This gear includes but is not limited to solar panels, jerry cans, kayaks and paddle/surfboards, bicycles, etc. This applies to boats that will go offshore but is also applicable for all boats that spend any time in open water and do more than daysailing hops in fine weather.
At the least problematic, but perhaps the most insidious, are your stanchions and lifelines. Stanchion deck fittings are typically not designed or installed to tolerate the rhythmic back-and-forth tugging and stresses of heavy jerry cans pulling on them with every wave, for example, or the rhythmic continuous pounding inflicted when sailing hard to wind. These repeated stresses can lead to leaks in the stanchion bases (if this occurs, look to whether there has been gear attached) or stress fractures (look at the welds down low). What’s more dangerous is if the leak does not become apparent below decks, since at least then there would be warning. Leaks into your deck core, however, may be hidden; this can be especially problematic if the core is balsa.
Pushpits are likely to be better attached to the deck, and often are constructed of tubing rather than wire. It seems reasonable to have a horseshoe and a Lifesling attached, or perhaps a welldesigned and well-supported wind generator. But think of the forces accrued from a full enclosure whose support comes from the pushpit structure. Imagine further, the forces beating to wind in a swell or sideways wind coupled with big waves. These are unusual events, but they are far from unheard of and statistically likely with enough miles under your keel.
Danger to footing
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Light in a pinch
In emergency lighting situations, more light is always better
Terra Nova and Scott of the Antarctic
The barque Terra Nova was specially reinforced for working in polar sea ice
Snagged anchors and empty gas bottles
Mishaps on a mid-Med adventure
Reports of aggressive killer whales
Orcas have reportedly attacked sailboats recently off Spain and
Prized pilothouse possessions
The pilothouse is the nerve center of a power voyagig vessel like this Selene 43 in the Bahamas.
It's not easy being green
Dealing with the scourge of seasickness
Fatal dive boat fire attributed to operator's oversight failures
The dive boat Conception on fire off Santa Cruz island in California.
Drama in the Vendee Globe solo world race
Alex Thomson’s IMOCA 60 Hugo Boss at the start of the 2020 Vendee Globe Race.
A circumnavigator's favorite ocean films
A still from the documentary Maiden, which tells the story of the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989-90.
Upgrading batteries
Treating batteries as a system works best
Diversity Afloat
As the sailing season comes to an end on northern waters, I find myself pondering the modern sailing scene.
Vismara VMM76
LOA 23.80m 78ft 0in • Beam 6.00m 19ft 8in • Displacement 31,000kg 68,400lb • Draught 2.50-4.00m 8ft 2in-13ft 1in • Sail area 280m2 3,010ft2 • www.vismara-mc.com
MINE'S THE PORSCHE - ON TEST // ELAN GT6
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BADGE: WHY PORSCHE BECAME INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN OF ELAN’S NEW FLAGSHIP
MASTERCLASS
PIP HARE ON WHEN TO TURN BACK
JIMMY'S ELECTRIC DREAM
JIMMY CORNELL REPORTS ON HIS NEW CATAMARAN, ABOARD WHICH HE PLANS A FOSSIL-FREE CIRCUMNAVIGATION
BRITTEN-NORMAN - DEFENDER 2000
An electric-powered Islander on steroids
Getting in Touch with Reality
As part of my usual in-depth research for this column I decided to ask Google whether sailing was safe. “In fact, it can be deadly,” came the response, “A study from Rhode Island Hospital concluded sailing is more dangerous, and has a higher fatality rate, than skiing and snowboarding combined with NFL football.”
PLAN STUDY: Kombi Sail and Paddle Canoe
The first boat I designed was the Beth Sailing Canoe, which, for better or worse, made me a marked man.
Reader Boat: Precision 165
During my three years of ownership, here are just a few things I’ve observed about my P165. Most of these features have contributed to my joy of sailing this little boat.
CRUISE THE WORLD... WITHOUT A BOAT
ELAINE BUNTING GETS TIPS FROM CREW ON HOW TO HITCH-HIKE YOUR WAY AROUND THE OCEANS, AND FROM SKIPPERS ON HOW TO TAKE ON EXTRA HANDS