Recent content by Amory Klein

Thanks! I give these ideas a try, and I'll also keep watching for any other suggestions.

I bought a new sheet of 3/8-inch line but it's too slippery to grasp easily with the nitrile work gloves that I like to use. I've found that sheets are like wine - the older the better when it comes to pulling and holding them. Older, weathered sheets are fuzzier and the shine is worn away...

I wholeheartedly agree! I went ahead with my plan to install the Garelick 19615 ladder as I described above, and the installation went faster than I expected. All I have left to do now is test it, and when I do then hopefully I'll be able to post a video of the ladder in action. I started with...

Our South Florida retirement community recently acquired a Catalina 14.2 to complement our fleet of Sunfish, and after jumping into the water and trying to climb back into it, I confirmed the need for a boarding ladder. I did some searching, found this thread, and arranged for the management to...

I just received an opinion by email from a fellow who's regarded as an authority by our club members. Basically, I think he's saying that Boat A has to give room to Boat B, but at the same time, because starboard tack has right-of-way over port tack, the tactic that Blue Heron II described would...

Rule 18.4 says this: (Thanks for the link, by the way. That's where I got this.) Anyway, Blue Heron II was talking about if he were sailing Boat B, and in the scenario I described above Boat B does not have to jibe. Only Boat A has to jibe. So is it a good tactic? I don't know, but it doesn't...

Boats A and B are running and approaching the downwind mark, which they must leave to port. Their courses are parallel but Boat A is ahead, outside, and on starboard tack, while Boat B is behind, inside, and on port tack. Boat B has overlap as they enter the three boat-length circle. Does Boat A...

Excellent! Thanks, Kevin.

Kevin, I'm not sure what you're saying here: What does "pretty" mean in this context? Is it good or bad? What does "White electrical tape one that is prudent" mean?

Thanks for the responses so far, guys! I already have the sail mounted on the spars so all I have left to do is install the boom blocks. At this point I'm thinking that maybe I should rig the boat and find the point where the forward boom block lines up with the ratchet block, with the...

Does anyone have an actual answer to the question of "block on boom placement"? I'm assembling a brand new pair of undrilled spars and a new sail, and today I bought a new non-swiveling block for the front and a swiveling block for the rear. I'm ready to drill the holes in the lower spar and...

Help! I found this on page 6 of an article about using a compass to determine when to tack: My question is, what is this "easy" way to determine the best tack when you can see the shore behind the mark?

Yes, I'm doing this for fun too, but I came in last in a race yesterday and that wasn't fun at all. For me, fun is learning how to do it right and then working hard to steadily improve until I can be reasonably proud of where I finish in a race. That's my goal, and that's why I came here for...

Thank you, Bozo the Clown. You really had my hopes up with that first sentence. If you decide to change your attitude and make an actual positive contribution then I, for one, look forward to reading it.

Actually, it was my first clue that others were under-thinking the process. As I continue to fine-tune my method of side-switching, I'm finding it very valuable to be able to pinpoint exactly what went wrong when things don't go as they should. It absolutely pays to pay attention to what...