Category Archives: Maintenance Tips

Posts relating to vessel maintenance.

Relocating the Battery Switches to an accessible area

Sometimes battery switches are not located in a very accessible spot. I prefer to have the battery switch easily accessible but not in the way where a foot could accidentally hit it. Take a look at this installation, where the … Continue reading

Posted in Electrical Systems, Equipment Installation, Second Star | Leave a comment

Sugar scoop cabinets bonded in place

The swim step portion of the sugar scoop was completed early Spring 2016 and filled with 16 lb density marine foam. The cabinets were constructed using flat panels temporarily glued together with sharp corners.             … Continue reading

Posted in Hull Maintenance, Second Star | Leave a comment

Fabricating the Swim Step

In the post “More Sugar Scoop Parts” we saw how to make prefinished gel-coat parts using a window glass surface. With the parts made, the pieces can be joined to make the swim step. The step was made in two … Continue reading

Posted in Equipment Installation, Fleet of Boats, Hull Maintenance, Second Star | Leave a comment

More Sugar Scoop Parts

In the last post for the Sugar Scoop construction, we saw how the parts are outlined with masking tape on a waxed mirror or window glass.     This process ensures a smooth defect free outside surface as the outside … Continue reading

Posted in Hull Maintenance, Second Star | Leave a comment

Sugar Scoop Construction Continued

Winter is over and work has begun again, for the third season. The new exhaust extension tube was bonded into place. It allows the engine exhaust to pass through the original transom through the area under the swim step and … Continue reading

Posted in Hull Maintenance, Second Star | Leave a comment

Bottom Re-lamination

I was not able to begin the re-lamination of the boat bottom before winter 2013-14 set in. It was an especially cold and long winter in Maryland and conditions were not good to start the resin work until June. However … Continue reading

Posted in Fleet of Boats, Hull Maintenance, Maintenance Tips, Second Star | 2 Comments

Making a Passport 40 Rudder

In a previous post, I wrote about the process of making a mold using the old rudder. With the rudder mold now made, the process of making the new rudder can begin. First the mold halves are waxed and polished … Continue reading

Posted in Fleet of Boats, Maintenance Tips, Rudders, Spirit | Leave a comment

Making a New Rudder for Passport 40 Sail Boat

The rudder on a sailboat is a very important yet often neglected part of the boat. Over 30 years of service and the effects of corrosion (galvanic and electrolytic) caused crevice pitting in the shaft of my friend’s rudder on … Continue reading

Posted in Rudders, Spirit | Leave a comment

DIY White Gel Coat Fibreglass Panel

Resin and mirrors are the simple way to make a high gloss white fibreglass panel. The trick is to clean and wax the glass mirror surface and remove all dust. Then simply paint an even coat of catalysed white polyester … Continue reading

Posted in Hull Maintenance, Maintenance Tips | Leave a comment

Rudder Quadrant Modification for Autopilot

  To accommodate the new installation of the autopilot linear drive, brackets must be added to the rudder quadrant to accept the linear drive pin and rudder reference ball joint. The general layout of the parts were drawn on my … Continue reading

Posted in Equipment Installation, Rigging Repair and Maintenance, Second Star | Leave a comment