around the plastic lens, so I removed and resealed it. When it still leaked I replaced the

The Beneteau First series has a long history and proud pedigree. Launched in the late 1970s, Beneteau First designs have collected wins all over the globe. Over time, the design ethos wavered a bit, b

Dear Boat Doctor, My new-to-me boat has a keel-stepped mast. I’m happy to have it, but I cannot get the mast-to-deck joint to stop leaking. Even in a gentle rain, I find water dripping into my salo

How should I rig a preventer? Dear Boat Doctor, I experienced my first accidental jibe a few weeks back. I was flying downwind on a beautiful afternoon, and my autopilot lost control. The boat tur

Dyneema is seriously strong, but a very slippery fiber. The slipperiness means that you can’t efficiently use knots to terminate it. Even the best knot will degrade the ultimate strength of the rope

Dear Boat Doctor, I have two issues on my boat that I hope you can help with.  I need to install lazy jacks by mounting eye straps on the boom and mast but I don’t know what the best way to a

Dear Boat Doctor, I just bought a 1984 Tayana 37 and am beginning a refit with a plan for long-distance cruising. The boat is set up as a cutter but doesn’t have running backstays. The guy I bought

Dear Boat Doctor, I keep my boat on a mooring, so it’s usually closed up, and it doesn’t really have any ventilation.  I notice a sour sort of smell whenever I get on board.  It’s not

Dear Boat Doctor, Every time I run my engine, I end up with a little water in the bilge under the engine. The longer it runs, the more water I get. I have looked for leaks and can’t find the proble

Dear Boat Doctor, My VHF radio is not working very well. I seem to receive OK, but my friends struggle to hear me when I transmit. I want to replace the radio, but I want to make sure the new one wor