Darrell Nicholson

3 weeks ago | practical-sailor.com | Darrell Nicholson

Like the character Jaws in the old James Bond movie, rope clutches grab hold with a ferocious bite. Here we take another look at these toothy devices and how changes in materials and design are reshaping the art of clamping down. Since our previous test (see “Practical Sailor’s 2009 Rope Clutch Review“), several manufacturers improved their existing designs to grip better than ever. Others unveiled completely new approaches.

3 weeks ago | practical-sailor.com | Darrell Nicholson

Dozens of spray products found on chandlery and hardware store shelves promise to inhibit rust, fight corrosion and generally protect metals from attack. The labels are confusing at best. All of these products claim to be formulated of secret ingredients that enable them to beat out the competition when it comes to preserving your expensive hardware and electronics. And all claim to burrow under moisture and bond to the target metals.

1 month ago | practical-sailor.com | Darrell Nicholson

The Nonsuch 30 is an oddity. She is a fin-keeled, spade-ruddered boat with an unstayed wishbone cat rig. Weird. She was built in Canada, whose main boatbuilding export has been C&C sailboats. Come to think of it, all her construction details look very much like those of C&C boats. This isn’t unusual, since George Hinterhoeller, the builder, was formerly the president of C&C, and one of the founders of the three company merger that created C&C Yachts.

1 month ago | practical-sailor.com | Darrell Nicholson

Loss of steering may well be the most common cause of rescue for boats sailing offshore, but the problem is even more common inshore where there is more debris to hit. An emergency rudder is always possible, but for most of us, extra gear to rig, cost and strength concerns most often render the option impractical. Wrestling an emergency rudder into position will be physical and possibly dangerous in rough conditions.

1 month ago | practical-sailor.com | Darrell Nicholson

Cruising sailors have long had a love-hate relationship with their onboard electronics for one simple reason: Water and electricity don’t mix. Water with dissolved salts forms a wonderful electrolyte. Boats are full of dissimilar metals, and the electrical currents generated in this electrolytic soup will oxidize contacts, increase resistance and sometimes destroy components entirely.