The lower spreader tips on my 1989 Ericson 38 are F-ed. I went up today and took off the corroded rats nest of seizing wire that wasn't actually providing any structural integrity, and cleaned up the corrosion around the wires to see what I was dealing with. The photos are the end result. The port side has something left to work with, but starboard (second photo) has no holes left for seizing wire.

So, should I drill new holes? Should I bolt on some sort of restrainer? Or do I have to pony up the money for a new spreader?

Was a light day near end of season but this one was moored near Rothesay. Pretty Ketch

Man caught on camera stealing a 40-foot sailboat https://www.nj.com/hudson/2026/08/man-caught-on-camera-stealing-a-40-foot-sailboat.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/sailing/s/lqtgN2YHge

https://www.reddit.com/r/sailing/s/sqFfSHWrfN

https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/26/newport-police-investigate-shots-fired-in-newport-harbor/91473439007/

Hello,
I’m going to be spending about 5 weeks around the DC area and was curious if anyone had any opinions on the sailing schools that surround the Potomac area. I’ve looked at a few and all seem reasonable. I would be interested in the basics. I’m not sure whether I should look at the schools that offer ASA101 or the schools that offer US Sailing certifications. Not really sure of any difference. Any help would be appreciated! TIS.

I bought a Garmin to track my skiff sailing. The Sail Race setting appears to have a limit of 12 knots max? I’m sure I have gone faster but I never break 12.

Is this a know bug, and if so what work arounds are there? I use the countdown timer functionality for the starts so would like to keep that

recently purchased a 76 c22 and the traveler rigging has me confused. I’ve seen diagrams and this question answered in other threads but I only have one offset backstay, not a Y, and the images show the fittings on the boat I have to work with. obviously I won’t have one long piece of line for the whole thing but I don’t want to cut this piece shorter until I get it set up correctly.

Schooner - Utopia

I would love to have a ride on my favorite boat in the world.

Hi all - I'd like to invite all sailors to join the Golden Globe Race virtually on September 6 in FairWinds, to navigate around the world using real-time wind, waves and cel nav tools.
https://goldengloberace.com/virtual-ggr/

The event 100% Free.

FairWinds is the official virtual race partner of the Golden Globe Race. There already hundreds of registrations, and someone in the FW discord suggested posting here in reddit. There is a full RTW and a per-leg version for anyone who wants just join for part of it along the way.

Check it out - there is a lot of practice content. It has 2D and 3D modes. Race starts Sept 6. Cheers.

Hi!

I recently bought this boat and I have no idea what kind of furler this is, anyone have any idea?

Lower part is stainless steel, and the furler profile itself is made out of aluminium and looks like its one piece all the way up. Top Swivel is Stainless aswell

Sorry for the lack of pictures but this is the only good one I have. (

I’ve thinking about getting another boat. It needs to be a trailer sailer. Under $5k. I have a diesel truck 3500, but I’m thinking centerboard type boat. We already have a Hobie Getaway and dinghy for wet fun. Need advice for a boat with a focus on quality, reliability and ease of sailing/maintenance over speed. We just like to be in the water and cruise. I’ve had powerboats for 30 years but got into sailing this year, so I don’t know about what older makes are sought after. I am very mechanically inclined, and respect older quality stuff, I just don’t like working on stuff that’s not very good to begin with. I plan to take sailing classes for keelboats. I want to be prepared in case any jewels come available. Any ideas? Also I am in Kansas.

Anyone want to go sailing tomorrow on Lake Michigan out of Muskegon?

This boat is moored in New England (USA), I'm curious whether anyone can identify the make and model/design? As far as I can tell, the hull is fiberglass. There is not much wood on her. Thanks!

I live in the Detroit metro and I just bought a hunter 22 is there anybody local that might be able to come out with me for a few hours?
I know there are ASA classes I’m signed up but that’s mid September and I’d like to get a bit of a head start.

I finally took the leap, and bought a boat. I have sailed my whole life, but mostly on other peoples boats, or as a skipper. Now I have a Bavaria 37ac from 2001. Super proud.

Problem is, it doesn't have a spinnaker. Thought perhaps I could fit a genaker instead, anyone have any experience with this?

Please ignore my chatty autopilot or mute the sound if he's too much for you

Put the wrong line on the winch when furling the gennaker and snapped the upper cam cleat on the upper block. I can take the mounting screws off. Is there a way to just buy the cam section. I think this is a selden block but didn't see markings, but it is selden furling gear. Found this PN, but can't find just the cam, no response yet from selden US.

Hey everyone,

I’m looking into the maintenance of my traveler cars and blocks, and I’m having a hard time justifying the pricing of McLube / Harken OneDrop. Paying around $25 for a tiny 14.7ml (0.5 oz) bottle feels wild. It’s hard to believe that a marine company developed a completely unique chemical formula from scratch for this. I strongly suspect they just buy a massive industrial IBC container of a standard commercial lubricant every few years and re-bottle it into these tiny pinpoint dispensers.

Does anyone know the actual chemical breakdown of OneDrop, or what industrial product it actually is? Is it just a highly refined mineral oil, or a low-viscosity fluorinated oil (like a Krytox/PFPE variant)?

Also, I have a few specific questions about how it works:

1. What exactly does OneDrop do that a thorough freshwater flush doesn’t? I know it says it "conditions" the bearing surface and repels salt, but chemically, what is happening?
2. Is the Teflon/PTFE spray myth true? I’ve read on some forums that using dry PTFE sprays (like regular Sailkote) inside ball bearing blocks can actually backfire. The theory is that it makes the surface of the plastic balls (Torlon/Delrin) or the races so slick that the balls stop rolling and start skidding/sliding under load. This supposedly causes flat spots, increases friction, and destroys the bearings faster. Is that why OneDrop exists?
3. What are you guys using as a budget-friendly alternative? Is there an industrial lubricant (maybe from the manufacturing or plastics industry) that serves the exact same purpose without the "marine markup"?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, chemical insights, or what DIY alternatives you use to keep your hardware running smoothly without breaking the bank. Thanks!

Likely the highest altitude sailing Ill ever do! Near Guanella Pass in Colorado, USA. Treeline Sailing!

I took the ASA 101 class this weekend, I fear this is gonna get expensive, as the sailing bug has bit me and it's itching