https://sailingmagazine.net/articles.sec-126-1-boat-doctor.html Fri, 19 Apr 24 00:00:00 -0400 en hourly 1 https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2552-how-do-i-replace-leaking-hatches.html 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 ...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2542-how-do-i-stop-my-mast-from-leaking.html 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...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2529-how-should-i-rig-a-preventer.html 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...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2519-tachometer-troubles-and-lazy-jack-mounting-questions.html 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...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2499-do-i-need-to-add-running-backstays.html 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...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2464-what%25E2%2580%2599s-with-the-sour-smell-on-my-boat.html 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...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2452-why-is-there-water-in-the-bilge-when-i-run-the-engine.html 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...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2443-how-do-i-make-sure-my-vhf-works-properly.html 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...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2421-how-do-i-fix-my-hot-water-system.html How do I fix my hot water system? Dear Boat Doctor, I am having a problem with the hot water system on my boat. I can make hot water when the engine is running, but it doesn’t work at the dock. Ca...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2434-how-do-i-fix-my-hot-water-system.html Dear Boat Doctor, I am having a problem with the hot water system on my boat. I can make hot water when the engine is running, but it doesn’t work at the dock. Can you give me some ideas on how to ...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2414-what-gear-do-we-need-for-night-passages.html What gear do we need for night passages? Dear Boat Doctor, My wife and I would like to do some longer distance passages, which will entail sailing overnight. We are a little nervous about it but e...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2404-help_-my-ais-is-stuck-in-the-supply-chain.html Help! My AIS is stuck in the supply chain Dear Boat Doctor, I have a complete Raymarine system in my boat, and I want to add AIS. Unfortunately, the supply chain for Raymarine AIS units is blocked...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2396-what%25E2%2580%2599s-the-right-anchor-for-my-boat.html Dear Boat Doctor, I just bought a Hylas 46, and I am assessing my ground tackle. The boat came with 120 feet of 3/8-inch chain and a 55-pound Mantus anchor. Both seem a little undersized for the boat...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2384-what%25E2%2580%2599s-the-best-downwind-setup-for-offshore.html Dear Boat Doctor, We’re finally able to do some offshore passages on our Baba 40 and we’re looking to expand the sail inventory to get better downwind performance. We’re looking at an asymmetri...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2374-how-do-i-stop-leaks-down-the-mast.html Dear Boat Doctor, I just got my first big boat and I am facing a new problem. My boat has a keel-stepped mast and I am struggling to seal the mast to the deck. The boat came with a rubber strip b...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2347-how-do-i-choose-a-furler.html Dear Boat Doctor, I need a new genoa furler on my Passport 40 and I am not sure where to start. I have looked through a couple catalogs and they seem to be sized to the length of the boat, but it fee...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2335-how-do-i-get-rid-of-bottom-paint-buildup.html Dear Boat Doctor, I have quite a buildup of paint on the bottom of my boat. In some places, it’s worn away, in other areas, it’s thick and peeling. I want to get it all off and start with a fresh...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2329-how-do-i-repaint-my-trailersailer%25E2%2580%2599s-bottom.html Dear Boat Doctor, I have a 1982 S2 5.5 Grand Slam. It’s stored on a trailer and has the original hull paint. I want to paint the bottom of it to freshen it up and to cover up the very fine spider c...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2317-is-my-autopilot-right-for-my-boat.html Is my autopilot right for my boat?Dear Boat Doctor, I am installing an autopilot in my Compass 47, and I have some questions. I chose the Raymarine Evolution autopilot, specifically the EV400 core pac...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2296-how-do-i-stop-stainless-from-rusting.html Dear Boat Doctor, I brought my boat from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean for the first time this year and now the corrosion on my boat’s stainless steel is making me crazy.  It has gone 20 ye...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2283-why-is-my-autopilot-showing-errors.html Dear Boat Doctor, I am having some problems with my Raymarine autopilot. It’s an older unit and worked great right up until it didn’t. It’s a ST6000+ control with a Type 300 computer and a Typ...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2269-can-i-get-hot-water-without-the-engine.html Dear Boat Doctor, I am setting up my boat for long-range cruising and trying to be as self-sufficient as possible. I can cover my electrical needs with solar panels. My watermaker produces all the wa...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2262-what%25E2%2580%2599s-a-simpler-sail-setup-for-my-boat.html Dear Boat Doctor, I sail my Sabre 34 Mark II in an area where I very often sail directly upwind or on a very deep reach. My boat is not set up well for either point of sail, with a roller furling 125...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2245-is-my-preventer-rigged-incorrectly.html Dear Boat Doctor, I have had a few close calls with accidental jibes, and I now typically use a preventer when sailing downwind. I just use a spare line and tie the boom down the to rail at the point...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2229-how-do-i-calculate-righting-moment.html Dear Boat Doctor, I recently replaced the original standing rigging on my 1968 Islander 34. I wanted to make sure everything was correct, so I confirmed the wire sizes with my own righting moment cal...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2213-what-should-i-inspect-regularly-on-deck.html Dear Boat Doctor,  I have read a lot about regular inspections of my boat. This seems like a really good idea, but I don’t know what to look for. What am I supposed to be looking for? Rob R...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2180-why-won%25E2%2580%2599t-my-house-batteries-hold-a-charge-when-powering.html Dear Boat Doctor, I just got a new-to-me boat and I have a charging problem: the house bank won’t stay charged when I run the engine. When the engine is running, there is 13.5 volts at the alternat...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2175-what-emergency-notification-system-should-i-carry.html Dear Boat Doctor, I am interested in improving my onboard emergency gear. I have carried a personal EPIRB for years, but it feels inadequate. I have been looking at shipboard EPIRBs, but maybe I shou...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2166-how-do-i-fix-a-problematic-fuel-system.html Dear Boat Doctor, I am struggling with the fuel system on my Hylas 51, which seems to have a lot of small issues that add up to a bigger annoyance. First, I don’t have enough tankage and no good wa...]]> https://sailingmagazine.net/article-2154-how-do-i-diagnose-my-engine-problems.html Dear Boat Doctor, I am having some problems with my Yanmar 4JH2DTE, and I’m embarrassed to say I may have created one of the problems myself. I installed a new Balmar alternator and an AltMount ser...]]>